Saphos 2024

This is disgusting not everyone has deep pockets like money bag Hoskins

 

Might they perhaps be waiting for the TSOs to be definitely ready for use before they start selling seats in them?

 

Looks to be more Lakelanders (6 vs. 4 this year) and slightly fewer Fellsmans (4 vs. 5).

 

I did not mean to infer that they would be used on Saphos trains, my reply was to 5944’s comment that steam under £200 might be difficult next year. My hope is that the srps will have a steam tour or two which would include our TSOs and hopefully be priced at under £200 per person! Time will tell.

 

It is very clear Saphos has been heading in this direction for some time and what myself and others have been warning against regards monolopies. I haven't been able to afford to travel with Saphos for several years. As an enthusiast, what's disappointing is all the locomotives that are now 'tied' to LSL, I only hope that similar to Clan Line, the owners of 60007 and 71000 consider offers to do 'enthusiast' trips - otherwise I have now had my last run behind an A4 on the mainline. I am glad I got a ride behind 61306, 34046 & 46100 when I did.
What this does mean is that there is now clear daylight between West Coast, Vintage Trains and LSL operations. An opportunity for those looking to serve the less well off amongst us. And yes, as much as West Coast frustrate us, this is why it is important they sort themselves out and start making sensible business decisions. The purchase of the Riviera stock is a start.

 

What I will say is that LSL have been generous in loaning locos to heritage railways which does make these machines accessible to an extent, but that is no substitute for 75mph running.

 

I’ve seen tickets for the forthcoming Premier League game between Arsenal and Liverpool at The Emirates advertised on the internet for £248. For 90-ish minutes of ‘entertainment’.
On that basis, Jeremy Hoskings offering of a full days luxury travel accompanied by fine dining seems remarkably good value.

 

I was hoping for Edinburgh-Aberdeen to appear either through Saphos or Steam Dreams but at the moment anyway that’s not the case. Steam over Beattock is rare so the Edinburgh trains should offer interesting photographic opportunities as well as a variety of motive power. There’s no denying that Saphos appeal to upmarket non-enthusiast people rather than enthusiasts. It is imperative that West Coast get themselves sorted out with their Mk1s which are much missed! Let’s hope SRPS operate at least one steam tour within Scotland next year and hopefully I’ll be on it if they do.

 

Less alienate, more eliminate.

I suspect that I sit slap bang in the target audience in the longer term (for all operators), late 40's two decent incomes, an interest in steam, but no way on gods green earth am I paying for me and my other half to have a trip out on a train (often to somewhere incredibly uninspiring) that costs broadly what I could get a week away for...

Tour operators will have much better idea of what the market will and won't sustain, but I do wonder about long term sustainability of this market in its present form, especially if basic living costs continue to spiral and pensions for those entering retirement are les attractive.

 

Wouldn’t pay tuppence to watch either of those two, but then again, I won’t pay £200 for a trip on a steam tour now That window hanging is outlawed

 

A lot of tours have 10 pickup stations, some have 11. I think, because of their price point, they're having to stretch further afield in order to fill the trains. That then obviously leads to longer days out, both for passengers and crew. Also, if you use the destination selector at the top of the page you can see that there are only actually 8 destinations from the circa 50 tours they're advertising. Basically, just 8 tours on repeat, with different initial pickup stations whilst en-route to the steam section.

Ironically, with that new Edinburgh one, you initially think "steam only from Carlisle to Edinburgh isn't good value" but it's actually more steam haulage than their Taunton to Kingswear or Taunton to Plymouth tours.

 

Those would be unauthorised sales. Official pricing here, and the most expensive seats for top games are not £248, in fact over £100 cheaper!

 

The standard class offering was only £30 cheaper than first (£165 v £195), and didn't come with refreshments other than tea or coffee. First class was definitely a better value for money option.

 

They did the same for 2023 into 2024 too. They have a model and it is working for them, regular steam operations into the same areas.

 

Be interesting to see if the RMB is still part of the formation. If it is, possibly it will be for staff use?

 

It may be annoying, it is certainly not disgusting. They are a business and have decided to focus on a certain part of the market. They are not asking for enthusiasts to contribute anything to keep the locos and stock running, and it is up to anyone to decide if they want to travel at those prices.
Do you think it is "disgusting" that there are business class only airlines, or that offerings in Premium Economy and Business Class (and real estate on the aircraft) increase as the economy offering declines?

 

Interesting - do you believe that leaning out of train windows these days could reasonably be expected to be allowed, or do you mean just standing by open windows? I've always understood it to mean the former.

 

Apparently plenty of people have deep enough pockets to justify his business decision, though.

 

One would hope so if they continue to spend c. £250k per Mk1 coach, its going to take a lot of tours to recoup that sort of investment before we even get into the locomotive and real estate costs.

 

That’s why I go to Germany. Not only is it allowed it’s nigh on encouraged.