Don't forget RTC also run a substantial progamme of multi-day tours (using mainly scheduled trains and including hotels) both in UK and abroad. I suspect these may be far more profitable than the one day UK railtours?
-
Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
WCR - Jacobite 2026
- Thread starter Sc07
- Start date
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
I think it was reported recently that 45110 was getting close, not sure about 44767 or the Jubilees but I'm pretty sure 35018 is still in ticket, its just been victim of the lack of CDL, therefore no vac braked MK1's.
SwindonManor
Member
Tickets remain to be teased with no further updates. This is getting silly now.
martin butler
Member
- Joined
- 9 Oct 2018
- Messages
- 856
45110 May be getting close, but will it have air braking eqipment? See, West Coast had plenty of engines still in ticket, that it could have air braked, but chose not to,
so the problem thats going to kill the business is that they are relying on hired in engines, and air braked stock, and they have lost 3 this year, Tornado, 44871, 45212, and at the moment there's only 34067, and 45407, and 34067 failed on its last outing.
Wyrleybart
Established Member
It is actually ironic that, excluding the Jacobite, WCR are principally a supplier of locos and stock for steam hauled express trains for themselves and GBR. Yet the best express passenger loco they can offer is the Bulleid class 7 "Tangmere". Yes it is an express loco, and a cut above the Stanier 5MTs which get pushed around by the diesel on the rear
Yeah I discussed this alot last year. 35018, 44932, 45699 and 46115 all attended the Greatest Gathering last year... all in ticket, just ticking down with limited work due to no air brakes.
They have also got 34028 on hire from SLL for this years season, but are still down on last year as like you said losing 2 black 5's and Tornado.
Isle of Mull
Member
You would think that west coast might lease an engine to vintage trains since they currently only have 1
Yeah exactly or to Heritage railways on short term hire (Or season long if CDL is going to take a while to fit)
Isle of Mull
Member
Exactly, I think WCR and Vintage shared The Duchess of Sutherland
Baxenden Bank
Established Member
- Joined
- 23 Oct 2013
- Messages
- 4,743
The group of companies have £11 million CASH in the bank (last published accounts) and total net worth of £17 million. They can afford to fit it. Whether it is viable as a business proposition ie recouping the cost incurred through the business is another matter.
Wyrleybart
Established Member
I think that is the problem. WCR don't want to fit CDL. They have CDL fitted to the Mk2 air cons they inherited from Riviera, but it seems they don't even want to use them this year, even though they did it 2024 and 2025.
The issues seems to be that WCR don't want to fit any "new" stock with CDL. Were they to, then they could fit CDL for vacuum braked stock like Vintage Trains do and then use the vacuum braked steam locos on the roster.
Isle of Mull
Member
As far as I know they only really need to fit first class mark 1s since they have some sliding window mk2s
martin butler
Member
- Joined
- 9 Oct 2018
- Messages
- 856
As far as I know, the only Mk2's with opening windows are the Mk2a, and only 2 are CDL fitted, one is a former aircon, that's been converted back to Mk2a standard, and from the videos from the tours so far this year, the air con mk2's are still forming much of the coaches being used,
Wyrleybart
Established Member
Actually Martin the Mk2s with opening windows are Mk2, Mk2a, Mk2b and Mk2c along with around three MK2f which have bee retroconverted.
I understand WCR own or owned 5443 and 5494 which are Mk2bs with CDL.
The point surely is spelt out in this article published by Rail Advent in January 2024. In other words over two years ago, and what has changed ?
West Coast Railways issues statement following ORR decision to revoke exemption
West Coast Railways says it is ‘seriously disappointed’ that the Office of Rail and Road has revoked its exemption, which allows it to run heritage trains on the mainline.
WCR’s 2024 season is due to start in two weeks, running under an exemption that was set to be in place until the 29th February 2024.
However, as we reported yesterday, the ORR has now revoked this exemption, with WCRC reaffirming it wants to work with the ORR to protect jobs and vital income for businesses that WCRC works with.
WCRC says passengers will be contacted if their service is going to be cancelled due to the exemption being revoked.
WCRC’s full statement reads
West Coast Railways has expressed its serious disappointment that rail regulator, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has revoked the exemption which enables it to operate its heritage rail services, including the world-famous Jacobite, on the UK main line.
With its 2024 season due to start in two weeks, the operator had asked the ORR to maintain an exemption that allowed it to operate services until 29 February 2024, while it works with the regulator to find a long-term solution. However, the regulator decided to revoke the exemption on 10 January 2024.
WCR has reaffirmed that it is keen to work with the ORR to identify solutions to enable its services to continue to operate, protecting jobs and vital income for businesses along its routes.
