Pathfinder Atlantic Coast Express

[Masbroughlad]

Is the Pathfinder tour on 20th September from Dorridge to Newquay cancelled? Something to do with signalling issues on the Cornish branch line.

 

[MiNi]

Is the Pathfinder tour on 20th September from Dorridge to Newquay cancelled? Something to do with signalling issues on the Cornish branch line.

It was rumoured that the signalling would not be finished on time. Or by Monday the 15th at the earliest,not heard anything official yet.

 

[The_Van]

I overheard someone at the GCR gala yesterday talking about this as if it was

 

[MiNi]

I overheard someone at the GCR gala yesterday talking about this as if it was

you would expect an announcement soon as it's 2 week's away!!.

 

[bleeder4]

Yet on yesterday's VT tour to Plymouth someone who gave the impression of being in the know was saying that Network Rail are setting in place temporary measures to allow this charter to run. I'm booked on it so until I hear anything official from Pathfinder I'm just ignoring all the speculation.

 

[MiNi]

Yet on yesterday's VT tour to Plymouth someone who gave the impression of being in the know was saying that Network Rail are setting in place temporary measures to allow this charter to run. I'm booked on it so until I hear anything official from Pathfinder I'm just ignoring all the speculation.

Cheers

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Sep 2025 ==

Removed from booking page apparently,cancelled until further notice.

 

[Masbroughlad]

Has a new date been given yet?

 

[MiNi]

Has a new date been given yet?

No,received a letter of cancellation. But no new date yet.

 

[bleeder4]

The letter says NR have recommended they try again before Spring next year, as that's when GWR plan to start using the new paths that will be available. I got the impression it would be pretty much impossible to run a charter down there once that happens.
Another interesting point from the letter is that they're planning to use 34028 as the steam loco for November's tour. That failed at Basingstoke yesterday so it remains to be seen what will happen with that.

 

[31160]

None of this is encouraging any sense of optimism in booking a chingfinder tour in the future, at least for me anyway

 

[theblackwatch]

Unless they pull a rabbit out of the hat, it looks like 2025 will be the first year I haven't done a Pathfinder trip since 1991, which was when I started travelling on charters regularly. (I haven't even booked on one with them this year.)

 

[Masbroughlad]

To be fair, not that it makes any difference to the passengers, this wasn't PF fault.

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

The letter says NR have recommended they try again before Spring next year, as that's when GWR plan to start using the new paths that will be available. I got the impression it would be pretty much impossible to run a charter down there once that happens.

Not at all, once Goss Moor and Newquay P2 are commissioned there will be two locations to cross on the branch that can specifically cope with long formations (the other being Goonbarrow) plus St Blazey (which struggles.)

Provided it’s outside the May-Sept summer season I see no reason why charters won’t be able to reach Newquay. On a normal low-season day, the branch units will cross at Goss Moor. Once through services to Falmouth commence, they will also use St Blazey, leaving Goonbarrow available.