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Threat to Railtours

You are here: Home > Forum > General > General questions, comments, and issues > Threat to Railtours

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Threat to Railtours 15/01/2013 at 16:49 #40596
Razzabazza123
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91 posts
I had this email today. I wondered if its true.

Hi all, have you heard of the threat to railtours and our heritage traction.

The gist of is the Office Rail Regulation ORR are proposing of removing the maximum £5,000 cap on delays caused by charters (rail tours), this has the potential to distroy the charter market as who could take the risk. The ORR want the charter operators to take up insurance to cover any fines. However a locomotive owner has already stated that this is higly unlikely to succed as insurance companies don't cover wear and tare, and what else do loco's and stock fail with.

we'll get this beat with everyone's help, Note Further to my previous posting regarding threats to our mainline heritage traction.

100,000 signatures mean that it stands a chance of being discussed by
parliament. We need to put aside our differences and bury any axes, work together and be as constructive as we can be.

Please sign this online petition to keep steam, heritage diesels & electrics and other railtours running in the UK in future.

https://submissions.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/44358

There is a Facebook group dedicated to opposing this change, called;-

Back British Railway Heritage
http://www.facebook.com/groups/451797041540159/

We want to see and hear our heritage fleet all over what remains of our network, am I right?

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Threat to Railtours 15/01/2013 at 17:26 #40597
jc92
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3690 posts
" said:

The gist of is the Office Rail Regulation ORR are proposing of removing the maximum £5,000 cap on delays caused by charters (rail tours), this has the potential to distroy the charter market as who could take the risk. The ORR want the charter operators to take up insurance to cover any fines. However a locomotive owner has already stated that this is higly unlikely to succed as insurance companies don't cover wear and tare, and what else do loco's and stock fail with.
In the interests of fairness, the ORR has also suggested (and had the support of a number of senior members from several railtour providers) an increased open access charge for each train provided, which would cover any and all penalties incurred by NR throughout the year. I do agree it would be sad to see railtours disapear, but the fact is these penalty charges are paid by NR which is funded by...you guessed it, the UK tax payer.

I actually agree with the idea to reform the charge system with network rail imposing an increased charge as "insurance". Steam dreams have already stated they agree reform is required, and are happy to pay increased access charges.

There is a very informative article in steam railway which covers the subject.

"We don't stop camborne wednesdays"
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The following user said thank you: Forest Pines
Threat to Railtours 15/01/2013 at 17:42 #40598
ralphjwchadkirk
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275 posts
Why should Network Rail have to pay taxpayers money for fines for delays they didn't cause?
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Threat to Railtours 15/01/2013 at 18:59 #40602
Peter Bennet
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5402 posts
Much I like to see the heritage locos out and about and travel behind them I think the ORR is probably right in principle.

Peter

I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs!
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Threat to Railtours 17/01/2013 at 19:55 #40644
pedroathome
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916 posts
Shame we cant see a regular steam service operated by a TOC on some quieter lines with lower running speeds. Would probably bring more people onto those lines, increase passenger numbers and increase profit
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Threat to Railtours 17/01/2013 at 20:22 #40647
Danny252
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1461 posts
Those are called "heritage railways", are they not? I can't see how the price would work out at all - railtour prices are ridiculous as it is already, and trying to have a reliable running fleet is enough of an issue already for preserved lines, never mind when you're getting fined for delays on your regular service. The few heritage lines that are run as for-profit companies are mainly reliant on DMU haulage for money reasons, I believe.
Last edited: 17/01/2013 at 20:24 by Danny252
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Threat to Railtours 17/01/2013 at 20:47 #40648
Peter Bennet
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5402 posts
When BR brought D200 out of storage for the S&C a while back after it was saved that seemed to do quite well. And the Fort William Mallaig summer steam is very popular (not quite sure who runs that).

Peter

I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs!
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Threat to Railtours 17/01/2013 at 21:06 #40650
Danny252
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1461 posts
" said:
When BR brought D200 out of storage for the S&C a while back after it was saved that seemed to do quite well. And the Fort William Mallaig summer steam is very popular (not quite sure who runs that).

Peter
There's also the Shakespeare Express and I think there's something down south, too - but I doubt those are actually priced the same as the "normal" trains!

Last edited: 17/01/2013 at 21:07 by Danny252
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Threat to Railtours 17/01/2013 at 21:42 #40652
sloppyjag
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480 posts
There's also the North Yorkshire Moors Railway which runs trains regularly over NR metals between Grosmont and Whitby. There's talk of the 2nd platform being reopened at Whitby to allow them to run more trains.
Planotransitophobic!
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