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Great Britain XIV 2022

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by Bulleid Pacific, Aug 2, 2019.

  1. LMarsh1987

    LMarsh1987 Part of the furniture Friend

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    Copy and paste job from VT website

    COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update 13th March 2020

    Yesterday the UK government announced that the UK is moving to ‘Delay Phase’ of the Coronavirus outbreak. Although not immediately, this phase recommends social distancing.

    The well-being of our passengers and staff is our absolute priority and clearly our trains accommodate passengers for lengthy periods of time in close proximity; less than the recommended 1 to 2 metres apart. We have also reviewed the demographics of both the passengers and staff, many of which could be considered at a higher risk than the average.

    With the latest advice from the UK government, the factors detailed above and the clear possibility that further government action will be taken soon, regrettably we feel it prudent to postpone all trains scheduled in April 2020.

    We will continue to work closely with the UK government and health organisations to ensure we are following the very latest advice prior to making any further decisions.

    In over 50 years of operations, Tyseley / Vintage Trains has faced many challenges and always emerged stronger. We were able to do so because we put you, our passengers, at the heart of our operation. With that commitment in mind, we are confident that we will overcome this challenging time as well.

    We thank you for your continued support and look forward to welcoming you aboard in the near future.

    Sincerely
    Vintage Trains
     
  2. Oswald T Wistle

    Oswald T Wistle Well-Known Member Friend

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    I was tempted to click like, whilst I thank you for posting the message I am saddened by the content - but it is exactly the correct decision. I wish all in the steam industry the very best for what could be an extremely challenging few months ahead.
     
  3. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    It's not a matter of safe or dangerous. It's a matter of reducing risk by avoiding unnecessary proximity to other people. The passengers on service trains will be travelling for various reasons, having made their own decisions as to whether their journeys are necessary. Some people who would normally be travelling will cancel or postpone their journeys. Passengers on a railtour are there for the ride: few if any of them need to be travelling*. So cancelling a railtour has the same justification as cancelling other sorts of gathering, and there's a lot of that happening just now.

    *Though a friend of mine came on the Top Gear run from London to Edinburgh as part of her journey home to the Isle of Skye.
     
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  4. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    It's a tricky call but given the typical age of people involved and that you are with the same people most of the day on the train and in hotels for over a week, it's the same issue as a cruise and we all know what the advice on that is. Short of everyone on the trip declaring themselves 'fit' before they go (which is, of course, a sensible call) any extended time in any environment is risky, even with the windows open!
     
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  5. Waterbuck

    Waterbuck Member

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    GB2020 Postponed to September (tbc), letter arrived today
     
  6. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

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    I would have thought the advice to stop all unnecessary travel would be clear enough.
    Some may need to travel to work if they cannot WFH but yes rail and bus travel is more dangerous than self isolating.
     
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  7. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    No it's the non-essential travel that is unnecessarily dangerous.
     
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  8. Will RL

    Will RL Member

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    A Bulleid over the Highland Mainline is essential traveling in my eyes :rolleyes:

    This was inevitable, still September will be an interesting alternative!
     
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  9. Macko

    Macko Member

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    Have they given actual dates in September in the letter? Just be useful for moving hotel bookings ...
     
  10. garth manor

    garth manor Well-Known Member

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    RTC will rebook as required surely.
     
  11. and60007

    and60007 Member

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    I booked the day off from work to film day 1 of that run. So back to work I go then.
     
  12. Waterbuck

    Waterbuck Member

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    No and I would imagine it will take a while to sort all the new trip out.
     
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  13. Romsey

    Romsey Part of the furniture

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    I suppose it's too much to hope that 35018 in Scotland on GBXII is planned for a different weekend to 35028 to Norwich!

    Cheers, Neil
     
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  14. Sam 60103

    Sam 60103 Member

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    Just to clarify will the GB tour be rescheduled for September/October or is it cancelled for this year with the next GB tour being in the usual time of year in 2021?
     
  15. Steamage

    Steamage Part of the furniture

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    According to Tony Streeter in the latest Steam Railway "The big news from the Railway Touring Company is that the 'Great Britain' is off." He quotes Kelly Osborne and describes RTC's plans for rescheduling some tours but there's no mention of alternative dates for GB2020.
     
  16. GW 5972

    GW 5972 New Member

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    See post #65.
    It is hoped to reschedule in September but none of us have a crystal ball as to where the world
    will be at that time.
     
  17. sgthompson

    sgthompson Part of the furniture Friend

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    A compilation of GB tours from various years .

     
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  18. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

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    Email just received : -

    I wanted to acknowledge with you that today should have been the first day of our annual Great Britain tour for 2020 and for many of us, myself included, a chance to reunite with friends made over the years. For new customers joining us for the first time this would have been the start of a wonderful experience with memories to last a life time and who knows maybe you too would have joined our GB family reunion every year.

    As we all know the current Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in the tour being postponed until September, dates will be announced soon once there is some certainty that we will be ok to operate at that time.

    For now I am reflecting on our achievements over the years in many ways but none more so than with the success of The Great Britain tours, many said the format wouldn't work.I guess we proved them wrong.

    Thank you for your continued support and loyalty at this time and remember to stay safe.

    Kind regards

    Kelly Osborne

    Managing Director
     
  19. free2grice

    free2grice Part of the furniture Friend

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    ;) ;) ;)

    I'm sat at Hemerdon at present awaiting Lizzy on the Great Britain. It's stunning weather here but where is everyone? <BJ>

    ;) ;) ;)
     
  20. torgormaig

    torgormaig Part of the furniture Friend

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    I'm there too - but I can't see you!:)

    Peter
     
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