Jacobite cancellations 2023

[Wilts Wanderer]

The morning Jacobite run was cancelled today after an apparent prohibition order being issued. This was lifted by mid morning although too late to reinstate the first circuit, the second one seems to have run as-booked.

Important - Jacobite steam train trip 15th June 2023

<p id="isPasted"><strong>UPDATED: We have just been given the all clear to resume our Jacobite service.</strong></p><p><strong>Our 12:50 departure from Fort William will therefore depart as scheduled.</strong></p><p>All prebooked passengers have been contacted via email and by text where a...

westcoastrailways.co.uk

UPDATED: We have just been given the all clear to resume our Jacobite service.

Our 12:50 departure from Fort William will therefore depart as scheduled.

All prebooked passengers have been contacted via email and by text where a mobile number has been supplied.

Please accept our apologies for this late notice.

Does anyone have any details they are able to share about what this was about? Interested to know if it’s traction, rolling stock, traincrew or some other problem uncovered?

 

[hexagon789]

The morning Jacobite run was cancelled today after an apparent prohibition order being issued. This was lifted by mid morning although too late to reinstate the first circuit, the second one seems to have run as-booked.

Important - Jacobite steam train trip 15th June 2023

<p id="isPasted"><strong>UPDATED: We have just been given the all clear to resume our Jacobite service.</strong></p><p><strong>Our 12:50 departure from Fort William will therefore depart as scheduled.</strong></p><p>All prebooked passengers have been contacted via email and by text where a...

westcoastrailways.co.uk

Does anyone have any details they are able to share about what this was about? Interested to know if it’s traction, rolling stock, traincrew or some other problem uncovered?

I read it was an ORR surprise inspection?

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

I read it was an ORR surprise inspection?

Any word on why the ORR were doing that? Seems odd

 

[fgwrich]

Possible fire risk?

 

[Strathclyder]

Possible fire risk?

Something I wouldn't rule out given the weather of recent weeks.

 

[30907]

Something I wouldn't rule out given the weather of recent weeks.

They are apparently top-and-tailing with a 37 for that reason.

However, I can't see why ORR would need to make an inspection visit to the operator to assess the fire risk, let alone a surprise one.

 

[Strathclyder]

They are apparently top-and-tailing with a 37 for that reason.

However, I can't see why ORR would need to make an inspection visit to the operator to assess the fire risk, let alone a surprise one.

Yeah, that does seem somewhat strange to me despite it being the first thing I thought of, unless it was for another reason that just hasn't been publicly disclosed. Either way, given that the second service ran as booked, the ORR gave the all-clear.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Could this be something do do with the Mk1 stock door locking issue that had some publicity last month?

 

[Robert Ambler]

Possible fire risk?

They have been topping and tailing with 37s for some weeks now

 

[Dfatcontroller]

Could this be something do do with the Mk1 stock door locking issue that had some publicity last month?

The answer has more to do with this (but not only this) than the fire risk.

(Unfortunately I'm not at liberty to share the full answer).

 

[Alanko]

Seemingly more to do with a lack of stewards to man secondary door locks than any risk of setting fire to the countryside.

 

[BrianW]

Seemingly more to do with a lack of stewards to man secondary door locks than any risk of setting fire to the countryside.

Sad that folk had their trip of a lifetime cancelled; but better safe than sorry? Why?

 

[GusB]

Sad that folk had their trip of a lifetime cancelled; but better safe than sorry? Why?

You have answered your own question: better safe than sorry!

 

[williamn]

Just saw the the Jacobite is cancelled 15–7 July due to “unforeseen circumstances” anyone know the reason?

Important Travel Information - Jacobite steam train Updated

<p id="isPasted"><strong>IMPORTANT TRAVEL INFORMATION</strong></p><p id="isPasted">Due to operational reasons, we are unable to run our Jacobite service before 9th August 2023 as planned. The Jacobite will also not run on the afternoon services of Wednesday 9th & Thursday 10th...

westcoastrailways.co.uk

 

[30907]

Could be the same reason (shortage of stewards leading to a prohibition order) as was claimed earlier in this thread

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/jacobite-15-06-23.250153/

 

[Killingworth]

Now says until 18th, from their website;

Important - Jacobite steam train trip 15th, 16th 17th & 18th July 2023​

16th July 2023


IMPORTANT TRAVEL INFORMATION
Due to unforeseen circumstances, we are unable to run our Jacobite service on 15th, 16th, 17th & 18th July 2023 as planned.
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer any alternative dates to transfer your trip to, therefore our reservations team will process a full refund within the next 5 working days.
Please accept our sincere apologies for the late notice of this cancellation, however this is completely beyond our control.
All pre-booked passengers have been contacted via email and by text where a mobile number has been supplied.

