citycat
Member
Back in the eighties, I used to be a seasonal coach driver for NAT Holidays Leeds, not to be confused with National Holidays.
NAT Holidays used to run coach shuttles to holiday resorts in France, Italy and Spain before the low cost airlines killed off that part of the coach market.
I think in 87, 88 and 89, NAT ran a holiday charter train from Calais Maritime to Agde for resorts in France, and Perpignan for resorts in Spain.
I was never involved in that side of the operation, but I believe passengers were ferried down to Dover by our coaches from towns and cities across the UK. They then boarded the Sealink ferry as foot passengers while the bags were put into Brute style cages and towed onto the car deck.
At Calais Maritime, a train consisting of old style UIC green and silver/grey day coaches and UIC blue and silver/grey couchettes was waiting. I believe the consist also had a lounge/disco bar. The train was crewed by NAT couriers providing all the refreshments and customer service but were overseen by a couple of SNCF couchette conductors who probably had all the correct T keys for cupboards etc, and knew how to operate any boilers for drinks. And obviously a SNCF guard for safety critical duties.
I never saw this train in operation as I was driving the coaches and I really wish I ridden it. I don’t suppose anybody on here rode this train as a holidaymaker, or it appears in any historical SNCF train operation records.
I guess it would’ve avoided Paris on its journey south.
NAT Holidays used to run coach shuttles to holiday resorts in France, Italy and Spain before the low cost airlines killed off that part of the coach market.
I think in 87, 88 and 89, NAT ran a holiday charter train from Calais Maritime to Agde for resorts in France, and Perpignan for resorts in Spain.
I was never involved in that side of the operation, but I believe passengers were ferried down to Dover by our coaches from towns and cities across the UK. They then boarded the Sealink ferry as foot passengers while the bags were put into Brute style cages and towed onto the car deck.
At Calais Maritime, a train consisting of old style UIC green and silver/grey day coaches and UIC blue and silver/grey couchettes was waiting. I believe the consist also had a lounge/disco bar. The train was crewed by NAT couriers providing all the refreshments and customer service but were overseen by a couple of SNCF couchette conductors who probably had all the correct T keys for cupboards etc, and knew how to operate any boilers for drinks. And obviously a SNCF guard for safety critical duties.
I never saw this train in operation as I was driving the coaches and I really wish I ridden it. I don’t suppose anybody on here rode this train as a holidaymaker, or it appears in any historical SNCF train operation records.
I guess it would’ve avoided Paris on its journey south.
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