Ready to enjoy the POST-COVID-19 charter scene!
As I write this, we are all eagerly awaiting news on whether the lockdown and social distancing restrictions will cease on June 21, or if not on that date, then when. As it transpires it has been delayed to at least July 19. Understandably, I hoped they were lifted, and while I appreciate the Government will be damned if it does and damned if it doesn’t, personally – and this is only my view as a citizen – I think we are at the stage where we have to start on the road to normality and simply learn to live with COVID-19 in the background.
You may disagree with that, which I respect, but the truth is more people will be killed in a day in incidents on the nation’s roads than (currently, mid-june) from COVID-19 and yet we haven’t banned cars. The vaccination programme has been well-delivered and executed and the take-up has been good. Now all manner of businesses simply need to get back to work.
For charter trains, I’ve said before, if social distancing is in force then most simply cannot run unless the TOC takes a hit. Your average promoter cannot afford to take that hit; they would be out of business after one or two loss-making trains.
But what can be done to rebuild confidence in the market? In the lucrative ‘Joe Public’ day-trip market, charters are, for most, a relative luxury, or at least a non-essential day out. POST-COVID it’s fair to say there will be some, especially of the older age groups, who simply won’t want to spend all day on a train with 500 other people. Not everyone will be vaccinated – some, for some inexplicable reason, by choice. But the vast majority will be, especially amongst the most vulnerable in society, and we cannot live in a world of such continual fear.
Charter promoters – well, more accurately, rolling stock providers – can take some measures to reassure passengers. Hand sanitiser and soap in loos are a must from now on, as is the provision of plenty of disposable hand towels. Passengers should
be encouraged to bring their own hand sanitiser as well, although many will anyway. A supply of disinfectant wipes is always a good thing to have in your bag.
But I don’t agree that facemasks should be retained when lockdown restrictions are ended. Again, this is just my opinion, and by all means wear one if you want to, but many, and I include myself in this, find them uncomfortable. Wearing one all day on a charter train is not something I especially want to do. Charter promoters need trains at full, or near to full, capacity without compulsory face coverings, but they need some other help. They have all lost 18 months’ worth of business. I’m not expecting the rolling stock providers to be able to offer many concessions because they, too, have lost the same amount of business. But others can help.
Network Rail, which has functioned pretty normally through this crisis (not wholly, but close to it), can help. A moratorium on access fees for charter trains for a year or two, which the FOC/TOCS then pass on to the promoters, would be a great help to start with. That would be loose change to NR but a big help to a promoter. All the TOCS were bailed out, now it’s time to help the small and fragile, charter market. It won’t cost NR much at all. Promoters also need to up their publicity, make sure they are using social media as much as possible, look at any opportunity to give a bit of added value and, above all, plan some enticing trains to attract passengers – although in fairness, they are pretty good at the latter already.
Readers of this column also need to do their bit. First up, don’t be fearful of getting on a charter train. COVID-19 has ruled our lives so far, we can’t let it continue to do so. So, if you can, as soon as we are back to normal – whatever that might be – please try and support the charter promoters. They’ve had a torrid few months and need to fill trains.
Charter promoters provide you with your hobby. If you are a photographer who regularly snaps railtours for enjoyment, what about contributing by actually booking on a train or two? It will help them.
For what it is worth, from the conversations I’ve been having with promoters of late, I think the charter market will bounce back pretty quickly and to full capacity. As I’ve said, promoters need balanced programmes to appeal to all tastes. I genuinely believe there are good times ahead for us all and we’ll soon be back to normality. I hope I am right in that view. I can’t wait to be back on a charter train, reacquainting myself with old friends and enjoying a damn good day out!
New track for UKR trips
UK Railtours has added some more trains to its programme, including a freight track-bashing day out and a chance to travel over a brand-new piece of railway. The ‘Only Freight Track And Horses’ trip is set for Saturday September 11 and its unusual name is a nod to the classic British television sitcom Only Fools and Horses that was filmed in West London and Bristol, which is a clue to where the train goes from and to.
This second railtour in UKR’S everpopular Forgotten Tracks programme for 2021 will head to two freight-only lines in the Avon area – the recently reopened Tytherington branch and the line to the oil terminal at Westerleigh. The company also hints at a possible surprise or two on the day!
The train will start at Paddington with a DB Cargo Class 66 in charge and run to the Westbury area where the train will reverse and a Freightliner 66 will be added to top-and-tail for the next chunk of the itinerary. The train will proceed to Bristol Temple Meads where there will be a 90-minute refreshment break and the chance to stretch your legs. After the break, the train will continue to Yate Middle Junction to take the branch line to Tytherington Quarry. Subject to the operational conditions on the day, it is hoped to venture right to the end of this recently extended freight line.
After reversal the train will head to Westerleigh, which exists to serve a local oil terminal. After reversing at the end of the line, the train will continue to Cheltenham to reverse and return to London via Swindon. A number of goods loops are expected to be covered during the day for the Quail highlighting brigade. The ‘York Deviator’ is set for October 9, and while this is essentially a King’s Cross to York day excursion, it will take a diversion on the way to traverse the new Werrington dive-under near Peterborough. This £100m new chord has been built north of Peterborough to allow trains from the March line to