Recommissioning after Coronavirus

Thanks for responses. My experience from Chiltern Railways this week seems to be aligned with only travel where really necessary. I'm also seeing Great Northern / Thameslink still running virtually empty off-peak.

 

The question is for how long that will remain unchanged. Obviously we don't know, but there's a massive difference between another 4 weeks, another 4 months and another 4 years! I don't think the hardline "essential journeys ONLY" line is sustainable for all that much longer, even if the virus remains very much with us. Whether I like that or not, I think it's the reality. The train companies will probably quite soon have a stark choice between moderating their messaging (a bit, certainly not back to normal) or having ever increasing numbers simply ignoring it. Once people are going to pubs again, the continuing railway restrictions will stand out even more.

What this means for heritage railways I don't know. Obviously if there's a shift to *any* official acceptance of leisure travel it will make a difference, but with all the continuing rules on face coverings etc I'm not sure it would make *much* difference. It just won't be a terribly enjoyable experience compared to what we've known. I think there may be a mini-boom as people visit for the first time in a year, but I would very much doubt there'll be many people doing it more than once until most/all of the restrictions are gone.

 

GN are running virtually empty at peak times as well. I can have a carriage to myself from Hitchin at 8am. Back in February you would be lucky to be able to get on at that time.

 

Just had an email from London and North Western Railways. Although they are increasing services from Sunday, it is still essential travel only.

 

Today's update on the LNER website says if you must travel try to do it off peak to leave services for those that need them. I read that as essential only but a somewhat unclear. LNER of course encourage face coverings anywhere on their stations, not just the train itself.

 

Non-essential travel permitted up here in Scotland from tomorrow. Looking forward to getting out a bit sometime next week.

 

SVR Grand reopening 1st August https://www.svr.co.uk/SEItem.aspx?a=164

One compartment per family group, no masks in there but "You will be asked to wear one in enclosed public areas and train corridors."

Patrick

 

Nothing from the GCR(N) at Ruddington as yet as regards any reopening, though, whilst having a trawl of Public FB pages of groups based there yesterday evening, the GCR 567 Group stated in the last few days that their "build location is only just reopening" so that appears to indicate that non-public activity is resuming there.
The only work that is mentioned in the past 3+ months as taking place at the site relates to laying a concrete floor in the new bus garage building on the bus group FB page...

 

Plans for Kent & East Sussex Railway reopening now on their website.


https://kesr.org.uk/reopening/

Options of a bay of up to four seats, in a TSO with the adjacent bays out of use, or a compartment in a vintage carriage for up to eight seats. No separate arrangements shown for single travellers. Trains non-stopping at intermediate stations.

 

For those interested, Royal Engineer has worked a complete round trip with passenger stock today on the IOWSR. Very shortly there will be "training" (sorry) days for staff to practice the way of dealing with passenger control and disinfecting carriages.

 

I have done a bit of adding up today and came up with 25 useable corridor carriages on the SVR - 10 GWR, 5 LMS, 3 LNER and 7 BR, with enough brakes to comfortably make three sets which appears to be the plan.

I quite like the marketing of the services with three different options of journeys from Kidderminster and two different options from Bridgnorth, and cleaning will only be required at the beginning / end of the day, which I am sure will make things a bit easier. Of all the railways I have looked at so far for Covid opening, theirs is the most appealing to me.

£75 will be a lot more than I would usually pay for two adults and one (infant) child, but for a guaranteed compartment to ourselves it seems like a nice way to spend the day.

Sent from my SM-J330FN using Tapatalk

 

Two trains will depart from Kidderminster and one from Bridgnorth each morning. It's in the newsletter I'm editing at the moment! To be distributed tomorrow

Patrick

 

i suspect that some lines will get a reasonable up take of ticket sales, others probably less so. Apparently the shopping spree of a week or so ago has not been maintained everywhere as many retailers hoped it would. Moreover some of those travellers heading for the South West, mainly in camper vans and caravans commented that they had felt very enclosed at their homes and just wanted to get away - anywhere. They have headed for the more well known locations it seems. I am not sure how long they will stay on their 'holiday' as many places are still closed and those open are bedevilled with many restrictions. There are many adjustments to be made in how we enjoy our favourite pastimes: some will be more acceptable, others less so. The weather at present in the SW certainly is not ideal for lazing on beaches - wet in some areas, windy in most so the escape from home to another - albeit a mobile one - may not be the panacea hoped for.
Local press in the Torbay area, today, mentioned that the only queue in Torquay was at a Tesco store!
I believe it will be a few weeks or so before heritage lines, tourist attractions and hostelries get an idea whether re-opening is worthwhile financially - or not.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/politic...for-all-uk-adults-to-spend-in-covid-hit-firms

So what abut keeping an eye on this proposal and designing some products to fit it - for example 2021 season/advance tickets?

I would certainly be happy to buy a few advance tickets even if I wasnt entirely sure I might use them simply as a donation.

 

Do you have an idea if what sort of numbers/capacity the SVR are planning for on a train? I don't think I have seen any indications from any railway what sort of numbers they are hoping to be able to carry once they re-open.

It is interesting to see what Railways are doing to try and be in a position to run. I have seen a couple of railways post pictures of hard Perspex type screens they intend to use and the Talyllyn Railway put a picture on their facebook page of the screens they are installing in their carriages. Post is at 06:10 on 3rd July. They are the first soft ones I have seen and I have to admit that the appearance is better than I had expected but they are not exactly cheap. Anything that enables some trains to be run this year by any railway though has to be good as if you had asked me a month or two ago I would thought the chance of railways operating any service until the Autumn was pretty close to nil. I am still surprised how quickly that has changed and I fear that if there is any spike with the pubs opening we could all have to take a step back which would be a nightmare considering the costs railways are incurring so they can operate.

 

There are three reasons for running from Mid-July, provided any hazards can be overcome.

1. The only way it can be ascertained if there is business to be had is to run a service. Facile optimism is silly but so is the attitude "I dunno really, we'll just not run anything until 2021 (or 2022)".
2. Keeping staff competencies up to date and ensuring equipment stays usable.
3. Encouraging the morale of the troops.

 

I'm afraid I don't know what lengths/rakes they plan to run and the number of compartments they plan to sell. Actual numbers will then depend on occupancy of the compartments, not all will be taken by 6 people

Patrick

 

It is great that a lot of railways Will be running with passengers soon. Those who want to book and ride will be able to, and those who just want to watch and photograph, will be able to as well....and I remain hopeful that the majority of watchers will have made suitable donations on-line.

 

The railways that are opening and taking various measures such as making people pre book a compartment, not stopping at intermediate stations, often a complete round trip without being able to leave the train etc,

but how much of these measures are being forced on railways externally by either government or the ORR and how much are they just deciding to implement themselves, perhaps copying other lines ?

Is there an official document that shows the bare minimum they have to do to be able to reopen and also does it show for how long they have to do this. ? I wonder how much railways are just opting for these restrictive measures themselves without necessarily having to do so. ?

 

I'm sure you are correct Toplight and there is unlikely to be an "official" document. I suspect a lot in Govt, and elsewhere, would like to say - leave it up to the market to decide how to go about their business from now on. People can make their own choices about how safe they feel and want to be.....but there are risks in ALL things.