2026 UKR railtours

[Isle of Mull]

UK Railtours just confirmed that their October tours are now postponed due to operating company Hanson & Hall Rail Services saying they are no longer able to run on 2nd & 3rd October

This is perhaps the worst year for Uk railtours

 

[Kite159]

From the WNXX forum it sounds like Hanson & Hall won't run railtours without rolling stock with window bars fitted to prevent idiots from hanging out of the windows. Not the best news for anybody who had booked on either of those tours who has now potentially wasted money on advance tickets they can't use or accommodation if it hasn't got a fee free cancellation

 

[Isle of Mull]

From the WNXX forum it sounds like Hanson & Hall won't run railtours without rolling stock with window bars fitted to prevent idiots from hanging out of the windows. Not the best news for anybody who had booked on either of those tours who has now potentially wasted money on advance tickets they can't use or accommodation if it hasn't got a fee free cancellation

That's not great, do they operate BLS tours too?

 

[sad1e]

The official notice of postponment from UKRT.
It reads "
Hanson & Hall are sorry to advise all customers booked on the UKR 02nd and 03rd October charter services that we have no choice but to postpone the operations until a later time.

This decision was not taken lightly but has been forced upon us entirely by the behaviour of a very small minority, who continue to believe it is acceptable to lean out of open windows whilst trains are in motion, putting themselves and others at great risk. Hanson & Hall have been advised by the most respected safety authorities that all efforts to finally eliminate this behaviour and secure charter operations for those who do comply with very clearly set down rules of conduct, that some alterations are required to the method of these operations.

Despite the best efforts of all parties, it has not been possible to complete the requested changes with confidence of achieving the planned dates. The safety of our customers and colleagues is the highest priority and has forced this postponement. We are working as quickly as possible to identify suitable replacement dates of operation.

If making contact with the UKR team, please be patient with them and they will do their best to help with any questions. "

 

[LUYMun]

Hanson & Hall should stick to driving trains next time.

 

[JonathanH]

Hanson & Hall should stick to driving trains next time.

As the operator, they are responsible for the safety of all passengers. If there were to be a claim of negligence, and a resulting financial penalty, it would be personally crippling for their owners. That risk is almost certainly something they are not happy to take.

 

[Robin Edwards]

I've travelled on many UKRailtour trips over the years and would say that 1) they are extremely diligent in reminding passengers that they must not poke their heads or anything else out of any vestibule windows, and 2) I can't remember the last time I've seen anyone leaning out of windows except on Heritage lines that is.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Yesterday at 08:55 ==

From the WNXX forum it sounds like Hanson & Hall won't run railtours without rolling stock with window bars fitted to prevent idiots from hanging out of the windows. Not the best news for anybody who had booked on either of those tours who has now potentially wasted money on advance tickets they can't use or accommodation if it hasn't got a fee free cancellation

Can't say I've seen any "idiots" doing such on rail tours for some considerable time. There's always potential for idiocy in life but has there been any recent examples made of some idiots on UKRailtours?

 

[ainsworth74]

I've travelled on many UKRailtour trips over the years and would say that 1) they are extremely diligent in reminding passengers that they must not poke their heads or anything else out of any vestibule windows, and 2) I can't remember the last time I've seen anyone leaning out of windows except on Heritage lines that is.

I don't think a UKR tour was the problem tour for H&H, UKR are just the victims of the decision not to run tours until window bars are fitted.

 

[ExRes]

Hanson & Hall should stick to driving trains next time.

They do, UK Railtours are responsible for the tour while H&H are responsible for provision of the loco and the safe conduct of said tour, as nobody on here knows what conversations have gone on betweeen H&H, UKR and perhaps Network Rail then pointing fingers is a futile exercise

 

[Robin Edwards]

I don't think a UKR tour was the problem tour for H&H, UKR are just the victims of the decision not to run tours until window bars are fitted.

That's a shame, especially where decision is seemingly made only one week from running?

 

[Harpo]

ORR has recently (30 June) served West Coast with an Improvement Notice to address window hanging by unauthorised staff and passengers.

Hanson & Hall will doubtless have been aware of that and it’s possible that ORR might have followed it up with reminders to all other duty holders.

https://orrprdpubreg1.blob.core.windows.net/docs/IN-KPD01-062026-West-Coast-Railway-Company-Ltd-improvement-notice.pdf

West Coast Railway Company Ltd failed to ensure the safety of their employees and others who may be affected by their work activities, in that they are failing to give effect to such arrangements as are appropriate, to protect people from the risks of serious personal injury due to being struck by objects or structures because they have failed to prevent persons from leaning out of drop-light windows while the train is in motion.

 

[43096]

I don't think a UKR tour was the problem tour for H&H, UKR are just the victims of the decision not to run tours until window bars are fitted.

It was a Retro tour that was the cause. There was a posting on Facebook (I think) of someone with head and arms out.

I would not be surprised if the ORR are involved.

 

[Robin Edwards]

It was a Retro tour that was the cause. There was a posting on Facebook (I think) of someone with head and arms out.

I would not be surprised if the ORR are involved.

Yes I notice that H&H seem to work in partnership with Retro Tours https://www.hansonhallrail.co.uk/rail-charters

 

[TPO]

I have some knowledge of the situation. Much that has been surmised is correct.

