Steam Dreams withdraws ‘Royal Windsor Steam Express’ for 2022
FOLLOWING the acquisition of Steam Dreams by the Locomotive Services Group on June 1, the combined company has been reviewing the best way forward to integrate the busy Guildford-based railtour firm’s schedule with the commitments of the wider LSG operating programme.
As a consequence, the remainder of the 2022 ‘Royal Windsor Steam Express’ and some selected ‘Sunset Steam Express’ services will not run this season.
The rest of the Steam Dreams calendar will run as planned, followed by a full 2023 schedule.
This move has been made to ensure that the passenger experience Steam Dreams is renowned for is maintained in the long term while maintaining other combined commitments for both Steam Dreams and LSG during a short period of adjustment for the combined businesses.
A LSG spokesman said: “We have taken the difficult decision to withdraw some selected Steam Dreams operations over the next few weeks. Although this will be disappointing for Steam Dreams customers, we feel that it is vital to communicate such decisions as early as possible.”
More to come
“A full programme of services will resume from October 1, 2022 and we are looking forward to launching our new and exciting Steam Dreams product from that date,”the spokesman added.
The final ‘Sunset Steam Express’ leaves from London Victoria on the evening of Tuesday, August 9, taking a round circular trip via Guildford and the Surrey Hills before returning to the capital.
The remainder of the Steam Dreams summer programme includes: London Victoria to Canterbury on Thursday, August 11’‘White Cliffs Tour’ from Canterbury on Thursday, August 11 (see separate story); London to Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight on Saturday, August 20; South Coast tour from Portsmouth on Saturday, August 20; Southend to Portsmouth on Tuesday, September 6; London to Chichester and Goodwood Revival on Sunday, September 18; and Sussex Coast Afternoon Tour on Sunday, September 18.