Jacobite 2023

We digress, however, the self employed still have a responsibility to those around them if their acts or omissions cause harm- I am aware certainly of one incidence of a rambler having been run over with an agricultural machine whilst walking through a farmyard on a right of way relatively recently.

Unfortunately if you look at quite a lot of injuries recently on farms too, there has been a number of these type of incidents including a small child being crushed (and killed) by a family member driving a piece of machinery.

Regardless of your employment situation we all have a responsibility to do what is reasonably practicable.

I'm glad the Jacobite is up and running again, but the culture behind ignoring, and knowingly contravening a risk assesment I find worrying.

Chris

 

I do wonder especially if it happens again, might there be 'intervention' to hand the operation over to someone else?

 

I sincerely hope not

 

I dunno it would be quite nice to see an Apple Green B1 and some B&C MK1s up there

All joking aside, it would be a shame for any operator to have an intervention of the magnitude that removes an operation from them.

 

Surely WC have learnt their lesson this time?

 

You will have to explain to me how that would work in practice.
I do not know for sure but I assume WCRC on this route are an OAO in much the same way as Lumo, GC and Hull are on the ECML. Yes a regulator could stop them operating but I am unsure it could "be handed to someone else". Surely it would have to have someone else apply if the route became free, and then convince the legislators that they have sufficient rolling stock and locos to operate it. A task that seems quite difficult to achieve from the number of OAO aspirations that seem to fall by the wayside.

 

It's a lucrative enough operation that I'm sure someone else would be tempted to take it on.

 

Let's hope so, if they haven't then really they don't deserve to have a license. But that would be a terrible shame, as in my opinion the industry needs West Coast and we are all stronger for them.

 

it’s like you are hankering for a job with LSL..

I wonder if the royal train has CDL, or is it just slam door without bolts? Wonder what the ORR think of that?

The Jacobite isn’t a franchise, it can’t just be removed from West Coast, the brand belongs to it.

 

Hahaha. I’m simply saying from a photters point of view a Green B1 on B&C MK1s would look rather lovely up there!

Royal Train is indeed CDL fitted. Was done during its last re-fit. Railway Magazine article from a couple years back had that info in it.

And I never said it could be removed from them.

 

Would a green B1 on B & C Mk1s look that great? Not sure that it would, teaks would be far better!

I'm not surprised, either, that the Royal Train has had CDL fitted, even if it is highly improbable that those on board would be tempted to put their heads out of the droplights..... I also very much doubt whether the cost of fitting it even occurred to any of those concerned!

 

According to the same magazine article it was paid for fitting by its operator, which I can only assume was DB.

 

Cannot see how the operation can be handed over to anyone unless WCR decide to jack it in and sell the paths etc. I 'spose that LSL could bid for paths and set up either in completion (or to replace if WCR sacked it off), albeit I do wonder if many of those who seem pretty keen to see the back of WCR have really thought what basically an LSL monopoly would look like (and cost).

 

I have a dim and distant memory that the Jacobite had special treatment in the last Scotrail franchise competition, in a way that left more room than usual for political intervention in an OAO.

 

Are there people who wish to see the back of WCR? I haven't seen anyone say such a thing on here. I would have thought the best outcome for all would be a compliant West Coast that is operating as it should be. West Coast have been a hugely important part of the scene for 30 years now and I believe they can continue to play an important role - but I do believe some attitudes need to change in Carnforth. At the heart of my recent criticism, is the company's ability to shoot itself in the foot and put at risk everything it has achieved.
A monopoly LSL is in no one's interest.

 

Yes I believe the paths are protected, unlike just about any other main line steam (not sure about Grosmont to Whitby).

I don't think paths can be traded can they? If they can't be operated they can be handed back and someone else can bid for them.

I am just hoping that a solution to the CDL issue can be worked out which works for both ORR and WCR. The scenario in which that doesn't happen is too grim to contemplate.

 

I think "the back of WCR" would likely be the final end of pure steam on the national network. How much unassisted steam is there that's not linked to them?

 

Bloomin heck WCR are alive and kicking giving us the chance to enjoy our hobby.Let them get on with the Jacobite etc. without the doom and gloom!

 

Are there not two separate issues that the ORR needs to see addressed satisfactorily? It's not only CDL, to address the remote risk of a passenger opening a door when away from a station*, but also heads etc out of windows, which has caused a few fatalities over the years. The latter can really only be addressed either by having stewards positioned at all the relevant windows or by bars. On the Jacobite, a possible scenario might be to stop the train at the famous viaduct and allow heads out, under supervision, while the train remains stationary.

*CDL does not alleviate the risk of opening a door when the train is at a station but that particular door is not at the platform.

 

OK I'll rephrase, whatever combination of CDL, bars and stewarding is considered by ORR to mitigate risk acceptably and by WCR to offer commercial viability looking forward.