Rail Charter Services to operate loco hauled trains between Skipton & Appleby.

[hexagon789]

Well you could but in the current social distance setting where they are only selling window seats not really much point. just use the 1st class carriages

True, I was more thinking about the future when that's no longer necessary

 

[yorksrob]

Well only in the sense that the seating bays all line up with the windows, but one could always reseat a Mk3 to give 64 seats in a 2+2 configuration with an all table bays arrangement like that of a Mk2 standard open

You could do. Would be a bit of a rigmorole. Plus, having some single seats is ideal for singles and couples who otherwise might not want an aisle seat.

 

[DB]

You could do. Would be a bit of a rigmorole. Plus, having some single seats is ideal for singles and couples who otherwise might not want an aisle seat.

Mk3 seat spacing can be changed fairly easily - Grand Central did it, and I believe the 125 group have done it with one of theirs.

 

[DarloRich]

I agree that it's a great idea, I'm sure under normal circs. it would be quite popular but I do wonder about their timing

I would be well up for a trip and i am sure the boss would like a nice day out/picnic but cant easily getup there from MK at this time

 

[43096]

Mk3 seat spacing can be changed fairly easily - Grand Central did it, and I believe the 125 group have done it with one of theirs.

Yes, 12134 was reconfigured to 64 seat capacity during its overhaul.

 

[swissrailpassion]

Seems like an attempt to block Smith.

 

[DB]

Seems like an attempt to block Smith.

Why would they want to do that?

 

[yorksrob]

Mk3 seat spacing can be changed fairly easily - Grand Central did it, and I believe the 125 group have done it with one of theirs.

But if you've got lots of nice comfy first class carriages going spare, why bother.

Seems like an attempt to block Smith.

Who's Smith out of interest ?

 

[hexagon789]

You could do. Would be a bit of a rigmorole. Plus, having some single seats is ideal for singles and couples who otherwise might not want an aisle seat.

I was thinking that with the shorter platforms, using only 48-seat coaches in the future seemed a waste of capacity if it became popular

 

[hexagon789]

Seems like an attempt to block Smith.

Smith who?

 

[Stuwhu]

Dont talk about Smith, he has spies everywhere

 

[CW2]

David Smith, majority owner of WCRC Carnforth.

 

[ainsworth74]

Seems like an attempt to block Smith.

Think you might need to expand on that thought for those of us playing along at home

 

[hexagon789]

Dont talk about Smith, he has spies everywhere

Who is this "Smith"?!?

David Smith, majority owner of WCRC Carnforth.

Thank you, finally an explanation!

Think you might need to expand on that thought for those of us playing along at home

Definitely, this Smith chap gets mentioned half-a-dozen times before anyone says who the bloke actually is!

 

[43096]

Definitely, this Smith chap gets mentioned half-a-dozen times before anyone says who the bloke actually is!

Anyone? I suspect there are plenty who got it first time.

 

[ainsworth74]

Anyone? I suspect there are plenty who got it first time.

But not everyone. It's a little cryptic to just refer to 'Smith' with very little additional context

 

[theironroad]

Hopefully it will work, would be a better experience for tourists staying in the area rather than the current offering. I'm not sure whether it will take the large group bookings of walkers off of the current services, I'm guessing not as I think some board at Carlisle, though correct me if wrong.

Currently not much good for people travelling alone either..." Sales will initially be in pairs to people from the same household or social bubble."

 

[EbbwJunction1]

This is okay: "First Class day returns are £29 per person and £99 for a family of 4." but this isn't ... "Due to social distancing, tickets will be sold in pairs to people from the same household, or social bubble.".

 

[Oscar46016]

sounds like a good addition to the D&C options - which would be the better link to get to - I presume Skipton from leeds which would be a nice link from TPE.

Not much goes to appleby?

 

[43 302]

This is okay: "First Class day returns are £29 per person and £99 for a family of 4." but this isn't ... "Due to social distancing, tickets will be sold in pairs to people from the same household, or social bubble.".

Why not? It makes complete sense to me. Due to social distancing if they sold one ticket they would have to take up a whole group of seats that could otherwise fit four fare paying customers in.

 

[37424]

They've got two potential markets. Day trippers and cranks. It would seem odd not to make the appeal as broad as possible by dropping a 37 on one end.

WCRC tap in to both markets on the Scarborough Spa Express. It's good business.

Yes but I gather its aimed purely at the tourist market on the basis of an increased home tourist market and taking pressure off Northern. Even on the post 6th July timetable they are still only running four Carlisle-Leeds services each way. I gather Northern are struggling for drivers now and in normal times Northern would likely object to this service for revenue abstraction so its likely to be a one off assuming things back to more normal by next year.

 

[43 302]

Yes but I gather its aimed purely at the tourist market on the basis of an increased home tourist market and taking pressure off Northern. Even on the post 6th July timetable they are still only running four Carlisle-Leeds services each way. I gather Northern as struggling for drivers and normal times Northern would likely object to this service so its likely to be a one off assuming things back to more normal by next year.

I think if northern is still an OLR next summer we could see it again, provided it's successful this summer of course.

 

[Oscar46016]

This is okay: "First Class day returns are £29 per person and £99 for a family of 4." but this isn't ... "Due to social distancing, tickets will be sold in pairs to people from the same household, or social bubble.".

I guess if you really wanted to do it you could buy two tickets..

 

[EbbwJunction1]

This is okay: "First Class day returns are £29 per person and £99 for a family of 4." but this isn't ... "Due to social distancing, tickets will be sold in pairs to people from the same household, or social bubble.".

Why not? It makes complete sense to me. Due to social distancing if they sold one ticket they would have to take up a whole group of seats that could otherwise fit four fare paying customers in.

I guess if you really wanted to do it you could buy two tickets.

Sorry, I think I wrote my original post wrongly! I'm not complaining that they've done it as as you say it makes sense. I'm just disappointed, because it rules out a lot of single travellers like me who don't have a social bubble. Buy two tickets ... hmm, do i want to travel on it that much? Probably not, I'm afraid!

 

[DB]

This is okay: "First Class day returns are £29 per person and £99 for a family of 4." but this isn't ... "Due to social distancing, tickets will be sold in pairs to people from the same household, or social bubble.".

Rules me out then! I live alone, have nobody else I would be travelling with, and I'm not going to be paying for two tickets.

I agree, it's not OK - it's effectively discriminating against single people.

 

[DB]

sounds like a good addition to the D&C options - which would be the better link to get to - I presume Skipton from leeds which would be a nice link from

Yes, much easier from Skipton. It will mean using Northern though from Leeds - who may or may not have modified their anti-passenger stance by then!

 

[EbbwJunction1]

If it is repeated next year, that may be an option worth thinking about.

 

[xotGD]

It isnt aimed at cranks though is it? it is aimed at normals.

Break even with normals, make a profit from cranks.

Looking at how to maximise revenue (without unduly increasing your costs) makes absolute sense.

And the crank taking their partner/family makes it even better for the operator.

 

[37424]

I think if northern is still an OLR next summer we could see it again, provided it's successful this summer of course.

I don't see how that really makes a difference in normal times it could be seen as affecting their potential revenue regardless whether its an OLR or not.

 

[43 302]

I don't see how that really makes a difference in normal times it could be seen as affecting their potential revenue regardless whether its an OLR or not.

Yes but as it is an OLR currently, northern werent opposed to it. I suspect that if it was still Arriva running it then they wouldn't be too happy with some of their business going. Just a thought.