Broithe Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 This has been announced - http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20141105006215/en/Belmond-Launch-Luxury-Touring-Train-Ireland#.VFp5HDSsV8F - it will be interesting to see what actually happens. Will we see Mk 3s on the network again? Quote
Broithe Posted November 5, 2014 Author Posted November 5, 2014 This sort of accommodation is proposed. Quote
BosKonay Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 Is that for real? Sounds almost too good to be true! Quote
Glenderg Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 Rich brunswick green and cream exterior, gold lettering, could look stunning. That's just a guess.... Quote
ttc0169 Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 Confirmation at long last,Mk3s back on the Irish railway network in 2016.... Quote
Broithe Posted November 5, 2014 Author Posted November 5, 2014 Is that for real? Sounds almost too good to be true! The info came from tweets retweeted by Irish Rail - as legit a source as there could be.... Quote
BosKonay Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 Certainly an auspicious company with the means to do it right and the reach to put international bums on seats Quote
rebelred Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 I was told that by a maintenance manager a few months ago but thought it was just another rumour which the railway runs on. First step in the move to privatise the railways (actually the second step when you include the splitting of the company in to 'Infastructure' & 'Operations' Quote
Glenderg Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 This was mooted months ago here.... http://irishrailwaymodeller.com/showthread.php/2093-MK3-Scrapping?p=45735&viewfull=1#post45735 Quote
dave182 Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 The news release mentions that 10 coaches have been purchased, I assume including one genny van. Where are these coaches physically right now? Could we also see yet another loco livery also?? Quote
tonybonneyba Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 The news release mentions that 10 coaches have been purchased, I assume including one genny van. Where are these coaches physically right now? Could we also see yet another loco livery also?? Maybe, i hope so (one fit ted with AWS too). Quote
snapper Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 Where are these coaches physically right now? Inchicore I believe Quote
jhb171achill Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 Ehhh.. Mk 3's? All scrapped? Cravens????????? Quote
Broithe Posted November 5, 2014 Author Posted November 5, 2014 This - http://www.belmond.com/royal-scotsman-train/ - is their Royal Scotsman train - not many people in anoraks..... Quote
snapper Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 Ehhh.. Mk 3's? All scrapped? The mk3s aren't all gone Quote
leslie10646 Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 See Belmond's website for a little more info. http://www.belmond.com/grand-hibernian-train/ which is where Broithe found the picture. Bad news for Jim Deegan and others offering train trips in Ireland? Maybe not - at £4,000 plus for FOUR nights (their Scottish train) I don't think so! Certainly NOT for anoraks! I saw the Scottish train "loading" at Edinburgh - at most a dozen passengers that I saw being led out by a piper - to fill a train of at least a dozen coaches! As Dave said, another new livery - so good news for Paddy M? Quote
Broithe Posted November 5, 2014 Author Posted November 5, 2014 ..at £4,000 plus for FOUR nights (their Scottish train) .....Certainly NOT for anoraks! You only have to look at the pictures of the Royal Scotsman clientèle to suspect that it might not be for 'us' - but, we can still watch it go by.... Quote
snapper Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 See Belmond's website for a little more info. Certainly NOT for anoraks! Indeed, that is why they are advertised as luxurious land cruises rather than "Rail tours", a different product for a different market. As for loadings the press release says they only intend to have accommodation for 40 people in 20 cabins. Quote
leslie10646 Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 You only have to look at the pictures of the Royal Scotsman clientèle to suspect that it might not be for 'us' - but, we can still watch it go by.... Ah, now there you've got it - another loco hauled train to photograph! Quote
leslie10646 Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 Just in case any of you can afford it - you can probably save a few Euros by bringing your own Saffron kilt (of course, our esteemed member, The former Commisioner of the Garda will have one from his days running The Force). For the Scottish trips, Belmond tell you where to hire a kilt! Presumably you can hire 'em in Dublin as well? Enough cynicism for one night, I'm off to bed! Quote
Broithe Posted November 5, 2014 Author Posted November 5, 2014 Ah, now there you've got it - another loco hauled train to photograph! What more do we want? Quote
richrua Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 cool. I wouldn't mind a trot round the island on that! Better start saving now for the Murphy Models........ Quote
Glenderg Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 Since it will be operated rail side from IE - contractual obligation to clean them perhaps, thats about it. It sounds like this would be run at most on a monthly basis, would it be practical to have a one off (maybe with a spare) rolling around with a funky livery? Looking forward to something unique for the MK III's livery wise. I for one, welcome our new cash collecting mk3 buying overlords. Quote
jhb171achill Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 I wonder how it will appeal to a hopefully different market from Railtours..... whose people stay in high class castles and hotels instead of the train..... At night, where will it be stabled and what H & S arrangements will be in place re the comings and goings of overnight punters in a station possibly unmanned at night? Quote
Glenderg Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 At night, where will it be stabled and what H & S arrangements will be in place re the comings and goings of overnight punters in a station possibly unmanned at night? Oh the very thought of them parked up in a siding in limerick junction on a rainy evening, ghostly figures of wealthy passengers trudging up the road to the Bit & Bridle for a snakey pint.... it sounds all a bit like Stringfellows strip club in Parnell St! Quote
