Tickets for the Jacobite train are still not available on the West Coast Railways, nearly 3 months behind schedule, and just 6 weeks before operations are due to start. Nor are they available for any of the other trains WCR runs- the Dalesman and the Scarborough Spa Express.
However this week a poster has been installed at Fort William Station- the running dates are scheduled to be 1 April to 23 October.
At the time of issuing the poster ONLY the morning train is confirmed as running. the afternoon train is unconfirmed.
And, yes, they have booked the train paths for both the afternoon public train and the unadvertised evening charter train, but I repeat that it is not confirmed either of those trains will run at the time of writing.
Yet again, the issue is the lack of train cars which meet the required safety standards- standards which other operators with identical train cars running on the main line have been able to meet, including the Scottish Rail Preservation Society (SRPS).
Adult returns will be £69 in standard class this year and £105 in first class (or a private table for two £229 return), plus the booking fee.
As in previous years a few seats are held aside for sale on the day at the train side by the guard- CASH payment only.