Insufficient bookings lead to new date for Clun Castle’s ‘S&C’ journey
VINTAGE Trains has re-dated its September 24‘The Cumbrian Mountaineer Express’over the Settle and Carlisle line behind WR 4-6-0
No. 7029 Clun Castle.
The trip is now rescheduled to run on Saturday, April 22 as part of VT’s programme of trains to celebrate the centenary of the introduction of the Castle class in 1923.
Michael Whitehouse, Vintage Trains’ chairman, said: “We first advertised No. 7029 running over the S&C pre-pandemic and the train sold out in three days. On account of the pandemic, we first had to suspend operations and then run our trains with social distancing. The high costs of running the S&C train meant that we could not offer this during the social distancing period.
“The S&C trip costs about 30% more than a normal long-haul day out – say a ‘Welsh Marches Express’ or to Cardiff as examples – and about twice as much as a ‘Shakespeare Express’, which carries two sets of passengers on one set of costs. We cannot afford to run the S&C trip unless it is ‘full.’ We simply need a higher level of bookings for this very special train.
“The reasons why the costs are higher are because the locomotive has to go north the day before with consequent additional costs of crew and coal; it has to do this as the day would be too long to run by steam from Tyseley-Carlisle-Tyseley, bearing in mind permitted speeds and water stops.
“Also, we need to hire route conductors in the north, and we need more coal than for other days out – and coal is much more expensive.
“Full for us means about £50,000 income for this trip, which pays all the costs and makes a maintenance contribution for the locomotive and carriages. Without a maintenance contribution, eventually we will not have a train to run.”
Passengers have been asked if they wish to transfer to the new date or have a refund or move to another trip. The costs of the tickets for April 22 will remain the same.
“Bookings are open,” added Michael. “We need to sell £20,000 more in tickets for 7029 to run this trip. We will try once more and further promote the tour within our proposed Castle centenary plans with several new tours, including doubleheaders, which we will announce as soon as we have cleared all the access to the network checks.
“If readers wish to see No. 7029 back on the S&C, then we request that they buy tickets to travel.”