New Tour Company? Great British Railway

that doesn't make sense. the bid for 8 sep is due 15 june - twelve weeks ahead.

they are advertising a steam trip sometime in october from the midlands via derby to carlisle with a "pacific type" steam loco joining at derby. could this be 6233 from butterley?

prem dining looks expensive but a lot of booze included.

 

Speaking to their boking agent today 8th and 15th September are running as advertised.

 

What it comes down to is 'you pays your money and takes your chances'. What I would not wish to see, however, is a long thread on 'I can't get my money back' if people book with this company and they tours don't run.

 

QUOTING THERE BROCHURE

Refunds Passengers cancelling prior to 28 days
of the departure date receive a full refund less an
administration charge of 10% (or £10, whichever is
the highest) per person. For cancellation between 28
days and the date of the tour no refund is offered, but
we will attempt to offer another train booking in lieu.
All requests for refunds must be made in writing to
our office.
In the unlikely event of a trip being cancelled by
Great Railway Journeys of Britain all monies shall be
refunded but no other liability shall be incurred.


Did Kingfisher quote the same?

Neil

 

We will attempt to offer another booking Eh? I'm still waiting for that offer or my sixty smackers.

 

Not sure what exactly Kingfisher's Ts & Cs said but those appear to be fairly standard (and are very similar to those of Statesman Rail, who's Ts & Cs were, if I recall correctly, identical to Keingfishers).

In the interest of balance, I should point out that I did receive a full refund from Kingfisher for one tour when the final timings received a few days before the tour made it totally impossible for us to travel on it.

 

Did those who paid by credit card get refunded ? I paid by cheque for three tours premier dining and never received a penny back when they did not run and Kingfisher wound up in 2008.

 

If the fare, or total for more than one person, is over £100, the safest way to pay for railtours is with a credit card. Then if the company goes "bust" you get your money back.
Andover

 

I suspect this may be the reason that tickets are sold through a travel agent with an ABTA Bond in place - a greater chance of refunds without hassle in cases of cancellation

 

Can't blame folk for being cautious if part of this promotion was born out the ashes of an old failed one, especially for those who lost money.

I wish them well but it look like they'll have a hard job winning people over, especially in a time where money is tight and people are more choosy about where it's spent.

A lot of tour promoters come and go but one or two seem to have been around forever and stood the test of time, I seem to be booking more and more of late with a Gloucestershire based company as I know where I stand with them.

 

I think it would be wise for everyone to book using a credit card. If the total is over £100 the card company is equally liable under the consumer credit act. Regardless of the operators in this economic climate buyer beware! Paying by cheque is just a risk to far.

This does look more like HR Railtours than Kingfisher. Only time will tell...

 

Not equally liable but totally liable as the contract actually exists between the credit Card company and you and not the retailer and you.

This does not stop them trying to wriggle out of their responsibilities, if they think they can blind the consumer with waffle. Usual lack of morals from the financial services industries.

 

Roger Hardingham and Hayden Fortune are both behind the company. Not only have their names popped up via companies house apparently, but somebody I spoke to the other day has just asked them outright and the answer was "yes". Rumblings are that DRS are the TOC and that Riviera is supplying the passenger trucks.

I won't bother advising what to do with your money, given all the mutterings as its not my place and everyone is adult to make an informed choice. But I do fail to see why 2012 is a good choice of year to start something up of this nature, but maybe I'm missing something and "people have giro money burning a hole in their shell suit pockets... lets get 'em spending" (to steal a phrase from Brian Potter on Phoenix Nights).

 

Mr Melia needs to get his facts in order, i have spoken to Hayden Fortune this evening and he is not a director nor a shareholder in this company and his name is not linked in any way shape or form via companies house.

 

Not quite true, DRS do have steam operation on their safety case, its dormant at the moment, but there are mutterings...........

 

Interesting, didn't realise that. Would make things very interesting if they decided to pursue that. Thanks for the correction!

 

Individual Insolvency Register - Home

Maybe this is why?

 

Fair enough, that is only what has been passed on (will tell the source what has been stated at some point). Personally I care not so long as it doesn't bring any more trouble to the markets as there's enough hills to climb without any more deja vu of the last 4-5 years. If what you are saying is true then, people may be even less likely to be trusting of the new venture if its solely backed by the former main person at Kingfisher.

 

Mail out received from the new tour company together with a book list from Kingfisher - Data Protection Act anyone?