 

[172007]

I read it was an ORR .

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Jul 2023 ==

Any word on why the ORR were doing that? Seems odd

The ORR do not need a reason for surprise inspections. The while point of surprise inspections is to keep everyone on their toes and to find and address deficiencies that if an inspection was ore arranged would not be discovered.

 

[Bill57p9]

From first hand reports on other threads, the Jacobite has been instructing passengers to operate the secondary door locks - though how regularly would be interesting to know. AIUI this isn't something ORR would find satisfactory and therefore an inspection shouldn't be too much of a surprise.
Frankly it would show them doing their job (whether you agree with the door policy is a separate debate).

If it really is a result of an ORR inspection into such practices then "unforeseen" suggests that WCRC should have gone to Specsavers.

 

[Killingworth]

Seemingly more to do with a lack of stewards to man secondary door locks than any risk of setting fire to the countryside.

On a recent WCR trip, not Jacobite, there was a volunteer steward in each carriage. Paid expenses only.

 

[John Bishop]

Now says until 18th, from their website;

That is going to p**s off a lot of people! Each service will be fully booked at this time of year, and there’s 2 of them each day.

 

[bleeder4]

That is going to p**s off a lot of people! Each service will be fully booked at this time of year, and there’s 2 of them each day.

Yes, the bad reviews are already coming in on the Trip Advisor page.

 

[Iskra]

If they really want to do the line, it is still stunning on a 156 and cheaper too.

 

[Alanko]

Yes, the bad reviews are already coming in on the Trip Advisor page.

I wish people didn't use Trip Advisor as a sort of punitive Twitter to beat companies with because they didn't get to do something. You can't accurately review something if you didn't get to do it, and anybody looking for a fair review of the Jacobite now has to wade through reviews from barely literate Harry Potter fans. I appreciate that grown adults fixated on a children's book series aren't going to be the most emotionally advanced specimens, but still!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Jul 2023 ==

If they really want to do the line, it is still stunning on a 156 and cheaper too.

I did that as I couldn't get a Jacobite ticket on the day and indeed, it is a very enjoyable excursion. Possible more comfortable and quiet in a Mk2, however.

 

[Iskra]

I wish people didn't use Trip Advisor as a sort of punitive Twitter to beat companies with because they didn't get to do something. You can't accurately review something if you didn't get to do it, and anybody looking for a fair review of the Jacobite now has to wade through reviews from barely literate Harry Potter fans. I appreciate that grown adults fixated on a children's book series aren't going to be the most emotionally advanced specimens, but still!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Jul 2023 ==


I did that as I couldn't get a Jacobite ticket on the day and indeed, it is a very enjoyable excursion. Possible more comfortable and quiet in a Mk2, however.

It’s a tough one; I think chronically unreliable attractions do deserve unfavourable reviews, but in this case it’s hardly a problem as the vast majority of favourable reviews over the season will just make them statistically insignificant eventually.

I did the line in winter, so didn’t have a choice but I found the 156 adequate and I think it’s fair when considering the reduced price and it does at least give the option to do the journey. It’s also still slightly special in that the train slows down for the viaduct and our conductor played some appropriate music over the tannoy during the crossing. Anyone who likes trains and scenery is still going to be wowed. It’s really not the end of the world.

 

[Killingworth]

When we took the Jacobite on a wet day in early June last year we shared a table with a couple who were on a tour of Britain and had bought tickets to get to Mallaig for the ferry to Skye, not returning. They'd have have had to take the 158.

If any number of disappointed Jacobite users are trying to get aboard the Scotrail service the 4 carriages will be very crowded. They can be normally at this time of the year.

Uodated. Website now says not running 19th and 20th..

 

[John R]

Now cancelled through to the 26th, although at least they have now been very open as to the reasons why.

 

[kkong]

Still "completely beyond their control" though...

 

[HamworthyGoods]

Still "completely beyond their control" though...

I’m really not sure how not managing their own staff to follow the rule book is beyond their control however!

 

[Swimbar]

Still "completely beyond their control" though...

How? It's WCR responsibility to employ enough staff to deliver the service to the satisfaction of the ORR.

 

[HamworthyGoods]

How? It's WCR responsibility to employ enough staff to deliver the service to the satisfaction of the ORR.

I think the OP’s post was meant as tongue in cheek to what WCR have posted on their website claiming this is out of their control which we all know isn’t.