Steam Dreams, the promoters of The Cathedrals Express steam hauled train, has announced that with effect from the beginning of October it will transfer its train operating contract to West Coast Rail. The company's new agreement with West Coast commences on 3rd October and it has been agreed that 100% of The Cathedrals Express operations will be with West Coast until December 2016 at the earliest.

It has been well known within the charter industry for some time that DBS has been finding it hard to resource its charter programme and that has been particularly true for the particularly resource intensive nature of Steam Dreams' programme. The move away from DBS and the return to West Coast has been agreed amicably between the companies and Steam Dreams is extremely happy with the new arrangements that West Coast have been prepared to take on at such short notice.  Tornado is not currently on West Coast Railway's books.

The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, builders and operators Tornado, commented on the announcement that Steam Dreams is to move its operations from DB Schenker to West Coast Railway Company, "This year has been a very difficult year for those of us running steam on the main line – exacerbated by DBS's crew resourcing issues. Whilst in the short term Steam Dreams' decision will mean that Tornado will be hauling fewer trains on the main line, the Trust was already looking at different and better ways of running Tornado and these plans will now be brought forward. Tornado will also be undergoing her planned 5 year intermediate overhaul in the first half of 2014."