UK Railtours 2014

Email from UK Railtours today : -

THE SOLENT AND SARUM​

Saturday 24 May 2014​

The third of our new generation of Main Line Steam tours, this will be another opportunity to travel to Salisbury and back behind 34046 'Braunton', this time returning via Havant and the Portsmouth Direct Line.This programme is promoted jointly by UK Railtours, Creative Rail Dining, the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust (owners of 'Tornado') and Locomotive Services Ltd (owners of 'Bittern', '

see http://www.ukrailtours.com/tourshow...ains&tourfile=140524_THE_SOLENT_AND_SARUM.txt

 

That's an interesting group of promoters, I wonder why the A1 Trust are involved in this one?


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UK Railtours are also promoting the White Rose the A1 Steam Trusts trip. The A1 Steam Trust also use Locomotive Services base at Southall.

 

Assuming the Dec 23rd trip to Salisbury with Braunton was the 1st, what's the 2nd? The A1 Trust's "White Rose"?

 

Yes see http://www.ukrailtours.com/tourshow.asp?tourtype=excursion_trains&tourfile=140412_THE_WHITE_ROSE.txt which states " Following the great success (apart from the truly atrocious weather!) of our Christmas trip to Salisbury, here is the second of our 'joint venture' main line steam specials with the emphasis on simple itineraries, civilised timings and, above all, fine food!"

 

This is quite confusing,as on the A1 Tornado website:

http://www.a1steam.com/index.php?op...ose-12th-april&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=123

it says that Pathfinder are the "ticket agents"!

Interesting that they seem to have gone in with 2 different railtour comapnies.

 

Also although you can book with Pathfinder via the A1 Steam Trust site, the trip does not appear on the Pathfinder website. I expect they need a promoter with a South East customer base to fill this train.

 

It is even more confusing when you come to book as UK Railtours are offering different seating options to the A1 Steam Trust / Pathfinder. I note the A1 Steam Trust / Pathfinder for example are offering first class non dining seats whereas UK Railtours are offering dining only in first class, on their respective websites.

 

I had'nt spotted that,as you say,confusing. The other odd thing is that the A1 Steam Trust website makes no mention whatever of UK Railtours involvment,whereas the UKR website says it is a "jointly promoted" train. Anyway lets hope its a success for Tornado,they must need the business badly after loosing the Steam Dreams contract.

 

This is not the first time different railtour companies have partnered. Steam Dreams were selling a coach or two on one of the 90 mph Bittern 'Streaks' last summer, although they were Pathfinder tours.

Peter on a cold afternoon in Manchester
http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com

 

and UK Railtours were also selling tickets for these runs.

 

According the one of the articles in Steam Railway mag about the 90 mph tours, UK Railtours and Steam Dreams provided the carriage stewards, which may have something to do with them selling some of the seats.

(Oh look - post number 3000!)