Unconfirmed reports that the Royal Train may visit Cheshire

[hstudent]

The Knutsford Guardian reported that The Queen may be in attendance at the RHS Flower Show and could travel by Royal Train to Knutsford station. (The station is currently being done up, months ahead of schedule.)

Buckingham Palace has refused to confirm or deny rumours.

If the Queen does visit by train the likely route would be London-Stoke on Trent-Stockport-Altrincham-Knutsford with the train continuing empty to an unused platform 3 at Northwich station, until it's return journey

[Trev]

For Gods sake, nobody hang around that route with a camera for the next few days!

[hstudent]

Originally Posted by Trev

For Gods sake, nobody hang around that route with a camera for the next few days!

It's not till mid July though.

[swisstrains]

I saw the Royal Train in Cheshire this morning on its way to Preston. When the royals visit the North-West, the train often parks up overnight in an easily guarded siding at Hooton station on the Wirral. It then continues on the final part of its journey from there. This could well be the plan if the Queen visits Knutsford. Hope I haven't said too much?

[hstudent]

Originally Posted by swisstrains

I saw the Royal Train in Cheshire this morning on its way to Preston. When the royals visit the North-West, the train often parks up overnight in an easily guarded siding at Hooton station on the Wirral. It then continues on the final part of its journey from there. This could well be the plan if the Queen visits Knutsford. Hope I haven't said too much?

I know Merseyrail quite often keep spare trains at Hooton, but I thought as it was part of the self-contained Merseyrail network that only 507s and 508s were allowed in to that siding.

If the train arrived at Knutsford from Hooton, it wouldn't be able to wait at Knutsford while the Queen is in attendance at the RHS show, so would likely have to continue to Northenden to be out of the way of passenger and goods trains, with out entering a Metrolink line at Altrincham.

[swisstrains]

Originally Posted by hstudent

I know Merseyrail quite often keep spare trains at Hooton, but I thought as it was part of the self-contained Merseyrail network that only 507s and 508s were allowed in to that siding.

Are you thinking of the old bay platform siding? The siding where the Royal Train is often stabled has a runround track and was originally used by oil trains from Stanlow Refinery. I don't think it is actually electrified.

Originally Posted by hstudent

If the train arrived at Knutsford from Hooton, it wouldn't be able to wait at Knutsford while the Queen is in attendance at the RHS show, so would likely have to continue to Northenden to be out of the way of passenger and goods trains, with out entering a Metrolink line at Altrincham.

Even if the Queen alights at Knutsford she will more than likely rejoin the Royal Train somewhere else. Visiting the RHS Show will probably be just one of her engagements that day. It seems strange that there is nothing in her diary during the dates of the show which are 23-27 July.

[Deathbyteacup]

Originally Posted by Trev

For Gods sake, nobody hang around that route with a camera for the next few days!

I take it there's a paranoid level of security surrounding the Royal Train?

Perhaps these things are better discussed in a less public forum?

[Trev]

Originally Posted by Deathbyteacup

Perhaps these things are better discussed in a less public forum?

Stand by for a influx of new members with usernames such as SpecialAgent 007!

[swisstrains]

In the recently published royal finances it states that the Royal Train uses biofuel.
If this is true I assume that they are referring to the Mk2b Generator Coach and not the Class 67's normally used to haul the train.
Can any of our Royal Train drivers confirm?

[Foghut]

Originally Posted by swisstrains

In the recently published royal finances it states that the Royal Train uses biofuel.
If this is true I assume that they are referring to the Mk2b Generator Coach and not the Class 67's normally used to haul the train.
Can any of our Royal Train drivers confirm?

Nope, they have been running a 67 on the stuff.

Linky here....http://greenfuels.co.uk/Info/press-releases.aspx