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Saphos 2027

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by 2857Harry, Sep 7, 2026 at 1:07 PM.

  1. 2857Harry

    2857Harry Well-Known Member

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    Saphos Trains | Luxury Steam Train Journeys
     
    2857Harry, Sep 7, 2026 at 1:07 PM
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  2. Alex Productions

    Alex Productions Member

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    Looks to be a great lineup of trips. Major highlight in there is two double headed trips with 5029 and 6024 down to Plymouth which I'm sure will attract some attention. Interesting to see that the Golden Arrow, Lakelander and Welsh Marches trips aren't running for 2027 unless they are yet to be added. Looks like it'll be a busy year for the Great Western pair as I think half of these trips here all are steam hauled from Taunton.
     
    Alex Productions, Sep 7, 2026 at 2:41 PM
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  3. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Resident of Nat Pres

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    In true railtour website style I see the Great Western shows a destination of Kingswear when it appears to be going to Plymouth.
    Copy paste alive and well in Crewe as well as Kings Lynn.
     
    Gladiator 5076, Sep 7, 2026 at 2:42 PM
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  4. Bulleid Pacific

    Bulleid Pacific Part of the furniture

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    Good to see Standard Class is available on the Fellsmans, too
     
    Bulleid Pacific, Sep 7, 2026 at 2:49 PM
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  5. 3ABescot

    3ABescot Member

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    I do hope the Marches Line has not been abandoned by Saphos, as Vintage Trains seem to have done.
     
    3ABescot, Sep 7, 2026 at 6:36 PM
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  6. Alex Productions

    Alex Productions Member

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    They may be just taking a year off from doing them. The Edinburgh Summer Explorer didn't feature in 2026's lineup of tours but did in 2025. I think it might just be Saphos is rotating around which trips are the focal points for the year.
     
    Alex Productions, Sep 7, 2026 at 7:17 PM
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  7. eggbert

    eggbert Member

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    Similar to the Cotswold circuit. Worcester- Sapperton-Oxford .
     
    eggbert, Sep 8, 2026 at 7:46 AM
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  8. Barrie Childs

    Barrie Childs New Member

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    If the 'King' and 'Castle' are the Taunton-based engines next year, are either gauged to operate the Welsh Marches route?
     
    Barrie Childs, Sep 8, 2026 at 12:56 PM
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  9. NathanP

    NathanP Well-Known Member

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    Yes I think so, although it's worth noting they've drastically reduced the tours which even pick up there. There is one Saphos, one Statesman and one Midland Pullman tour that picks up along the Welsh Marches next year. So across all their brands that's three tours picking up there. In previous years there's probably been a good dozen or so across the three brands.
     
    NathanP, Sep 8, 2026 at 2:57 PM
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  10. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

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    That's the problem with the way LSG tours are currently being run. They've got a series of tours that work well for them operationally, but are they attractive enough for people to book on? They've got their fixed paths over the S&C or down to Kingswear and run tours from varying origins to meet those paths. But if you've done it once, are you going to want to do it again, especially for several hundreds of pounds, or would you rather go somewhere different?

    Past-Time Rail found that out many years ago with the Eden Project trips. They'd sell out for the first couple of years then bookings would dry up as people didn't want to go to the same destination every year. Saphos have got Kingswear, Carlisle and Stratford-upon-Avon next year, plus a couple to Plymouth and a pair to Edinburgh. It's not the most exciting programme.
     
    5944, Sep 8, 2026 at 4:34 PM
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