- Spring Charters selling out – Autumn S+C added due to demand
- Shakespeare Express Summer programme announced – special April run
- The Pullman Club announced
With Vintage Trains programme for 2020 now underway and four charters already virtually sold out, today we announce the 2020 Shakespeare Express programme and The Pullman Club.
Charter Programme
The first four charters for 2020 – Saturday 18th April Settle and Carlisle/Saturday 9th May Llandudno/Saturday 23rd May Welsh Marches/Saturday 30th May Minehead) have sold well with only a few seats still available; the Settle and Carlisle trip is sold out with a waiting list. Clun Castle will head all three. The charter programme for late summer and autumn will be announced later in March.
Due to the demand for this very popular route, a second S+C charter will be run in the autumn and will follow the same itinerary. The date is yet to be confirmed but seats can be booked now on the Vintage Trains website.
Shakespeare Express
With the news that Network Rail has confirmed the transfer of The Shakespeare Express working timetable paths to Vintage Trains, we are now able to run these trains any Sunday of the year. To celebrate this news and the beginning of the new season under the new Vintage Trains management, VT is running two additional Shakespeare Express trains with Clun Castle on Sunday 5th April. The full 2020 Shakespeare Express summer programme will commence on Sunday July 19th running through to Sunday September 6th.
The SE offers a pleasant hour’s journey through the Warwickshire countryside to Shakespeare’s home town with start points from Birmingham Snow Hill, Moor Street and Tyseley. The Lunchtime departure from Stratford enables travellers to partake of a full Sunday roast lunch on the round trip to Birmingham.
A selection of refreshments will be available including a choice of breakfast, the Sunday roast lunch or afternoon cream tea. Luncheon or afternoon tea wicker hampers are also available. Full details including prices for both seats and dining options are available at: http://vintagetrains.co.uk/the-shakespeare-express.
The Pullman Club
Vintage Trains has launched The Pullman Club inviting sponsorship to support the continued use of its collection of Birmingham-built Pullman Cars on the national railway network.
There are four Pullman Cars in the collection: Parlour Cars 349 & 353, Kitchen Car 361 and First Class Kitchen Car 311 “Eagle", the subject of a recent TV documentary.
The immediate objective of the Pullman Club is to raise funds to return Parlour Car 353 to service later in 2020, enabling Vintage Trains to offer an additional 42 Pullman dining seats on excursion trains, a popular choice.
There are several options available to members:
Become a Seat Sponsor
- Sponsor Parts or Materials
- Make a Donation
Seat sponsors will be allocated their own dedicated seat for one year, complete with name plaque and will receive notice of all Vintage Trains Excursions in advance in order to book their own seat.
Annual Seat Sponsorship is available for a minimum donation of £500 for each seat (42 available).
The following items and materials are currently available to sponsor:
- Window refurbishment including new seals £300 (12 available)
- New Carpet – Sponsor a square metre £25 (50 available)
- Repainting exterior £100 (60 available)
- Varnish Interior £100 (10 available)
- Bogie Lift and Overhaul £5,000 (2 available)
- Bodywork Repairs £250 (140 available)
All sponsorships and donations attract benefits:
Donations up to £250.00
Donations up to £500.00
- Pullman Club Certificate plus a behind the scenes tour of Tyseley Locomotive Works
- Invitation to Pullman Car 353 launch at Tyseley Locomotive Works
Donations above £500.00 - the above plus:
- Sponsors name on a plaque in the vestibule of Car 353
- Invitation to Tyseley Locomotive Works Open weekend
The Pullman Club application form can be downloaded here: http://vintagetrains.co.uk/uploads/pullmanclub.pdf