Serco for Sleeper

[SPADTrap]

Awarded to Serco.

 

[gordonthemoron]

Pod Flatbeds used for the first time in rail

would these be similar to the couchettes in the DB Talgo (which may also have been built by CAF)?

 

[kylemore]

The "Transport" function of this service will become increasingly irrelevent and it will eventually be used more as a "leisure/tourism event" with the travel function being incidental, a land based equivalent say to the "cruise ferry" from Newcastle to Amsterdam or from Portsmouth to Spain.
As such daytime journey times even with a bit of HS2 will become less important as a factor as long as the emphasis on quality and innovative marketing keeps up.
As an aside I've always thought there was a market for a "coach busting" overnight Glasgow-London service using something like say a "170" completely seperate from the sleeper, departing around 11pm and perhaps via Killie and Dumfries and calling at Crewe around 4am for early connections to the Manchester and Midlands areas and arriving in London around 6am for Eurostar connections. Even an unrefurbished 170 around would offer more comfort and legroom than any coach with perhaps a trolley service of snacks and drinks (non-alcoholic), the trolley attendant could double up as security assistance to the Guard.

 

[dannypye9999]

does this mean there will now be more sleeper trains? Similar to around 1990 when there used to be 2 or 3 per night between Scotland and London with one of them running via and calling at Birmingham N St.

 

[Pugwash]

Do we know anything about the new rolling stock ?

Bike spaces and luggage space are crucial for me using this route.

 

[jopsuk]

We know nothing other than how much it is estimated it will cost and who is building it! No formations, no spec, no number of carriages. Everything is speculation.

 

[scotraildriver]

We don't know anything about anything but people are worried for their jobs.

 

[gordonthemoron]

I thought I read there was going to be 72 carriages?

 

[Suraggu]

We don't know anything about anything but people are worried for their jobs.

They are all under the TUPE agreement, Sleeper Hosts and Sleeper guards will be transferred to the new Sleeper Franchise

 

[Tetchytyke]

We don't know anything about anything but people are worried for their jobs.

Train crew will be fine: the guards and hosts will be protected by TUPE.

I imagine the same will apply to the TMD staff, should Serco choose to go for a build-and-maintain contract with a train builder. But it depends where the maintenance facility would be, I suppose.

I'm not sure what I think of separating it from the main franchise, and awarding it to Serco, but it's good to see the commitment to the service from the Scottish Executive. And turning it more touristy probably isn't such a bad thing, as it's competing with the airlines for the commuter traffic (and the airlines would win that battle).

 

[sprinterguy]

I thought I read there was going to be 72 carriages?

That would be equal to the current number of vehicles (There is a spare 8-car rake at any one time, right?), but I haven't heard anything to say whether that would be the intention for the new stock.

 

[Yew]

£100m isnt much for a set of 72 custom built carriages,, I would expect new lounge and seated cars (including these 'pods'), some new ensuite cars, and a refurbishment of the Mk3's to remain the 'standard' accomodation

 

[Altnabreac]

£100m isnt much for a set of 72 custom built carriages,, I would expect new lounge and seated cars (including these 'pods'), some new ensuite cars, and a refurbishment of the Mk3's to remain the 'standard' accomodation

Transport Scotland have a news release up now which makes it explicit that the £100m is for 72 new carriages forming 4 new trains:
http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/news/exciting-new-sleeper-contract-unveiled

Exciting new Sleeper contract unveiled

A fleet of brand new Sleeper trains will bring benefits for businesses the length and breadth of Scotland.

The 72 new state-of-the-art carriages, making up four new trains and representing investment of more than £100million, will transform the comfort of sleeper travel. Passengers in London will step into Scotland as they board the train. The new catering will showcase Scottish produce to benefit firms from Shetland to Stranraer and Stornoway to Stonehaven.

The news was revealed today by Transport Minister Keith Brown as he unveiled Serco as the new Caledonian Sleeper franchisee.

A partnership with luxury hospitality firm Inverlochy Castle Management International (ICMI) and Michelin-starred chef Albert Roux will introduce hotel-style service and an improved all-round travelling experience and passengers will benefit from the sleek new trains, a wider range of ticket types and a more family-friendly ethos.

Onboard staff will be offered training towards achieving an SVQ Level 3 qualification in hospitality. The franchisee is also committed to ensuring that 15 apprenticeships are created and apprentices trained during the first 2 years of the Franchise, thereafter a minimum of 2 apprentices will be supported in each calendar year during the Franchise.

In short, this investment offers staff the opportunity to work for a Caledonian Sleeper with a secure future, new equipment, and ambitious growth plans and to be at the heart of delivering an emblematic Scottish train service of which they can be justifiably proud.

Revealing the exciting new contract at the Annual Rail Conference in Edinburgh this morning, Mr Brown said:

“The successful bidder has reflected the Scottish Government’s objectives to transform this iconic Scottish rail service. The new Caledonian Sleeper franchise will commence on 1 April 2015, and delivers investment in the service for the next fifteen years.

