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Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway General Discussion

Discussion in 'Narrow Gauge Railways' started by GWR4707, Jan 17, 2016.

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  1. Chris86

    Chris86 Well-Known Member

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    Hopefully it sees an improvement in the quality of the food offering.

    We used to eat at the station whenever we visited (usually 2/3 times a year, although less so recently)

    The decrease in quality and increase in price in the Cafes at the Ratty has seen us usually walk up to one of the pubs up the road instead.

    Chris
     
    Chris86, Mar 25, 2026 at 1:33 PM
    #441
    47406 likes this.
  2. 47406

    47406 Well-Known Member

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    The reason for the harshness stems from the way the railway has been operated since 2020.

    We used to visit 3/4 per year 2007-2019, were members of the society with many friends there.

    Up and down many times on each visit, swapping trains to get the different locos in.

    However since the book your seat for each journey nonsense we have visited twice (once gala no problems), second a normal running day, which took about 20 minutes to book acceptable seats.

    Lovely place and line, nightmare to visit outside of a gala now.
     
    47406, Mar 25, 2026 at 4:01 PM
    #442
    silversteellady and Kirk Oswald like this.
  3. Rander

    Rander Member

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    I understand pre-booking of seats (other than the "upgrades") is now no longer necessary.
     
    Rander, Mar 25, 2026 at 7:37 PM
    #443
  4. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    That's not at all clear from the online booking form, which is very much about choosing which train you wish to use
     
    35B, Mar 25, 2026 at 7:42 PM
    #444
  5. Rander

    Rander Member

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    I think you still have to book a train, but are no longer forced to pick a particular (type of) carriage on booking. This is from information disseminated this week by the Preservation Society.
     
    Rander, Mar 25, 2026 at 8:17 PM
    #445
  6. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    Ok, thanks for clarification. Still not great for those who do want to turn up and go - or have a flexible itinerary
     
    35B, Mar 25, 2026 at 8:36 PM
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  7. Rander

    Rander Member

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    As a former volunteer guard, I can't say I'd be thrilled with having to work with a seat reservation system. Turn-up-and-go worked absolutely fine.
     
    Rander, Mar 25, 2026 at 9:08 PM
    #447
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