Summer 2021 HST Staycation Specials on S&C

[RuralRambler]

Sorry if it's already posted on another thread (looked and didn't see one). It's been announced that RCS will be running the Staycation Express using an HST set between Skipton and Carlisle this Summer, the full S&C line rather than termination at Appleby as last Summer. Personally, I think a good idea to use a HST set just to be different to last year and appeal to more people. Went on it last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. Can't wait to do it on a HST.

‘Staycation Express’ to return along full length of S&C

Refurbished HST plan revealed for S&C Staycation Express

www.railmagazine.com

This year’s ‘Staycation Express’ will use a refurbished High Speed Train and run the full length of the Settle-Carlisle Line.

The final plans are being confirmed by Rail Charter Services, which last year used locomotive-hauled trains between Skipton and Appleby. This year, the plan is for the HST to operate the 0930 Appleby-Skipton, 1130 Skipton-Carlisle, 1500 Carlisle-Skipton and 1730 Skipton-Appleby, although the timings are yet to be finalised.

The trains will run daily except for Fridays between mid-July and early September (dates still to be determined).

 

[gaillark]

Great news indeed especially with enhanced catering.
Would also be interested if they added one evening tour perhaps on just one weekday evening as the S&C looks magical at dusk.
These guys know how to fill trains and offer a great experience sadly so lacking by front line TOC's.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

I think there may be another thread about this somewhere, but I did not notice that this year, the train will be going through to Carlisle. I shall certainly keep my eyes open for more info about that. I would like to do that line again this year, perhaps on a through charter from London, steam or diesel. Maybe this company could do a 125 all the way?

 

[yorksrob]

It looks good - although MML 1st class carriages would have been better.

Will they be offering individual tickets this time, I wonder ?

 

[JonathanH]

I think there may be another thread about this somewhere, but I did not notice that this year, the train will be going through to Carlisle. I shall certainly keep my eyes open for more info about that. I would like to do that line again this year, perhaps on a through charter from London, steam or diesel. Maybe this company could do a 125 all the way?

How about this one? Which is a 125 all the way from London.
https://midlandpullman.com/journey/settle-carlisle-pullman

SETTLE & CARLISLE PULLMAN
SAT 8 MAY 2021

Departing From
LONDON ST PANCRAS,
ST ALBANS,
LUTON,
BEDFORD,
WELLINGBOROUGH,
KETTERING,
MARKET HARBOROUGH,
LEICESTER
This very special tour includes a journey over the entire majestic route of the famous Settle to Carlisle railway, with its great limestone peaks and deep valleys we travel over no fewer than 19 viaducts and through 12 tunnels on this masterpiece of Victorian engineering – including the famous Ribblehead Viaduct.

There are four different trips on the Midland Pullman schedule along the Settle & Carlisle line - 8 May from London and stations to Leicester, 12 June from Bristol and stations to Leamington Spa, 26 June from Ayr and stations to Gretna and 14 August from Perth and stations to Carstairs.

 

[43 302]

It looks good - although MML 1st class carriages would have been better.

Care to contribute anymore comedy?

 

[yorksrob]

Care to contribute anymore comedy?

I see we have a comedian here

 

[superalbs]

Where have the carriages come from?

 

[DB]

Where have the carriages come from?

GWR. Power cars are from the EMT/EMR fleet (VP185 engines)

 

[43096]

GWR. Power cars are from the EMT/EMR fleet (VP185 engines)

To be accurate coaches from Porterbrook and First Rail Holdings, power cars from Porterbrook.

 

[DB]

To be accurate coaches from Porterbrook and First Rail Holdings, power cars from Porterbrook.

In terms of former owner, yes - I was assuming that the question related to the former operator though.

 

[superalbs]

In terms of former owner, yes - I was assuming that the question related to the former operator though.

Yes, thank you.

 

[Bald Rick]

How about this one? Which is a 125 all the way from London.
https://midlandpullman.com/journey/settle-carlisle-pullman

Sold out for the cheap seats, only option is the full dining option. £310 a ticket, minimum 2 people....

Who buys these things?

 

[DB]

Sold out for the cheap seats, only option is the full dining option. £310 a ticket, minimum 2 people....

Who buys these things?

Dunno, but there must be a market for it - same one as the VSOE and Northern Belle, which never seem to lack customers.

 

[47827]

Sold out for the cheap seats, only option is the full dining option. £310 a ticket, minimum 2 people....

Who buys these things?

Plenty. But they tend to have a reasonable amount of money or be retired and have plenty of savings to enjoy. Dining fares have doubled for some trips over not too many years. These trains will do well from the staycation factor and bounce back factor causing pent up demand.

There won't be many non enthusiast trips which aren't steam featuring much or any standard class to any degree going forward. It does mean there's a bit of a market left for anyone brave to run things with say a couple of hundred standard seats combined with the first and dining (as per the Nenta model in East Anglia). But it's unlikely to be very well served now as charters have nearly doubled to operate for third party promoters in many cases over the last decade so there's now a tendency to mostly only aim at niches in the market such as dining experiences, steam or occasionally enthusiast specialist trips as focusing mostly on one thing is a less complex model to digest.

 

[JRT]

The "Staycation Express" charter train service operated by Rail Charter Services on the scenic Settle-Carlisle Line will run again in Summer 2021, with an extended route between Skipton and Carlisle, calling at Settle and Appleby.
It will run daily excluding Fridays, from 19th July until 9th September 2021.

19 July – 12 August & 21 August – 9 September will have a restaurant car.
Note: 14–19 August a revised service with no restaurant car will be in operation.

