CANCELLED:

CANCELLED: 30/31 July: The Here There and Everywhere Trains – Yet Again! 

We are devastated to announce that the railtour on 30/31 July 2021 is now cancelled. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and will refund all passengers shortly. We will endeavour to run a similar excursion in
the 2022 programme.

Thank you for continued support and understanding during these difficult times.

Please see the official statement from DB Cargo UK below:
Official statement from DB Cargo UK – 26.07.2021:

CANCELLATION OF PATHFINDER RAILTOURS’ CHARTER SERVICE
“Due to an increase in the number of colleagues either off ill or self-isolating due to Covid-19, it is with regret that DB Cargo UK has had to cancel a planned two-day charter service due to run this coming weekend.

“This is not a decision we have taken lightly and we would like to apologise sincerely for the disappointment and disruption caused to Pathfinder Railtours’ passengers. We will work with Pathfinder to rearrange the planned charter as soon as is practicably possible.”

Friday 30 / Saturday 31 July 2021 

These three limited capacity individual railtours are bookable separately or all together as a combined Rover ticket. Mark 1 carriages are being used and DRS Class 37s provide the upfront power (running as a pair on Friday evening and thereafter in top’n’tail mode). The on-board catering will be a full buffet service, The Gricers Grill and a real ale/cider bar.  The ‘Kennet Navigator’ includes a complimentary meat or veggie cottage pie.

The Kennet Navigator – Friday Evening

A circular routing from Bristol Parkway via Swindon, Didcot, Reading West, Newbury and Pewsey, featuring several goods loops along the way. ~ Fare includes a meat or veggie cottage pie served at your seat ~

First Class tables for two are available at a supplement of £10 per person

The requested routing from Bristol Parkway is: (Updated 14.07.2021)

~ Hullavington and Wotton Bassett Goods Loop (if possible) ~ Swindon Up Main ~ Didcot ~ Reading West Curve ~ Ufton Down Loop ~ Newbury Racecourse ~ Westbury East Chord ~ Trowbridge ~ Bath Spa ~ Rhubarb Curve ~ Bristol Parkway.
(Chipping Sodbury, Theale and Woodborough loops are now unavailable)

The Taffy Buffer Puffer – Friday Night

Passenger branch lines are traversed that are difficult to feature in the daytime loco hauled – Maesteg, Coryton, Ebbw Vale Town and Severn Beach. A few ‘non passenger’ loops will be included.

First Class tables for two are available at a supplement of £15 per person

The requested routing from Bristol Parkway is: (Updated 14.07.2021)

~ Down Pilning Loop ~ Severn Tunnel Junction ~ Newport Down Relief ~ Cardiff Central ~ Ninian Park ~ Leckwith North Junction ~ Miskin and Tremains Down Loops ~ Bridgend ~ Tondu ~ Maesteg (reverse).

~ Maesteg ~ Tondu ~ Bridgend ~ Pencoed and Miskin Up Loops ~ Cardiff Central~ Cardiff Queen Street ~ Heath Junction ~ Coryton (reverse).

~ Coryton ~ Heath Junction ~ Queen Street ~ Cardiff Central (reverse).*

~ Cardiff Central ~ Queen Street ~ Llandaff ~ Radyr (reverse).*

~ Radyr ~ Fairwater ~ Cardiff Central ~ Ebbw Junction ~ Crosskeys – Ebbw Vale Town (reverse).

~ Ebbw Vale Town ~ Crosskeys ~ Gaer Junction ~ Newport Up Relief ~ Severn Tunnel Junction ~ Up Tunnel Loop ~ Up Pilning Loop ~ Filton West Junction ~ Hallen Marsh Junction (reverse).

~ Hallen Marsh Junction ~ Severn Beach (reverse).

~ Severn Beach ~ Avonmouth ~ Clifton Down ~ Rhubarb Curve ~ Bristol East (reverse).

~ Bristol East ~ Rhubarb Curve ~ Filton Bank ~ Bristol Parkway.

*Note: The Cardiff Bay branch has been declined due to overnight stabling of TFW trains.

The Cotswold Canter – Saturday Daytime

This is a day’s ramble around the Cotswold Hills, journeying over both the Golden Valley and North Cotswold routes.

Anticipated highlights: Alstone Carriage Siding, Cheltenham; the Kineton branchline to M.O.D. boundary; Henwick turnback siding, Worcester… and of course a number of goods loops.

First Class tables for two are available at a supplement of £25 per person.

The requested routing from Cheltenham Spa is: (Updated 14.07.2021)

~ into Alstone Carriage Sidings (reverse), then Lansdown Down Goods Loop ~ Gloucester Avoider ~ Standish Junction ~ Kemble ~ Up Swindon Goods Loop ~ South Marston Branch  to NR  limit (reverse) ~ Foxhall Junction ~ Down Kennington Goods Loop ~ Hinksey Yard Reception line ~ Oxford Down Through and Relief ~ Aynho Junction ~ Banbury Down Goods Loop ~ Fenny Compton Goods Loop ~ Kineton branch to M.O.D. Gate (reverse).

~ Kineton Gate ~ Fenny Compton South Junction ~ Up Banbury Loop ~ Aynho Up Goods Loop ~ Oxford (reverse).

~  Oxford ~ Kingham ~ Moreton-in Marsh ~ Norton Junction ~ Worcester Shrub Hill ~ Foregate Street ~ Henwick Turnback Sidsing (reverse).

~ Henwick ~ Foregate Street ~ Shrub Hill middle siding ~ Abbotswood Junction ~ Ashchurch Down Goods Loop ~ Cheltenham Spa  and return mail line to Bristol Parkway.

Rover Ticket – All Three Trips combined together

NOTE FOR ROVER TICKET HOLDERS –

Friday Afternoon – there will be  additional pick-up opportunities at Eastleigh (1400) and Salisbury (1450).

Saturday Evening – there will be additional set down opportunities at Bath Spa (2120), Trowbridge (2145), Salisbury (2225) and Eastleigh (2315).

NON ROVER TICKET HOLDERS
For Non-Rover Ticket Holders there will be a small charge of £10 per person if joining before Trowbridge on Friday afternoon, or travelling south of Bristol Parkway on Saturday evening.