Vintage Trains 2020 Tour Programme.

Link to the brochure:

https://emarketing.mercury-marketin...EF23F30FEDED/B72684654E64DC067F4E5A579FEBB2E9

 

I've booked on the Llandudno and Minehead trips, and eagerly await The Welsh Marches ones, but I'm sorry to say the S&C trips just aren't appealing to me. The A1 Trust run an annual trip from Birmingham over the S&C which is steam-hauled throughout (Border Raider), so VT's offering of diesel from Birmingham to Hellifield just isn't as appealing as it might once have been. Sorry.

 

None of them appeal to me unless they drop the tailgunner.

 

Vintage trains have cancelled all April tours

http://www.vintagetrains.co.uk/


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We have to take a diesel for shunting at Llandudno.
Minehead - we are required to have a rescue plan should our vacuum brake train fail, so we will need to have a diesel in the Worcester / Bristol area.
Welsh Marches we do not plan to take a diesel with us - as per our website!

 

Ok Ben thanks. Why Minehead and not Welsh Marches?

 

Regarding rescue plans; for The Welsh Marches, we can keep a rescue diesel at Worcester and let the passenger train run without a diesel on the back. Minehead is further away and will therefore require a different plan.

 

Ok Ben thanks. Let’s hope it runs and if so I will be on it. Don

 

In light of recent developments introducing a lockdown, the Vintage Trains steam charter programme is now postponed until mid June. Passengers on any of these trains will be able to transfer to an alternate train scheduled/re-scheduled for later this year.

http://www.vintagetrains.co.uk

 

Latest update from VT is at http://www.vintagetrains.co.uk/uploads/Chairmans Letter 27 March 20.pdf

It's a long read but basically it's kickstarting their fundraising appeal. Spend £100 with them on a virtual railtour ticket and be entered into a draw for a complimentary seat on 5043's first tour after overhaul.

 

Email received from VT today confirming that they will not be running any trains at all in the whole of 2020. Booked passengers offered a full refund, a credit note, or a request to donate it to VT's charitable trust.

 

I guess that VT are accepting that this year is now a write off in regards to mainline tours, while the other major players all seem to be preparing for some kind of return in July and August.

 

Would vintage although not making any money for this year off travellers wanting to go on there tours will it mean vintage will still be back to run trains for 2021 season as normal without any loss of income?

 

If you read item #10 above you will find their appeal for donations, etc.
In other words, without this money it is unlikely they will be back to run trains for 2021 season as normal without any loss of income.
If you want them back then get donating as soon as you are able .........

 

Sadly for us that's a realistic position to take.

 

I feel for vintage trains given it’s the second time in three years they’ve not operated a single tour. I hope they find the resilience to return when it is safe to do so but I’m doubtful about how far off that is. At least they’ve seen the sense to abandon this year and not plan next year due to the obvious uncertainties.

 

Do they still have a solid management team though? Michael Whitehouse is still the chairman but Kath Bellamy, Adrian Shooter and Ben Mason have all moved onto pastures new. It was in SR a couple of months back.