A ‘COMPASS TOURS’ DAY EXCURSION
BY SPECIAL TRAIN
BY SPECIAL TRAIN
OUR ROUTE TO LONDON: After picking up our passengers across Lancashire we venture across the Copy Pit route, which is extremely hilly and scenic, then join the North Pennine route and cut through Yorkshire to join the famous East Coast Mainline route, where many a famous locomotive in both the days of steam and diesel made a name for itself. Many miles of pleasant countryside are enjoyed as the train heads for London at speed by way of Doncaster, Retford, Newark, Grantham and Peterborough before arriving into Central London’s Kings Cross station at a time expected to be around 11:15-11:30.
CITY OF LONDON: We have asked for a break of around 6-7 hours and the train should return from London Kings Cross station 18:00 onwards. London, being the nations capital, has something for everybody whatever your age or interests so no doubt you’ll not be short of things to do. As Kings Cross station is located right in the centre of London with excellent underground and bus links, you should easily be able to reach whichever attractions you plan to visit or indeed the best of London’s many shops. You may wish to do some research ahead of your visit at www.visitlondon.com the capital’s official visitors website, which contains full listings of the city’s favourite attractions such as the London Eye, Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, the Natural History Museum and Tate galleries (to name just a few), as well as information on shopping and eating out in the city. Also available from the comprehensive website are a range of maps and suggestions to help you plan your day. Alternatively if you require information to be sent to you by London’s tourist information centre then please call them on 08701 566 366 (between the hours of 9.30am and 6.30pm weekdays only).
As well as all the usual attractions and shops, London offers a range of events and shows in the run up to Christmas so you may opt for a trip to the theatre instead of or as well as the usual shopping and sightseeing activities available. Please check with the associated theatres for performance times and to ensure if you are considering that idea that you have allowed ample time to reach the return train from Kings Cross as we don’t want to leave anyone behind! The times we have estimated are, as ever, only a guide so we recommend that passengers travelling with us do not attend theatre performances that run much beyond 4pm unless the show is taking place relatively near to Kings Cross station.
RETURN TRAIN JOURNEY: This will be an ideal opportunity to socialise with fellow travelling companions and perhaps reflect upon your time in London. We do have a reasonable amount of storage space on board the train if you are planning to bring back any shopping with you in the evening and stewards will do their best to assist you in stowing this during the journey should you require any assistance. Please note that all passengers visiting the capital will be responsible for ensuring they return back to Kings Cross in time for the scheduled departure time that Network Rail give us nearer the date, and we cannot be held responsible for anybody subsequently arriving after the time we are to be scheduled to leave at.
PLEASE NOTE: The advertised trip is not scheduled to run on any alternative dates prior to Christmas 2006 so will be a unique opportunity to sample this journey and associated day out in the capital by direct train from the stations shown overleaf.
RELATED DESTINATION WEBSITES:
http://www.visitlondon.com/
http://www.talkingcities.co.uk/london_pages/shopping_main.htm
http://www.londontown.com/shopping/
http://www.streetsensation.co.uk/
http://www.offtolondon.com/
http://www.offtolondon.com/shopping.html
ESTMATED TIMINGS: *PLEASE NOTE times are only those that have been requested. Confirmed final times will be sent out with your tickets around four or five days before the tour when Network Rail advise us of them.
CHILDREN UNDER 5 YRS can be brought on the train free of charge only if not taking up a seat and sharing seats with accompanying adults.
REFRESHMENTS: A buffet service of snacks, hot and cold drinks, and alcoholic beverages is available to all our passengers throughout the day – as well as an at seat trolley service, operating at occasional intervals.
THE TRAIN: The train is hired in from and operated through FM Rail of Derby and formed entirely of traditional intercity carriages hauled by heritage British Built diesel traction throughout. First class passengers are seated in tables of 2 or 4 seats with curtains, larger more deeply cushioned reclining seating. Standard class is seated mainly in bays of 4 seats around a table. If you have specific seating requests or type – please give us plenty of notice, ideally when booking.
Many of our recent Railtours have been very busy or fully subscribed so early booking is advised!
the train, and other things you may want answering