Jacobite 2025

A positive and informative Notice.
Some Harry Potter 'Enthusiasts' may prefer the (colour) of the morning service. (for the first few weeks)

 

It could be. Let’s hope it is different, very different!

 

I stumbled across a YouTube travel vlog by a twentysomething lady aimed at others of a similar age, reviewing the Jacobite last year. I decided to watch it out of interest to see what the average tourist thought. The subtitle was 'is it still worth it, I think not'. The different coaching stock was certainly noticed, with the current carriages 'too modern, like any other train and not historic'.
She had seen that the old stock was currently banned and there was some less than favourable shots of toilets out of order etc & poor decor on the current stock.
The conclusion was that first class was still worth it as for not a lot extra you were treated a bit more special, but the standard class experience was not much different to travelling on a normal train, where you could do the same journey for £20.
I am not saying this video is totally representative, but I would suggest the 'Harry Potter' carriages are missed quite a bit up that way.
With prices now firmly in the 'premium' bracket, West Coast need to be delivering something special.

 

The recent batch of Trip Advisor reviews would agree with you. All moaning about the lack of steam and the terrible coaches.

 

I mean lack of steam is not exactly in the control of WCR….

 

Of course, but several of the reviews state that WCR hadn't notified them of the diesel replacement. If true, that is poor customer service. Us enthusiasts know the risks when we book on tours, but Joe Bloggs public doesn't

 

The public could of course read the Website where it is clearly stated in bold - West Coast Railways reserves the right to use diesel traction if unforeseen circumstances dictate, this includes but is not limited to, the event of high fire risk, emergency operational incident or any form of mechanical failure experienced by the steam locomotive. This will only be done as a last resort by our train suppliers and as such no refund will be available to any party in the event of Diesel Traction being used on the day under such circumstances.

Or is it going to be WCRs fault that it’s customers aren’t reading the detail?

https://westcoastrailways.co.uk/jacobite/loco-coach

 

No need to have a go at me about it Harry. I'm just pointing out, in response to Alan's original post, that the lack of steam and the Mk2s aren't going down well with the travelling public. Think I'll take a break from this forum for a while. Goodbye.

 

I wasn’t having a go. But I have absolutely no sympathy with people who complain about an experience, when they could read up on they experience before hand and know what they are getting. The website states clearly about both locos and stock. It’s like me reading a website that says it’s a 3 star restaurant and then complaining when it’s not Michelin Star.

 

I think it is all down to communication, if you reach out and explain why changes have been implemented and what is going on, most people will understand. Hiding behind the T&Cs on your website and not providing an explanation of your own, is asking for people to fill the void with their own comments and experiences.
It's called customer service at the end of the day.

 

I think that's unfair - not everyone reads through to the small-ish print, and where an experience is sold as A and delivered as B, it's unsurprising that they are disappointed. The question is then about how their expectations are managed, and how the reduced experience is presented to them when those entirely legitimate decisions* are taken to make a substitution.

I also note that the online feedback cited by @NathanP includes criticism of the rolling stock. I suspect that it is the concatenation of traction and other issues that drive much of the feedback - one thing is "one of those things"; multiple and the disappointment becomes acute.

* - there is a separate discussion, held on another thread, about the boundaries of what is reasonable and unreasonable when advertising a steam trip. Though my views there are "consumer friendly", I think the fire risk decisions are absolutely within what is reasonable within the exclusions.

 

I think it’s because of the change in operation. The Jacobite was a nostalgic steam experience back to the 1950s through stunning scenery, takeaway the steam and you end up with half that experience. Now it’s only half of that experience at best, take away the steam and it’s no different to doing the trip on the service train at a third of the cost.

 

It's not possible to please all the people all of the time.
Especially the person in Whitby who complained about the noise of Seagulls outside her guest house.

 

Harry Potter' Jacobite train operator slammed for substitute 'Primark' carriages

See https://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/harry-potter-jacobite-train-operator-slammed-for-substitute-primark-carriages-5133085?gaa_at=la&gaa_n=AerBZYMqqnsSHPSosoud3P4ZT4jaYQiyEiiOkA3jpprYQVz0OoLaxfASXTXIa9dz89s=&gaa_ts=682a20dc&utm_source=newsshowcase&utm_medium=discover&utm_campaign=CCwQ-JK1lser4DAYyLDBqPmP496MASoqCDAQt4mF6dWd6dupARjTwpLW_b70yI0BKhAIACoHCAowuMWGCzDDuYQD&utm_content=bullets&gaa_sig=Q66JpFBuLHkhHNJe3gnf4u6b3mUgOhc9RC7wk-Tacky4sMTR-KF6v7WzKh_ORGE5zZXaElxgs6whRxVTWQswFA==

Includes quote" Commercial manager James Shuttleworth added: “They're being used as they are already fitted with central door locking until such time as we gain an exemption for the Mark 1 vehicles. Dialogue is on-going with the ORR."

 

I seem to recall reading that VT were looking at the possibility of overhauling 4965 round with oil firing and potentially skinny cylinders.

They have CDL stock, and clearly have a proven method for fitting.

Can't help but think that there is an opportunity there for them to turn 4965 out in Red, with a set of appropriate stock and charge a premium for an "authentic" experience.......


Chris

 

Whilst I get your point and understand the idea, I think it would be well out of the reach of any TOC but WCR to operate the Jacobite. It’s a huge undertaking, and really 10A are very fortunate to have Riley & Son as partners who can supply 2/3 locos year in, year out to operate the service.

 

Which will be first; Hell freezing over or the ORR granting WCRC a new exemption?

 

Well yes quite. There is so many factors that WCR hold that it would be almost impossible to ever replicate.

Whatever happens going forward with CDL/Non airbraked locos and stock, etc we should all be very thankful to WCR and David Smith for providing such a wealth of mainline steam over the years, including big operations like the Jacobite.