2026 UKR railtours

[50039]

I was on Sundays 49 solo - no heat or light - but 49 was awesome up front… my gps showed 95 at one point…

All thing la considered - it was a great run (apart from getting stuck behind a late running cross city service up to Lichfield!

Thanks to all at UKR for an enjoyable trip and the mega folks who look after all the 50s at Kidderminster and give up their weekends to make these things happen for us

 

[ExRes]

This weekends South Wales Industrial Explorer - Take 2 has been cancelled, 31128 taking ECS back to Yarmouth this afternoon

 

[bleeder4]

This weekends South Wales Industrial Explorer - Take 2 has been cancelled, 31128 taking ECS back to Yarmouth this afternoon

The original tour was cancelled too, so I think this particular tour is jinxed!

 

[theblackwatch]

The original tour was cancelled too, so I think this particular tour is jinxed!

The original tour was postponed, not cancelled. This time it is cancelled. There is a big difference...

 

[BillStampy]

Big shame as it was going to be my first tour (I'm on the younger side of this forum!) but at the end of the day sometimes nothing can be done. Just means I'll put my money elsewhere for something else that grabs my interest.

 

[Harpo]

UKR not having an entirely successful time using Hanson and Hall recently.

 

[Rail Quest]

What was the reasoning behind the cancellation? The website simply states the below:

TOUR CANCELLED. All those booked were notified and provided with a full explanation by email today, Tuesday 10th March.

Link to the source: https://www.ukrailtours.com/product/the-south-wales-industrial-explorer-take-2/

 

[BillStampy]

What was the reasoning behind the cancellation? The website simply states the below:

Link to the source: https://www.ukrailtours.com/product/the-south-wales-industrial-explorer-take-2/

This is what I received in an email from UKRT:

"You may be aware that last weekend our Train Operating Company, Hanson and Hall Rail Services, suffered a serious locomotive failure on 50008 ‘Thunderer’. This locomotive was scheduled to haul our forthcoming tour ‘The South Wales Industrial Explorer’ this coming Saturday.

We have been advised that repairs to 50008 ‘Thunderer’ will take several weeks and that Hanson and Hall are unable to provide us with alternative arrangements to enable the tour to go ahead, and therefore have taken the decision to cancel Saturday’s tour.

The team at UK Railtours is profoundly disappointed to bring this news to you. We have been supported by industry partners not just once, but twice, to deliver this ambitious tour. Many of our valued customers who booked on last year’s cancelled tour carried their booking over to this weekend’s proposed excursion. To everyone left disappointed and inconvenienced, we apologise wholeheartedly.

We will not attempt to re-run this tour and all booked passengers will receive a full refund in the next five working days. In addition, as a gesture of goodwill, customers booked on ‘The South Wales Industrial Explorer’ can book on either of our next two available enthusiast tours and benefit from an excellent 20% reduction in their ticket price. These tours are :

The Cracoe Jack and The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway
Saturday 28th March 2026
Bewdley to the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway or the Rylstone freight branch. Traction includes a GBRf Class 69 and industrial locomotive ‘Cracoe’.
From Bewdley, Kidderminster, Birmingham New Street, Tame Bridge Parkway, Stafford and Crewe

The Merry Men of Loughborough
Saturday 25th April 2026
Basingstoke to the Great Central Railway diesel gala or mini tour featuring GBRf Class 66 traction.
From Basingstoke, Reading, Slough, Potters Bar, Stevenage and Peterborough


Once again, we apologise for this disappointing news.


Yours sincerely,

Liz Morris
Managing Director
UK Railtours"

 

[bleeder4]

The original tour was postponed, not cancelled. This time it is cancelled. There is a big difference...

It was cancelled. The email that UKR sent out today about the latest tour even says the original tour was cancelled.

 

[theblackwatch]

It was cancelled. The email that UKR sent out today about the latest tour even says the original tour was cancelled

Yes, this weeks tour is cancelled. You said "The original tour was cancelled too" - that original train was postponed, there have not been 2 cancellations.

I am now off to find a brick wall....

 

[Isle of Mull]

The original tour was cancelled too, so I think this particular tour is jinxed!

It’s just never supposed to be!

 

[bleeder4]

Yes, this weeks tour is cancelled. You said "The original tour was cancelled too" - that original train was postponed, there have not been 2 cancellations.

I am now off to find a brick wall....

OK, let me break this down as simply as possibly.

The original tour was called "The South Wales Industrial Explorer". This tour couldn't run due to a locomotive failure. Those of us booked on it received a full refund.

