Kyle of localsh

[badger1badger]

Hi guys

we are travelling from leeds to the Isle of Skye - I will post some date in the next few days but can any one tell me are there any Loco Hauled trains on any of this route over the new year period or at any time

Regards

Paul

 

[scotsman]

Hi guys

we are travelling from leeds to the Isle of Skye - I will post some date in the next few days but can any one tell me are there any Loco Hauled trains on any of this route over the new year period or at any time

Regards

Paul

The Royal Scotsman is the only loco hauled train that runs with any sort of regularity. There's the occasional (and I mean VERY occasional). I can't find any booked tours to run round that period of time.

Have fun phottting 158s!

 

[First class]

Will probably be 156s by January. Aren't they swapping them?

 

[MCR247]

Are they?! hock:

 

[EltonRoad]

Other than the Royal Scotsman, I can only find one more tour to Kyle this year, on Saturday 9th October, UK Railtours' Cock o' The North, may use 37s.

Royal Scotsman is due to visit a few times this month, and once in October on 12th, returning 13th.

 

[scotsman]

As far as I know - there are no plans whatsoever to replace 158s with 156s. There would be uproar if there were.

 

[Lee_Again]

Could always try the sleeper to Inverness. 90 to Edinburgh, then 67. Nothing scheduled to Kyle any more. Oh, and the scotsman will cost you more than hiring your own helicopter!!

Obviously you'll need to get to Crew or Preston for the sleeper.

 

[CarterUSM]

As far as I know - there are no plans whatsoever to replace 158s with 156s. There would be uproar if there were.

There has been talks of allocating the 156s to inverness, but nothing concrete, i last heard about it at a briefing over a year ago.

 

[badger1badger]

Hi guys

Thanks for the information that there are no loco scheduled services to Kyle - disapointing but hey ho sign of the times eh !

Anyway we are travelling to Kyle on the 30th December 2010 from Leeds - living above the station we can get an early train - we will be coming back to Leeds on Monday 3rd January 2011 - would like to travel first class all the way if possible or at least some of the way ?

What fares are out there and how do we get them

It will be 2 adults

Cheers

paul

 

[Max]

I've merged two threads as frankly, there is no need for a new one.

 

[yorkie]

Leeds - Kyle of Lochalsh £136.20 Super Off Peak Return (SVR), this is, of course, a rip-off.

Leeds - Glasgow £45.40 Anytime Return (SOR) Route Appleby, this is reasonable value (and possibly good for FC travel - see below)

Glasgow - Kyle of Lochalsh £69.80 Off Peak Return (SVR) Route Aviemore. Not great value unfortunately.

There is (or was) a list of Scottish Easements, that stated that tickets from Glasgow/Edinburgh to Kyle of Lochalsh were valid for a circular trip, via Mallaig. I can't find this any more, and it is unclear if this is still in place. If it is, I would highly recommend taking this option, and I would also get the sleeper from Fort William (guaranteed connection from Mallaig as it's the same driver/guard as far as Rannoch!) stay the night in Glasgow then continue the next day. The seated sleeper is the closest you'll get to First Class!

The SOR from Leeds to Glasgow is valid in First Class accommodation on Virgin Trains on weekends between Carlisle & Glasgow, it is unclear if the free use of FC on SOR tickets offer applies on weekdays during the Christmas period, perhaps a regular Virgin user (Voyagerdude?) will know?

Cheaper options may be available particularly if you get Advance tickets on specific trains.

 

[scotsman]

Hi guys

Thanks for the information that there are no loco scheduled services to Kyle - disapointing but hey ho sign of the times eh !

Anyway we are travelling to Kyle on the 30th December 2010 from Leeds - living above the station we can get an early train - we will be coming back to Leeds on Monday 3rd January 2011 - would like to travel first class all the way if possible or at least some of the way ?

What fares are out there and how do we get them

It will be 2 adults

Well, East Coast is only booking up to 17th December. But the Standard Off Peak Return is £272.40 or 1st Class is a whopping £976 (Anytime). That's the only 2 fares available at the moment.

