D6130
Established Member
I thought that ScotRail were charging cyclists an additional £10 supplement for riding in the 'Highland Explorer' so-called 'luxury' seats in the 153 where they can relax while keeping an eye on their bikes?
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ScotRail cycle unit allocation
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JohnMcL7
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I think you're right, I can't find the cost for it but the FAQ does mention if you want to sit with the bike you need a Highland Explorer ticket:
Will I be seated near my bike?
If you book a Standard Class rail ticket, your seat will not be in the ScotRail Highland Explorer carriage. Instead you can enjoy the journey from our Class 156 carriages, which make up the rest of the train.If you purchase a Highland Explorer ticket, you will be seated in the same carriage as your bike.
A Highland Explorer ticket includes:
- Larger cushioned seats
- A hospitality offering*
- USB and plug socket charging points
- Access to table maps detailing the Highland Explorer route, with suggested places to walk, cycle and visit
- Access to a QR code at each table providing links to further inspiration on places to visit in Scotland
It's a service I wanted to try last year but I was fed up trying to get the bike booked onto a train to get to this one that I gave up.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Unfortunately I didn't take a photo of the seats, I was only on a short hop from Queen Street to Dalmuir and I wasn't willing to spend £10 extra on that journey. I only got into the 153 at all because the catering crew were using the space for bikes in the 156 for catering purposes.
Even so, I remember looking at them and thinking they'd be decent for a journey up the WHL. Included with this post are the only relevant photos I have, which are of The Beast stowed in the 153, the map on the table and the 153 at Dalmuir.
At the time the supplement (this was January 2022) was just £10, which I think is reasonable for what is offered. I can imagine it will have increased by now, but for the bonus of being in sight of my cycle and with a better (subjective, I know!) seat with some complimentary light refreshments, I'd pay that.
If the timetable recast happens and the 153s get to be used on Fort William/Mallaig trains, then I can see them being very popular. I'd love to see them in the Far North as well, perhaps ScotRail should look to trialling such a thing? It wouldn't be overly practical in winter, naturally, but come the spring and summer it would be very useful on the Kyle and Wick lines.
Even so, I remember looking at them and thinking they'd be decent for a journey up the WHL. Included with this post are the only relevant photos I have, which are of The Beast stowed in the 153, the map on the table and the 153 at Dalmuir.
At the time the supplement (this was January 2022) was just £10, which I think is reasonable for what is offered. I can imagine it will have increased by now, but for the bonus of being in sight of my cycle and with a better (subjective, I know!) seat with some complimentary light refreshments, I'd pay that.
If the timetable recast happens and the 153s get to be used on Fort William/Mallaig trains, then I can see them being very popular. I'd love to see them in the Far North as well, perhaps ScotRail should look to trialling such a thing? It wouldn't be overly practical in winter, naturally, but come the spring and summer it would be very useful on the Kyle and Wick lines.
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scotraildriver
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Nobody pays the £10. The catering is so hit and miss most guards are embarrassed to ask for more money to sit in there. If they are getting the proper offer of a drink, sandwich, cake then fair enough but most of the time there is no trolley at all so guards just turn a blind eye. If they do ask people just move to the 156. Personally I think £10 to transport a bike considerable distances is a bargain, especially compared to what the various West Highland Way baggage taxis charge, but most people get uppity when asked to pay extra.
Cheshire Scot
Established Member
Interesting to see in Modern Railways (Feb) Network Rail are examining possible platform extensions to 7 car length on the West Highland which would permit portioned workings to operate as 4 + 3.
Confirmed by ScotRail now that they'll be extended to Mallaig from the end of March.
hexagon789
Veteran Member
I wonder what arrangement they've come to to enable this. 156+156+153? Ie - 2 to Oban/3 to Mallaig; vice 2 and 4.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
To quote Homer Simpson:
"Woohoo!"
This does please me, now I just need to find a way to make use of this!
Speed43125
Member
3 car 156 formations as per the very very early days of WHL 156 operation?
hexagon789
Veteran Member
Now that they are abolishing the Highland Explorer charge, I expect they will be running 3-car splitters.3 car 156 formations as per the very very early days of WHL 156 operation?
Express380
Member
Thats really great news take it you'll still be able to go in there even if you have no bike onboard?
hexagon789
Veteran Member
It'll likely just be used as additional seating, perhaps unreserved.