richrua Posted November 6, 2014 Posted November 6, 2014 ha ha! class. Sounds a bit like Ryan Rail to me... Quote
Killucan2 Posted November 6, 2014 Posted November 6, 2014 This was mooted months ago here.... http://irishrailwaymodeller.com/showthread.php/2093-MK3-Scrapping?p=45735&viewfull=1#post45735[/QUO I see a few members are not saying much now the news is out at last about VSOE deal,wounder did they get the 201s they were after instead of the 141s!! Quote
Garfield Posted November 6, 2014 Posted November 6, 2014 This was mooted months ago here.... http://irishrailwaymodeller.com/showthread.php/2093-MK3-Scrapping?p=45735&viewfull=1#post45735[/QUO I see a few members are not saying much now the news is out at last about VSOE deal,wounder did they get the 201s they were after instead of the 141s!! Personally, I'm not moved either way, save to say it will be nice to see something different on the network. I do find it funny, though, that there are some individuals who appear to be obsessed about being in so-called 'golden circles' and the need to possess 'exclusive' information about a train with the express intention of lording it over others with an undeserved sense of importance, not to mention smugness, when at the end of the day it's just a hobby. It's an attitude I don't think I'll ever understand, but hey, what would I know... I just live out here in the real world; I realise that it is just a hobby to be enjoyed, so I save that sort of energy for the things that actually are important. Now, time for a coffee and then off to do some work... Quote
Noel Posted November 6, 2014 Posted November 6, 2014 (edited) This new product sounds like a welcome and positive development. Its a small niche market but anything that brings HNW tourists here seems a good thing for Ireland inc. The 'sleeper' element is interesting as we don't have long routes so presume it will be parked up somewhere over night. Where will be interesting. Some remote loop in the country side, or in a city location with good security. Cruise ships do the reverse by cruising at night and stopping in some port by day to allow the PAX off to visit places. But as they operate already on short Scottish routes I'm sure this has a proven solution. Good luck to them. A weeks cruise on the inland Shannon princess is circa €3k with top class catering on board. Sounds like the train product is a step up. Mind you a whole weeks cruise on a small 5 star ocean cruise ship is about half the cost of the mooted train fares. But then there is also clearly a market for 'star clippers'. Hope its a success. Edited November 6, 2014 by Noel Lexdisia Quote
Killucan2 Posted November 6, 2014 Posted November 6, 2014 Personally, I'm not moved either way, save to say it will be nice to see something different on the network. I do find it funny, though, that there are some individuals who appear to be obsessed about being in so-called 'golden circles' and the need to possess 'exclusive' information about a train with the express intention of lording it over others with an undeserved sense of importance, not to mention smugness, when at the end of the day it's just a hobby. It's an attitude I don't think I'll ever understand, but hey, what would I know... I just live out here in the real world; I realise that it is just a hobby to be enjoyed, so I save that sort of energy for the things that actually are important. Now, time for a coffee and then off to do some work... I taught you have a poke as usual. Quote
StevieB Posted November 6, 2014 Posted November 6, 2014 The cabins/compartments are worth a second look - we travelled across Canada by rail and it was the sleeping arrangements that let it down - the fact that the accommodation changed from day use to night use and bak again meant it was very creaky whereas what appears here is more like a hole room. Await developments. Stephen Quote
Mayner Posted November 6, 2014 Posted November 6, 2014 Its a bit ironic to see luxury tourist trains appearing so many years after the most scenic lines like Achill, Clifen, Valentia and Waterford-Mallow closed. CIEs 1st diesel programme in the 1940s included a luxury train aimed at the American tourist market. It will be interesting to see if the new train will involve an element of overnight running, this would have advantages for Belmond and IE in moving guests between attractions, avoiding the boring bits in the middle, feeing up line capacity and improved security. Quote
minister_for_hardship Posted November 6, 2014 Posted November 6, 2014 (edited) Personally, I'm not moved either way, save to say it will be nice to see something different on the network. I do find it funny, though, that there are some individuals who appear to be obsessed about being in so-called 'golden circles' and the need to possess 'exclusive' information about a train with the express intention of lording it over others with an undeserved sense of importance, not to mention smugness, when at the end of the day it's just a hobby. It's an attitude I don't think I'll ever understand, but hey, what would I know... I just live out here in the real world; I realise that it is just a hobby to be enjoyed, so I save that sort of energy for the things that actually are important. Now, time for a coffee and then off to do some work... Had heard about it over the bush telegraph, but kept schtumm, not out of any sense of smugness but just in case it was some sort of cruel hoax! Edited November 6, 2014 by minister_for_hardship Quote
Flying Scotsman 4472 Posted November 6, 2014 Posted November 6, 2014 Best of luck to them it will be great to see a private operator on Irish rails something different to look at. Is this the start of the gates opening for the private sector on Irish railways with rumours circulating that a new liner service will be operating out of Belfast port in the future. Quote
Warbonnet Posted November 6, 2014 Posted November 6, 2014 This was mooted months ago here.... http://irishrailwaymodeller.com/showthread.php/2093-MK3-Scrapping?p=45735&viewfull=1#post45735[/QUO I see a few members are not saying much now the news is out at last about VSOE deal,wounder did they get the 201s they were after instead of the 141s!! Well done Mark. Pat yourself on the back there. Maybe some of us just dont care. Quote
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