Hertfordshire Rail Tours

Hertfordshire Rail Tours
IndustryRail transport
Founded1979
FounderJohn Farrow
Defunct2008
Headquarters
England
OwnerStobart Group

Hertfordshire Rail Tours was a company that operated charter trains in the United Kingdom. Founded in Hertfordshire by John Farrow, most of its trains started from London Terminals.[1] The company was purchased by FM Rail in September 2005.[2] FM Rail went into liquidation in December 2006, and the Hertfordshire Rail Tours business passed to Victa Westlink Rail, a joint venture between Victa Railfreight and Westlink.[3]

In August 2007 the Hertfordshire Rail Tours business was sold to the Stobart Group and renamed Stobart Rail Tours.[4][5] The tour programme was scaled back and relaunched as the Stobart Pullman, using Direct Rail Services Class 47s and Mark 3 carriages.[6] It ceased in July 2008.[7]

  1. ^ "In memory of John Farrow: November 24, 1949-April 19, 2020". Heritage Railway. No. 267. May 2020. p. 19.
  2. ^ "FM Rail to buy Hertfordshire Rail Tours". The Railway Magazine. No. 1254. October 2005. p. 8.
  3. ^ "Victa and RVEL take over as FM Rail breaks up". Today's Railways UK. No. 63. March 2007. p. 17.
  4. ^ "Stobart and Westbury join forces on road and rail". Rail Magazine. No. 573. 29 August 2007. p. 16.
  5. ^ "Stobart Rail sets its sights on a passenger franchise as charter operation is rebranded". Rail Express. No. 141. February 2008. p. 4.
  6. ^ "DRS/Stobart launch new Pullmam train". Today's Railways UK. No. 76. April 2008. p. 74.
  7. ^ "Stobart pulls plug on charter operation". Today's Railways UK. No. 81. September 2008. p. 74.