Some time later, UKR announce they plan to run it again, called "The South Wales Industrial Explorer Take 2". Those of us booked on the original "The South Wales Industrial Explorer" tour were contacted, and had the opportunity to book on the "Take 2" one at discounted rate, if we chose to.

Today, "The South Wales Industrial Explorer Take 2" has also been cancelled, also due to a locomotive failure. In the email UKR sent out today, they refer back to the original tour and say the words "Many of our valued customers who booked on last year’s cancelled tour carried their booking over to this weekend’s proposed excursion". This is a direct reference to the cancellation of the original "The South Wales Industrial Explorer" tour.

So, there have been 2 cancellations. If "The South Wales Industrial Explorer" had been postponed then those of us booked on it would have been told "We're running it again on this date, and your booking has been carried over". But that's not what happened, our money was refunded to us. It was only later that UKR decided to try it again and let us know we could book on the new one if we wanted.

 

[Isle of Mull]

OK, let me break this down as simply as possibly.

The original tour was called "The South Wales Industrial Explorer". This tour couldn't run due to a locomotive failure. Those of us booked on it received a full refund.

Some time later, UKR announce they plan to run it again, called "The South Wales Industrial Explorer Take 2". Those of us booked on the original "The South Wales Industrial Explorer" tour were contacted, and had the opportunity to book on the "Take 2" one at discounted rate, if we chose to.

Today, "The South Wales Industrial Explorer Take 2" has also been cancelled, also due to a locomotive failure. In the email UKR sent out today, they refer back to the original tour and say the words "Many of our valued customers who booked on last year’s cancelled tour carried their booking over to this weekend’s proposed excursion". This is a direct reference to the cancellation of the original "The South Wales Industrial Explorer" tour.

So, there have been 2 cancellations. If "The South Wales Industrial Explorer" had been postponed then those of us booked on it would have been told "We're running it again on this date, and your booking has been carried over". But that's not what happened, our money was refunded to us. It was only later that UKR decided to try it again and let us know we could book on the new one if we wanted.

I never received the discount email

 

[theblackwatch]

OK, let me break this down as simply as possibly.

The original tour was called "The South Wales Industrial Explorer". This tour couldn't run due to a locomotive failure. Those of us booked on it received a full refund.

Some time later, UKR announce they plan to run it again, called "The South Wales Industrial Explorer Take 2". Those of us booked on the original "The South Wales Industrial Explorer" tour were contacted, and had the opportunity to book on the "Take 2" one at discounted rate, if we chose to.

Today, "The South Wales Industrial Explorer Take 2" has also been cancelled, also due to a locomotive failure. In the email UKR sent out today, they refer back to the original tour and say the words "Many of our valued customers who booked on last year’s cancelled tour carried their booking over to this weekend’s proposed excursion". This is a direct reference to the cancellation of the original "The South Wales Industrial Explorer" tour.

So, there have been 2 cancellations. If "The South Wales Industrial Explorer" had been postponed then those of us booked on it would have been told "We're running it again on this date, and your booking has been carried over". But that's not what happened, our money was refunded to us. It was only later that UKR decided to try it again and let us know we could book on the new one if we wanted.

Actually, my money wasn't refunded! I received an e-mail giving me various options which included...

Option 1 - Hold your booking for news of a possible redate, as explained above. If the date is not convinient for you, or if a new date for the tour cannot be established, then your fare can be refunded, transferred to another tour or held in credit.

Option 4 - Obtain a full refund. We will refund you by your original payment method.

Having chosen Option 1, UKR kept hold of my money (and I was quite happy for them to do so), and my booking rolled over to the new date - exactly what you describe as had it been postponed...

Maybe I should have chosen Option 4 and then I would have got a discount (tight Yorkshireman here ) - out of interest, how much was it?

 

[Isle of Mull]

Does anyone know if the not Holyhead is confirmed since the vintage trains tour got cancelled

 

[The_Train]

Does anyone know if the not Holyhead is confirmed since the vintage trains tour got cancelled

No news but I presume it will be subject to loco availability since 50008 went pop. Still open for bookings at the moment

 

[Isle of Mull]

NEW TOUR 9th of May
The Dorset Coast Express
With a GBRF class 66 and 2 73s

 

[Richard S]

I've just had confirmation from UK Railtours that the Not Holyhead is cancelled due to issues with the Class 50.

