Jacobite 2026

No, I understand that, just there's no pleasing everyone, clearly.

 

I genuinely think Scot Rail would make a killing if they ran a special out there ahead of the stems workings. Be nice a 156 terminate and go in the Yard Maybe I’m dreaming of a railway built on common sense.

 

There isn't a yard at Glenfinnan.

 

There's a headshunt that's long enough for a couple of coaches to fit into on the Fort William side. There has been a campaign to try and get Scotrail to run what @2857Harry has suggested, but I don't think they're particularly flush with rolling stock.

 

Yes there is I'd forgotten about that

 

Is there not a siding they can back in to?

 

Maybe they could hire SRPS CDL MK1s

 

Yes that’s just been pointed out. How I forgot that I’ve no idea, I’ve been there enough times

 

ScotRail has been operating discounted fares on the Mallaig line during the summer I read somewhere, which has not gone down well with the Jacobite operator. The 156 units are of course fresh air stock with big windows ......

 

Something that is not limited to the Glenfinnan area nor Chinese tourists, we had reason to travel beyond our part of south Cumbria the other day, something we normally studiously avoid during holiday season, and its simply the case that modern SUV's just don't fit most rural roads (possibly not helped by the drivers being completely unable to judge the width of the vehicle, in some cases I could probably have passed on either side of it!), especially if you add into the equation that driving on the left and on ones side of the white line seems to be pretty optional at best these days.

I think pleasing anyone has become rather tricky these days...

Where you can hardly hear yourself think if they are running with the windows open, its pretty much impossible to listen to a podcast on earphones on the northern ones if the windows are open.

 

Its true on Northern routes but a) the journey to Mallaig is at much slower average speed and b) why on earth would you want to be lost in a podcast when travelling through the scenery of the WHL?
An apples an pears comparison, really.

 

Yes the attraction of the Jacobite in its "traditional" form over a Scotrail unit is undisputed. But 2024 onwards? Maybe not so much, although it still seems to sell well even though the operator themselves said the current rolling stock wasn't viable.
Personally I'd take the £12.65 option at the moment.

 

That sounds like a description of a modern train (where maybe the a/c and toilets work, unless Lumo WC) vs a railtour hauled by either steam or diesel.
On that basis I suggest LSL, WCRC,RTC, VT, UKR just give up then.

 

Sorry, you've lost me there.
If the VT, Saphos or SRPS stock was used on the Jacobite it would be worth almost any premium over a ScotRail 156 but the current WC stock simply isn't, for me anyway.

 

Sorry, you've lost me there.
If the VT, Saphos or SRPS stock was used on the Jacobite it would be worth almost any premium over a ScotRail 156 but the current WC stock simply isn't, for me anyway.

 

You were saying a service train was cheaper and gave you the same view. Ergo my point railtour companies may just as well give up as most modern (at least post BR design) trains have working a/c and toilets and by definition would be preferable to a Mk1 or Mk2, both of which would be unpleasant in our new norm heat. The Mk1's even with opening windows do little but let heat in and the Mk2 the a/c likely would fail due to not being designed for these sort of temps.

 

No, I was saying explicitly that the ScotRail 156 to Mallaig is better value than the current Jacobite. You widened that out for no obvious reason.