Rising costs and falling incomes are making it hard for freight-focused charter trains to operate. That’s the view of the Branch Line Society, a special interest group that organises tours and special trains all over the UK. One of their collaborators, who rely on the BLS for marketing and administration, may have already made their last run and put that down to the economic crisis. However, the Society say concerns over the future of forays onto freight-only lines are unfounded, and they’ll be running on regardless.

Last weekend’s rail tour around the main lines and side lines of England’s East Anglia may be the last for one traction provider, but it certainly won’t be the last excursion for the organisers, the Branch Line Society. While their diesel locomotive provider for the tour, Hanson and Hall, have said they’ll be concentrating on their core engineering logistics support business, that will not stop the BLS from taking advantage of the large enthusiast market and tapping into the desire to ride the rails in the more remote parts of the rail network.

Challenging times for rail tour operators

There is no doubt that the rising cost of living is hitting all aspects of life in Britain. Inflation is putting the brakes on all aspects of corporate and social life. It’s getting more expensive to run a railway at the same time as customers are thinking twice about where they spend their money. With belt-tightening in every household, the premium cost of charter train trips is forcing all but the most well-heeled enthusiasts to ration their excursions. That double whammy of rising costs and falling revenue is hitting the charter sector from both sides.

That has forced at least Hanson and Hall to do their sums, and the figures just don’t add up for them right now. “Any charter promoter will tell you that the current cost of living issues and ever-increasing operating costs are making it extremely challenging to continue with running enthusiast charters,” said the company. “You will have seen charters cancelled in recent months, as even covering costs becomes more tenuous. With every charter it is more challenging, and as maintenance and operating costs increase, booking levels are not at the levels wished for, no matter how unusual the destination or the track we traverse. This is not something that can be sustained.”

Hanson and Hall provided their class fifty diesel locomotive for the trip. The distinctive main line locomotive is part of a class, originally designed and delivered in the late 1960s for prestige express passenger work. Coincidentally, fifty examples were produced and around fifteen remain, of which Hanson and Hall operate the only one still in commercial hands.

However, enthusiasts, who value the opportunity to ride behind unusual and rare traction, have over a dozen examples of the class from which to choose. All of them are in various stages of preservation, and most are in running order. The BLS have another tour behind two examples of the class later this month. “The Branch Line Society do recognise that these are challenging times for rail tour operators, with rising costs playing a part in this,” said a spokesperson. “Although costs are rising, we continue to look for added value and differentiation to mitigate.”

Raising funds for Alzheimer’s Society

An excellent example of that differentiation is the coming tour between Suffolk and East Midlands Parkway. The “Ips-Witch” tour – on Sunday 30 July departs from Ipswich behind a pair of class 50 locomotives. The combination is reminiscent of the double-headed formation which was common when the locomotives were used to haul West Coast Main Line expresses between Preston and Glasgow – prior to the electrification of the northern section of the line in 1974. The excursion has a charitable angle, with a good cause to support. “We are delighted to announce an unusual loco hauled excursion, raising funds for Alzheimer’s Society, as part of GB Railfreight’s 2023 fund-raising programme”, said the BLS. “This charter, operated by GB Railfreight with Mk 2 coaching stock, will feature a pair of Class 50s operating in multiple, with thanks to the Class 50 Alliance.”

The collaboration between GB Railfreight and the Branch Line Society combines two organisations that are very active in charitable support. GBRf has been a corporate ambassador for several health and welfare charities over the years, and the BLS makes no secret of its intentions. “The Branch Line Society remains very active in providing an extensive and varied calendar of rail tours and other events”, they said. “We are looking forward to a busy rest of the year and we will continue to raise huge sums for good causes through our charity rail tours.”