Britain’s railtour scene could look very different in 12 months’ time
Rolling stock and rising costs among headwinds facing main line excursions.
THE number of railtours operated, the type of rolling stock used and the cost of tickets could change over the next 12 months due to a variety of factors.
One of the key changes will be the use of Mk.1 carriages on the main line. The staple for many enthusiast and charter tours, Mk.1s are currently running under an exemption from the Office of Rail and Road, sparing them from the requirement of Central Door Locking (CDL) and also toilet retention tanks. This exemption is due to expire on March 31, 2023.
It is well known that Mk.1s have poor crashworthiness and if in an accident are likely to suffer far more damage. There is potential for passenger injury inside these vehicles, the Mk.1 having a robust chassis but a relatively weak body structure.
The majority of Mk.1s used in the charter market are operated by the West Coast Railway Company, with others owned and operated by Riviera Trains, Locomotive Services Limited and the Scottish Railway Preservation Society. Some companies have Mk.2 or Mk.3 fleets which could be used, others do not.
One operator has told The RM it is lobbying for a further extension of the exemption with the aim of keeping Mk.1s running as long as possible, particularly when balancing the cost of fitting CDL and retention tanks to Mk.1s against the level of future use and income.
Considerations
Another major factor which is already starting to skew the market is rising costs. Everyone has felt the impact from rising fuel, food and transport costs, and these increases are beginning to filter down into the railtour market.
Because specifications and prices for tours are agreed many months in advance, quoted fares are generally being honoured, despite the astronomic rises in diesel fuel.
Fuel rises, particularly coal and diesel, are increasing the costs of tours, but ancillary and supply chain cost rises are heaping on the misery too.
The cost of hiring a carriage set, empty stock moves, staff costs, delivery of food for ontrain catering, the actual cost of food, insurance, stabling, etc – have all risen substantially, just as they have domestically. It has become a vicious circle and the fact some charters have run recently with eight or nine carriages rather than 11 or 12, is a measure of how the market is adapting to cost increases.
With a third party railtour now costing upwards of £50,000 to operate, it is becoming inevitable the cost of tickets will have to increase. Already dining tickets on some trains – but not all – are upwards of £350, making it unaffordable as a day out for a couple.
With passengers’ discretionary spending under more pressure than ever before, some tour promoters have admitted to
The RM that bookings for some trains have noticeably slowed. It should be stressed this is not the case across the board.
Railtour participants are being very selective on which tours they chose to support. Those tours using unusual or rare traction, have a strong class following or are over specific routes are still booking strongly, but in the case of other tours, bookings are said to be some way from their break-even point, and cancellations are starting to appear.
A cancellation notified to the magazine on May 18 was Pathfinder’s ‘Yorkshire Rose’ tour on June 18 from Stratford-onAvon to Scarborough, with two Class 37s, which has suffered from a lack of bookings.
Exposure
Tour promoters who have an operating licence and their own rolling stock and locomotives are slightly better positioned, having the ability to temporarily absorb some of the price rises, and even run with passenger numbers below break-even levels (i.e. at a loss). However, tour promoters who hire in stock and locos from third parties do not have such a luxury and are subject to a high break-even point, or face having to cancel tours which don’t sell well.
With prices rising and tighter budgets on the cards for some time to come, if Mk.1s are withdrawn next March – and that is by no means certain – the reduction in available stock is expected to result in a smaller charter train programme in 2023, but it is anticipated to create increased passenger demand for fewer special trains.