2Y64 & 2Y65 Fort William - Arisaig

[driverd]

Just been browsing the timetables input for this year's Jacobite and noted the above paths, specifically a 1743 departure FTW-ARG with a 2003 return.

I've not seen this service in previous years and I can see it is a Q path (unlike the other Jacobite runs). It's not advertised on West Coast railways website either, so just wondering if anyone has any idea what this is?

Seems odd for West Coast to bid this path if it's going to sit unused.

 

[H F Stephens]

The paths were present for (at least) the whole of the 2024 season, and were utilised on the 14th October, amended to run to and from Mallaig with later timings from the latter.

 

[driverd]

How strange - do you know what service ran on that date and/or why?

Is there a reason the path is bid throughout the whole period?

 

[DanNCL]

Are these Q paths perhaps an attempt by WCRC to prevent operators like LSL from getting paths to run a competing service?

 

[H F Stephens]

How strange - do you know what service ran on that date and/or why?

It was a separately-advertised, diesel-hauled 'special' with no specific reason declared.

Is there a reason the path is bid throughout the whole period?

I'm afraid that I don't know but, speculatively, evening paths potentially mean that West Coast can still run twice-daily, both with steam and in the event of only one rake of compliant stock being available, albeit at less commercial times.

Are these Q paths perhaps an attempt by WCRC to prevent operators like LSL from getting paths to run a competing service?

That would seem unlikely; LSL has raised objections to the West Coast Track Access Agreement (and extension) in the past but again, speculatively, I can see LSL being more interested in running a Jacobite operation in its entirety, rather than competing with the incumbent.