RTC 2024

RTC looks to be in a very difficult position at the moment. From what we can make out, WC has been prioritising the creation of a rake of CDL-fitted coaches to enable the Jacobite to run this year. However, as it looks as if air conditioned Mark 2s are going to be the order of the day for the time being, this not only raises the question of how many such vehicles WC will be able to provide in time for the summer season when not only its own workings but RTC's own trains will be running on a more intensive basis. but also, what is going to haul RTC's trains? If all three Riley "Fives" (or even just two of them) are needed in Fort William, this doesn't leave many other air-braked locos available for RTC's programme.

Bahamas, sadly, is out of the running as things stand, the NRM won't want 60103 to be overstretched and 35028 has its commitment to the BP workings, not to mention the owning group's very wise policy of not taking on too much to ensure their superb loco is always match-fit whenever it runs on the main line.

Although RTC has taken a bit of flak from some posters on this forum for not warning prospective passengers on GB16 that Mk1s would not be available when all concerned knew that the WC CDL issue has been brewing up for some time, I do feel sorry for Kelly and the team - caught between a rock and a hard place. It's quite hard to see at this stage what contingency plans there might be.

 

There might not be a summer season. In the latest Trackside magazine David Smith says that he's not planning to operate Mk2s during the Summer due to the unreliability of the aircon in the coaches. When Trackside specifically asked him "Does that mean there could be no WCR steam during the Summer?" he replied "Yes". The magazine then gets a quote from Kelly Osborne in which she says she's looking at re-scheduling her Summer tours.

Here's a photo of the article, for anyone who hasn't read it.

 

Without knowing the contractual terms, which of course may have been different this year, not even easy to speculate.
But taking the points in @NathanP post above, and as I understand it UKR have taken a "spare" Mk2 to cover for failures on their easter Scottish trips for the past two years, summer running may not be the best thing with Coffins.
Of course a/c on modern trains is often nothing to write home about.

 

Does that mean no Northern Belle over summer either? Will Riviera be suspending operations over Summer as well? Sorry, I don't buy it. Sounds like a bit more publicity seeking 'doom mongering' to me.

It's an odd move to deliberately sabotage your business to make a point, but that seems to be Carnforth's business plan at the moment.

 

Riviera may not but if you read the more diesel oriented forums it appears failures of the a/c are a pretty common event. Were there not repetitive issues with that Mk2 in the LSL set last summer as well reported on here?

 

Don't deny its not the most reliable, however, it's a massive step to withdraw an entire set of stock over a 'what if' & not a step other Mk 2 air con operators have taken. Hence my comment about further deliberate doom mongering.
Statesman and Northern Belle have a full programme of tours planned over summer, is this not similar stock? (Northern Belle being West Coast owned and operated!).

 

I really feel sorry for RTC if they go belly up because of MR Smith and his head in the sand I not fitting CDL on my mk 1 coaches come on No one can beat a government department MR Smith get it done ‍

 

You must have a far greater insight into both the financial position of RTC and the tours that will or will not be able to run over the coming months than most of us. Can you share the upcoming Euromillions numbers with us?
I have no idea of how much RTC may make from UK day trips compared to their overseas tours, but you have obviously decided that is where all their profit accrues from and without them they would cease to exist.
Whilst things may change over the summer, as far as I am aware at the moment no RTC tours have been lost, next week's to Bath and Gloucester being a reschedule of an earlier trip. Even the naysayers about the GB running have been proved wrong.
Who knows what may happen next?

 

When is the 'summer season' exactly? I am booked on the trip 19th May to Pembroke Dock and May can be very warm. I will NOT be happy if it's Mk2s and we are boiling to death only for them to stop running 2 weeks later. A big draw for me booking the trip was 45596 and she won't be on option on the Mk2s. The lack of communication from RTC is terrible.

 

Let's hope you are right and the over seas trips keep them going I will Amit I had forgotten about all these over sea ones

 

Times are now on realtime for this trip. Severn Tunnel is shut until mid afternoon, so the train now runs via Gloucester in the morning, taking nearly three hours to get to Newport, which is the second pick up now at 1109. There's no longer a break in Carmarthen and the train doesn't carry on past Tenby to Pembroke Dock. Presumably this is due to the trip arriving at Carmarthen later than planned.

Can't help but feel this tour is now quite different to the one I had booked.

Realtime Trains | 1Z33 0818 Bristol Temple Meads to Carmarthen | 19/05/2024
Realtime Trains | 1Z34 1417 Carmarthen to Tenby | 19/05/2024
Realtime Trains | 1Z35 1552 Tenby to Bristol Temple Meads | 19/05/2024

I wonder if it is only running because they are unsure about later in the season going ahead, would've been a good one to postpone. They've not updated their website either.

 

We can't be sure yet that it's not going to Pembroke Dock. There are still a few weeks before the tour yet so the timings could still all change. There may still be conversations going on with the NR planning team. I would expect if the tour destination changes RTC would contact passengers surely.

 

Well I've had no contact and can't see how they will be able to get to Pembroke Dock as there's a service train passing it at Tenby going down the single line. I believe the Tunnel being shut is due to short notice engineering works.

 

Times for the tour from Paddington to Bath and Gloucester tomorrow:

Outward: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U02210/2024-04-27/detailed
Return: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U02211/2024-04-27/detailed

 

I just hope that if West Coast do decide to in effect shut down over summer, they use that time to fit CDL on the MK1's and ensure they have at least one rake ready for 2025, and a rolling program of fitting the coaches thence forward, If they do nothing, then the likes of RTC, will have to consider do they stop, or look elsewhere, possibly a tie in with Saphos, of course, they could abandon steam haulage, and just use heritage diesels, using the riviera Blue and Grey rake

 

Perhaps you could explain why LSL would want to do that, or where the stock would come from?
Who else would they look to? AFAIK the only TOC's with a steam licence are WR, LS, TY (and DB who have stated their position).

 

One option would be to use the blue and grey rake, and use heritage diesels crewed by Freightliner, and not run steam whatsoever until the situation improves, or another operator can take up some of the paths. In the end it comes down to how much West Coast want to remain in business, as a tour provider for engines and rolling stock