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RTC 2020

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by RalphW, Sep 18, 2019.

  1. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    I wasn't on and I never asked.

    As someone who in his working life had occasionally wear an air set gas mask for several hours at a time, comments/complaints about having to wear a very light face covering amuse me.
     
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  2. 1020 Shireman

    1020 Shireman Part of the furniture Friend

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    That explains a lot.
     
  3. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    I see from the RTC website that the fares are much the same as pre-Covid. Does that mean that they are aiming to fill nearly all the seats? Or have they found a way to make ~60% occupancy viable?
     
  4. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Obviously I know nothing about the RTC/WCR business arrangements. However, it's been said enough times for it to be true that a typical train has to have a loading way over 60% to make money. But, for example, if the TOC decides to waive (or greatly reduce) its hire charges for its coaches whilst maintaining its crew/loco/fuel charges then anything is possible.
     
  5. 1020 Shireman

    1020 Shireman Part of the furniture Friend

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    Unfortunately WCR hasn't gone down the Saphos route and face coverings are going to have to be worn at all times on RTC tours. Hope there's an Appleby stop so we can get off the station for a short break; and it will be a bolt for the exit at Preston to get off the station there to be able to breathe fresh air properly.

    Definitely driving to Crewe to avoid 2 hours of mask wearing in each direction.
     
  6. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

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    I can fully understand your feeling regarding masks but personally I believe that the Saphos path takes little notice of public health. Nothing would get me on any train, mainline charter, service or Heritage without a mask. In fact in the last couple of weeks I have drifted to mask wearing on my rare visits to town, and based on last week may soon have to start wearing one in the front garden as the tourists seemed to be happy leaning over the wall even whilst I was out there doing some weeding.
     
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  7. 1020 Shireman

    1020 Shireman Part of the furniture Friend

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    Might be cynical but think it's the government's way of keeping lockdown in place by the back door. Make it too unpleasant to be out and about. Unsure about Saphos but was surprised at them getting registration under 'Leisure and Hospitality'. Looking forward at bookings already made to work out what's viable. Cotswold Venturer will be a drive to Didcot for a short day out. The Royal Duchy that we love is an issue with close to 2 1/2 hrs to Exeter in the morning and back in the evening. The Easterling is a write-off. Not going into London on a service train; then the train itself will be a minimum 3 hours both ways. CMEs - tell you after Saturday!!

    Not happy times. Bit tongue in cheek the title of RTC's Guidance. A Great Day - The Safe Way.

    For information I've attached it.
     

    Attached Files:

  8. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    I suppose one thing that might work in the favour of everyone - alert for ageist comment - is that the majority of people on the train will be particularly careful because they may feel more 'at risk' than most. So in that sense the RTC guidance is about as good as you can expect. The trouble is that common sense and carefulness doesn't necessarily match with every enthusiast you can think of. ;)
     
  9. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    Having now spoken to a steward on the SSE, he reported that masks were worn on board at all times, eating & drinking excepted, and certainly those he spoke to were not unduly concerned about them, just happy to be on a train again.
     
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  10. pete12000

    pete12000 Member

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  11. NathanP

    NathanP Member

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    I'm booked on a couple of RTC trips and although I won't particularly enjoy wearing a mask for that length of time, that will be tempered by the fact that I will be behind steam on the mainline, which has been a rarity for me so far this year. It took a 2 hour trip on a GWR service train to get me used to wearing a mask. For the first hour I struggled terribly. It itched like mad, it slid up my nose and poked me in the eyes whenever I turned my head, it made it harder to breathe, it steamed up my sunglassses whenever I put them on etc.

    But after the first hour I became acclimatised to it and it no longer bothered me as much as it did. Switching to breathing through my nose helped. I naturally breathe through my mouth but that's much harder with a mask on, so I found once I started using my nose instead many of my discomfort sources faded.

    Mind you, I was one of the few people on the train actually wearing a mask. The number of passengers taking 2 hours to eat a sandwich or a bag of crisps was remarkable!
     
  12. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    You joke but that is the point. Some folk graze on trains and so could argue they are always eating. Not a good scenario at all.
     
  13. 1020 Shireman

    1020 Shireman Part of the furniture Friend

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    Get everyone's point of view. Masks are a necessity which is why we haven't been straying far from home; apart from a trip by car down to Dawlish to see the progress on the wall and enjoy the great outdoors to avoid mask wearing. Everyone's different and best of luck to those who get on with face masks. Hope enough of you and them support the trains. I get the folk who are just glad to be out on the trains under any conditions. But when you've done over 900 tours and done every route you want to countless times, with more different locomotives than you ever expected, if it ain't going to be enjoyable it ain't worth doing. We're not even thinking about the autumn and winter months when the weather's cooler and the moaners get their way with the heat on and the windows shut. We're using the money we'd spend on touring to increase our support for loco groups, particularly a couple we might see back on the mainline next year.
     
  14. banana patch

    banana patch Member

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    Not concerned about wearing a mask more about sitting near a total stranger .Rtc told me if I book in standard as an individual I would have a table for four to myself seems too good to true!not sure if I want to take the chance as masks are not guaranteed to be totally effective
     
  15. 1020 Shireman

    1020 Shireman Part of the furniture Friend

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    Just had ticket letter for Saturday and the Scot is the confirmed motive power. We've got our usual tickets, Coach G 13-16f. All I need now is a cloak of invisibility to hide behind not to have to mask up.
     
    Last edited: Aug 4, 2020
  16. 1020 Shireman

    1020 Shireman Part of the furniture Friend

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    Just had another Email from RTC. The 22nd August's Cotswold Venturer has been postponed due to lack of bookings. Booking automatically transferred to 21st August 2021. Shame that was a short day out eminently doable.
     
  17. iancawthorne

    iancawthorne Well-Known Member

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    The Waverley for the 16th August has also disappeared from the RTC web site.
     
  18. Davo

    Davo Well-Known Member

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    Cancelled due to low bookings by the looks of it when i received my email notification from R.T.C. with been booked on this waverley on the 16th. Anyhow i transferred my booking to the 8 August C.M.E. and managed to book a 1st class seat which seats are still available for in 1st class on the 23 August waverley tour with 60163
     
  19. Groks212

    Groks212 Member

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    I wonder if the hire fee for Tornado has increased since lockdown, as there is a marked difference between the fares for the 23rd August Waverley and the 6th September one that uses a Carnforth loco.

    Standard class on the 23rd Aug is £144 whilst on the 6th Sep it's £99. All fares on the 23rd are higher than for the 6th by £45 - £50.



    Edit: Just checked other RTC trips that are using Tornado and they are priced same as usual, i.e Std £99. so just the Waverley one that's different for some reason.

    Dave B
     
    Last edited: Aug 7, 2020
  20. Will RL

    Will RL Member

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    Wasn’t it originally a Scotsman trip? I note that standard class on the Marches trip in November was £144 but has been reduced to £99 now that Tornado is on it
     
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