Pathfinder annouce closure with final tour on 20th December 2025

[Kite159]

Or LSL? It’s already hoovered up the Torbay steam market through being vastly more capable than PF. Although current showings suggest LSL has only a passing interest in the ‘enthusiast’ segment of the market.

They are a business at the end of the day, and if they can make more money with the more upmarket dining trains on more routine tours then they will go for the profit makers.

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

They are a business at the end of the day, and if they can make more money with the more upmarket dining trains on more routine tours then they will go for the profit makers.

Based on the fact they are a business, I wonder what the business case is for Hoskings’ personal train, complete with observation car. Going to lease it to royalty in lieu of the Royal Train perhaps?

 

[david1212]

Railtours have become quite expensive, especially if you need to factor in costs of accommodation for one or two nights (depending on the pick up locations and times) as well as travel costs (especially as some tours the finalised timings bare no relation to the advertised times for multiple reasons). Add on some tours being a long day stuck on a MK2 coach which can have questionable AC and potentially low down seats with crap legroom

The combination of cost and the MK2 stock now provided by West Coast is why I have not booked.

I would like to have done the Heart of Wales circular but already door-to-door over 18 hours before the pickup times were moved forward an hour. Logistically of course the need to end where they start but as a customer / passenger would have been better if the second leg had run Shrewsbury > Birmingham ( Dorridge pick-ups to make their own way back ) or perhaps instead Smethwick Galton Bridge as easy connections to New Street and Moor Street > Bristol.

 

[Masbroughlad]

I have a feeling that it might end up being railtours provided by LSL, WCRC and the odd ad hoc tour here and there with stock provided by ERS and the 125 Preservation Society.

 

[Iskra]

I have a feeling that it might end up being railtours provided by LSL, WCRC and the odd ad hoc tour here and there with stock provided by ERS and the 125 Preservation Society.

I can’t see Vintage Trains going anywhere, and I feel they will provide an important element of competition going forwards.

 

[Harpo]

I can’t see Vintage Trains going anywhere, and I feel they will provide an important element of competition going forwards.

They just need a little more imagination with their diesel offerings.

 

[Iskra]

They just need a little more imagination with their diesel offerings.

That seems to be improving, the tour to Aber looks a good one.

 

[bleeder4]

They just need a little more imagination with their diesel offerings.

Let them know your suggestions via their feedback form, they're generally quite receptive in my experience.

 

[MiNi]

Apparently the Newquay jaunt is up in the air with a possible change of date or destination. Something to do with Network Rail and the signalling,that is due to be finished on Monday 15th.

Any further gen on this one ?.

 

[HertiageFan]

Nemesis rail are building a rake of mk3s…

 

[Masbroughlad]

Nemesis rail are building a rake of mk3s…

For whom?

 

[peteb]

They just need a little more imagination with their diesel offerings.

What destinations would you like them to offer? (Remembering start/return from Birmingham).

 

[MiNi]

Any further gen on this one ?.

2 week's to go for the Newquay. Any gen on network rail finishing on time.

 

[heart-of-wessex]

2 week's to go for the Newquay. Any gen on network rail finishing on time.

Well surprise surprise Atlantic Express postponed until further notice, it was clearly expected but has only just been announced, I'm sure some 'normals' wouldn't have expected this to be cancelled and only just finding out their trip has been binned for now

 

[MiNi]

Signalling not expected to be completed until November or even December at the earliest apparently. May try to 'do' the branch again in Feb/March 26.

 

[Masbroughlad]

Well surprise surprise Atlantic Express postponed until further notice, it was clearly expected but has only just been announced, I'm sure some 'normals' wouldn't have expected this to be cancelled and only just finding out their trip has been binned for now

Where is the cancellation notice? Not on their website yet.

 

[MiNi]

Where is the cancellation notice? Not on their website yet.

You can no longer book on the booking page/drop down menu. Also all the Class 47 men have been informed via WhatsApp.

 

[bleeder4]

Yes, I've had a letter about it.

 

[Harpo]

As well as using ‘think Buffer Puffer’ to describe their awkward week tour, UK Railtours appears to have its eyes on the Chingfinder heartlands with a Derby to South Wales tour that includes pick-ups at Birmingham, Worcester, Gloucester and Cardiff. The £159(!) standard class ticket is, er, interesting.

