Charter trains should run with a backup locomotive on the back

[renegademaster]

Moderator note: Split from

Bustitution on Cambrian to accommodate private charter

Apologies if this has been mentioned elsewhere. Today, TFW substituted a bus service from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth and return to create a path for the Pathfinder (very apt) railtour from Reading to Pwllheli. I'd be very interested to know who would need to sign that off or are TFW in control...

www.railforums.co.uk

Charters cause this enough when their older locomotives have their occasional breakdown, like when the 73 that took me to Exeter broke down and blocked the line from Exeter Central for an hour.

Hence, why I think it's a good idea for them to have a 66 or something else modern on the back, even it ruins the aesthetic a bit. I am surprised Network Rail puts up with us sometimes.

 

[Nym]

I wouldn’t exactly call a 66 modern.
Something that can supply ETH would proberbly be a good idea…(!)

 

[Krokodil]

Because modern rolling stock never breaks down...

 

[Halifaxlad]

I thought most of them did!

 

[HamworthyGoods]

Moderator note: Split from

Bustitution on Cambrian to accommodate private charter

Apologies if this has been mentioned elsewhere. Today, TFW substituted a bus service from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth and return to create a path for the Pathfinder (very apt) railtour from Reading to Pwllheli. I'd be very interested to know who would need to sign that off or are TFW in control...

www.railforums.co.uk

Charters cause this enough when their older locomotives have their occasional breakdown, like when the 73 that took me to Exeter broke down and blocked the line from Exeter Central for an hour.

Hence, why I think it's a good idea for them to have a 66 or something else modern on the back, even it ruins the aesthetic a bit. I am surprised Network Rail puts up with us sometimes.

Do charter trains break down more often than other passenger and freight services?

 

[sprinterguy]

I thought most of them did!

Indeed, quite a lot of them do already, usually an older class 47 (or comparable class 57) as it can provide train supply to the coaching stock. Even the rakes with a generator car included to perform that function will sometimes/often have a diesel on the rear for operational convenience and insurance.

 

[DaventryRabbit]

Last Weekends LSL Scottish Push Pull Trip had 47805 for insurance ( as well as to reduce the work for 47712 re. Fuel Levels). It stabled at Dumbarton on the Saturday and topped/tailed back on the Sunday. Ironically it was this back up Loco which caused problems on the Sunday when it had Air Issues before departure from Ardrossan Harbour, and again on leaving Largs, which forced an unscheduled reversal at Kilwinning.