Scotrail314209
Established Member
A 3 car service to Mallaig instead of 4 may not be too great. The 08:21 ex Queen Street tends to pick up quite a heavy load at Fort William and stations en route
TT-ONR-NRN
Veteran Member
About time. What an embarrassment that fare was.
Official Press Release here:
www.scotrail.co.uk
Planned changes to Highland Explorer service are welcome boost for cyclists and locals alike
Last updated:
Friday, 3 February 2023
ScotRail today announced that it is making changes to its Highland Explorer service to support active travel.
From Spring 2023, ScotRail will remove the additional fare for the Highland Explorer service and introduce the carriages, which boast 20 cycle spaces and were a UK-first, to the Mallaig branch of the West Highland Line, resulting in more seats and enhanced on-board facilities for customers.
The carriages will operate on two services each day – the early morning service from Mallaig to Glasgow Queen Street and the evening Glasgow Queen Street to Mallaig from the start of the summer timetable at the end of March.
Northbound services will run Monday to Friday, whilst Southbound services will run Tuesday to Saturday.
The move is set to benefit local communities as well as adventure seeking cyclists, as the addition of the carriages on the route means customers will benefit from 15 per cent more seats, more luggage space, and access to an additional toilet on board. The Highland Explorer carriages have larger cushioned seats, USB and plug charging points, and also feature table maps detailing the route, with recommendations on where to walk, cycle, and visit. QR codes at each table also provide links for further inspiration on places to visit in Scotland.
The early morning service from Mallaig to Glasgow Queen Street will call at Fort William during the morning peak, providing more seats for commuters.
ScotRail has also announced that it is removing the additional charge for its Highland Explorer ticket from 1 April 2023, meaning customers using the service on the Mallaig line will have access to the active travel carriage without having to pay the £10 supplement.
The removal of the additional fare means that from Thursday, 9 February, customers will not be able to purchase the £10 Highland Explorer ticket for travel on 1 April onwards, and that all seats within in the carriage will then be available for the price of a standard class fare.
The supplemented Highland Explorer ticket had provided customers with guaranteed access to the carriage and a hospitality offering (subject to availability).
ScotRail is finalising its process for seat reservations on the carriages for travel on 1 April onwards and will share details with customers as soon as possible.
Scott Prentice, ScotRail Head of Business Development, said:
“Our Highland Explorer carriages were the first of their kind in the UK, and can accommodate up to 20 cycles, allowing more people before to enjoy the iconic scenery the West Highland Line has to offer.
“The changes we’re making, by removing the additional fare for our Highland Explorer service and by introducing the carriages to the Mallaig line, proves that we’ve been listening to feedback from both customers and stakeholders on how make the most of these fantastic carriages and deliver the best service possible.
“Customers will benefit from more seats as the whole train will be accessible for the price of a standard class ticket, and customers will no longer have to pay an additional charge to sit with their bikes.
“These changes will help make the service a more attractive option, as well as support active travel and our continued recovery from the pandemic.”
Karen McGregor, Scotland Director at Sustrans, added:
“The Highland Explorer services have already shown the positive impact of public transport and active travel working hand in hand.
“From families planning days out on traffic-free National Cycle Network routes to experienced cyclists setting off along the iconic Caledonia Way, the Highland Explorer carriages make it easier to leave the car at home and experience the stunning west coast by foot or by bike.
“We’re delighted to see more, sustainable travel options created for joined-up everyday journeys, and for everyone hoping to enjoy some of Scotland’s most famous walking, wheeling and cycling routes.”
John Barnes, Vice-President Friends of the West Highland Lines, said:
“It is good news that the 153 carriages are now planned to provide a service north of Crianlarich over Rannoch Moor and onward to Fort William and Mallaig.
“It is important that the Outdoor Capital of the UK is served by these carriages, and we hope to be seeing them on even more trains in the future.
“Both Friends of the West Highland Lines and the West Highland Community Rail Partnership have raised our concerns about the Highland Explorer surcharge for some time, so we are delighted that it will now be removed.”
Planned changes to Highland Explorer service are welcome boost for cyclists and locals alike
ScotRail today announced that it is making changes to its Highland Explorer service to support active travel. From Spring 2023, ScotRail will remove the additional fare for the Highland Explorer service and introduce the carriages, which boast 20 cycle spaces and were a UK-first, to the Mallaig...
www.scotrail.co.uk
scotraildriver
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The 153 will operate on the 18.21 Queen St to Mallaig which runs as a 4 car throughout the year. Nothing to do with the 8.21. The morning service south doesn't couple up with anything so the 153 is irrelevant there as well .
