Vintage Trains 2016/17 Tours

Interesting bit of "spin" from Ben, I think. I also wonder why VT have made this announcement now rather than, say, at the start of the month or soon after the latest ORR consultation started. I offer no theories; I expect there are sensible reasons. Once again, it seems that "more waiting is required"...

 

Or simply they don't believe it is ethical to take bookings and money for a product the delivery of which is entirely unknown and out of their control at the moment with no guaranteed date for resolution - makes perfect business sense.

Also bear in mind that as a vac only operation VT don't have the option of a quick shift to DBS should the worst happen.

 

Perhaps I'm not being fair to Ben? Thinking about it, he might have been misquoted. If he was saying that WCRC & VT might have been able to run the train on Feb 13th, but have chosen not to (which is what the letter to customers says), then that would make more sense. And if that was his meaning, then there's no implication for tours run by other promoters, such as Saturday's Winter CME.

 

So if Ben's words are not a misquote, what are the likes of RTC doing still selling tours with the same degree of uncertainty undermining them? IF WCRC are choosing not to operate, how will the other WCRC dependent tour operators fulfil their contractual obligations to their customers. Has Ben made a rod for their backs? A sort of mis-selling issue in the making?

 

I imagine they'll run the tours as advertised if they can, and if circumstances prevent it run a "best alternative" or whatever the equivalent phrase in their terms and conditions is. Think you'll find that no tour company offers an unconditional guarantee that a tour will run as advertised. Each company has to make a judgement as to what will suit them/their customers best. If all does go well for WCRC and they could have operated the Valentine's train, VT may have some unnecessarily aggrieved customers. There are downsides either way.

 

Yes, it is common to have an alternative plan for a steam tour. We saw that only yesterday when two 5's stepped in for FS. That was steam replacing steam with the added credibility of it always being a possibility. What we have now are tour companies selling tours at a time when their TOC provider is under threat. VT have rather blown the cover of the other WCRC dependant tour operators. A prestigious and highly regarded tour operator has simply said that they cannot guarantee what they offer will be provided. In doing that, they have earned the respect of many and set themselves up for a manic administration exercise should WCRC be allowed to continue. Give what VT have done, the Terms and Conditions argument would simply fail in a Court of Law.

I sincerely hope that WCRC do continue and the rest remains simple speculation.

 

During the suspension of WC last spring DBS was subcontracted for several RTC tours. It's possible a provisional arrangement has been made as a contingency?

 

Is that a professional lawyer's opinion, or simply internet amateur lawyerese?

 

But one of the "WCRC dependant tour companies" ran a successful tour yesterday so I'm not sure whose cover has been blown.

 

I agree. Odd that VT have cancelled Valentines Day and not taking bookings for planned tours on the basis of an unsubstantiated quote that WCRC are not operating from choice. But yesterday was a great success. Will become clearer in the next couple of weeks with WCRC operated tours on the books and so far not cancelled.

Maybe VT would like to comment???

 

VT are an entirely different kettle of fish to the other operators, their model is using their own stock, their own locomotive (all vac only!) and just using WCRC to drive/operate the train - therefore their model is unlikely to be flexible to move to DBS at short notice (ignoring the brake issue), unlike the others who are essentially hiring everything in and thus with contingency can move and deliver the same thing under the same business model by just changing suppliers.

I would say that VT have commented quickly to those that matter - their customers, thus why they should want to engage on speculative discussion on here or provide any further comments escapes me.

 

Accepting all of that. All I was wondering about was the variance from the quote attributed to VT in the press that WCRC had voluntarily suspended services when they ran the CME on Saturday. There appears to be no cancellation of at least five services operated by WCRC with steam in the next two or three weeks.

I appreciate what VT are doing from a customer perspective and intend to book when the opportunity arises.

 

At this point, this is a year of hoping. As always the tour schedule is wonderful. It is just a matter of what if. VT have there plans but having to sideline them would be awful.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

My rule of thumb is that every press article has at least one of its facts wrong. In this case we have had much speculation about the significance of what Ben is reported to have said. In the absence of confirmation from Ben himself as to exactly what he did or didn't say I'm inclined to rely on what VT have told their customers and to ignore the newspaper article.

 

Thou shalt always have hope Mike

 

I suspect the real sticking point for VT is the TY01 coaching set being vac only, had there been a dual braked Mk1 set, a hired in loco and talking to DBS in the short term may have been an option.

Despite the denials of interest in doing one from various parties, I think another charter TOC is needed, either as a contingency plan, or to provide some market competition depending on WCRC's outcome, yes it would takes ages with a mountain of money, paperwork and red tape to do, but if the alternative is back to the bad old days of your operation ended at the points at the end of Tyseley Yard...

 

With WCRC seeming operating well in exceptional circumstances at this difficult time around the northern routes, will VT be reviewing their current policy? Getting quite tight on time for booking up some of the early planned tours.

 

I really hope so because PRLCT 46233 have announced their schedule. And I suppose they shall be able to proceed.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

So those who put their faith in VT didn't get a Valentine's tour but those who backed RTC's offering are well on their way to York. Do the VT fans on here still think the Tyseley guys and gals made the right decision?