Saphos Trains 2026

24th December until 15th January.

 

It will be interesting to see if SRPS fill any of the Scottish gaps. Given several of their charters were cancelled due to poor demand perhaps they have concluded the market was saturated this year.

 

Having twice seen 60007 at Waverley this summer I’m disappointed but not surprised that there are no Edinburgh trips in the Saphos programme next year as only 3 out of 6 ran (1 of the others 3 ran diesel hauled) and the others all had 60007 on them. Saying that there was huge disappointment in the cancellation of the SRPS steam trips this year. Here’s hoping that either (or both of) 60007/60532 reach Aberdeen next year given that both of them have links to the Granite City. Aberdeen has been massively under utilised for steam in the past few years and I hope there is more steam to Aberdeen next year although I doubt it because of perhaps a lack of market interest.

 

I hadn't realised that Saphos have that policy. It makes VT's policy, where a solo passenger cannot book a place at a table for two, seem ever stranger.

 

Something weird I've noticed on the newly published 2026 Saphos Brochure that Mayflower isn't listed under the locomotives section. Is Mayflower about to go out of ticket or just simply just been left out for some unexplained reason?

 

Oh I was purely interested in the 50/55 trips

 

Novembers Duke trip had a standard class pressure vent Mk2, so opening windows

 

indeed yes, I was in that coach

 

Perhaps the marketing was poorly thought out. As one prepared to book at the last minute due to domestic arrangements I had already arranged accommodation for the week (fortunately with relatives) to photograph the Fife Circle and travel to Aberdeen. I wonder how many others were leaving it until the last minute before booking and whether gearing it to the Edinburgh Festival market was the right market to target.

 

Do you really think Railtour organisers are going to rely on people who suggest they’re “prepared to book at the last minute” in their decision as to whether a Railtour is viable? Wake up…

 

I think that if Saphos offers a few more trains like this (or 71000's recent unassisted run to Carlisle), last-minute bookings aren't going to be an issue. Sadly I live rather too far south to contemplate one of these trips, but I'm just hoping that someone will point out to the powers-that-be in LSL/Saphos that 2026 marks the 60th anniversary of 60532's somewhat less-than-successful encounter with Honiton Bank. I for one would not wait to the last minute to book a seat on an unassisted run over the L&SWR West of England line behind this loco.

 

It would be a real help if the Tour operators, charter TOCs and Network Rail could get their act together on providing confirmed timings for a tour months/weeks instead of days in advance. Sometimes it's been as little as one day before, in the case of the recent VT trips).

It doesn't encourage people to book early if you don't know if a tour is going to be doable in a day from home, or is going to need extra spending on hotels before/after, (especially if you rely on public transport or a long drive to reach a pickup location).
At least officially, there's no recourse for passengers if the actual timings turn out to be wildly difficult to what was originally proposed, so it's no wonder some of us have to leave booking until the last minute.

I have, however, booked the Blue Peter run in Feb, along with accommodation.
Offer an attractive option at a reasonable price and people will make the effort!

 

This is not the case (on the two the "Shap Trials II" tours), £165 for a solo seat on a table for two.

 

I think the statement could be super caution, the plan is no diesel. I think the "requested" maybe because even in March/April 2025 we were looking at fire risk issues. The entire concept of these tours is built on the success of the 71000 tour so no diesel in the plan.

 

Which tours are those? They're not on the VT website.

 

Saphos, not VT.