(1) The Train Operator hauling the train is held responsible for safety of the train and those on it, irrespective of who the organiser is or who provides the rolling stock or stewards. Should someone hang out of the window (an activity which ORR regards as unsafe) then it is mainly the Train Operator that will be pursued. Although the organisers/providers of stewards may also have questions to answer.

(2) As others have noted, West Coast Railway Company recently received an Improvement Notice related to the need to prevent people hanging out of windows on their trains.

(3) H&H hauled a Retro tour recently where someone was filmed hanging out of a window and the video put on Facebook. ORR inspectors saw the footage and have been asking questions of H&H- not surprising, as they are being consistent with their action on WCRC. The matter of the forthcoming UKR tour hauled by H&H was discussed. It was on reflection decided by H&H that given the booked traction and stock, there was a high risk of someone doing the same (hanging out of windows). So H&H, in discussion with UKR, took the responsible action of postponing the tour until physical measures (window bars) can be installed to prevent people hanging out.

(4) H&H recognise that whilst this is only a very small minority of passengers behaving irresponsibly, equally it is a small minority who appear determined to hang out of windows come what may. Reality is, the best stewarding in the world cannot prevent someone who is properly determined. Best case if this happened again, H&H suffer formal action from ORR, worst case someone doing this is killed. ORR have clearly decided to call time on the activity of hanging out of windows, and I suggest that those who don't like this direction of travel to take it up with ORR- not the train operators or tour operators. Good luck though, as hanging out of windows was basically stamped on following the Twerton fatality- remember, the RAIB will challenge ORR if preventative measures are not put in place to prevent such situations recurring.

OK, a bit of a hard truth now. It's (informally) pretty well-known that there is a minority of "enthusiasts" who like to "flail" out of the windows, and for whom that is a big part of the experience.

Well, like it or not, it is the action of such people that have led to this situation.

As with football grounds going all-seating due to the minority of "fans" causing trouble at matches, expect to see charter operators increasingly using only stock with window bars on to prevent that minority ruining it for the others.

TPO

 

[meld3]

Is UKR finished?

Now that the Worcester Pullman has run, and the Dec 5th trip is being run by the BLS, UKR have NO future tours or even save the dates on their website, which looks a bit ominous for a business selling a product.

Discuss.

 

[Isle of Mull]

Is UKR finished?

Now that the Worcester Pullman has run, and the Dec 5th trip is being run by the BLS, UKR have NO future tours or even save the dates on their website, which looks a bit ominous for a business selling a product.

Discuss.

I did email them regarding this last week, I was told the awkward week adventure might go ahead

 

[Robin Edwards]

Is UKR finished?

Now that the Worcester Pullman has run, and the Dec 5th trip is being run by the BLS, UKR have NO future tours or even save the dates on their website, which looks a bit ominous for a business selling a product.

Discuss.

I share your concerns and feel for UKR given the difficulties they're facing in the running of tours. Can't say however I've personally witnessed any flailing on mainline tours with UKR in the past ten years, probably more.

Currently it feels that the UK Highways Agency will be closing all roads with immediate effect because there are no companies using those roads who can 100% rule out anyone stepping into a road and causing an incident. Having said this, I have no sympathy with anyone who believes the rules shouldn't apply to them when travelling on railtours.

 

[Sidmouth34010]

The Cotswold Merchant

Saturday 26th September 2026 saw Bulleid Merchant Navy 35028 Clan Line at the head of a UK Railtours trip from London Victoria to Worcester ...

martincreese.blogspot.com

 

[LiftFan]

I do worry that UKRT is close to throwing in the towel. They’ve had a lot of bad luck, ever since about a year ago when the 4TC trip to Morecambe was binned on the morning following a trip round north London with the brakes applied. Does make me wonder if it’s all become too much, with tighter rules than ever, a railway which doesn’t want charters, and a customer base which is shrinking as fewer people now have spare money and the older generation who seem to be a large proportion of clientele are dying out now.

 

[Kite159]

(4) H&H recognise that whilst this is only a very small minority of passengers behaving irresponsibly, equally it is a small minority who appear determined to hang out of windows come what may. Reality is, the best stewarding in the world cannot prevent someone who is properly determined. Best case if this happened again, H&H suffer formal action from ORR, worst case someone doing this is killed. ORR have clearly decided to call time on the activity of hanging out of windows, and I suggest that those who don't like this direction of travel to take it up with ORR- not the train operators or tour operators. Good luck though, as hanging out of windows was basically stamped on following the Twerton fatality- remember, the RAIB will challenge ORR if preventative measures are not put in place to prevent such situations recurring.

The only way to totally police it would be to place stewards in every vestibule area at all times, but then it will become something similar to the 37s on a couple of Rhymney peak time services from a few years ago where even if you dared pause for a few seconds in the vestibule area, waiting for a toilet to become available it felt like security were getting ready to evict you at the next station for being a troublemaker.

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As for UK Railtours, it must be a very tough market at present, rising costs of railtours (£150+ for a standard class seat) makes them an expensive day out in an era where spare money is decreasing due to Trump's attempts to divert attention from his involvement with Mr Epstein with Iran (along with other costs risings). Especially if someone needs accommodation.