 

[Isle of Mull]

I've just had confirmation from UK Railtours that the Not Holyhead is cancelled due to issues with the Class 50.

Uk railtours have cancelled 3 tours in 3 months, not good for business

 

[D6130]

Uk railtours have cancelled 3 tours in 3 months, not good for business

Could they not have found alternative traction?

 

[BillStampy]

I've just had confirmation from UK Railtours that the Not Holyhead is cancelled due to issues with the Class 50.

Yikes!

 

[Harpo]

The inherent dangers of trying to avoid WCRC and operate with a one (suitable) loco TOC.

 

[31160]

Uk railtours have cancelled 3 tours in 3 months, not good for business

Hmm this doesn't look good, bit like chingfinder at the end, not that I'm saying UKR are heading for the same terminus btw

 

[Robin Edwards]

I noticed that the latest "Dorset Coast Explorer" on 9th May is attempting to return Bletchley to Bedford late in the evening and am wondering whether this is likely to happen given other times where the train has not been able to drop off at Bedford as MV line is closed to crossing over at Bletchley?

 

[renegademaster]

The inherent dangers of trying to avoid WCRC and operate with a one (suitable) loco TOC.

I do wonder why they did this.

I know there stock can be a bit dingy but the ERS stock is not hugely better and when Riveria was around it was exactly the same.

Wonder if this was pushed by West Coast themselves wanting to reduce their commitments, or they took the mick with asked prices

 

[Kite159]

I do wonder why they did this.

I know there stock can be a bit dingy but the ERS stock is not hugely better and when Riveria was around it was exactly the same.

Wonder if this was pushed by West Coast themselves wanting to reduce their commitments, or they took the mick with asked prices

Isn't it more a case of to use the West Coast coaches they will also need to use West Coast locos and have restrictions in regards to 'non passenger' track?

Also I would imagine costs might play a part

 

[The_Train]

I've just had confirmation from UK Railtours that the Not Holyhead is cancelled due to issues with the Class 50.

Along with the Gold Medallion package which included 3 "ECS" moves connected to the Isle of Man tour!

Could they not have found alternative traction?

It's not just alternative traction though. If you are looking at alternative traction to what Hanson & Hall can offer, you then need whoever you get the alternative traction off to have a driver (or drivers) available along with being able to crew the train. They have found alternative traction to get guests from London to the docks and back for the Isle of Man excursion as GB have stepped in but I would guess GB couldn't do it to cover everything needed.

Hmm this doesn't look good, bit like chingfinder at the end, not that I'm saying UKR are heading for the same terminus btw

Difference is that PATHfinder just couldn't sell their trains to anywhere near a suitable level. UKR are suffering because of a loco failure - albeit, it is always a risk to put so many eggs into a basket consisting of one viable loco. I suspect people may be wary of committing so much to H&H in the future!

I do wonder why they did this.

I know there stock can be a bit dingy but the ERS stock is not hugely better and when Riveria was around it was exactly the same.

Wonder if this was pushed by West Coast themselves wanting to reduce their commitments, or they took the mick with asked prices

"Dingy" is an understatement. A few of those tours Pathfinder ran at the end of 2024 were done so on stock that shouldn't have ever left the depot.

As @Kite159 says as well, aside from the state of the stock, WCRC make it hard for tour operators to use their stock because they also demand that they use their pool of locos as well. Although you could argue that using the West Coast pool of locos isn't any worse than committing to the use of 50008 so much.

Anyway, my Gold Medallion refund has allowed me to book another UKR tour (I will add that for each cancellation recently they have offered those affected the chance to book another tour with a 20% discount so fair play to them for that) along with the BLS Paxman Quarrier tour neither of which I was going to do so there is always a silver lining

 

[50002Superb]

This is pretty much why I don’t book Railtours anymore

 

[bleeder4]

This is pretty much why I don’t book Railtours anymore

If it's one that interests you and you can do it without a hotel then it is always worth taking a punt on. If it's cancelled you'll get your money back and have an unexpected free day to do something else with instead. If it involves booking a hotel then you'll need to make sure you book a rate that is fully cancellable. Organising railtours in this day and age is tough, and promoters such as UKR have my respect for continuing to persevere. I will always support them when I can. Obviously for LSL or WCR it is much easier, as they have all their own locos, rolling stock and staff.

 

[LiftFan]

It does make me wonder why they've not been making more use of LSL. Good rolling stock and a decent selection of locos, not to mention a relatively central location to send stock from/to (unlike the trek all the way to Carnforth and back)!