REFUNDS OFFERED ‘NO SHOW’ STEAM TR

The decision follows the serving of a prohibition notice on the Carnforthbased company by the Office of Rail and Road in February (SR451). In a move posted on WCRC’s website in March, passengers can have a full refund, alter their travel date or leave their booking unchanged. This year’s Fort WilliamMallaig season is due to start on May 9, while the first of the Settle-Carlisle ‘Dalesman’ trips is planned for May 19. Steam Dreams and the Railway Touring Company - each have run their trains through WCRC in recent times - were negotiating with Britain’s only other full steam Train Operating Company as Steam Railway went to press. Both tour promoters have cancelled trains in recent weeks, but DB Cargo confirmed to SR that it would work RTC’s ManchesterEdinburgh ‘Midday Scot’ with No. 46233 Duchess of Sutherland on March 19. The German company, which was previously known as DB Schenker, also operated the National Railway Museum’s inaugural East Coast Main Line trip with No. 60103 Flying Scotsman on February 25. The ORR prohibited WCRC from running from February 18, citing a number of safety concerns. Incidents listed by the safety regulator include the signal passed at danger at Wootton Bassett

WEST COAST Railway Company has promised it will offer refunds on its ‘Jacobite’ and ‘Dalesman’ trips six weeks before they are due to run if it is still unable to run trains at that point.