Steam Dreams 2024

The LSL start times make them somewhat of a marathon from a lot of places. Todays Bristol trip is quite "genteel" by comparison.
Happened to notice a Saphos trip along the Marches that starts at Bournemouth. Unusual to have tours start down this way other than the annual Poole to Kingswear.
"Estimated" departure from Bournemouth 05:30 back at 23:45. I reckoned I would need to get up about 02:45 and if back on time, back home in Swanage at 00:45.
22 hours, maybe they should be paying me
Still you do get 2 hours 10 minutes in Shrewsbury.

 

Looking at the flat light this morning why did I bother to go out for the Brit? Perhaps it was nostalgia for that first sighting I described up thread or just because it wasn't far from home and High Wycombe may have been sunny! (I am a glass half full type). Anyway here's what I got at High Wycombe and approaching Islip on the much upgraded Bicester - Oxford line

 

I would flip your comment on its head, it is because those with deeper pockets are willing to pay these prices that the railtour market is sustainable. The upper end of the market has remained stable and has remained unaffected by the cost of living crisis, Covid and inflation. If operators were solely reliant on standard class tickets they would have thrown in the towel years ago.

Unfortunately it means that I will only be doing one railtour this year instead of 3 or 4, but the luxury end of the market is keeping steam alive on the mainline whether we like it or not.

And if I am now having to fork out minimum £120+ for a ticket, perhaps I will be wanting a bit more than a care worn Mk 1 with temperamental heating?? That sum of money to me is 'Special Event' category and I will want an experience to match. So either exceptional service or a trip that's out of the ordinary.

 

Short term, I agree. Long term - I'd be much less sure.

 

Britannia heading out of Bath at Sydney Gardens.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/16582147@N07/albums/72177720319723464

 

Personally what I think is out of order is charging £125 for a table for 2 when you are already paying £790. I know all the railtour companies charge a supplement for a table for 2 but £125 is way too much. In fact I don't see why they have to charge it at all and I suspect the system isn't fair - if you get a lot of couples booking who haven't paid the supplement they are probably going to put some of them at tables for 2 to fill the train up, which is quite unfair on those who have paid the supplement.

While my wife and I have enjoyed our couple of trips with LSL we can't justify £1000 for a day out on a regular basis.

 

I have asked this question before. It’s based on the number of tables for four that end up being tables for two. The surcharge covers the lost income of those empty seats on tables of four.

 

There is a surcharge added now if 3 people book which means no one else will join you on on your table for four. I seem to recall it being non optional as well.

Edit.
It is optional on Steam Dreams but not on the Midland Pullman or Saphos trains.

Dave B

 

70000 Britannia on yesterdays Steam Dreams trip returning from Bath to London Paddington, seen at Oddington and Upper Icknield Way nr Saunderton, am I right in saying it’s the first time since the early 90s that’s a Britannia class has ran along the Chiltern Mainline?

 

The issue is that the operator has made a decision to sell tickets at a lower price, and then recoup lost seat sales through a supplement, rather than raise all prices to get the same yield.

 

70000 Britannia is seen working the London to Bath trip via the Chiltern Hills, Seen at Culham, Wantage Road, Hungerford and Tilehurst

 

On our most recent dining trip with Saphos, the adjacent table for 2 was occupied by two individual gentleman... The first wasn't too pleased when he was joined at a later joining station.

 

Yes me too, but as a solo traveller I have occasionally thought that a group of three might have been expecting to have the table to themselves. I wonder if there has been feedback to Saphos/Steam Dreams which led them to say--right it's easier to say that a dining party of three gets a table for four and they pay for it.

More generally, isn't the customer king? If the market didn't stand a whopping great supplement for a table for two and they were left unsold, there would soon be a response. My impression is that actually the tables for two are often the first to sell out.

 

This year, when travelling as a single traveller in Dining or First Class on Saphos, Statesman and Midland Pullman, single travellers have to pay the extra £50 to sit at a table for 2. It used to be optional, but isn't any more. And parties of 3 have to pay a mandatory supplement to keep the 4th seat empty. So it is no longer possible for a single traveller to be allocated a seat at a table with a party of 3. It doesn't bother me, as I always used to pay the supplement anyway, back when it was optional. You get the convenience of a window seat to see the view, plus you don't have to clamber over someone or ask them to move whenever you need to get up to go to the toilet. eg, on this weekend's Pathfinder tour around Scotland I have forked out an extra £100 for a seat at a table for 2 (it is still optional with Pathfinder).

 

Generally a group of 3 and then a single person on a table for 4 is a lose lose for both parties. Sometimes you may all get on, but often not I suspect. What the "right supplement is open to debate I guess.
Travelling for business or pleasure with my employer we only really ever got the seats that were available late on. Post the advent of on line check in this often meant a middle seat.
I remember once a lucky shortish flight where a couple had booked the aisle and window. When I asked if they would like to sit together they said no and proceeded to spend the whole flight talking to each other across me as if I was not there. Of course I was not in a position to complain, as really a single pax on a table for four could not if the train was full.

 

My video of yesterday's run to Bath. Filmed at Bourton and Radley. Enjoy

 

Indeed so - it always seems to be the case that it runs more or less to time as far as Egham, and then loses several minutes. As with the infamous Winchfield water stop, it is clearly not long enough. However, the effort to re-work it may not be justified if other trains are not affected enough for delay payments to kick in more than occasionally. It should be possible to get a 20 minute water stop in with a 30 minute service interval, but... The steam almost always gets back to London on time even when leaving Chertsey quite late. The main sector of people affected is probably photographers...!

 

Spotted on the website that the London to Exeter trip has disappeared, presume cancelled.