Heritage sleeping cars should have a big future – not sent for scrap!
IN ISSUE 292, I spotted the reference to the Bluebell Railway seeking to dispose of its surplus sleeping cars – surely the Cinderellas of the heritage movement?
Sadly, I expect some of them will be broken up, yet no one seems to see their potential. Many thousands of us, enthusiast and day-tripper alike, love the opportunity to dine on our heritage lines and at least one of the group usually has to forego an extra glass of wine because they will be driving home (sometimes over a great distance).
Imagine the fun and romance of finishing off your evening with a night in a heritage sleeping car! The railway will sell more food and drink, too! I know some of you will state that there are no en suite facilities in these vehicles, but surely that is the point? There are no en suite facilities on the Orient Express but that doesn’t stop people shelling out handsomely for a chance to ride the train.
Furthermore, the coach doesn’t have to move, so there is little of the wear and tear experienced by regular service stock. Indeed, a better night’s sleep will be experienced if it doesn’t. Breakfast, for those who want it, can be provided in the station buffet (usually open early for the train crews) and there is no need for an attendant, if one is not advertised.
Worth the expense?
Okay, the first challenge is to repair the coach, and that will be expensive in some cases, but individual cabins could be sponsored like timeshares, and even if the railway was to take the risk, the cost of a major refurbishment could be recouped within one or two operating seasons.
So many people under the age of 50 have never experienced the joys of overnight train travel; I have heard some people incredulous at the idea that some trains have beds!
Just at the point when we need to fly less, when European railways are once again embracing the joys of overnight rail travel, we seem to be squandering a major opportunity to add another dimension to the heritage leisure market and added value in terms of our coaching heritage.
Isabel White, email