Polar Express in Birmingham

Good to know the Shareholders were notified of these trains before the General Public - NOT!!!

 

A genius piece of marketing that should sell in bucket loads!

 

It does seem like an idea that would sell well - Birmingham as the catchment coupled with Christmas (and the market)!

But the advertisement doesn’t explain the ‘service’ well. Does it actually leave Moor Street? If it does where does it go. Supposing it does where is the North Pole... Being a Vintage Trains operation it’d be nice to think Stratford but I’ve anfeeling Tyseley Warwick Road will be heavily decorated.

 

Based on the journey time I suspect it will be a goods line trundle to Tyseley and back.

 

Gauging that is going to make a Hall look easy....

I strongly suspect that isn't the target market?

It specifically states Trains depart Birmingham Moor Street....?

 

And the timing, method and style of marketing may be subject to conditions set by the franchise owner.

 

U2 eh? VT's shareholder comms are pretty woeful so far, which really surprises me, given the people involved. I've tried various email addresses to try and get answers to queries, but with little joy. Any tips?

 

I would very much like to know more about this, an outline of the route as a minimum. I am a shareholder, but also have a 6 year old daughter - so rather disingenuous to suggest I am not the target market. I am a bit miffed that we shareholders haven't even had so much as an email about this.
I am booked on the West Coast santa special which for £30 offers a 4 hour trip, food, present and visit from Santa. At £25 the VT offering is similarly priced, however trains are just 90 mins apart. A Severn Valley santa special takes 45mins each way, plus santa visit, so a good 3 hours, for £20. If VT want to get off on the correct footing this offering best be pitched very well against these rivals - a vague website (for me) isn't the best of starts. Sorry for the grumble, I want this to be a success, but there are a few alarm bells ringing.

 

I extended my standing order to increase my shareholding and sent an email explaining that I had done this as requested. I am still awaiting an acknowledgement of this several weeks on. I hope that this is a blip and that they are just very busy becoming operational, but a lot of us have invested heavily in VT, based on our faith in the organisation. VT please remember this! I know Ben frequents this forum regularly and has been an excellent communicator in the past.

 

Wow that’s amazing. Sadly too far away.

 

At first sight, these look like a great start for VTL, but...

As far as I can tell from the website, there are no child fares, so for mum, dad and 2 kids that’s £140 (or £180 first class) for an hou’s “experience”.

33 trains with, according to the FAQ, seven coaches labelled A to G per train means somewhere in the region of 10,000 seats to sell.

With those prices, that number of seats to sell and only about 3 weeks to go before the first train, I fear there may be a few rather empty trains, particularly those in November and early December.

Having said that, the basic cost of s very short distance repeat operation such as this is probably relatively low, so it may still be a financial success for VTL. I wish them well.

 

Agreed, but maybe not as bad as finding out the tyre plant that employs you is closing by reading the local paper.

 

As bad as the AISLT. We covenanters get no direct information before the public do. We put up with a lot for our love of mainline steam, but not for much longer if we are continually ignored.

 

I'm in the same boat(s) and starting to feel somewhat taken for granted ......
Historically the A1SLT have been pretty good at keeping us in the picture via the various publications, generally holding back the big announcements until covenantors have received said publications, but that seems to have slipped badly this year. As for VT, any news would be a start ....

 

Links at the first post don't seem to work....

 

You could try phoning but you may get the same response that I got a few months back when I asked a couple of questions as a shareholder, an abrupt "no" and "it's ongoing".

I then said a polite thank you and bye which weren't returned, just the click as they terminated my call.

I was left wondering if that's how they speak to a shareholder I hope they aren't as abrupt with potential customers. It also made me wonder if perhaps my money would have been better spent elsewhere.

Dave B

 

1020 Shireman said: ↑
As bad as the AISLT. We covenanters get no direct information before the public do. We put up with a lot for our love of mainline steam, but not for much longer if we are continually ignored.

Well that's at least 3 of us who are feeling the same.

Dave B

 

Make that four.