Saphos Trains 2018

https://www.facebook.com/groups/529362033745478 You'll need to join. Also on the group for 40013 https://www.facebook.com/groups/365131506431/

 

That was my thought too! Booked prem for the 'William Shakespeare' from Preston. Nice opportunity to dress Britannia as 70004?

 

Well I have just treated myself to one of the English Riviera Expresses in 1st class whilst the prices are down.

I have treated my parents as well, but that is partly to be able to get to/from Brizzle.

 

Are we all still waiting to pay ?,
I haven't heard from them since I booked on Jan 3rd

 

Yep. Still waiting.

 

Does the English Rivera include inclusive travel to kingswear or do you have to pay extra.

Steam coming on at Taunton isn’t a problem when the train there will be hauled by a two tone green 47, super bonus for me.

Although I’d wouldn’t complain if they used the Deltic lol

 

Same here.

Booked online on 31 December.

Last week I rang them to ask if I could pay, in case they rang at a time which wasn't convenient, but the gentleman I spoke to declined to process it, simply saying they would phone within 28 days of the booking, and would ring back if it wasn't a convenient time.

He said a phone call would be the first option, and email contact would only be used if they were unable to get a response to thier phone calls.

Struck me as a bit strange that they would refuse to take a payment, it would have taken little more time to do so than to explain that they couldn't and he didn't offer any reason why he wouldn't.

All I can assume is that they have not yet got a system in place. I wonder if anyone who booked by phone was asked to pay?

If not, my theory might be correct.

 

They more or less said that in the T and Cs.

Conclusion I came to was that £25 to upgrade to a Mk 1 first was not a bad deal.

Did they actually take your money?

 

Suspect they may not yet have the Credit Card Merchant handler in place and running if they are not taking money yet.

Steven

 

Interesting Al. I was told that "All trains will feature a mixture of rolling stock with MK2 carriages used for Standard and First Class and MK1 carriages for Premier dining, however this could change nearer the date of operation". So I didn't book at all, despite my love of the Marches Route. Mk2 'Coffins' and a diesel on the back? Hardly supports their claim on the front of their brochure of providing: THE CLASSIC STEAM EXPERIENCE.

 

Possibly so, yet you can book Statesman on line which whilst I know is a 'different company' but part of the same group and thus could easily process payments on behalf of the other.

I remain somewhat cynical why LSL etc needs to be made up of so many different subsidiaries and Trusts, no doubt there are accounting reasons for it which possibly one of our accounting correspondents could explain, I assume costs and charges can be offset etc?

 

Agreed ! A while back I was informed that LSL had acquired a generator car to go with their stock so to negate the need of a diesel. I have also heard rumours that the charter attributions fee has gone up to the full amount meaning if their train sits down on the network and causes delays they have to cough up the full amount in penalties. Only hear say at present but it could spell the end for pure steam on high risk routes.

 

But you can open the toplight in a Mk1. The standard class in the Saphos rake is nearly all MK2d with no opening windows.

 

I might very well share your cynicism but it is by no means confined to the LSL 'group' in this context and undoubtedly offers a tax efficient means of indulging the passions of private individuals whom enthusiasts all, ultimately, benefit from in the form of main line heritage operations.

 

I read that condition in their Ts and Cs, about single bookings being allocated an aisle, and so that is the reason why I haven't booked with them. Even with the cheap price, it's not worth the extra cost of getting from Worcester to Crewe just to sit in an aisle seat for the North Wales coast etc. At least with VT, RYTC and UKRT if you book early enough and contact them at the time of booking and ask for a window seat they will usually give you one. The only time I haven't been able to get one with them was when I left it really late for the booking, which was my own fault.

 

No standing in vestibules + no opening toplights = no booking from me.

 

Thanks for sharing your experience Al, I had spotted in the T&C's about single bookings being allocated an aisle seat and wondered how amenable they would be to a request to being allocated a window seat so I guess that answers that! I may still make a booking if nothing other than to "review" this new offering.