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Working on behalf of The Train Chartering Company, we delivered a charter train for a client celebrating their 60th birthday by taking their friends and family down to the Cotswolds from London Paddington. 103 guests enjoyed a Champagne reception followed by a menu of prawn cocktail, followed by steak & ale pie and dessert as they travelled in Pullman style down to Kemble. Here we see the train returning home, led by Class 20 (20 142) in its LT livery with Class 47 (47 773) in BR green livery at the rear, heading up the Thames Valley, just south of Oxford.

It feels like the threat of industrial action has been handing over the rail industry for ages and I'm sure this is a factor that is considered by clients looking for move people by rail, either as groups on scheduled train services or on private charter trains. Clearly it is excellent news that a final settlement now looks to be very close at hand, thereby removing this risk from the market. To be fair, many of a charter train providers have non-union drivers, so would not have been impacted anyway. However, the media attantion on 'rail strikes' must have led many to instantly dismiss the rail travel option. So, if you've been delaying your enquiry due to strike concerns, now is your ideal time to press ahead with those plans at full steam!

This weekend has seen the Train Goups & Charters team in Scotland. A corporate group of 350 was provided with a private train from London to Edingurgh on Thursday, and we've arraned their return travel in two large groups for Friday and Sunday. So, what to do on our free day on Saturday? I know - let's go ride some more trains! Staying in the delighful city of Stirling presented the opportunity of a significant 'track bash'around that middle bit of Scotland, using the remaining and beloved InterCity 125 sets, now shortened by Scotland and branded InterCity 7's. These 4-car units are really comfortable and with their two power cars, they're Scotrail on steroids! Our first journey took us up to Perth and then alonside the ever widening River Tay to Dundee. With fine views of the Tay Bridge, the line converges with the one from Edinburgh before entering Dundee station. From here the railway line hugs the East Coast of Scotland all the way to Aberdeen, passing wide sandy beaches and rugged clifftops. A pause at Arbroath reminded me to mail home some 'Arbroath Smokies' to enjoy next week as a reminder of the trip - the 'smokies' being kippers, for which the town is rightly famous. A change of trains at Aberdeen and another '7' onwards to Inverness. Theline between Aberdeen and Inverness is single track for much of its length, although clearly engineered for a 2-track railway. Doubtless a cost-cutting measure at some point. The line passes the Chivas distillery at Keith, where huge compounds of empty whisky barrels make an impressive sight. After a short stop in Inverness it was disappointing to learn that the train to Glasgow Central, our return train to Stirling, was a 'set swap', with the '7' being replaced by a 3-car moderish diesel unit of drab design. Still, the made short work of the climb from Inverness up into the mountains to Aviemore and the South. This line was clearly built as a single track one with passing places for much of its length. The engineering works are impressive, with cuttings drive through solid rock and rivers crossed in deep ravines. Clearly a remote part of the country, although the sense of isolation is really only complete on the few ocassions when the main road from Inverness to Perth takes a rare detour away from the route of the railway. Having set out just after 09:00 we returned to Stirling about 30-minutes short of of full 12-hours, with 'train-lag' finally setting in. Still, managed to get a cheeky Nandos in before heading off for a night's rest. Now looking forward to a return run down the East Coast Mainline this Sunday afternoon. Finally, just have to say what a nice little place Stirling is. A whistle stop bus tour of the sights really makes me want to return soon for a proper exploration. The castle looks very interesting and has commanding views across the wide river valley below. A pit stop at the pub also saw pints of real ale available for a mere £2.63! The place gets more remarkable by the minute!

We're a new business that specialises in bringing more people to the wonderful railways of the UK when they're seeking private trains or carriages. We can also assist with accompanied group travel and have excellent relationships with most train operators across the country. Share your plans with us and we will advise on the range of options that are available to you. These can range from luxury, vintage Pullman carriage trains through to modern, high-speed trains with a host of other options in between! Let us guide you through these with consideration for your budget and requirements. Although the business is new, the staff are not. The business is run by David Gardner who has formerly managed Sales operations for a host of rail operators in the UK, including Eurostar, Great Western and British Rail's InterCity operation. With well over 30-years experience and expertise, you're in reliable and trusted hands. Please also remember that your train is more than just a means of travel, although it does this in a very sustainable way. Make the train part of your event with the branding of seat headrest covers and table coverings, treat your guests to fine, silver-service dining as the countryside passes by, or even have your train hauled by a classic mainline steam locomotive! The Golden Age of rail travel lives on at Train Groups and Charters! We look forward to hearing from you soon.