S&C 150: 25/05/26

The judicial review gave an insight into the costs and benefits. It suggested a perfectly reasonable payback period for that expenditure, and one that other rolling stock owners were willing to accept.

 

WCR have been hiring out MK1s to heritage railways so they are still fit to run on NR

 

Doesn’t look as if a decision has been made on an afternoon train this year. This poster has now gone up at Fort William Station but note they are now advertising compartments again.

 

I have no idea personally what Kelly's reasons are for entering the diesel tour segment (although you obviously do) but everyone, even LSL, seems to be taking "nibbles" at what was the Pathfinder market segment.
I have no idea what if the drop off in passengers is due to the lack of Mk1's or not. How many non enthusiasts (the main paying group) know the difference? Pax number appeared to be in decline pre Covid when I was still stewarding regularly. But back "in the day" for example there were 5 WCME's and 5 DCE's most of which sold out or close to. It is now basically down to 3 of each that are not full from anecdotal evidence on here.
Also interesting pre Covid and still with Mk1's it was all about repeat itineraries being "boring" as they had been done too often and using "the same old locos" as the reason for falling loads. So was that wrong?
Maybe unless you are at the very top end of the market, mainly dining, it is just the fact that the market is declining. Only the likes of WCRC, LSL, Vintage RTC, & UKR may know that. Ridership at Heritage Lines (non gala) appears to be declining, why should the tour market be immune?
How many other than some on here for example care that Blue Peter's load last week was less than that for Duke of Gloucester? Most folks have a different focus in life.