Jacobite 2026

https://www.scotsman.com/news/trans...-william-mallaig-line-two-months-late-8651844

"Monday’s service is believed to have been reserved for passengers pre-booked with tour operators, with other budding travellers asked to register on the company’s website for updates.

The start of trips appears to mark a U-turn by WCR, which had suggested it would keep Jacobite services on hold until a decision was made by the rail regulator ...."

 

That may appear to be the case but don't forget that in PR world West Coast are "working with the ORR towards a solution", "have reached an agreement with the ORR", "working in partnership with the rail regulator", "co-operating with the authorities" and "resolving issues together". The only minor flaw seems to be that the ORR haven't been given the same script.

So not really a U-turn. More a case of ever decreasing circles

 

The only conclusion one can really draw from the recent developments is that there is a commercial basis for resuming the trains. In that sense WC seem to have found a way to operate which alleviates the previous cost pressures that made the train unviable.
Beyond that it's still wait and see.

 

I think the fact that WC have fitted more early MK2 stock with CDL and sent a full rake to Scotland shows great progress and a clear intention. I also think that it’s a good train to send as it’s air only so works well with the 5s. I’m glad to seee the Jacobite working again, and long may it continue.

 

It is a welcome development, no doubt about that, particularly as it no longer seems the question of an exemption being issued is a barrier to the operation.

 

The only barrier to them operating was West Coast themselves, who declared the operation uneconomic.
There has never been any reason the Jacobite couldn't run if a compliant method could be found, that happened last year and has now happened again this year - the only thing that has changed is the number of compliant vehicles available meaning the model and number of seats has increased.
People can draw their own conclusions as to whether the last few years have been worth it and whether the court battles, bad PR and lost revenue have been equivalent to the cost of quietly fitting CDL to carriages - but I am also pleased to see a Black 5 departing Fort William for Mallaig.

 

Indeed, what I meant was that WC had said, initially, the Jacobite wouldn't run unless an exemption was issued by ORR. I took that to mean the firm didn't have the means to operate the train in the way they, and passengers, wanted to without some non CDL stock being permitted.
Clearly WC has done a reappraisal and found a way to start generating revenue/fulfilling bookings. Which is good news.
Whether a second Jacobite will run may still be contingent on an exemption perhaps?

 

In much the same vein as the much vaunted peace deal that Trump keeps reaching with Iran ?

 

Unfortunately I think there remains a gap between what Carnforth PR says and the reality of operations on the ground.
The facts remain that West Coast own the paths out of Fort William, they remain (uniquely) resourced to operate the Jacobite. They could have run trains at anytime, so long as the stock and processes are compliant with current legislation. It was their decision (based on the economic reality of the position they backed themselves into) to stop operations. It has proven politically convenient to say future operations were dependent on an exemption.
I think what we have seen now is that West Coast have fitted enough coaches with CDL (that aren't air con), to run a train with a viable number of seats that does not require a diesel or generator car to power air con. This addresses the extra costs / lower revenue issues from last year, plus complaints about the type of stock. But it remains only 50% of potential revenue.
Had West Coast got an exemption, they could have returned to their original 2 train model and used Mk1 vac stock AM with air CDL Mk2s PM. This is maximum revenue / profit. What we have now is a halfway house, which represents progress, but we remain a long way off the full Jacobite model as per 4 years ago.
I hope that now the penny has dropped at 10A that fitment to Mk1s is now underway and that perhaps a rake might head north behind 44932 in late July / August. This will then bode well for RTC in Autumn / Winter. Unfortunately none of the Mk1s supplied to the SVR diesel gala had CDL fitted, although they remained mainline registered for delivery to the gala.
We all need a healthy, compliant and properly resourced West Coast. This is a step forward.

 

Don't disagree with any of that.
It ought not to be much longer now before the outcome of ORR deliberations is made known.
It is to be hoped that, having conceded to the need to fit CDL in order to return the mk1s to use, WC is actively doing so whilst their exemption application goes through due process.
What I find a bit unfathomable is why WC has chosen to lose 2 prime months of the Jacobite before sending up the rake now in use. Have those coaches only been fitted with CDL in the last 2 or 3 months? Set that against the conclusion made by WC that they weren't prepared to run the Jacobite as per 2024/5 mode which was probably decided nine months or so ago, certainly by November when bookings for 2026 would ordinarily have opened.
As has been pointed out the set now in use is simply the pm rake, so it's not an interim.

 

A few photos and posts from the various tour groups about the first service are on Facebook, with interior photos of happy smiling passengers. Here's the one from Highland Explorer Tours as an example.

 

Wonder how long in advance of the travel date those bookings were made?

 

No different to a government saying we will not devalue the currency, up until the point they do.

 

Hardly think a political comparison is remotely relevant on this topic except to say, being as you raised one, people often seem to call into question the organisational credibility of a government/pm which U turns.
But as you're often keen to point out WC is a business, privately owned, so it can do as it pleases even if from the outside the decisions it takes can seem .... perplexing.

 

So now that the Jacobite has started, is it normal for a locomotive to haul every train that week and then switch locos on the weekend or do they switch locos during the week?

 

If there's only one train but 2 locos there'd likely be weekly rotation. When 2 train operation was in place pre CDL travails there was typically 3 locos at FW, 2 5s and the K1 or 3 5s, so there was a rolling rotation changing at the weekend IIRC, albeit the K1 only ever worked the morning train due to it being vac braked.
Last couple of years I think there's only been 2 steam locos and occasionally a diesel has subbed to allow for maintenance etc.

 

I'm kind of surprised it hasn't generated more noise on NP than it has, but for what it is worth, the GWSR Facebook confirmed that 45110 will be based on that railway for a further 6 months (which basically takes you up to the end of November this year).

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1291141719897234&set=a.480108161000598

Tom

 

The publicity from GWSR about the "hire" has thanked "West Coast Railways".
The report on page 15 of the latest Beano says "No. 45110 hasn't been seen in public since August 2023 when it departed its long-term SVR home for Carnforth MPD, following its sale by SVR (Holdings) Ltd plc for an alleged £250k to an unamed private buyer, widely believed to be WCRC managing director David Smith".