Latest news with #JamesShuttleworth
Scotsman
29-05-2025
- Scotsman
'Hogwarts Express' Jacobite train operator accused of poor customer service in 'shoddy carriages'
West Coast Railways criticised for reducing stewards as 'recipe for disaster' Sign up for the latest news and analysis about Scottish transport Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The operator of the Hogwarts Express-style Jacobite steam train has been accused of providing a poor service to passengers in 'shoddy' carriages. The claim from an industry source with knowledge of the operation comes weeks after The Scotsman revealed the classic maroon carriages associated with the Harry Potter films had been substituted with more modern former British Rail blue Inter-City coaches. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Jacobite train near Fort William on Sunday May 25 after the wildfire risk had receded | Kieran Macdonald Concern has been expressed that operator West Coast Railways (WCR) has reduced the number of stewards on the twice-daily Fort William to Mallaig services, whose job includes preventing passengers leaning out of windows to take photos. But WCR said the Jacobite was run in a 'safe, professional manner' and the safety and comfort of passengers was its priority. It has also been able to use a steam locomotive to haul services for the first time in weeks after the wildfire threat receded. Passengers had complained at being unaware the Jacobite had been run with a diesel engine. The industry source said the company was "charging an extortionate amount and providing no customer service, shoddy carriages, terrible refreshments". Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Jacobite train being hauled by a diesel locomotive on Saturday May 24 | Kieran Macdonald Passengers have also complained on the Tripadvisor reviews website of high temperatures and the lack of air conditioning on the substitute carriages, which WCR said were temporary replacements pending wheel repairs. The source said: "WCR originally had five stewards on each [five-carriage] service to keep passenger safety a priority as passengers aren't allowed to lean out or take photos by opening the windows, which has happened many times. 'Now, they have two stewards at each end of the train, in charge of two carriages [each] with the train manager acting as a third steward in the middle. In the afternoon, they have three stewards. 'A catering trolley plus a 'Harry Potter' trolley service operates, so stewards monitoring passengers is very restricted, which is a recipe for disaster.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A Jacobite service with Inter-City carriages hauled by a diesel locomotive during the wildfire risk steam engine ban on May 14 | Contributed WCR commercial manager James Shuttleworth said: 'The safety and comfort of Jacobite passengers is the priority of our leadership, management and employees. 'The services are conducted in a safe, professional manner that allows our customers to make treasured memories, and enjoy the best of the Scottish Highlands. 'The quality of our service and the esteem it is held in are a credit to our employees whose professionalism and enthusiasm are highly valued. Prior to working on the Jacobite service, all staff receive training and are briefed to ensure customers are monitored and kept safe whilst providing an excellent service. 'There is also a continued review and briefing process carried out by train managers to ensure the safety of our services is maintained throughout the season. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We were saddened to see the comments made about our services. However, WCR is proud of our Jacobite service and the integral part we play in the tourism and hospitality sector.' The Jacobite with its traditional maroon carriages on the Glenfinnan viaduct | Contributed The substitute carriages were drafted in as part of an ongoing dispute with rail safety regulators who insist they must have centrally-locking doors. Mr Shuttleworth said it was seeking to resolve the dispute with the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Steam trains win bank holiday reprieve as Network Rail lifts fire-risk ban
Steam trains will be able to run on the mainline during one of the busiest weeks of the year after heavy rain eased concerns about the threat of track-side fires. Network Rail lifted a steam ban on popular routes in North West England including the Settle & Carlisle and Cumbrian Coast lines, while the operator of the Jacobite train in Scotland said it would switch back to steam from diesel. Amber alerts indicating a risk of fire across the wider network were meanwhile downgraded after downpours on Friday night soaked lineside vegetation that had been tinderbox dry. An expert on Network Rail's special trains team said that months of minimal rainfall had created 'brown corridors' at substantial risk of being ignited by embers jettisoned by steam engines. He said: 'The entire country has been at high alert, but some routes, particularly in the North West, have been forced to ban steam in recent weeks as the risk has just been too great. 'But with the weather turning and rain arriving Friday night and over the weekend, the risk is reducing and steam can once again run on our metals.' This year has seen the driest start to spring in England since 1956, with half the expected rainfall in April and only a quarter of the long-term average in March. The trend continued into May, with warnings of imminent hosepipe bans and a summer drought, and wildfires breaking out in areas including Cumbria, Derbyshire and Dorset. Network Rail responded with a series of curbs on steam trains culminating in a 10-day blanket ban in the North West. However, with the heatwave ending as low pressure systems bring rainy conditions, Network Rail eased the restrictions in time for the spring bank holiday and school break. The decision was based on forecasts from MetDesk, which provides the firm with predictions of fire risk, ice and leaf fall, as well as weather forecasts for every 500 yards of track. North West England was moved from black alert to red status for Saturday, which meant that a steam locomotive could lead a train using limited power, assisted by a diesel engine at the rear. The risk level was dropped to amber on Sunday, simply requiring operators to exercise caution. West Coast Railways, the biggest operator of steam and classic diesel trains on the national network, said the reprieve was vital going into the busiest months for charter operations. James Shuttleworth, the firm's commercial manager, said that the rainfall meant the Jacobite train in the Highlands – dubbed the 'Hogwarts Express' for its appearances in the Harry Potter franchise – will also be able to return to steam traction from diesel. With most of its steam engines based in Carnforth in North West England, the ban had threatened to leave the firm unable to haul trains even in parts of the country that were unaffected. One locomotive in service when the clampdown was announced had been unable to return to base and was abandoned to York. Mr Shuttleworth said the spring had been the driest he had known since 1995, when the newly launched Jacobite service was forced to use diesels. Steam operators responded to months of bans at the time with measures to limit fire risk, including spark arresters and grills on engines. West Coast is now permitted to make its own decisions regarding appropriate traction for the Jacobite in conjunction with managers at Network Rail's Fort William depot. Mr Shuttleworth said: 'You've got to be responsible. It's also about accessibility and whether the fire brigade would be able to get to the site of a potential fire.' In Scotland and other upland areas, he said, there's also the risk of a lineside fire spreading to forestry plantations or seams of peat, with the latter potentially taking months to burn out. West Coast, like other operators, makes clear to passengers that there will be no refund in the event of steam engines being unable to run or breaking down. The reprieve came too late for the Northern Belle luxury dining train, which relied on diesel haulage over the Settle & Carlisle route on Saturday. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
