It has been billed as the start of a bright new dawn for steam trains in the north-east of Scotland next summer.
And the organisers of the journeys, which begin on March 14, have even called their vehicle The Aberdonian.
But now it has emerged all journeys will start and finish in Edinburgh – meaning huge round trips for anyone in this region wanting to enjoy the nostalgic experience.
The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, which will operate the services, admitted that anybody who wants to use the trains will have to make their way to the capital to get on board.
And once they have been on the return trip, they will have to make their way back to the Granite City and elsewhere in the region.
North-east MSP, Lewis Macdonald, Labour, said yesterday: “It sounded like a really good idea to resurrect the steam services as a means of boosting tourism in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.
“But it’s disappointing that people will have to travel down to Edinburgh to get on the train – and then, once they have been on the journey, be forced to take another train to get them back home.”
Five special trains will run in 2019, with the potential for expansion in the following years, and the scheme has the support of Network Rail.
The initiative has been assisted by the installation of a new £86,000 turntable in Aberdeen by the Ferryhill Railway Heritage Trust.
But its chairman, Jon Tyler, admitted yesterday there was still plenty of work to be done before services could be run from the city.
He said: “I suppose it’s just a case of demand. If a charter train could be linked into an existing itinerary, say for the proposed cruise ship visits [to the new Aberdeen Harbour], it might be possible to do it in the future.
“What you have to remember is that all the main steam locomotives and rolling stock are based down south, so they would need to make extra journeys at the beginning and end if these were to start from Aberdeen.
“In addition, the longer-term secure storage of locomotives won’t be possible at Ferryhill until the shed is repaired and the tracks relaid.”
The locomotive star of Paddington 2 will soon be heading for Aberdeen
The new trains are likely to prove popular with those who can afford the time and money to use them.
Adult tickets are priced at £99 for Standard Class, £159 for First Class and £235 for dining in the First-Class facilities.
But Graeme Bunker-James, operations director and trustee of the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, told the Press and Journal there was no current provision for journeys leaving from the north east.
He said: “It is an Edinburgh to Aberdeen service, I’m afraid.
“It is always the challenge that there just isn’t the market at present to run it the other way.”
However, he insisted that passengers would be delighted by the new service, which will be linked to Tornado, the vehicle which appeared in the Paddington film.
He added: “We are extremely proud to be launching ‘The Aberdonian’ series of new special steam-hauled trains from Edinburgh to Aberdeen, taking in the fabulous sights of the east coast.”
