Pathfinder Tours' West Highlander - September 2016

I'm sure we've all had some rather bad luck when it comes to railtours - myself included... when I was 8, Dad took me on the Chandlers Ford Pheonix with 60009 and the shuttles from Eastleigh to Salisbury ran rather late owing to, I think, brake problems at Eastleigh.

However, when it comes to bad luck, I think the West Highlander today takes the prize. A problem with a freight train on the West Highland line earlier this morning lead to the tour leaving Fort William 6 hours and 23 minutes late this afternoon. By the time it reached Carlisle, the delay was in excess of 7 hours (arrived 23:03, due 16:00) owing to signalling problems near Carstairs (the train was diverted onto the G&SW).

The train has now been cancelled at Carlisle... it's destination? Paignton.

What happens now? Given the train is over 7 hours from Paignton (at least!), I assume Pathfinder will have to try and find a hotel nearby that will be able to accomodate a train load of people? Or hire a coach back to the south west? Either way, a nightmare scenario for Pathfinder and passengers alike.

James

 

Correction... it hasn't been cancelled!

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O32497/2016/10/03/advanced

This is the path to get it back to the South West, it's running overnight.

James

 

The train finally arrived at Exeter 313 mins late at 06:26. When was the last time that a pair of 37s hauled a 'sleeper' train? <BJ>

 

What has West Coast got to do with it? This was a Direct Rail Services trip.

 

Pathfinder and West Coast?


I don't think so. <BJ>

 

Credit where its due.. In this case none to west coast and a lot to direct rail services!

 

Are you quite sure that West Coast didn't provide a crew? Don't forget that the DRS men would probably be out of hours.

 

Well reported elsewhere that this was DRS throughout.

Sent from my GT-N8010 using Tapatalk

 

From Pathfinder. <BJ>

Book With Confidence!
To operate our main line excursions Pathfinder Tours uses these professional train operating companies (TOC's)...

• DB Cargo (DB)
• Direct Rail Services (DRS)
• GB Railfreight (GBRf)

... each of which is owned by a respected national or international parent company.

Bookings can be made with us in the knowledge that each excursion is run with your safety and welfare as the absolute priority.

 

D

Doesn't really answer to question...

 

Surely that depends whether DRS hire in crews from WCRC.

 

But it does show how intent Pathfinder are in assuring the public that it is serious about safety and who it chooses to haul it's trains. <BJ>