The start of another journey...
Rail-Blue Charters offers some of the youngest passenger coaches for charter operation. The type of vehicles are known as the Mark 3 (MkIII), being the third generation of British Rail passenger carrying coach. The first class vehicles were built as recently as 1985! We also operate a large amount of 'second generation' MkII vehicles
We own the following carriages:
Inside view of a 1st class MkIII carriage
The MkIII first class vehicles each have 48 seats in bays of 2 and 4.
Each carriage seats 48 people.
Each vehicle is fully air-conditioned, has a toilet at each end of the vehicle and is finished in a pleasing deep maroon moquette. The vehicles have been gutted internally and recarpetted. Each bay of 2 and 4 seats has a table lamp and individual reading lamps. Curtains at the windows complete the ambience.
We also have a first class vehicle with a central partition which can be used to offer two types of first class services within one carriage.
The vehicle numbers are 11064, 11065, 11071, 11079, 11083, 11084, 11086 and 11089. All the vehicles are the later first class MkIII 'b' build that were constructed in 1985.
Inside view of a standard class MkIII carriage
The standard class vehicles have 72 seats arranged in 16 bays of four and 4 pairs of airline seats.
Each vehicle has been recarpeted and the seat bases and backs steam cleaned and replaced where necessary. Both have two toilets, one at each end and are fully air-conditioned. The vehicles can operate at 110mph.
The vehicle numbers are 12014, 12038, 12043, 12053 and 12119.
Buffet counter inside MkIII carriage for charter trains
Each catering vehicle has the following kitchen equipment:
Hot and cold food and drinks can be served from the buffet counter if required or by dispensing trolley.
Bespoke menus are available according to your requirement: full breakfast, brunch, lunch and/or evening meals can be catered for - see section catering.
There are also 18 first class seats available in this carriage.
The vehicle numbers are 10202, 10222, 10242 and 10246.
MkIII sleeping car
The sleeping car is not strictly passenger accommodation, but it serves well as a staff accommodation carriage on those really long journeys. The vehicle has 12 berths that can sleep two, but normally the top bunk is folded away to create one berth per staff member. Each berth comes with hangars, storage space, sink with hot and cold water and heating and air conditioning controls.
At the end of the vehicle is a 'kitchenette' room with facilities for the crews. At the other end of the vehicle are two staff toilets.
The vehicle we have is 10588, a variant that was built with a 'kitchenette' to service the berths. It operated between Paddington and Penzance on the 'Night Riviera' sleeper before being retired in 2005. Beautifully sprung and quiet, they offer a great environment for staff to rest.
You will be pleased to know that there are many MkIII sleepers in service on overnight sleeper trains. The 'Night Riviera' still runs and there are services from London to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and Fort William.
Cargo-D also operate a large number of 'second generation' MkIIe/f vehicles. These vehicles operate more of the 'people mover' charters and offer standard class accommodation on the mixed charter trains from time to time.
The vehicles are laid out in 16 bays of 4 and offer a total of 64 seats. Some vehicles have a luggage bay in place of bay of four seats to allow for the carriage of large items of luggage on various charter trains. The vehicles carry 60 seats.
These vehicles are also fully air-conditioned and have benefitted from a refresh, very deep clean and re-upholstering where necessary. They are painted in blue and grey livery to match the MkIII fleet.
The standard class vehicle numbers are 5810, 5901, 5919, 5971, 5995, 6001, 6008, 6046, 6064, 6117, 6122 and 6173. These are complemented by BSO brake vehicles 9506, 9508 and 9525.
Rail-Blue Charters can also offer a small number of MkII first class vehicles. These vehicles offer additional capacity to the first class vehicles where needed and also offer limited first class accomodation on 'people mover' trains where individuals wish to upgrade to first class.
The seats are arranged into 7 bays of 4 and 7 bays of 2, a total of 42 seats. The vehicles are 3232, 3366 and 3374. 3366 and 3374 are finished in deep maroon moquette and offer individual reading lamps and full air-conditioning. 3232 is finished in FGW light green upholstery with a pleasing red shaded carpet. 3232 is owned by VSOE but leased to Rail-Blue Charters.
RBC can also offer a buffet carriage for trains not requiring full kitchen facilities.
These vehicles offer facilities to deliver chilled and hot food and cold and hot drinks. They come fitted with boiler, microwave and mobile and fixed chiller units.
The vehicles seat 26 first class passengers. 1254 is the vehicle in operation with 1252 as a backup.
© Rail-Blue Charters 2008