Vintage Trains 2026

It was Friday and Saturday.

 

Timings mirror most Saphos trips don't they?
But take you point about 1 day vs 2, although that might be based on feedback

 

From a Vintage email sent to a passenger & posted on wnxx

"We have been giving some considerable thought to the operation of this train in the current economic climate of rapidly rising costs and available disposable income for would be passengers. As a result, we have decided to simplify the operation of the train, whilst retaining all the benefits and reducing the cost to you! We are confident we can also improve on our original plan, run a little faster and increase the sections when Western Champion will haul the train unassisted. In short, we are altering the train plan to run the trip within a single day, rather than two. The train will now run on Saturday 23rd May."

May be a late decision, but probably accepts the reality of the financial situation. I see the UKR trip to Loughborough has been cancelled today.

Hope not too many were foolish enough to book non refundable hotels.

 

It's good that D1015 will haul the train unassisted from Padd to Plymouth and return. The sound over the Devon banks will be superb, Dainton, Rattery, Hemerdon. <BJ>

 

Is anyone who understands legal matters more than me able to advise whether all this stuff in the news today about driving schools being fined millions for booking fees will affect Vintage Trains and their booking fees?

 

I would imagine it depends if the fees were made clear up-front

https://www.theguardian.com/busines...ls-refund-learner-drivers-hidden-lessons-fees

 

I think the fee is clear up front, no idea if the "it can be avoided by ringing the office is" or if that is just something passed around on here.

 

I imagine this is why the VT website was changed a couple of months ago to clearly state the price including fee in the headline prices on the tour pages.

All the other heritage railways that use FareHarbor and similar fee charging platforms may need to take note

 

Personally, I think anyone that does that at all should be run out of town on a rail. Put your prices up front (price being what the customer pays, not some narrow definition of what you recieve)

 

It's not something passed around on here. You've always been able to book through the office. I book through the office every time and they're always very helpful; even calling back if all lines are engaged.

 

Thanks all. Yes, I agree this is probably why they added the new text on tour pages about prices including the booking fee. I guess this is the downside of using a booking product that hasn't been designed for the UK market.

 

47773 failed before departure from Tyseley with today's Cambrian Coast Express. Tour now starting from Birmingham NS instead of Dorridge with 37240. ECS just left Tyseley a couple of minutes early on the revised times.

 

The train is supposed to reverse at New St to go via Aston. If it's no longer top and tailed will it run round at New St (fun to path) or take the direct route to Wolverhampton via Smethwick?

(I'm currently waiting for it at New St so guess I'll find out myself soon enough!)

EDIT: No reversal at New Street, heading to Thame Bridge Parkway direct

 

Seen approaching Y Drenewydd whilst running on time this morning

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Whilst waiting for the seaside express the competition came trundling through, heading for Crewe:

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Then an hour or so later the pair of Type 3s returned.
It seems they picked up a souvenir headboard from one of the seaside shops in Pwllheli, 'cos there wasn't a headboard on the front as it aimed for the coast this morning!

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Just like the good 'ol days of the daily loco hauled 'Coast Express in the 90's, it was then a case of running the loco round before heading off towards Brum

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My point being I can see nowhere on the website, certainly not on the booking page that tells someone that.
Most folks these days I suspect would expect the "best offer" to be via the internet.

 

If that's the case, how sad.

I buy a lot off the use web, but will never do so without reading the T&Cs and FAQs on any website of Companies/Organisations I intend dealing with. This is on the FAQs page:

If you need to talk to us, call our Booking Office on 0121 708 4960. Our Booking Office will be open daily Monday to Friday 10-2pm.

That tells everyone there is a Booking Office.

 

I and I suspect many only ever read FAQ's if something goes wrong. Certainly not something I would do by default, otherwise life would be very boring with the amount purchased off the internet. For example I have never read the Amazon FAQ's for anything other than when our Firestick froze.
It may be there but I would say it is "hidden" in the T & C. Surely this is just the same as folks saying the mention of diesels in the T & C's of some tour company sites is not clear.

 

As importantly, so does consumer law. @1020 Shireman is right to highlight the need to check with a company if possible

 

Indeed, the law requires that information which may be material to the purchasing decision is prominent enough to make an informed choice.
As Gladiator5076 has raised its ugly head, the diesel on the back/transparency debate is a case in point. It is quite obviously a material factor for many people but of course also, therefore, a potential deterrent. That is the nub of the transparency debate, RTC etc don't want to test how much of a deterrent by prominently saying the train will have assisting [diesel] traction.