Could DRS decide to pull out of running charters?
INDUSTRY SPECULATION is rife that Direct Rail Services, part of the Nuclear Transport Solutions arm, could be looking to end operating charter trains once all its agreed commitments have been delivered.
The company would not confirm or deny the suggestions, with Andrew Butler, communications manager for Nuclear Transport Solutions, merely saying: “We are currently reviewing all of our rail operations to make plans for the future as we modernise our business and fleet. This process is still ongoing and no final decisions have yet been made.”
DRS has three trains in the diary for Pathfinder Tours, on January 22,
February 19, and the April 15-18 Landcruise to Scotland.
However, Railways Illustrated understands recent changes in the management of the company sees charters as too periphery and not part of its core work. It would also allow it to accelerate plans to retire some or all of its Class 37s.
DRS previously saw charters as a good way of retaining route knowledge on non-core routes, and many of its staff liked to work them with its heritage locomotives such as Class 20/37/47s. However, as these fleets have either been eliminated or run down, some drivers have opted to move to Locomotive Services Limited.
Meanwhile, talk that DB Cargo could be looking at reducing its charter commitments, again with a possible cessation of operations, is not correct, although the company has told promoters it will not entertain tours over freight lines that it no longer operates over and which would require drivers to refresh routes. Some heritage traction will also only be operated if DB Cargo feels it has enough contingency within its resources.
It is finding it increasingly difficult to resource some trains, especially those steam-hauled. It has been working with LSL to help it resource some trains which it cannot cover.
Railways Illustrated approached DBC for comment but none was forthcoming as we closed for press. GB Railfreight is also reducing its charter operations in the summer and winter months due to resourcing issues, but says it is willing and keen to collaborate more with other charter FOCS to deliver trains for customers. If DRS does pull out of charters, it would leave DBC, West Coast Railways, GBRF and LSL as volume operators in the sector with Vintage Trains as a smaller, albeit potentially up and coming, player. Rail Operations Group has already indicated it will not be entertaining charter work with its own stock in the current climate.