Scarborough Spa Express 2010

Ok, I realise it's a little early to be discussing something that won't start for another 7 months or so but it looks like we may be having a change of route next year...
See the latest on WCRC's web site.

 

Seems a bit of a strange routing if the locations are in order.
York, Kirkgate, Westgate, Castleford, Woodlesford.
Gradient from Kirkgate - Westgate could cause some entertainment.

Would have thought York, Leeds, Westgate, Kirkgate, Castleford and miss Woodlesford would have been the better circle.

 

So if this route is what we're going to get in 2010 we miss the climb to Bramhope. Anything similarly exciting on the proposed new route?

 

The run from Leeds to Wakey should be nice....

Or it would be nice to run south east from Milford,up the incline from Ferrybridge,then the 1 in 100 through Tanshelf,Featherstone,Kirkgate,Westgate,Woodlesford,Cas etc.....there are 2 1 in 100 climbs (albeit fairly short) on the Ponte' to Wakey line.

 

There are 1 in 100 climbs both from Wakefield Westgate to Ardsley and up through Beeston in the other direction. That's about it though.
I wouldn't mind missing Leeds to Horsforth so much if we weren't loosing York to Leeds as well! I suppose missing that section and Harrogate - York is the whole point of the exercise as this new route will be far easier to path.
But who knows; early days; things can change...

 

I wonder if Dobbin has been getting good numbers out of Wakefield compared with Harrogate and Knaresborough, or whether this could be a one shift roster? The mileage would be considerably less - and for the enthusiast - I am afraid that this represents a definite loss.

Let's hope this is merely kite flying, and that the original specification is retained for at least some days of the week.

By the way - Leeds is still on route - York - Wakey,Wakey, Leeds - York, Scarborough, and return

 

Thanks to those who have replied re the steep bits. I've only been on the SSE twice and on each occasion Leeds provided and large number of passengers. I presume WCRC are hoping that Wakefield does likewise or maybe my two trips were not typical.

 

Wakefield usually has a good turnout for the SF's as does Cas.

I wonder if it is so they can use more locos,I.E 46115?

 

If you are right about this; that Leeds - York is still part of the itinerary (even though the web site shows Woodlesford as a pick up) then fine.
It still has some good climbs for us with the possibility of a fast run to and from York, it will be a little easier to path and should be able to get an earlier arrival back into York in the evening which I know is a problem for some.
Although Harrogate and Knaresborough did provide quite a decent number of bums on seats I would think that there is a good possibility that Wakefield and Castleford could do the same. There's a greater population density around those compared with Harrogate.
After all, there's not a lot of point in pandering to the likes of us, without Joe Public filling the majority of seats we won't have anything at all.
And if we can have the Scot as well, that would be a real bonus!

 

Not neccaserily..... if you look it say Wakey-Woodlesford,that would suggest it goes round the curve towards Normanton/Cas,not going through Leeds,then again,that seems daft,why anyone wants to go along that plain route rather than on the main towards York i have no idea,pathing?

At the mo it is coming into Wakey from the looks of it from Either Ponte' or Cas',then it goes through the 2 Wakey stations,round the curve at Leeds,Woodlesford,Cas',Milford,Church Fenton,York.

Its strange Leeds isn't appearing on the lists though :S

But then i just looked and it says the return is TBC so lets just wait lol.

It is TBD/TBC so who knows!!

 

I had heard that they were sarting from Hellifield, which would mean some via Leeds and some via Wakefield with a Leeds pick up at Woodlesford. Would make sense for Loco servicing back at 10A if they can get the paths along the Aire Valley.

 

and it would mean the stock could 'Go Home' for the weekend and be used elsewhere....

 

Unless, of course, the stock is required for York - Carlisle again...

 

Does it incur a cost to WCRC to pick up passengers at leeds main station as opposed to say Woodlesford (or Church Fenton)?

 

How many holiday makers are likely to join the train on the Wakefield loop compared with Harrogate and Knaresborough? A large proportion of the people getting off at Knaresborough the evening I video'd there this summer were vistors rather than local residents. One family I talked to had used the train for a day in York and were discussing whether to go to Scarborough later in the week. I may be wrong, but Wakefield strikes me as a less-good catchment area for tourists.

 

I'm sure WCRC has done its market research but to the layman both Harrogate and Knaresborough seem much more of a tourist trap than Wakefield. Anyone seen Kirkgate station lately? A bit of a dump by all accounts. I presume that won't be the pick up point but Westgate will.

 

Kirkgate is apparently getting staffed etc etc next year,hopefully other stuff improves too....

You would be surprised just how many people get on RTC trains in the Wakey area.

 

And maybe their trying to steal the Railway Touring companies thunder again, just a personal statement before anybody starts ranting. Maybe the Railway touring company will revert back to their original route around the Harrogate loop on a Friday or something...

 

Having seen a couple of the RTC Friday trips going bakc through York, I think the markets tapped by WCRC and RTC are somewhat different and not just geographically.

Although the WCRC service does convery first class, it is mainly aimed at the family market. The RTC train (also operated in 2009 by WCRC) has just 3 standard class coaches and 5 first class, including a couple of premier dining. I am quite sure the two different types of train could run from similar destinations without problem.

Given the map on the WCRC website is still the traditional route, are we sure about the change? The other thing of note was that the RTC train returned sooner from Scarborough, presumably because the WCRC train needed a path to Leeds and the RTC didn't. If Leeds is served on the return of the evening loop, then this (along with being able to use a wider range of locos, specifically 46115) may be reasons behind the change.

Steven

 

I note all details relating to The Scarborough Spa Express" for 2010 [also "The Cambrian"} ] have recently been removed from WCRC website and the following statement substituted "Timetable and route for 2010 still to be confirmed"