RTC 2025

Ah right thanks. Was only basing it off last year when they announced it very early, my mistake.

 

It was available to book 11th Sept last year.

 

Based on the day trips they've announced so far on the 2026 page I would imagine the starting day of the GB would fall around the 25th April

 

I heard some say at the Bluebell GOS that Kelly hadn't decided if it was going to go ahead yet, because people were not keen on the Mk2's.
They were hoping to hear shortly.

 

We can speculate as to what they were hoping to hear.
I have done a Great Britain once. Most years since I have considered doing it again but in the end decided against. The MkIIs provide an additional reason against.

 

I concur with your last sentence and also the current lack of motive power West Coast have, you no longer get the variety of locomotives that earlier Great Britains had.

Dave B

 

Chiltern Explorer times on RTT. Basically the reverse of the Varsity Explorer from Manchester rather than Chester.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U68394/2025-11-01/detailed

& diesel hauled return
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U68397/2025-11-01/detailed

Wasn't this originally advertised as being via Stoke & Cannock ?

 

I don’t think Cannock was ever in the plan for this one, there was a RTC working out of Liverpool to Worcester in September booked that way but that ended up canned.