My best bet is to keep checking EC for advance 1st fares to EDB then EDB - INV. Followed by a standard return to Kyle.

 

[badger1badger]

Hi

So the best route is Leeds to edinboro then to Glasgow then to k of l ?

A reply said something about virgin but where would we get that service ? There is an Aberdeen train from Leeds 0710 hrs ( think ) ? Does that get near ?
Or a train to Glasgow do east coast do a direct service ?

I know a load of questions but any help is great

Paul

 

[route:oxford]

Hi guys

Thanks for the information that there are no loco scheduled services to Kyle - disapointing but hey ho sign of the times eh !

Anyway we are travelling to Kyle on the 30th December 2010 from Leeds - living above the station we can get an early train - we will be coming back to Leeds on Monday 3rd January 2011 - would like to travel first class all the way if possible or at least some of the way ?

What fares are out there and how do we get them

It will be 2 adults

Cheers

paul

Is there definitely a full domestic service running in Scotland on Bank Holiday Monday?

Depending on your age... Keep an eye out for "Club 55" fares - they are usually valid from Carlisle.

 

[57315]

Scotrail would be mad to swap IS based class 158's for class 156's.
The Inverness based class 158 fleet had a refurbishment specified for the Far North and Kyle lines traffic IIRC.

 

[The 158 Man]

Scotrail would be mad to swap IS based class 158's for class 156's.
The Inverness based class 158 fleet had a refurbishment specified for the Far North and Kyle lines traffic IIRC.

What does that mean?

Does that mean that people in the far north are only allowed to sit on certain types of seat or something?!

 

[sprinterguy]

What does that mean?

Does that mean that people in the far north are only allowed to sit on certain types of seat or something?!

No, it means you can only use certain clans' pattern of tartan for the seats Old grudges die hard you know

Hi

So the best route is Leeds to edinboro then to Glasgow then to k of l ?

A reply said something about virgin but where would we get that service ? There is an Aberdeen train from Leeds 0710 hrs ( think ) ? Does that get near ?
Or a train to Glasgow do east coast do a direct service ?

The best route is Leeds to Glasgow (route Appleby), which means that it is via the Settle and Carlisle. Upon arrival at Carlisle, you then change to Virgin Trains on the WCML for first class to Glasgow.
The route works out as follows:
1. Leeds to Carlisle via the Settle and Carlisle line: Operated by Northern Rail, no first class available, the train will be a two carriage class 158.
2. Carlisle to Glasgow Central WCML: Virgin Trains Pendolino, excellent first class service.
3. Glasgow Queen Street to Inverness, with First Scotrail. I think they have a small first class section on these trains, it'll be a class 170 Turbostar three car DMU (Possibly with a 158 "added on").
4. Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh: First Scotrail

Answers to other questions: Yes, there is a 07:10 Leeds to Aberdeen East Coast HST service, the only northbound East Coast service from Leeds each day. You could take this train to Edinburgh (Or any of the hourly Leeds to Edinburgh Crosscountry services), but I would not advise attempting Leeds to Kyle of Lochalsh via Aberdeen (if you were to take this train to its' destination): You want to travel via the Highland Main Line with First Scotrail from either Edinburgh or Glasgow (Inverness trains run to/from both Edinburgh and Glasgow).

East Coast have a two hourly London-Glasgow train which you could join at York if you wished to travel to Kyle of Lochalsh via the East Coast and Glasgow, or take the Mallaig circular option, but, as I say above, it is possible (and more convenient if you travel via the ECML) to catch Inverness trains (for onward connection to Kyle) from Edinburgh.

I would advise taking the circular journey via the West Highland Line to Mallaig for the ferry to Skye on the outbound, and returning via Kyle of Lochalsh on the return trip, only if you are going to be staying in the southernmost part of Skye, such as the Sleat area, as otherwise a lot of unnecessary travel will be incurred from the ferry landing at Armadale if you are staying in the north of the island.

