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Saphos Trains 2018

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by gwr4090, Dec 19, 2017.

  1. Duty Druid

    Duty Druid Resident of Nat Pres

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    Isn't that the general idea - you're a new player in the market, so cut prices to the bone to attract custom ( its not like JH can't afford it & it will costed in the business plan) deliver what you say on the tin & some - gain a good reputation & then gradually creep prices up - its called good practice.

    Any way, I wish JH all the best in the new venture - god knows the market needs a new player & given he's got both 'iconic' kettles & boxes he can't loose.......... (though I wouldn't call a Duff 'iconic'!)
     
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  2. johnofwessex

    johnofwessex Resident of Nat Pres

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    Strange name for the new company, a certain classical poet springs to mind...................
     
  3. Bulleid Pacific

    Bulleid Pacific Part of the furniture

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    Quite. Maybe it's about the anticipation that passengers will wax lyrical over the quality of service, the environment, and the firm's ability to deliver what's said on the tin. Which if the amounts allegedly spent on the carriages alone is anything to go by, might not be far off the mark.
     
  4. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Yes but Statesman Rail - the company - links with Saphos as in:
    http://statesmanrail.com/saphos-trains.html
     
  5. 30567

    30567 Part of the furniture Friend

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    Question before I act in haste and repent at leisure. Is it possible/likely that the trips to Holyhead and Cardiff will not require a box on the back?
     
  6. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    As you will be booking with the company that owns the locomotives plus the rolling stock and negotiates the operation of the trip with Network Rail, one would hope that a simple question at the time of booking would solve that assuming that it's not already made clear in the publicity. Now that would be a first!
     
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  7. 30567

    30567 Part of the furniture Friend

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    Frankly Alan I prefer to trust the wisdom and knowledge of some of the people on here ! Isn't Cardiff in particular very difficult to do without traction on both ends?
     
  8. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Yes. It depends on Arriva/Canton and traffic on the Penarth Triangle but surely nothing is impossible if it is negotiated and planned for in advance.......
     
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  9. gwr4090

    gwr4090 Part of the furniture

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    Diesel not required at Cardiff, as long as the coaching stock is stabled in Canton yard (not part of the Arriva complex). These days locos are normally turned at Newport, as a critical crossover on the Penarth triangle has been taken out of use, and locos otherwise have to go most of the way to Barry to crossover.
     
  10. AP60019

    AP60019 New Member

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    Details of Saphos Trains journeys in 2018 are now available at www.iconsofsteam.com/travel - Bookings open on December 22nd.

    Alex - Icons Of Steam
     
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  11. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    Don't you believe it.....
     
  12. AP60019

    AP60019 New Member

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    You asked, we've got an answer... Our FAQ section has been updated to include information about diesel haulage and assistance. Unfortunately we've also had to postpone booking to January 3rd.

    These, and more questions & answers can be found here: http://www.iconsofsteam.com/travel/experience/faq/

    All the best, and Happy Christmas!
    Alex - Icons Of Steam
     
  13. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    There seems to be a refreshing openness about exactly what these trains will offer from the uncertainty of locomotive but the guarantee that one of three will be at the front (subject to no last minute hitch) to exactly what will be on the back and what it will and will not be doing. Obviously any air con stock has to have a diesel anyway but why hasn't this level of detail been offered before? Was it that difficult?
     
  14. 1020 Shireman

    1020 Shireman Part of the furniture Friend

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    Hmmm, not quite as refreshingly open in the carriage section. There's a note on their carriage description:

    'Without carriages there can be no train. Dating from the 1950’s (1), each one of our carriages has been immaculately restored to their historic condition'.

    Note 1 in the small print at the bottom of the page which most people probably won't read states 'Not all of our carriages date from the 1950s. Carriages vary by class and cannot be guaranteed'.

    So what are the standard class carriages? Mk1s or 2s, and if the latter, do they have toplights?
     
  15. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    To be fair, there is enough detail here for a typical traveller and those who know about different coaches and those without opening windows will have worked that out anyway. All will become clear anyway when the first train runs.
     
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  16. free2grice

    free2grice Part of the furniture Friend

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    Will the steam loco be assisted by a diesel?

    ''We do not plan for any of our journeys to feature diesel assistance.

    Where advertised diesel locomotives will be used for feeder services, prior to a steam locomotive being attached to the train.

    We plan for all of our services to feature a manned diesel at the rear of the train. This will provide an electricity supply to the train, as well as assistance with shunting manoeuvres. Additionally we want to act responsibly as a mainline operator, so in case of failure we want to ensure an assisting loco is on hand if required.

    Our trains will not be assisted by diesel traction from the rear of the train unless authorised to do so as part of an out of course situation, or as a banking engine at specific locations as authorised by Network Rail.

    None of our trips are planned to require a banking engine, therefore you will enjoy the experience of a steam hauled journey without any diesel assistance''.
     
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  17. 26D_M

    26D_M Part of the furniture

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    Quite agree, a commendable huge step in the direction of doing the right thing. The reason it has not happened before is that SD and RTC do not control the stock they use or the operational aspects and are presumably unable to obtain this clarity from their supplier. WC do control all aspects so in theory could offer the same level of detail but perhaps have not thus far felt it beneficial to do so.
    If the market enters a position of genuine competition it can only be to the good for all concerned.
     
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  18. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Well it will certainly help stop all the froth on here, that's for certain. What is interesting is this line:

    "Our trains will not be assisted by diesel traction from the rear of the train unless authorised to do so as part of an out of course situation, or as a banking engine at specific locations as authorised by Network Rail."

    That form of words - the "as authorised by NR" bit is the same as we have been told sits in the operational procedures of DBC and matches what happens in practice. So out of curiosity, if West Coast pushes its trains around all over the country when necessary, rather than at specific places such as out of London Victoria, they must have some special permission to do that. Interesting.
     
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  19. CLN_WVR

    CLN_WVR Member

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    They also must be able to get permission relatively quickly as if you look at what happened to the RTC / WCRC "End of Southern Steam" tour this year, where they ended up with a late and empty bowser at Salisbury which meant the Crompton then pushed the tour up the climbs to Yeovil, the delay at Salisbury was only 9L
     
  20. 30567

    30567 Part of the furniture Friend

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    I'd have thought 'authorisation' will be more of a blanket thing. You can push if you're late or if you need to going up hills or starting from stations. Surely we're not in a world of getting specific permission at 7pm on a Sunday when it's gone pear-shaped.
     

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