21st Century Steam Ltd Tours (Tornado Rail Tours)

387101 moved from Hornsey to Derby in October 2022 for ETCS fitment, funded by NR as first in class. It moved to Old Dalby in May this year for testing, and should be back by the end of the year. Yes it's two cabs and four coaches, bit it's for a modern EMU with passive provision for ETCS, so I dread to think what issues the A1 lot will have.

 

AFAIK Tornado was booked into Old Dalby for testing back in March …..


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Just reviving this thread with the advertised comeback tours now imminent ….

 

Looks like the tours page have been updated all say fully booked in all classes until the end of July even the 2 Aberdonian ones.

 

Sadly my confidence in the first one not being postponed/rescheduled drops every day as there are only 17 days to go. Tornado has yet to be in steam never mind turn a wheel in running in. Its then got to be put on a low loader again to get to a mainline connection. Would it also need a fully loaded test run prior to running a charter?

Dave B

 

It would need a loaded test runs before the charter. I'm just sadly waiting for the email saying its been rescheduled to later in the summer.

The tours I think are being run by vintage trains so would presume it'll go to Tyseley when it's done.

 

Other tour companies have done that in the past so no more bookings can be taken, allowing them time to contact existing customers to inform them the tour is cancelled.

 

If a tour actually is cancelled rather than fully booked, why not say so on the website?

 

Well I contacted the trust on Tuesday about whether or not it's going ahead but haven't heard anything yet. Recently they've been quick to respond.

 

I assume to prevent customers who have already booked from finding out from the website and bombarding the office with phone calls asking for a refund. Another option is do what Pathfinder do and just remove it from the website completely.

 

They're usually pretty quick to answer on their F/B page as well. Someone asked the same question a week ago when the Trust published the news that Tornado had done it's TPWS testing and up until now they have not responded.
Personally I think instead of receiving tickets and timings approx 8 days before the trip as per the tour blurb, it'll be an email saying tour postponed/cancelled.

Dave B

 

Yep I'm afraid so. I think they know it won't run but won't tell the passengers that are booked on it like myself till the last possible opportunity.

 

Speaking as someone booked on the Carlisle trip on 29th June, I find the situation is pretty lamentable, particularly the lack of information.

If the tour is not actually fully booked and describing it as such is a ruse as you suggest, then this would amount to lying. I do hope this is not the case.

If the tour isn't running on the 29th, then the best outcome for me would be for a new date to be announced, then I can amend the arrival date on my Leicester hotel reservation accordingly, cancellation not being an option in this instance.

Nick M.

 

Perhaps it will run but with a Castle on the front instead?

 

Or two Castles on the front! That would sound rather good over the S&C...
I think this is my preferred outcome.

 

If this turns out to be the case then I feel very sorry for all those who may have booked hotels that aren’t transferable or refundable. Ever since the original A1 Caledonian from Brum to Glasgow was cancelled way back when, we’ve sworn we won’t book tours that necessitate an overnight hotel.

 

I'm with you about the lack of information given to passengers. I remember when I did a tour with RTC and i got loads of information of what was happening with 60009 whether it'll make the tour or not in late.

 

Do folks still book non refundable hotels for railtours? Seems far too big a risk for any tour to me.

 

Hopefully not, though I recall posts on here in the past bemoaning such losses. There’s generally a premium to pay for cancellable rooms though, adding yet more cost ?

 

Sometimes, yes, but by using Booking.com you often get free cancellation. I agree, free cancellation in places like Premier Inn does cost a bit more than prepaid, but you have to weigh up whether paying an extra £20-30 for free cancellation is better value than losing £90 for an unused room when a tour doesn't run.