If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Olympic Restrictions

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by hatherton hall, Aug 2, 2012.

  1. hatherton hall

    hatherton hall Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2007
    Messages:
    1,057
    Likes Received:
    351
    Apart from the obvious ones such as tours to Weymouth during the Olympic sailing, can anyone explain why a train such as the VSOE Surrey Hills on Saturday and others not going anywhere near an Olympic venue are cancelled due to "Olympic Restrictions".

    All seems very odd unless of course all of the support teams are at the games!
     
  2. royals pete

    royals pete Member

    Joined:
    Jul 16, 2008
    Messages:
    766
    Likes Received:
    50
    Location:
    Woodley nr Reading
    Perhaps like London shops; no-one using. Everyone watching Olympics ???
     
  3. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    May 30, 2009
    Messages:
    21,072
    Likes Received:
    20,781
    Location:
    1016
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Just keeping steam hauled trains out of London, I think. Probably also has something to do with the extra people (onlookers, photographers etc) that these trains attract - i.e. health and safety/risk management :yawn:
     
  4. J Shuttleworth

    J Shuttleworth Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2009
    Messages:
    462
    Likes Received:
    2,450
    Network Rail issued the following in February:

    'To protect the resilience and performance of the rail network during the Olympic and Paralympic games, Network Rail and relevant Operators have agreed that there will be no steam charters into and out of London termini during the Olympic and Paralympic period. In addition to this, Stratford and Weymouth will be inaccessible to all charter services due to the increased traffic around those venues. Other stations such as Slough, serving the rowing events at Eton Dorney, will be restricted on certain days.'

    Effectively, NR have locked-down operations in London to WTT services only throughout the period, although, of course, the relevant franchised operators were, through their contractual access rights, able to bid for additional services, eg. FGW and SWT 'extras' to Weymouth. There is little or no charter activity directly associated with the Olympics (other than a handful of late-night contracted 'reliefs'), mainly due to the ticket allocation process.

    As far as steam charters are concerned, RTC made an early decision to replace London starters with provincial ops (although starting from 'M25' stations, such as Iver or Langley, was considered), which explains the origin of the 'Royal Duchy'. Others promoters appear to have abandoned their London-based programmes.

    A by-product of the Olympic period is that virtually all major engineering possessions have been suspended - which will no doubt have a reverse effect, later in the year!

    JS
     
  5. Guest

    Guest Part of the furniture Account Suspended

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2005
    Messages:
    3,614
    Likes Received:
    21
    Occupation:
    Occasional
    Location:
    G C & N S
    And if anyone has been to a venue the net effect of all this advance panic mentality has been to frighten people away, because of all the predicted travel and accommodation chaos. London is quieter than I have ever seen it, and as for Weymouth - its a ghost town except for one viewing park. The only upside so far as I can see it is Stagecoach and Virgin offering free ice cream at Waterloo - didn't know Virgin had a franchise south of the Thames!

    Business owners are tearing their hair out at lack of anticipated turnover. Further proof, as if any were needed is that the bucket shop hotel bookers on the internet are offering some amazing bargains right where you would have expected peak pricing.
     
  6. Bean-counter

    Bean-counter Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2007
    Messages:
    5,844
    Likes Received:
    7,688
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Former NP Member
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Although on a much smaller scale, exactly the same happened when Royal Ascot was held at York - the City was a ghost town, the expected ability to rent your house to posh southerners for a packet didn't happen and many of the extra trains GNER ran were far from full. The effect spread wider around North Yorkshire, with the coast suffering due to everyone keeping off the A64 or local trains (which were overcrowded as northerners took the chance to attend the event even if southerners didn't!).

    It was a great relief when Ascot was ready for the following year and the "threatened" repeat at York didn't happen!

    Steven
     
  7. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2005
    Messages:
    35,447
    Likes Received:
    9,146
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired-ish, Part time rail tour steward.
    Location:
    Northwich
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Thanks for that information James..
     
