Great Britain XIV 2022

Copy and paste job from VT website

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update 13th March 2020

Yesterday the UK government announced that the UK is moving to ‘Delay Phase’ of the Coronavirus outbreak. Although not immediately, this phase recommends social distancing.

The well-being of our passengers and staff is our absolute priority and clearly our trains accommodate passengers for lengthy periods of time in close proximity; less than the recommended 1 to 2 metres apart. We have also reviewed the demographics of both the passengers and staff, many of which could be considered at a higher risk than the average.

With the latest advice from the UK government, the factors detailed above and the clear possibility that further government action will be taken soon, regrettably we feel it prudent to postpone all trains scheduled in April 2020.

We will continue to work closely with the UK government and health organisations to ensure we are following the very latest advice prior to making any further decisions.

In over 50 years of operations, Tyseley / Vintage Trains has faced many challenges and always emerged stronger. We were able to do so because we put you, our passengers, at the heart of our operation. With that commitment in mind, we are confident that we will overcome this challenging time as well.

We thank you for your continued support and look forward to welcoming you aboard in the near future.

Sincerely
Vintage Trains

 

I was tempted to click like, whilst I thank you for posting the message I am saddened by the content - but it is exactly the correct decision. I wish all in the steam industry the very best for what could be an extremely challenging few months ahead.

 

It's not a matter of safe or dangerous. It's a matter of reducing risk by avoiding unnecessary proximity to other people. The passengers on service trains will be travelling for various reasons, having made their own decisions as to whether their journeys are necessary. Some people who would normally be travelling will cancel or postpone their journeys. Passengers on a railtour are there for the ride: few if any of them need to be travelling*. So cancelling a railtour has the same justification as cancelling other sorts of gathering, and there's a lot of that happening just now.

*Though a friend of mine came on the Top Gear run from London to Edinburgh as part of her journey home to the Isle of Skye.

 

GB2020 Postponed to September (tbc), letter arrived today

 

I would have thought the advice to stop all unnecessary travel would be clear enough.
Some may need to travel to work if they cannot WFH but yes rail and bus travel is more dangerous than self isolating.

 

A Bulleid over the Highland Mainline is essential traveling in my eyes

This was inevitable, still September will be an interesting alternative!

 

Have they given actual dates in September in the letter? Just be useful for moving hotel bookings ...

 

RTC will rebook as required surely.

 

I booked the day off from work to film day 1 of that run. So back to work I go then.

 

No and I would imagine it will take a while to sort all the new trip out.

 

I suppose it's too much to hope that 35018 in Scotland on GBXII is planned for a different weekend to 35028 to Norwich!

Cheers, Neil

 

Just to clarify will the GB tour be rescheduled for September/October or is it cancelled for this year with the next GB tour being in the usual time of year in 2021?

 

According to Tony Streeter in the latest Steam Railway "The big news from the Railway Touring Company is that the 'Great Britain' is off." He quotes Kelly Osborne and describes RTC's plans for rescheduling some tours but there's no mention of alternative dates for GB2020.

 

See post #65.
It is hoped to reschedule in September but none of us have a crystal ball as to where the world
will be at that time.

 

A compilation of GB tours from various years .

 

Email just received : -

I wanted to acknowledge with you that today should have been the first day of our annual Great Britain tour for 2020 and for many of us, myself included, a chance to reunite with friends made over the years. For new customers joining us for the first time this would have been the start of a wonderful experience with memories to last a life time and who knows maybe you too would have joined our GB family reunion every year.

As we all know the current Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in the tour being postponed until September, dates will be announced soon once there is some certainty that we will be ok to operate at that time.

For now I am reflecting on our achievements over the years in many ways but none more so than with the success of The Great Britain tours, many said the format wouldn't work.I guess we proved them wrong.

Thank you for your continued support and loyalty at this time and remember to stay safe.

Kind regards

Kelly Osborne

Managing Director

 

I'm sat at Hemerdon at present awaiting Lizzy on the Great Britain. It's stunning weather here but where is everyone? <BJ>

 

I'm there too - but I can't see you!

Peter