The Vale of Rheidol Railway - News

That will go down like a cup of cold s**k ((c) Private Eye) with the non-railway visitors. Last month there were about 50 motorbikes present on the day I rode the line, all the riders were in the queue for tea and a wad. Also, what is the logic of creating a car park, charging for its use and then removing its main customer base?
Pat

 

And the charging element of the car park is essentially an honest policy with payment only in Two Hoots.

 

The curent timetable doesn't really allow enough time during the layover to comfortably walk to the bridge and do one of the walks so in my experience most passengers go to the cafe and hang around the station. I know they are developing a cafe at Aberystwyth so perhaps the timetables will be re-jigged with a much shorter layover at DB and perhaps on train catering that you purchase or ore-order beforehand and pick up from Aberystwyth?

This doesn't take in account the not insignificant number of non train customers at Devils Bridge who will most likely go to the Hafod Hotel for refreshments instead of the railway.

 

What a bizarre choice. I can't think of many railways looking to reduce secondary spending.

The new toilets will be welcome and the Two Hoots is a little rough around the edges so could use a new building but this seems a bizarre choice. You can just about make it to the bridge(s?) and see the punchbowl, though the falls itself take too long, but if the weather is bad there isn't much to do, and an engine shed with I assume the footplate experience loco living inside will be a challenge to make interesting for an hour. I wonder if it is a tactical thing, and we will see catering return but for whatever reason the railway is unhappy with Two Hoots but want to move on from them and this seems easier than a straight eviction.

 

The press release is pretty unambiguous - I suspect that learned friends might get involved if they evict on this basis and then flip.

It would be interesting to know (as I'm sure the VoR management will) how profitable Too Hoots is, and how easy it is to maintain the staffing levels.

 

However you look at it, there seems to be no real logic to the decision. I would suggest that if passengers were surveyed as to whether they had used the cafe during the DB layover the percentage doing so would be pretty high. If they are assuming that custom will automatically transfer to the new cafe at Aberystwyth then I think that assumption is seriously flawed. And as others have said, it certainly won’t pick up other “passing trade” in the same way.
Part of the charm of the 2 Hoots is it’s location and rustic/quirky atmosphere and from a personal perspective it probably ranks in the top 3 such establishments at preserved lines terms of the quality of their offerings etc.
I can’t help but think that the new Aber cafe will be a much more “plastic” set up.
And unless they do reduce the layover time at DB I really can’t see a replica engine shed and wood yard occupying the interest of the majority of passengers for more than 10 minutes!
Unless there is some other motive, I think the VoR have lost the plot somewhat with this decision and are seriously out of touch with their customers priorities. (Although I can understand why they might want to improve the toilets, they certainly aren’t the worst I have encountered on a preserved line!)

 

The press release mentions that it is a seasonal lease. I'm not sure the café owners would have much of an argument if the railway decided not to renew the lease for the next season, even if the railway decided to create its own catering offering afterwards. It would be different if the café had (say) a 5 year lease and it was being terminated early.

 

... in full support of whatever the management have decided?

 

I have been with the family.

The lavvy at Aberystwyth is undoubtedly a candidate for Bog of the Year.

So after an hour on the train what does Domestic Facilities Management want - Tea and a Bun.

What does the Ffestiniog offer at Tan-y-Bwlch and the Tallylyn at Aberganolwyn, Tea & Buns.

Be great on a typical Welsh day!

Not having catering wont encourage travel on the train

 

Wholeheartedly agree. Fabulous cafe and we have often called in when passing the railway, great food (read cake!) and friendly staff. It does pick up a large amount of passing trade. At my last visit there was a substantial car rally there - Devils Bridge being a great stop off on a circular trip around the Cambrian mountains. I think the VofR have seriously misjudged this, by all means redevelop - but keep a catering provision at your main destination!!

 

Haven't seen any mention elsewhere, but this month's "Heritage Railway"- P98 - has a photo of Gwalior pacific 762 and the caption says that it has been confirmed as being in line for a return to steam at the VoR: I'm surprised this hasn't been more widely publicised vor commented on - if it is true! Can anyone confirm whether it is or not? Wonderful news if true, though!

 

It was mentioned by the VoR when the loco was put on display, that future plans for it would be revealed soon. It was left vague enough that it could mean cosmetic restoration, full overhaul or anything else!
Whether there has been a further update with more detail, or if someone at HR has put 2 and 2 together and got 5, I couldn’t say.

 

I had a trip on the V o R at the weekend, the first visit since 1976. Are any of the intermediate stations used nowadays or were these a casualty of Covid?

 

They were all very much in use for the steam gala at the August Bank Holiday and many have had a lot of investment in the last few years, however, I doubt they are heavily used the rest of the time. The round trip to Devil's Bridge is marketed heavily, but individual short hop journeys are certainly available as far as I'm aware.

 

Back in the good old days the intermediate stations with the exception of Abberfwwyd were little more than a running in board in the hedge

 

Wow, could you get more spelling errors in one name? Aberffrwd

 

And despite Welsh spelling being far more consistent than English spelling.

 

You most certainly can use the intermediate stations on the VoR

I've used them to great effect for photography.