Merchant of Avon - Summer Sundays

West Coast’s solution in keeping the former Shakespeare paths

https://www.westcoastrailways.co.uk/m/merchant_of_avon/merchant-of-avon-details.cfm

 

Can we assume that VT will pick up the other dates ?

 

Yes see http://www.vintagetrains.co.uk/the-shakespeare-express.aspx

 

No love lost between WCR and VT then. VT big losers on their bread and butter route.

 

I am confused however, didn't the Shakespeare's run every weekend so how come they have ended up split between WCRC/VT if there is no love lost? Likewise how long can WCRC claim rights to paths as they were not used at all last year?

Don't know how much the SE used to be but the WCRC ones seem cheap for a longer run?

 

If I was VT, I would be looking to undercut WCR !

 

This is a slap in the face for VT," sorry we cant supply crew,engines,stock for you but we can run our own trains and undercut your fares.. " all the better for punters though

 

What if West Coast decided to the same? Somehow I get the feeling that West Coast would rather run at a loss than lose business to Vintage Trains.

Not if Vintage Trains lose out to West Coast Nick. Five out of ten Sundays lost to West Coast this year, what will happen next year? <BJ>

 

Exceptional value for money. £38 for six hours of steam. It will be interesting to see how successful this becomes.

I suppose a cynic could say that the reason why WCR stopped operating VT's trains was because they saw how phenomenally successful the Birmingham - Stratford route was and wanted the profits all to themselves. I don't suppose they ever imagined that VT would become their own operator instead and resume operations.

 

True Bill.. but if they pitch price right they could expect full trains for all the tains if they run them all..

 

I find it hard to see how this alternate Sunday outcome through the Summer has arrisen without some mutual discussion/ agreement? Not sure why it is assumed there must animosity between the 2 operators.
We will have to wait and see if VT have protesters with placards on Tysley station when the WCRC train pulls in?
I wonder if WCRC are working on plans for an 'Antarctic express' over 3 weeks next winter up
to Christmas to sink the young southern upstarts at VT ? After all WCRC must be twiddling their toes having already completed the organising of their 'up north' Santa's!
Exciting times!

 

Bit of a contradiction there. <BJ>

 

VT do have a loyal local following, and I didn't recognise anyone last Saturday. I think there is potential for WCRC to open a bit of the market in South Yorkshire if the timings are sensible, but I agree that there is potentially a law of diminishing returns the longer they run as markets get saturated.

 

Provisional times show 15:04 into Stratford, back out at 17:10 so 2 hours to turn and service.

 

I think its good this one W.C.R. are offering longer steam miles commencing at Burton on trent to S.O.A. and at a cheaper price compared with V.T. commencing at birmingham snow hill and a dearer price but its going to be some competition i bet with V.T. running their trains 1 in july 2 in august and 2 in september and W.C.R. doing likewise 2 in august and september and 1 in july exept on different days in the 3 months between both T.O.C.

 

Just a shame it is on a sunday cos anyone not from the midlands without their own transport would have to stay in a hotel overnight to go on this tour cos there are no early service trains on a sunday to get to burton on trent at 9:30am.