  8. david1984

    david1984 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Sep 13, 2005
    Messages:
    12,910
    Likes Received:
    1,387
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Birmingham
    Can't be any great hardship for 3-4 weeks surely ?, I've seen engineering posessions at weekends knock out a route for longer periods.
     
  9. Bifur01

    Bifur01 Member

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2012
    Messages:
    641
    Likes Received:
    117
    Well, companies were probably relying on trains out of London and trains to Weymouth for a part of their revenue.
     
  10. david1984

    david1984 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Sep 13, 2005
    Messages:
    12,910
    Likes Received:
    1,387
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Birmingham
    They have another 48 weeks of the year to fit that in to be fair, the fact none of the repeat itineries (in a regular year) have a London start/finish shows there are other markets out there if you know where to look.

    It'll be business as usual by September anyway.
     
  11. Bifur01

    Bifur01 Member

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2012
    Messages:
    641
    Likes Received:
    117
    Bothe the DCE and WSSE start and finish in London...
    Anyway, good point, back to normal by September.
     
  12. hatherton hall

    hatherton hall Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2007
    Messages:
    1,057
    Likes Received:
    351
    Thanks James for the explanation and NR quote.

    Regarding the VSOE, I guess that is an exceptional "charter" service which continues to run under all circumstances although how running Clan Line instead of the replacement diesel protects "the resilience and performance of the rail network" escapes me.

    Anyway, plenty of steam still to enjoy and come on Team GB

    Nick
     
  13. david1984

    david1984 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Sep 13, 2005
    Messages:
    12,910
    Likes Received:
    1,387
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Birmingham
    Would I be right in thinking the VSOE in question is the Surrey Hills ?, if so that's easier to facilitate than a one off charter as the timings and operation of it have been set in stone for sometime and it's a pretty slick operation as a result of experience.
     
  14. hatherton hall

    hatherton hall Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2007
    Messages:
    1,057
    Likes Received:
    351
    Yes indeed, the Surrey Hills. Just lately it has not had any diesel at the back but a generator car has done the business. Nevertheless, Clan Line has proved to be a very reliable locomotive and very little risk to the resilience of the network.

    Just think of the international public relations boom if visitors from all over the world witnessed steam trains in London termini on their way to and from the Olympic venues!

    They would see with their own eyes that the UK has the best and most intensive preserved steam mainline steam service in the world. Just look at UK steam (thanks to Dave) to back up that claim.

    Come on steam. Come on Team GB!

    Nick
     
  15. ADB968008

    ADB968008 Guest

    In also remember the quotes made by southerners about northern weather, and snubbing the travel north.
     
  16. Northern Union

    Northern Union New Member Account Suspended

    Joined:
    Apr 30, 2012
    Messages:
    107
    Likes Received:
    0
    Hope there are no Pacers and Sprinters lurking around then. They make steam look state of the art!
     
  17. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2005
    Messages:
    35,447
    Likes Received:
    9,146
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired-ish, Part time rail tour steward.
    Location:
    Northwich
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Are they allowed south of Watford???:rolleyes1:
     
  18. Northern Union

    Northern Union New Member Account Suspended

    Joined:
    Apr 30, 2012
    Messages:
    107
    Likes Received:
    0
    Have seen them. Some comment about wanting to send them back up North where they belong was made. To the knackers yard would be better.
     
  19. Neil_Scott

    Neil_Scott Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2008
    Messages:
    3,155
    Likes Received:
    302
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Railway servant
    Location:
    Worcester
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Plenty of Sprinters in the south-west of England ;)
     
  20. david1984

    david1984 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Sep 13, 2005
    Messages:
    12,910
    Likes Received:
    1,387
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Birmingham
    Funnily enough Pacers are banned from 3rd Rail territory, purely coincidental of course you understand :whistle:

    Pacers is too nice a word for them, the Nodding Donkey nickname is more apt.
     

Share This Page