Cumbrian Coast Express 9/4/16

The previously polished door hinges have also been authentically painted too.

 

The problem Ralph is not the passengers who were on the train, it is the passengers at Preston who were not.

Your remarks about being "overbooked" are a red herring. As far as I am aware no-one on the thread has suggested that it was, so why mention it?

You state that providing a replacement coach at Carnforth "as it turned out was not possible". This is presumably what the stewards were told, but whilst you criticise speculation from your position on the train. you noticeably fail to give facts as to why one was not used. In your post yesterday afternoon you clearly stated that a coach was both available and suitable therefore he only question remaining is why 5 hours were considered insufficient to shunt and attach it onto the support coach. It is the facts behind this apparent inability or reluctance to solve the problem which are lacking and which you are in a position to provide. Are you able to clarify this point?

Your remark about Preston and Virgin is a fair one. I don't know how many announcements were made in total and given the poor acoustics at that station it is quite likely that some of them may have been confused or unintelligible. There was however at least one announcement which clearly, intelligibly and inaccurately stated the train was cancelled. I am quite happy to accept that this miscommunication was more the responsibility of Virgin than RTC, though again I wonder at the lack of customer care shown by WCR in not providing a representative at Preston, again having 5 hours to arrange this simple courtesy.

Your postings on this & other threads involving WCR matters can be most useful for forum members, but unfortunately since official announcements from WCRC are almost non-existent you are increasingly seen as their unofficial mouthpiece. It is a purely personal point of view but it seems to me that you are all too often saddled with defending the indefensible.

Your three point solution is entirely sensible. I can't however agree with you remark that Ralph's post answers the basic question. Other than stating the obvious solution as "not possible" Ralph offers no explanation or facts to support WCR's assertions of what for them constitutes an impossibility.

You are also right about RTC being without fault as to on the day decisions, though I do wonder if one of the reasons WCR feels able to regularly lets down tour companies may be that said companies seem unwilling to take a stand against WCR's repeated and blatant disregard both for those who charter trains and their paying customers.

 

A lot of froth over an incident where passengers were let down badly. It's been stated earlier in the thread that the organisations involved have yet to state how those unfortunate people left at Preston are to be compensated. I think the cross-examination and implied criticism of Ralph is very unfair as the only people who know why those decisions were made, are those responsible for making them.

It would be helpful if one of the two RTC reps who post on this forum made some sort of statement in answer to the valid points made in this thread. That may influence some of the negative opinions being expressed and turn them into future bookings.

As to how the passengers will be compensated...well, thats between them and RTC/WCR. No amount of criticism from non-passengers is going to make any difference to the outcome. Those left behind will, hopefully, be given some answers when the said organisations open for business tomorrow.

It must be said, that this awful experience for those waiting at Preston has been a gift for those who enjoy knocking RTC/WCR...and that is never going to change, regardless of their performance.

 

A great run from 'Royal Scot' yesterday, hopefully more of the same next week and hopefully a pick up at Preston !

 

It shouldn't of happened in the first place. Trouble is that Ralph, yourself & several others seem to think that those who do not travel or involved in railways in some shape or form are not allowed to post on this forum & made to look inferior. If such a rule is ever made, can the forum staff please let us know please. Until then ANYONE is entitled to an opinion within reason All we get is silly comments like armchair/keyboard warriors or similar.
Is any wonder that myself & many others do travel on main line steam tours any more due to all the uncertainties of what could or could not happen & wasting hard earned cash. 2009 was the last time in my case.
Getting back to to yesterday's fiasco, there were probably out of pocket expenses involved as well other than just the train fare.

 

It all sounds so easy but as per my earlier post there are all manner of logistical challenges associated with 'just adding' an additional coach at Carnforth even if you get all the passengers that far, I would be interested to hear how these could be surmounted from the experts on here?

In the rush to solely blame WCRC (very reminiscent of the line on here to ensure WCRC management are always blamed for WB and to many posters the crew seem to be absolved of any involvement) I am not doubting that responsibility for the short formation is solely at their door, however informing passengers is solely the responsibly of the promoter and to suggest that criticism of RTC is completely out of order is just I am sorry to say very peculiar?

I am amazed that the promoter doesn't have staff at every joining station, which would have resolved any issue with Virgin being asked to provide information - very reminiscent of a habit TPE have of cancelling trains in Manchester and telling customers to take first available train to Bolton where a train will be waiting, there never is but Bolton is a Northern manned station so dealing with the passengers at that time becomes Northerns problem rather than TPE's.

 

*Sigh* OK

 

To keep a certain whinger happy a non WCR jobbie passes Docker before the steam lol

 

Excellent footage, thanks for sharing!

As one of the "mugs" prepared to pay for the privilege of travelling behind main line steam in 2016, I'm really looking forward to being on the Scot Commemorative next week.

Without the likes of RYTC and WCRC and others, my world would be a much poorer place.....

 

If Ralph kept quiet, the criticism, implied or not, would not happen.

 

What the heck has Ralph done wrong He stood up on here and made comments to help the situation,he hasn't run away when the going got tough like some girlies

 

Keep it up, I reckon a little more of this and we will successfully see another person who may actually have some inside information off the forum.

 

As a passenger on this trip I'd like to say that we had a fantastic day out. I'm posting as I'm so irritated by the unfair criticism heaped on RTC/WRC by those not there. Disappointed that the train was late picking up at Milton Keynes but clear assistance in reseating everyone from the stewards and many updates were made about possible actions to replace the missing carriage. In the end a bold decision to get the train back on time and those on the train did feel for those left behind, but we were already full. What followed was what we all should be talking about.

A fabulous run over Shap, an on time departure from Carlisle and a brilliant run round the Coast. It was all going well on the return until other events overtook us, engineering works in particular meaning a slow trundle round the Northampton loop, with fingers crossed that we'd overtake the last train to Tring, which we did, so all ended well.

 

What seems to have been overlooked in this "saga" is that under the latest conditions set by ORR WCRC trainsets must not mix air-brake and vacuum brake sets hence, with 3 trainsets in use on Saturday, was it simply that there no coach available that was compatible with the shortened trainset ?

Unfortunately only the stock suppliers can answer that but only to RTC as hirer of the train therefore only RTC or WCRC can supply the answers that everyone expects Ralph to give. As a regular steward Ralph may be more cogniscent of situations than many hence his ability to explain some problems BUT - at the end of the day - it is up to representatives of either RTC or WCRC to give full and official accounts of problems and solutions - including refunds and compensation.

 

That is not quite right. The loco came off Crewe with a full tender of Scottish. This was topped up at Carnforth on afternoon Friday with more Scottish.

 

You miss the point.

 

Very true Fred, even though the prohibition has been lifted an improvement notice is still in effect.
While it may be a case of shooting the messenger, Ralph, what he has said is actually illustrative of the unwillingness to be accountable towards both actual and potential customers. So when it is said WC or RTC has no obligation to communicate with "all and sundry" it may be strictly true but rather demonstrates the contemptuous attitude which causes the ill will to flow. It can only happen because those that are "addicted" to main line steam have no choice but to accept it or go without. Similar to allegiance to a football club as a supporter being exploited.
This leads to a vicious circle where the polarised views pro/anti WC etc become entrenched. Frankly it could easily be avoided with a little openness and honesty but they seem to be cultural anathema in the industry.