Do railtour operations need a unified voice ?

What if all the shops have the same monopoly supplier (NR) for a certain product you always buy, and all of them have the same problem sourcing that vital item because the monopoly supplier treat all the retailers badly with an intermittent supply, and with disdain? To put it mildly, you're stuffed, whichever shop you go to.

 

Could be, though I'd like to think other members are more grown up than that ? Hope you're not trying to prove me wrong ?

 

How long did you say you've been on here?

 

Are you suggesting that steam uses a different rail network other than Network Rail in the UK?

I think that's called a "preserved" or "private railway" isn't it?

 

Recently did The Elizabethan, and on train met a lad and his family who are all members of the golf club, and what you would class normal people.

Knowing this thread was on-going, i asked him what he thought of the day....

"Pluses:- Great day out, liked stewards keeping me informed, good conversation amongst passengers, both Locos got big commendation for their performance.
"Negatives" Wife was disgusted at state of toilets, would have liked longer in Edinburgh, thought drinks/food overpriced.

When asked if he would do it again, he would, but would take a lot of persuading his wife, after the toilet facilities being poor.

Thought toilet facilities on preserved lines were much better.

Something for Operators to think about.

 

Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but the mainline steam difficulties that have been discussed on this and the RTC thread have been on Network Rail's railway. Unless of course Crewe to Holyhead is suddenly a volunteer-run 25mph preserved steam railway? No, thought not.

 

My and my friend's wives take much persuading even for a once a year trip. They don't like : getting up at stupid o'clock; getting back at even more stupid o'clock; awful toilets; poor/no heating; dodgy/no lights; being stationary for more that 15 mins; too little time at destination (planned or unplanned); dashing back to make the return departure, only to find it's delayed by an hour; overpriced food; weird fellow travellers with personal hygiene issues etc etc.

As I said last time this debate took place, she had a 'normal' friend at work who went on one of the Winter Cumbrian. They were so relieved to get to Carlisle so they could go to M&S to buy several layers of extra clothing. They also saw nothing due to misted/frozen-over windows. They weren't impressed by the food or toilets either. Needless to say they won't be booking again.

 

:drum:

Interesting opening post - you'll get on well here.

 

You (Mr the-gog) were saying that NetRail have a monopoly. I agree..they do, but lets be honest woth ourselves here. We might be able to give the railtour operators something to discuss over a pint now and then, but we are NEVER going to break up NetRail!

 

So burying your head in the sand and just tolerating NR's mistreatment of the industry is the only strategy?

 

Some of the operators ought to take a long hard look at the state of the coaches, and ask would they be happy if their husbands, wives, partners, and immediate family had to travel in ill lit carriages with no heating and poorly cleaned toilets.

 

I have been unable to get my wife to do any trips, because of the issues outlined above, she knows every trip we go on, ends up in drama.

If she saw the state of the toilets, we would be off, and going on the first service train home, it suprises me that environmental health officers have not been involved, judging by the state of some stock.

 

I apologise. I thought I had joined a site where there were some useful discussions about steam and the preservation movement.

If you think anything that is said on here will influence Network Rail then I suggest you go back into your padded cell because you are delusional!

And you accuse me of burying my head in the sand! That’s laughable!

 

Ah, personal abuse. Always the last vanguard when the argument is known to be lost.

 

But of course, according to the poll results, nothing needs to be done about the industry. It's perfectly fine as it is.

 

I did the steam dreams trip from Cambridge to Canterbury. We were in Premier Dining i.e. a first class coach and the toilet was dirty and had no toilet paper from the start. That is a poor show.

 

At long last some reasoned and sensible discussion here - OK - nothing will change - BUT when things go LBU the promoters who try to pooh pooh it all away will have to admit that the market has spoken. They ignore it at their peril.

The dislikes, right across the piece - steam devotees or normals alike seem to boil down to

Timings and travel experience - loopings are not liked not just merely touch and go at destinations

Stock Condition - heating, lighting, cleanliness and water issues

food quality and price

Being kept informed

Like the one about fellow travellers - oh yes!!! What a crowd of oddballs we are! but some could at least bathe and have a haircut!

 

Am I alone in thinking there's at least one person on here posting under multiple identities but grinding the same axe?

 

I have been thinking....'its son of u know who'

 

and the supplier would soon be out of business, however network rail is really government run so no win for us