James Shuttleworth, Commercial Manager, West Coast Railways said: “We are extremely disappointed by this decision. We remain committed to working with the ORR to agree how we can safeguard the future of our heritage services. We now ask the regulator to reconsider urgently in the interests of our passengers and business partners, and to allow our exemption to run until 29 February.
“We are already considering a range of options and had asked the ORR to allow the current exemption to run its course, to give us time to put forward detailed proposals.
“Our much-loved services, enjoyed by so many visitors from the UK and around the world, support a large number of businesses along our routes. The Jacobite alone has become an intrinsic part of Scottish tourism, boosting the economies of Mallaig and Fort William. It brings an estimated £20 million into the UK’s tourism sector to which we contribute £50 million overall every year.
For everyone relying on these incredible heritage services this decision is a body blow.”
For passengers with bookings for WCR services that are affected, we will notify them well in advance if we do not expect their service to run. They will then be offered a full refund and can rebook their excursion if they wish. They are encouraged to contact WCR via enquiries@westcoastrailways.net for more details.
WCR CDL-fitted Mk. 2s with opening windows in service -
5229, 5239 (48-seat firsts),
5453, 5487 (TSOs). 5419 also reportedly fitted last year.
3232 - air-con FO retrofitted with PV windows (from 5478?).
5985, 6054, 6158 - air-con TSOs with sliding windows previously used on the Pathfinder set.
5229, 5239 (48-seat firsts),
5453, 5487 (TSOs). 5419 also reportedly fitted last year.
3232 - air-con FO retrofitted with PV windows (from 5478?).
5985, 6054, 6158 - air-con TSOs with sliding windows previously used on the Pathfinder set.
Wyrleybart
Established Member
Thanks "37069" Is there also a Mk2 BSO or BSK with CDL ?
So it would be possible to form a set from 5 of those, and 99318 (buffet) and a brake vehicle of some kind ?.
That would obviously only be "set 1" and they would another for set 2, as wel las maintenance cover mid season.
Rail Ranger
Member
- Joined
- 20 Feb 2014
- Messages
- 1,120
99318 is no longer a buffet.
There is 9440 (BSO) at Southall, but this has been out of use for over a decade.
As far as I've seen, it looks like 99318 has retained its buffet conversion.
Gunslinger
Member
- Joined
- 8 Nov 2018
- Messages
- 22
Specifically, 44871 which is just completing its winter overhaul, and referenced the GB XVIII tour which starts on the 18th, and the Jacobite. I would imagine the Black 5 would be needed for all or part of the Fort William legs on the 21st and 23rd as well as the 'optional' Mallaig run the 22nd, whether or not the regular Jacobite is running by then.
Lemmy99uk
Member
- Joined
- 5 May 2015
- Messages
- 560
What is 10A?
Killingworth
Established Member
Carnforth MPD
Mk1s maybe. But compliant mk1s?
Which just goes to show that it can be done, and without a regular service too though the last time I saw a Great Britain tour (2024?) it used air con mk2s
Rail Ranger
Member
- Joined
- 20 Feb 2014
- Messages
- 1,120
Mark 1 99318 appears to have been fitted with CDL.
Wyrleybart
Established Member
Yes. Someone referred to it on another forum having CDL isolating switch thingy down on the lower bodyside near the door.
I was in WH Smith's earlier flicking through the latest copy of Trackside (May 2026). There's a page in there on the Jacobite saga, which I was scanning through. Nothing particularly new in there that hasn't already been discussed in this thread, but a chap standing near me who was flicking through a bike mag happened to notice it. "Excuse me" he says. "Is that talking about the Jacobite steam train in Scotland? Me and my wife have been waiting for weeks for tickets to be on sale. We've been checking the website every day. Is something wrong?" So then I gave him a quick run-down on the whole CDL saga and the "will they, won't they?" guessing game going on at the moment. I then handed over the magazine so he could read up on it himself.
martin butler
Member
- Joined
- 9 Oct 2018
- Messages
- 856
Sonds to me like their waiting for 44871 to be done, before any Jacobite's run, and it's likely that it will be only one train a day, unless someone has another black 5 that is air fitted, or another engine, that can free up both black 5s,
The Jacobite: 2026 Season Update
<p id="isPasted"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><img src="https://wcr-s3.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/1fyKSZNDv7yZHM53E6oDM3dvfOyDfBM9sj0bC7Qk.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib w-full"></p><p>Following valuable feedback from our passengers and an evaluation of the operational costs associated with...
westcoastrailways.co.uk
No new information as such, but confirming the information already speculated by many.