Following on from 2020 successful operations of The Staycation Express, Rail Charter Services has released some of its plans for 2021.
New rolling stock and an expanded route will feature for 2021, with a 2+5 HST operating trains from Skipton to Carlisle.
The full train will feature first-class seating with COVID-secure perspex screens in between seating.
A new livery will be applied to the HST, with enhanced catering onboard, with at-seat dining and a buffet counter being made available.
The HST Power cars, according to Rail Charter Services, are Ex-East Midlands Trains, whilst the coaches (3 x TFs, 1 x TGF, 1 x TRFK) are Ex-Great Western Railway.
Approximate timings can be found below, but it is expected that two return trips between Skipton, Settle, Appleby and Carlisle will run every day (except Fridays) from Mid-July to Early September.
- 0930 Appleby to Skipton
- 1130 Skipton to Carlisle
- 1500 Carlisle to Skipton
- 1730 Skipton to Appleby
Last year, the trains were hauled from Skipton to Appleby from a pool of Class 20, 47, 37 as well as a Class 40 hauling the final trains of the season.
Adrian Quine – Director of Rail Charter Services Ltd said: “A lot of work has been going on behind the scenes to build on the success of The Staycation Express last year. We are working closely with our partners and stakeholders with innovation at the heart of everything we do and look forward to announcing further initiatives soon”
More announcements regarding the full livery, timetable and on train services will be made in April.
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I haven’t seen any Green HSTs, so this will definitely be interesting.
When rail services of all kinds start, hopefully after 21 June 2021, the last thing I want to do is travelling with a mask on.
If charter services etc are going to be so cluttered with perpex partitions etc it will destroy all the kind of atmosphere one seeks when travelling by train.
Hope it gets the approval.
After a year or more without any revenues,
spending on a paint job might not be wise?
That sounds great news, I have also notices that Northern are running crew train runs from Blackburn to Hellifield, so hopefully passengers from Lancashire can join the train there.
Wow, This’ll be Exciting… An Intercity 125 on Skipton-Carlisle passenger shuttle Duties… Especially said Intercity 125 HST, in Yorkshire, As well as Cumbria.