overthere 2
On Moderation
I came Across this, and I was wondering are Steam Packet/"the railways" missing an opportunity?
www.steam-packet.com
Looking at Google maps Heysham is pretty much stuck out in the middle of nowhere, so if people want to to do this trip they are going to have to travel a long way and that means driving, as I would assume there would be no trains or buses at that time of the morning/evening?.
The problem is, particularly if they are doing a week day trip it means some people might choose to get up in the morning, go to work, come home and then try to stay awake to do the drive to Heysham in the early hours saying: "I will catch up with sleep on the ferry" and because they are most probably in a routine of going to bed at a certain time for work the next day, by 1 - 2AM or whatever time they set out to Heysham they will be absolutely shattered and could fall asleep at the wheel or they come home try and get a few hours kip early in the evening so they will be awake to drive but again because they are in a routine by the time they are plodding up and down the motorway in the the early hours in a warm and comfortable car again they may fall asleep.
Even if they do make it the other problem is that if they don't get any sleep on the ferry excitement/seasickness etc then have a day at the TT then home again on the ferry again with no sleep then by the time they get back to Heysham, which I'm guessing would be the early hours of the next day, they are going to be shattered so again risk falling asleep at the wheel or at work the next day which if they are doing a safety critical job could lead to the injury or death of them or other people.
There is also the alcohol factor as no doubt they will have a "couple" of drinks particularly if it is a hot day and hope that either there alcohol level will go down on the ferry or they will be sick and chuck it up so will be fit to drive but more likely they will be over the limit and get arrested or crash.
Also as I cant see anything that looks like secure car parking for foot passengers on Google maps so you will have people parking on the road for 24 hours in what looks like a desolate area so no people/CCTV which I'm sure the local criminal fraternity will be well aware of.
So here's what I'm thinking the ticket prices start at £90 so most people would not object to paying a little bit more with a train ticket thrown in and in the early hours you have rolling stock sitting around doing nothing unlike during the day when it is all accounted for as one of the many problems of the modern railway is that there is no spare stock for special occasions also I'm sure a couple of staff would welcome some one off overtime.
So what could happen is one of the rail companies run a train, starting say at Birmingham run up the West coast mainline calling at stations along the way do some back and forth to include Liverpool and Manchester then carry on up to Heysham also run a train from the Yorkshire area both to arrive at Heysham for the ferry then run the trains back ready for service later in the morning then that evening/night run back up to meet the ferry to take everybody home.
I would guess a trolley service could be provided but what also could happen is the train company could do a deal that for X amount extra you get a breakfast bag: cereal bar, muffin, yogurt, fruit etc or do a deal with one of station cafes to provide hot bacon and/or egg rolls to be loaded on to the train at a certain point.
Also, I dont know so if any body could tell me, but if there was a worry that they would not sell enough tickets to TT goers could they have a "reserve" list and sell cheap, stay on train, NO ferry ride, return tickets to rail enthusiasts who would ride the train just for the unusualness of it?
I think this could be successful as: I don't think it would cost a fortune to run, it solves all the problems I have listed above, for the TT fans travelling all together there and back would add to the fun of the day out a bit like football fans traveling in a coach together and if they would not usually use a train it helps to show the railways in a good light as at that time of night there should be no delays or cancellations so could lead to them using trains in the future.
Isle of Man TT Races - Day Trips
Experience the TT Races in a day with Steam Packet day trips from Ireland or the UK. Book return ferry travel and witness the action. Spaces fill fast.
Looking at Google maps Heysham is pretty much stuck out in the middle of nowhere, so if people want to to do this trip they are going to have to travel a long way and that means driving, as I would assume there would be no trains or buses at that time of the morning/evening?.
The problem is, particularly if they are doing a week day trip it means some people might choose to get up in the morning, go to work, come home and then try to stay awake to do the drive to Heysham in the early hours saying: "I will catch up with sleep on the ferry" and because they are most probably in a routine of going to bed at a certain time for work the next day, by 1 - 2AM or whatever time they set out to Heysham they will be absolutely shattered and could fall asleep at the wheel or they come home try and get a few hours kip early in the evening so they will be awake to drive but again because they are in a routine by the time they are plodding up and down the motorway in the the early hours in a warm and comfortable car again they may fall asleep.
Even if they do make it the other problem is that if they don't get any sleep on the ferry excitement/seasickness etc then have a day at the TT then home again on the ferry again with no sleep then by the time they get back to Heysham, which I'm guessing would be the early hours of the next day, they are going to be shattered so again risk falling asleep at the wheel or at work the next day which if they are doing a safety critical job could lead to the injury or death of them or other people.
There is also the alcohol factor as no doubt they will have a "couple" of drinks particularly if it is a hot day and hope that either there alcohol level will go down on the ferry or they will be sick and chuck it up so will be fit to drive but more likely they will be over the limit and get arrested or crash.
Also as I cant see anything that looks like secure car parking for foot passengers on Google maps so you will have people parking on the road for 24 hours in what looks like a desolate area so no people/CCTV which I'm sure the local criminal fraternity will be well aware of.
So here's what I'm thinking the ticket prices start at £90 so most people would not object to paying a little bit more with a train ticket thrown in and in the early hours you have rolling stock sitting around doing nothing unlike during the day when it is all accounted for as one of the many problems of the modern railway is that there is no spare stock for special occasions also I'm sure a couple of staff would welcome some one off overtime.
So what could happen is one of the rail companies run a train, starting say at Birmingham run up the West coast mainline calling at stations along the way do some back and forth to include Liverpool and Manchester then carry on up to Heysham also run a train from the Yorkshire area both to arrive at Heysham for the ferry then run the trains back ready for service later in the morning then that evening/night run back up to meet the ferry to take everybody home.
I would guess a trolley service could be provided but what also could happen is the train company could do a deal that for X amount extra you get a breakfast bag: cereal bar, muffin, yogurt, fruit etc or do a deal with one of station cafes to provide hot bacon and/or egg rolls to be loaded on to the train at a certain point.
Also, I dont know so if any body could tell me, but if there was a worry that they would not sell enough tickets to TT goers could they have a "reserve" list and sell cheap, stay on train, NO ferry ride, return tickets to rail enthusiasts who would ride the train just for the unusualness of it?
I think this could be successful as: I don't think it would cost a fortune to run, it solves all the problems I have listed above, for the TT fans travelling all together there and back would add to the fun of the day out a bit like football fans traveling in a coach together and if they would not usually use a train it helps to show the railways in a good light as at that time of night there should be no delays or cancellations so could lead to them using trains in the future.
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