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Eastern Rail Services

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by Sidmouth, Oct 7, 2025.

  1. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    appreciate there is a link to the 60103 and christmas tour threads but separating this out as it maybe worth a stand alone discussion

    https://www.facebook.com/EasternRai...HrmcKHiLKLS7xDUXQRHKBbyLnjpDqh5dNz9AEVXbXdBBl

    Eastern Rail Services

    We are very proud to announce that in association with Uk Railtours, Science Museum Group, Northern Steam Operations and DB Cargo we are bringing you a superb Christmas outing with Flying Scotsman.
    Seats are sure to sell fast and you can book here:
    https://www.ukrailtours.com/.../the-festive-flying-scotsman/
    Throughout 2025 ERS has put itself right at the heart of a rejuvenated charter market with day trips, enthusiast specials, gala weekends and now a new string to our bow - Steam Specials.
    We have some grand plans for 2026 and whilst we’d originally planned to launch our Mk2 rake towards the end of 2025, as we get into autumn we now have two full rakes of charter coaches in service covering all bases including dining, people moving and comfortable First Class vehicles.
    But it doesn’t end there, as our recent post teases we have two more big announcements to make in the coming days . . .
     
    Sidmouth, Oct 7, 2025
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  2. GWR4707

    GWR4707 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Good luck to them, a little more competition/option in the market will be a benefit.

    Albeit I believe all the stock is Mk2's or 3's, so I assume all the arguments re WCR which have been debated to death will be repeated verbatim on here.
     
    GWR4707, Oct 7, 2025
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  3. acorb

    acorb Part of the furniture

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    Hopefully won't be repeated, because it wont make the blindest bit of difference.

    This is a good move for the overall health of the industry. To reference another comment on this forum, it moves some control away from 2 rich men and shows there is another way. It will also assist DB in rebuilding some of their steam experience.
     
    acorb, Oct 7, 2025
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  4. The Green Howards

    The Green Howards Nat Pres stalwart

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    Well, these are what I saw at Derby station on the Sunday of The Greatish Gathering:

    ERS rolling stock at Derby.jpg
     
    The Green Howards, Oct 13, 2025 at 5:53 PM
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  5. Deepgreen

    Deepgreen Well-Known Member Friend

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    Interesting. I imagine that may not be the chosen livery (perhaps the stock still carries a previous livery?) and the company name/logo looks amateurish. It all looks very insipid, BUT that may make no difference to bookings, of course.
     
    Deepgreen, Oct 16, 2025 at 5:18 PM
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  6. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Resident of Nat Pres

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    And our "Canadian Correspondent" who used to complain endlessly about the state of the coach roof's at Swanage would be very unhappy with those.
     
    Gladiator 5076, Oct 16, 2025 at 5:59 PM
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  7. NathanP

    NathanP Well-Known Member

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    As long as they're comfortable inside I would quite happily do a tour in them
     
    NathanP, Oct 17, 2025 at 10:15 AM
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  8. GWR4707

    GWR4707 Nat Pres stalwart

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    From comments made re a tour using them earlier this year their air con is as temperamental as everyone else’s Mk2's so not particularly comfortable inside then.
     
    GWR4707, Oct 17, 2025 at 11:01 AM
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  9. Groks212

    Groks212 Well-Known Member

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    I believe that's the Mk2 set that was used on the BLS shuttles.

    Their Mk3 set has a different livery:
    505257069_682013687987745_369634107805457379_n.jpg


    Dave B
     
    Groks212, Oct 17, 2025 at 11:20 AM
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  10. misspentyouth62

    misspentyouth62 Well-Known Member

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    UK Railtours had moved over to using ERS earlier this year I believe. I attended a rail-tour (March 2025 from memory) where the coaches were 'turquoise' blue (ex TfW?) and in terms of AC, of similar unreliability as seen from other suppliers of mk2s. The Train in question arrived and hadn't been through a washer for some time and thus the windows were an unbecoming yellow/verdigris hue. I have thought that Railtour operators have been struggling with mk2 coaching for some time now, it being a common occurrence and normal to expect to find toilets locked out, AC not working or 'temperamental'. I'm surprised a FTR on a coach operating without AC on a hot summer's day isn't given a greater level of attention given the adverse effect it can have on wellbeing of passengers.
     
    misspentyouth62, Oct 17, 2025 at 11:34 AM
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  11. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    at the risk of digression it strikes me a CDL fitted mk1 or early mk2 wins hands down in the coaching stock stakes than air con Mk2's

    is air con , genuine air con or a form of pressure ventilation ? and if its genuine air con do we know what causes such temperamental performance at all
     
    Sidmouth, Oct 17, 2025 at 4:48 PM
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  12. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Mk2D-F are fitted with proper air con. It's also getting on for 60 years old and designed to be run almost constantly, not once a week for a few hours. I'm sure a newer, more reliable design could be made and fitted, but I dread to think what the cost would be once you add in railway added tax to get it tested and certified.
     
    5944, Oct 17, 2025 at 4:58 PM
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  13. misspentyouth62

    misspentyouth62 Well-Known Member

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    I also think that on really warm days along with trains full to capacity and doors being constantly opened and closed, doesn't give the ageing equipment a fighting chance. I've been on rail tours in summer where trains parked in sidings with no airflow from vestibules and failing AC can render some passengers feeling thoroughly unwell.
     
    misspentyouth62, Oct 17, 2025 at 5:28 PM
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