DIARY DATES 2026 – UK Railtours

www.ukrailtours.com

 

[Kite159]

As well as using ‘think Buffer Puffer’ to describe their awkward week tour, UK Railtours appears to have its eyes on the Chingfinder heartlands with a Derby to South Wales tour that includes pick-ups at Birmingham, Worcester, Gloucester and Cardiff. The £159(!) standard class ticket is, er, interesting.

DIARY DATES 2026 – UK Railtours

www.ukrailtours.com

I was thinking that when I saw the pick up points, very much pathfinder locations considering UKR normally include a London area station

 

[Uk02048]

First time here and with PF for a while, off to the Cambrian today. At least that is a runner today. Interested to see how it goes.

 

[bleeder4]

As well as using ‘think Buffer Puffer’ to describe their awkward week tour, UK Railtours appears to have its eyes on the Chingfinder heartlands with a Derby to South Wales tour that includes pick-ups at Birmingham, Worcester, Gloucester and Cardiff. The £159(!) standard class ticket is, er, interesting.

DIARY DATES 2026 – UK Railtours

www.ukrailtours.com

Thanks for the heads-up. If UKR are going to start running tours from this area I'll have to start checking their website more frequently! I've always tended to regard them as being for the London area, like RTC.

 

[JonathanH]

In the case of UK Railtours running the trip to Swansea from the Midlands is this effectively a Hanson & Hall led 50008 + hired traction railtour being marketed by UKR rather than a UKR-led tour. Initially the 50008 tours were marketed by the Branch Line Society but that seems to have changed more recently. Chaddesden Sidings seems to be a useful place to originate a tour from Derby.

I'm not sure that Pathfinder can do anything to prevent other operators having pick ups in 'their territory'.

 

[The_Train]

As well as using ‘think Buffer Puffer’ to describe their awkward week tour, UK Railtours appears to have its eyes on the Chingfinder heartlands with a Derby to South Wales tour that includes pick-ups at Birmingham, Worcester, Gloucester and Cardiff. The £159(!) standard class ticket is, er, interesting.

DIARY DATES 2026 – UK Railtours

www.ukrailtours.com

It's interesting that Pathfinder still get their cost orientated nickname when UKR's current offering is very much higher than anything Pathfinder offer. Maybe Pathfinder need a new nickname related to their inability to run tours - maybe, Canyoufindertourthatactuallyruns (not sure that rolls off the tongue though )

 

[bleeder4]

It's interesting that Pathfinder still get their cost orientated nickname when UKR's current offering is very much higher than anything Pathfinder offer. Maybe Pathfinder need a new nickname related to their inability to run tours - maybe, Canyoufindertourthatactuallyruns (not sure that rolls off the tongue though )

Ironically, there is a Pathfinder tour today that is running

 

[Uk02048]

Im on it, pretty high loading too.

 

[Iskra]

Thanks for the heads-up. If UKR are going to start running tours from this area I'll have to start checking their website more frequently! I've always tended to regard them as being for the London area, like RTC.

It’s not entirely without precedent- they’ve done a few tours starting at East Midlands Parkway or with Doncaster as last pick up on the ECML going North.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Sep 2025 ==

Im on it, pretty high loading too.

The PF Cambrian tours are excellent and have been very popular, but you’d think the market for it will be fulfilled eventually.

 

[Masbroughlad]

To be fair, the canned Newquay train is not PFs fault. Not that that makes any difference to the disappointed punters.

 

[theblackwatch]

Im on it, pretty high loading too.

But one less coach than all the trains which ran in 2022.

The PF Cambrian tours are excellent and have been very popular, but you’d think the market for it will be fulfilled eventually.

Two of the five this year have been cancelled due to low bookings, so I think that bubble has already burst.

 

[Uk02048]

Ironically, there is a Pathfinder tour today that is running

But one less coach than all the trains which ran in 2022.

Two of the five this year have been cancelled due to low bookings, so I think that bubble has already burst.

Actually my counting is out - crew mentioned it was 230 today