Monday to Thursday and Saturday

Appleby depart 0940
Settle arrive 1033
Skipton arrive 1100

Skipton depart 1118
Settle depart 1138
Appleby arrive 1228
Carlisle arrive 1313

Carlisle depart 1509
Appleby depart 1552
Settle arrive 1645
Skipton arrive 1705

Skipton depart 1718
Settle depart 1737
Appleby arrive 18b28

b Arrives 1 min later on 14, 16–19 August

Sunday

Appleby depart 1029
Settle arrive 1118
Skipton arrive 1141

Skipton depart 1205
Settle depart 1230
Appleby arrive 1318
Carlisle arrive 1405

Carlisle depart 1540
Appleby depart 1621
Settle arrive 1710
Skipton arrive 1741

Skipton depart 1755
Settle depart 1815
Appleby arrive 1906

 

[37114]

I would have been interested if it was proper Traction like last year but not on an HST I am afraid...

 

[Iskra]

I would have been interested if it was proper Traction like last year but not on an HST I am afraid...

I can understand this viewpoint, but for some reason I’ve always wanted to do the S&C on a HST.

I did it twice last year, the second time just for the 40, but this year I’m still interested as I think covering the full route is better.

However, I’ll only be doing it if the price is right...

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Thanking for posting the timings in post 16, I too would consider doing this, if they allow sales for people on their own and the prices are fair. I don't mind it being an HST, anything would be fine for me.

 

[43096]

I would have been interested if it was proper Traction like last year but not on an HST I am afraid...

Always good to know that someone feels the need to broadcast that they’re not doing something.

 

[37424]

I would have been interested if it was proper Traction like last year but not on an HST I am afraid...

Anybody wanting Loco Haulage should bear in mind that the HST set will need an exam at some point in August by the looks of it. Try looking for the week where it says no catering available, this seems to have been confirmed by Tony Miles on WNXX

 

[JRT]

I would have been interested if it was proper Traction like last year but not on an HST I am afraid...

:14–19 August a revised service, will be loco-hauled with Mk2 Coaches. Locos TBC and no restaurant car will be in operation.

It looks good - although MML 1st class carriages would have been better.

Will they be offering individual tickets this time, I wonder ?

19th July - 12th August & 21st August - 9th September
Staycation Express will be a HST set (Stock Ex GWR, power cars ex East Midlands) in a 2+5 formation (Branded in a special "Staycation Express Livery")

 

[Iskra]

Anybody wanting Loco Haulage should bear in mind that the HST set will need an exam at some point in August by the looks of it. Try looking for the week where it says no catering available, this seems to have been confirmed by Tony Miles on WNXX

Good info, thanks for sharing

 

[xotGD]

:14–19 August a revised service, will be loco-hauled with Mk2 Coaches. Locos TBC and no restaurant car will be in operation.

Now it has started to get interesting...

 

[43 302]

:14–19 August a revised service, will be loco-hauled with Mk2 Coaches. Locos TBC and no restaurant car will be in operation.

Mk3s I'm sure. I've heard 47s quoted but it could be a mix like last year. One 47 needed for ETS though.

 

[HSP 2]

One thing that I'm not sure that R.C.S. have looked at is starting the stycation express at Preston then running to Clitheroe then up to Helliifield then onto the S & C to Carlisle. They would then have the option of using the WCML over Shap at a cost back to Preston or just going back to Preston using the S & C.
It would also give them a larger starting point for the train than Skipton.

This is just a thought, for maybe next year or the year after.

 

[43 302]

One thing that I'm not sure that R.C.S. have looked at is starting the stycation express at Preston then running to Clitheroe then up to Helliifield then onto the S & C to Carlisle. They would then have the option of using the WCML over Shap at a cost back to Preston or just going back to Preston using the S & C.
It would also give them a larger starting point for the train than Skipton.

This is just a thought, for maybe next year or the year after.

Highly doubt there's enough WCML paths.

 

[37424]

One thing that I'm not sure that R.C.S. have looked at is starting the stycation express at Preston then running to Clitheroe then up to Helliifield then onto the S & C to Carlisle. They would then have the option of using the WCML over Shap at a cost back to Preston or just going back to Preston using the S & C.
It would also give them a larger starting point for the train than Skipton.

This is just a thought, for maybe next year or the year after.

I expect its currently regarded as a relief to the Northern Operation with many stay at home holidays this year, if in future years Northern were to object to the operation running it from Preston might be away around it, also I doubt the people running RCS are clueless will have no doubt looked at a number of options.

I expect the loco hauled will be duffage but given last years reliability it will probably be a 37 on one end before the end of the week

 

[30907]

One thing that I'm not sure that R.C.S. have looked at is starting the stycation express at Preston then running to Clitheroe then up to Helliifield then onto the S & C to Carlisle. They would then have the option of using the WCML over Shap at a cost back to Preston or just going back to Preston using the S & C.
It would also give them a larger starting point for the train than Skipton.

Stabling at Carnforth presumably? I assume there is room?

You gain the Lancashire etc market, but you lose Yorkshire - if I have to catch a Carlisle train to reach Hellifield, I'll stay on it to Carlisle!

Would that be competing with the steamhauled Dalesman (if it runs)?

 

[Townsend Hook]

Stabling at Carnforth presumably? I assume there is room?

Would probably fit in the up sidings (between the goods loops and the WCRC yard), Network Rail IM sets with two locos on four car relatively regularly stable there, fitting in there very comfortably.