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Unexpected, but perhaps it should have been. Hopefully the catering service remains on the train!
For clarity: the 1821 Queen Street to Oban and Mallaig runs as a 4 car to Crianlarich throughout the year where it splits into 2+2. The same has been loaded into TRUST for summer 2023.
Granted 6 car 156 formations can run between Queen Street and Crianlarich so presumably this will run 2 to Oban plus 3 to Mallaig.
scotraildriver
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Yes
Presume no word on the timetable recast that was touted a few years back? As someone speaking with little railway knowledge, you'd still think a more frequent 2 car Fort William service would be more popular than a 2/4 coach service 4 times a day.
scotraildriver
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I suspect Network Rail are currently reluctant to put any more trains on the WHL due to the imposition of 20mph speed restrictions literally every time it rains/is windy/melting snow/high temperatures. The 12.11 Oban to Queen St on Thursday took 5hrs 40 mins! There are clearly serious concerns over the condition of the infrastructure and putting on more services would cause serious issues when speed restrictions are applied.
Sadly I am not convinced that ScotRail/TS are focusing particularly on traffic growth with some services still at roughly half 2019 levels:
- Glasgow QS - Falkirk High - Edinburgh
- Glasgow Central - Shotts - Edinburgh
- Glasgow Central - Ayr
- Stranraer
What is strange is this
'The early morning service from Mallaig to Glasgow Queen Street will call at Fort William during the morning peak, providing more seats for commuters.'
Now the present timetable has the arrival from Mallaig before 7.30 which is hardly the 'morning commuter peak', so is a new timetable planned?
'The early morning service from Mallaig to Glasgow Queen Street will call at Fort William during the morning peak, providing more seats for commuters.'
Now the present timetable has the arrival from Mallaig before 7.30 which is hardly the 'morning commuter peak', so is a new timetable planned?
Cheshire Scot
Established Member
Hard to imagine Fort William having a morning peak. For commuters one train in at 07.27 and one train back at 16.19!
A write up from a PR department that is far removed from reality. But full marks for imagination.
py_megapixel
Established Member
What are/were you actually getting for your money with the "Highland Explorer" supplement? It seems you just get to sit in the same seats on a slightly different class of unit, and possibly the opportunity to buy food/drinks from a catering trolley if it turns up - anything else?
scotraildriver
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Extra seats at 7.30am in busy parts of the country would be most welcome and is most definitely the morning peak. Fort William not so much......
Although some would have you believe you didn't get anything, what you did get initially at the start was a complimentary snack pack with free tea or coffee, bigger and slightly better seats in the form of some rather well cushioned (and tediously controversial on here) Richmonds seats (installed by FGW in 2007), and tables with maps / info etc on. I think one of the main points of the ticket was to allow a person travelling with a bicycle to have a reserved space for their bike & or luggage etc, though as I found out it seemed they were a bit of a nightmare to get hold of at a ScotRail ticket office if you didn't have a bike with you!
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Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
Is it me, or are the services chosen not an awful lot of use for "adventure cyclists" or whatever they said, because they're timed for a day trip to Glasgow and not one to FW or a weekend there? Never realised Glasgow was a cycling Mecca.
As to the quality of the offering, I'd pay a fiver but not a tenner. I know Richmonds are debatable, but they are better spaced and with lots of tables, but it's not exactly first class. Not sure where I'd choose to sit now, probably the 156 for the big windows.
As to the quality of the offering, I'd pay a fiver but not a tenner. I know Richmonds are debatable, but they are better spaced and with lots of tables, but it's not exactly first class. Not sure where I'd choose to sit now, probably the 156 for the big windows.
craigybagel
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I struggle to see the use of them at TfW. The only route planned for 153s going forwards is the Heart of Wales line, and whilst that line is popular with hikers, in my experience cyclists are few and far between. All services are eventually due to be worked by 2 X 153, giving space for 4 bikes. That's probably enough the vast majority of the time.....
Given how they struggle to reach 75 without assistance from gravity, and how much noise the engine makes at that point, I don't think they'd do well if you pushed them any further. Also it's not just the engine and transmission that limits the speeds, there are also the brakes. Stopping a 153 from 90mph would be an interesting experience.
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