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| You are in: Shakespeare Express >Tour Operators & Group Travel |
updated 02/05/08 |
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On this page we give
details of how we accommodate group travel. This
is of special interest to organisers for coach operators & tour
organisers, however the information
below may be of interest to smaller groups of 12 or more adults travelling
together.
This information covers
our popular summer Sundays Shakespeare Express steam train service.
Please note : There is a separate page for Group Travel on excursions on our Vintage Trains website.... see here >>
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| Introduction |
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At Vintage
Trains we appreciate that coach operators and group tour organisers
play a vital role in the tourism industry moving people to and
from places or events of interest whilst ensuring they enjoy the
experience. Ours is a similar function, excepting the fact that
we use steam-hauled trains to do the moving!
Our regular passenger service between Birmingham and Stratford-upon-Avon,
is an obvious candidate for inclusion in a tour itinerary either
as a group activity in its own right, or as part of a programme
of differing travel experiences in the Midlands.
We will always make every effort to work with a group organiser,
and so have compiled a checklist of our facilities, which will
help to ensure an enjoyable, and trouble-free, tour. |
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Notes:
Customers are reminded that as from 1st July 2007 UK government legislation comes into effect prohibiting smoking in public places. Areas designated 'NO SMOKING' include ALL CARRIAGES ON ALL TRAINS AS WELL AS RAILWAY PLATFORMS AND PREMISES.
Vintage Trains regrets that Dogs are NOT allowed on
any train except for Specially Trained Dogs for the Disabled.
Please
note that all bookings are subject to Vintage Trains Ltd Standard
Conditions of Booking and Travel  |
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Ticket Pricing
Group bookings qualify for reductions
on the standard adult ticket price. The discount will depend upon
the group size and the number of adult tickets purchased, so organisers
with minibus vehicles of 16-24 seat capacity will also be able
to take advantage of reduced fares. To
qualify for Group discounts, a party must consist of 12 or more
adults travelling together and tickets must be pre-booked. Booking
Notes & Enquiries  |
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Example trips
Return and single tickets are available from Stratford-upon-Avon
and Birmingham, giving passengers the freedom to organise their
day as they please. Here are some examples of what might be
appropriate for you:
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| 1. |
| Travel
both ways - starting from Birmingham (3 options). |
| 1. |
Leave Birmingham on the first
train, then return on the first train from Stratford. |
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Leave Birmingham on the second
train, then return on the last train from Stratford. |
| 3. |
Leave Birmingham on the first
train, then spend all day in Stratford and return on the last
train of the day. |
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| 2. |
Travel
both ways - starting from Stratford. Spend the morning
in Stratford, leave on the first train from Stratford and return on the second train from Birmingham. |
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| 3. |
Travel
one way - start from either end. Single ticket
on any train to rendezvous with a coach or to transit from one
base to the next. |
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| 4. |
Start
or finish at Tyseley. As an alternative to Birmingham
Snow Hill station, passengers can join or leave any train at Moor Street & Tyseley. Birmingham
Moor Street station gives easy access to the Bullring shopping
complex. Tyseley station is close to our base where there is free parking available. |
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Seat
Reservations
We will reserve seats, in a block, for group bookings
(we do not normally reserve seats for individual travellers).
Most of our seating capacity is in open coaches, which are much
more suitable for a group travelling together. They also
feature large picture windows affording excellent views of the
surrounding countryside.
Passengers With Special Needs
We can accommodate a small number of people using
wheelchairs, ramps are available and we can arrange the use of
station lifts where available. Passengers who can walk short distances
can leave wheelchairs in the care of our stewards and we will
seat them close by.
If these facilities are required,
please notify us when booking the seats: accommodation is limited. |
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Stewards
A steward will be on duty to ensure that groups can take their
seats, to answer any questions and to assist passengers who may
need some extra help. We have on-going steward training and selection
to ensure a high standard of service on all our trains. About our Stewards |
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Premier Dining & Corporate Hospitality
We provide a silver service dining facility on these trains in
Premier Dining. You may wish to add that extra touch for
your Group by booking your travel in our ex-BR mark 1 Pullman
Cars. Dining tables are for 2 and 4 people. One Car caters
for 42 people, the other caters for 30. ..more>>
Our Dining Cars are ideal for
Corporate Hospitality. We would be pleased to discuss your requirements
& catering requirements.
Familiarisation
Visits
Bona fide tour operators and organisers are always
welcome to book familiarisation visits on our trains. To arrange a visit |
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Coach Parking
As an alternative to parking in Birmingham City Centre,
free all-day coach parking is available at our Visitor Centre car
park at Tyseley, only some three miles out of the city centre.
Stratford-upon-Avon is well provided with coach parks. |
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Contact
Details
If you have any questions or would like further information
on any of the points above, please feel free to contact any of the
team at Vintage Trains. We look forward
to hearing from you! Contact Vintage Trains |
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