 

[General Zod]

I would advise taking the circular journey via the West Highland Line to Mallaig for the ferry to Skye on the outbound, and returning via Kyle of Lochalsh on the return trip, only if you are going to be staying in the southernmost part of Skye, such as the Sleat area, as otherwise a lot of unnecessary travel will be incurred from the ferry landing at Armadale if you are staying in the north of the island.

Sprinterguy, does this mean that a return ticket from a UK station to KYL is valid for return from Mallaig ( ferry across from Armadale) and Fort William if required ? The Mallaig train runs at a reasonable hour whereas if returning from KYL one may have to catch the 0621 !

Cheers.

 

[sprinterguy]

Sprinterguy, does this mean that a return ticket from a UK station to KYL is valid for return from Mallaig ( ferry across from Armadale) and Fort William if required ? The Mallaig train runs at a reasonable hour whereas if returning from KYL one may have to catch the 0621 !

Cheers.

You'll have to ask Yorkie about that one, or someone else with a bit more knowldege of the current ticketing regulations than me: I know that this was the case a couple of years ago when I booked a return to and from Kyle of Lochalsh, and I assume that it still is, but I'm not 100% sure.

 

[The 158 Man]

No, it means you can only use certain clans' pattern of tartan for the seats Old grudges die hard you know

 

[badger1badger]

Thanks guys

does any know of the time tabling for Monday 3 jan 2011 can we get back to Leeds ?

Cheers

Paul

 

[scotsman]

Hi

So the best route is Leeds to edinboro then to Glasgow then to k of l ?

A reply said something about virgin but where would we get that service ? There is an Aberdeen train from Leeds 0710 hrs ( think ) ? Does that get near ?
Or a train to Glasgow do east coast do a direct service ?

I know a load of questions but any help is great

Paul

1 - Please don't refer to Edinburugh as 'Edinboro' - it's not even spelt right to get that nickname!

2 - I'm confused about what you want to know. Does the 0710 get near Kyle of Lochalsh? No! It's on the wrong side of the country. East Coast don't run a direct service to Kyle (if that's what you mean) - only ScotRail runs there (and not very often either).

I'd get the 0710 to EDB, followed by a ScR up to Inverness, then another to Kyle.

 

[badger1badger]

Scotsman

Appologies re the mis typing - it was on my phone

We are stopping at the three chimneys at dunvegan and are looking for the best value first class fares to get there

Hope you can help

Cheers

Paul

 

[yorkie]

Sprinterguy, does this mean that a return ticket from a UK station to KYL is valid for return from Mallaig ( ferry across from Armadale) and Fort William if required ? The Mallaig train runs at a reasonable hour whereas if returning from KYL one may have to catch the 0621 !

Cheers.

You'll have to ask Yorkie about that one, or someone else with a bit more knowldege of the current ticketing regulations than me: I know that this was the case a couple of years ago when I booked a return to and from Kyle of Lochalsh, and I assume that it still is, but I'm not 100% sure.

I tried looking but couldn't find it. I guess you'd have to call FSR to check.

When we did it in 2006, FSR were not happy at the idea of the easement applying from other stations and tried to get a guard to charge us for new tickets (it's a long story!). They contacted the guard and informed him we'd be travelling and told him to charge us new tickets, but we persuaded him otherwise. If one of our group hadn't got into an argument with FSR, we'd probably not have had any problems. I would definitely recommend giving them a call to check.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
badger1badger, you have the opportunity to meet several of us and ask all the ticketing questions you could dream of, if you're free for a pub/meal meet in Leeds on Thursday. PM me if interested...

 

[sprinterguy]

badger1badger, if you want an extended period of first class travel, I'd suggest travelling via the 07:10 East Coast service from Leeds, to Edinburgh on the outward journey, then catching an Inverness train from Edinburgh. However it's not cheap; the cheaper option outlined above reduces the amount of first class travel across the journey, but saves a lot of money!