Charter News from Railways Illustrated

New name for charters
A new charter promoter, Ambassador Train Travel, takes to the rails on November 13 with a Hereford to Newcastle day excursion using West Coast Railways and two of its Class 37s.
The train will set down at York, Darlington and Durham and after arrival at Newcastle, the stock will work a mini tour through Morpeth and Bedlington.
ATT is set up by Mark Elderkin, which has been involved with charters for many years, and last ran a train in September 2007 with a Birmingham International-Buxton train using 40145 and 37248. Mr Elderkin is planning other trains for 2011.

40 heads to Cambridge
The Class 40 Preservation Society has announced a second charter train for the year using its main line certified 40145, with Cambridge the destination on September 4.
The train starts on the loco’s home line, the East Lancashire Railway, and runs via Stockport, Chesterfield and Nottingham. It sets down at Peterborough, Ely and Cambridge. Additionally, the CFPS is looking at the feasibility of running a mini tour from Cambridge to Stansted Airport, top-and-tailing with a Class 67 provided by train operator DB Schenker.
Fares are £59 Standard Class and £89 First but there is a 5% discount for early bookings made before July 31. There is no dining option, but there is a buffet car and the train is provisionally booked to run as 12 vehicles subject to demand.
Booking forms are available at www.cfps.co.uk/tours.htm The train follows on from the outstanding success of the CFPS’s last tour, to Cornwall on May 15/16 (RI Jul 10).

Class 08s and 33s for Wolverton shuttles
An enticing mix of rare track and unusual traction is being offered as part of the Wolverton Works open weekend on August 14/15 with a series of shuttle trains running from Milton Keynes into the works complex.
The trains will pass under the West Coast Main Line under the LNWR-built listed ‘Blue Bridge’. The only other passenger train on this section was in May 1993.
Three shuttles will operate from Milton Keynes Central to the Works/Network Rail boundary and back each day, taking around 75 minutes. The train will be formed of seven coaches, top-and-tailed by West Coast Railway Class 33s on the main line sections. After passing the platforms of the former Wolverton station, one the Works shunters, either 08629 or 08649, will attach on Haversham Bank - part of the original WCML route built in 1838 and the Network Rail boundary - and then work right through the complex to the western extremity of the Works, as far as it is possible to travel - probably the most western traverser. Each train will use a different 08.
It is thought that these are the first passenger services to operate into and out of the former LNWR plant, allowing passengers to join and alight from within the works. What is certain is that these shuttles will never be repeated!
The route is used once or twice a week by rolling stock arriving for repair or refurbishment, and of course, for movements of the Royal Train which is based within Wolverton Works.
Departure times from Milton Keynes are planned for 0900, 1200 and 1500 and from Wolverton Works at: 1030, 1330 and 1630. If there is spare capacity, pay on the day tickets will be sold, but this cannot be guaranteed due to capacity constraints. The cost of tickets is either £10 or £15 depending on the timing of the train. Full details at www.transportevent.co.uk