I agree fully - GWR, Grand Central and EMR managed so no reason why XC can't do that!
I fear you'll be disappointed if you're expecting it to be much different to other trains. Their interiors are vastly similar to other British stock, including the MK4 (which I personally prefer) and the 80x. It will no doubt be an interesting route, mind you, and Swanage is just lovely.
It’s very difficult to please everyone and one assumes spare resources to run such tours aren’t abundant. I think they’ve done reasonably well to provide an interesting itinerary.
What knowledge of the network's free paths and planning do you have to make this claim? CrossCountry has the most expansive network in the UK, intertwining with many other TOC's patches. It's not simple to fit another train service in, much less an enthusiast's charter.
I'd rather they used their money and resources down at Burton-under-Needswood instead, frankly. Their Voyagers are dirty and need a good clean. Their interiors do too. It'd surely be far more important to keep the fleet that will, from October, operate all of their Intercity routes. Not that they don't already handle the vast majority of services, of course.
Quite so. I think it looks a really rather pleasant tour. I'd be tempted to book on purely for a direct train from the Midlands (easy access from Cardiff) to childhood-favourite Swanage, frankly, regardless of the traction.
Very good idea seeing as I'm sure the principal stretches will sell out quickly.
Sorry could you explain this statement please, thanks.
PRM legislation requires that the doors be painted in contrasting colours from the rest of the livery, unlike the historic BR livery. However, I'm sure that this minor inaccuracy will be forgiven.
I had thought this was exempt for railtours, although suppose it's the fact the trains would be expected in standard service before then.
I thought it was because it isn't public transport if it's a railtour, it's a private operation.
Yes, both First Great Western and East Midlands Trains sets have been to Swanage on charity tours.
Not exactly and it's not as simple as you make it out to be - Grand Central's tour went considerably off their own patch covering the Hope and Calder Valley routes on the journey from Sheffield to Manchester and back to Bradford while EMRs was a much smaller, much less grander affair simply using what was otherwise a route learning train. To do a tour running fully across the XC network would need some considerable pathing - and would take a lot more time, effort and probably cost to achieve.
The set should go up to Neville Hill for the tour the week before as a service train, so not an option. It is, of course, all speculation about re-liverying a set. Remember that there is at least one set at Wabtec for C6 currently, which limits the options for stopping sets for vinyl application.
They are. They are getting rid of the HST to do just that.
Probably a nice thank you to the staff that have kept them ticking over too
The FGW set only went as far as Corfe Castle due to gauging issues. It also had to be routed via the loop at Norden to avoid the platform.
£95 is less than I was expecting, though it's disappointing that First isn't being offered. I suppose it makes it £125 if you want to spend the whole day on the HST!