“The contract secures the future of the Caledonian Sleeper, ensuring it delivers a service fit for the 21st century and that it provides – as it has done for over 100 years – a unique, valued and high profile overnight service between Scotland and London.

“The Scottish Government’s commitment to investment has led to a real success. New trains will be built – designed especially for this service, and developed in consultation with passengers. The new fleet will be ready and on the tracks in 2018.

“The service will creatively reflect the attributes that visitors say best describe Scotland; a dramatic, human and enduring place.

“Key features will include - in the seated accommodation – modern comfortable cradle seats as well as innovative pod seats that can transform into flatbeds.

“The train will deliver new standard class sleeper berths. And in business berths there will be en-suite shower and toilet facilities – making it truly a hotel on wheels.

“The service will be easy to book and a pleasure to travel. This investment ensures an iconic Scottish railway journey will be available for all – from backpackers to business travellers. It will open the Sleeper up to a whole new audience.

“The train will showcase the best of Scotland’s food and drink and will benefit Scottish businesses from Shetland to Stranraer and from Stornoway to Stonehaven.

“Our decision is good for passengers, good for staff, good for Scottish business and good for Scotland.”

Around 270,000 journeys were made on the Sleeper service in the last full year.

Jamie Ross, Business Development Director for Serco’s transport business, said:

“We are thrilled to have been selected to run the Caledonian Sleeper service and feel privileged to have the opportunity to work with Transport Scotland to achieve their aspirations for a truly emblematic service that encompasses the best of Scotland.

“Serco has a strong track record in running transport operations all over the world from the Dubai Metro and driverless Docklands Light Railway system to the Great Southern Railway in Australia and North Link Ferries in Scotland.

“We are looking forward to transforming the iconic and prestigious Caledonian Sleeper service into an outstanding and world class experience for passengers.”

Seems reasonably clear that the Mk3s will be totally replaced if this news release is accurate.

 

[jopsuk]

if it is reasonably acurate, then I'd expect "four new trains" to actually be "eight half train sets as it is now plus a spare".

 

[Tracky]

Train crew will be fine: the guards and hosts will be protected by TUPE.

I imagine the same will apply to the TMD staff, should Serco choose to go for a build-and-maintain contract with a train builder. But it depends where the maintenance facility would be, I suppose.

The guards and hosts are currently employed by FSR so they will move across. How about the contracted drivers from DBS. And how does this affect the Queen street men who work the fort William trains?

 

[cf111]

The guards and hosts are currently employed by FSR so they will move across. How about the contracted drivers from DBS. And how does this affect the Queen street men who work the fort William trains?

Another set to think about will be the guys at Inverness who do the heavy maintenance. Unless the plan is for it to remain there.

 

[Aictos]

Not sure if its just me but the proposed trains sound a lot like what would have run on the Nightstar operations, onboard showers do seem excessive are they possible with UK loading gauge?

 

[Tracky]

I think on board showers are necessary. Sharing a public shower in this day and age is only ok at a gym or a rugby club...

 

[jon0844]

Glad they've gone for the 'pod' idea, as it will mean a lot more people can travel - thus hopefully making it profitable.

I wonder if Serco read on this thread my, and others, who said for ages that the sleeper should have first class users having cabins, and standard class having airline-style first class seat/beds instead.

 

[carriageline]

Who is building the new trains? (Swear I read someone say that they knew!)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SPADTrap]

Glad they've gone for the 'pod' idea, as it will mean a lot more people can travel - thus hopefully making it profitable.

I wonder if Serco read on this thread my, and others, who said for ages that the sleeper should have first class users having cabins, and standard class having airline-style first class seat/beds instead.

*IMO* that is a terrible idea!

 

[Mikey C]

Good news that somebody is going to make an effort to run this service in an innovative way, rather than just managing a slow decline with the existing stock.

 

[gordonthemoron]

Who is building the new trains? (Swear I read someone say that they knew!)

CAF in Spain I presume

 

[NotATrainspott]

What I've seen suggests that there will be business-class cabins that have en-suites, standard cabins that aren't much different than today and these pod things as a kind of couchette-style accommodation. Since any new stock has to have a minimum 30 year life, that means they'll still be trundling around in 2048 which would be many years (a decade or so even) beyond the opening date of a HS line. An early-morning non-stop path from the Central Belt to London and vice-versa could have a journey time of only around 2 hours (especially if standard 360km/h running becomes economical by then) and thus will definitively kill off the lowland sleeper once and for all, meaning that any stock would have to have some use as 'scenic trains' along the WHL, HML and Aberdeen line for the tourists.

 

[gordonthemoron]

or they could flog them off to Romania

 

[sarahj]

Does the Scottish experience mean tartan blankets on the bed and shortbread in the buffet. Plus a can of tennants.


Menu:
Deep fried pizza

Desert
Deep fried mars bar.

Just kidding.

 

[Altnabreac]

The Transport Scotland news release seems to imply there will be 4 products available:

Business Class cabins - with ensuite shower and toilet
Standard Class cabins - similar to now so presumably a sink but no toilet.
Pod Seats - innovative pod seats that can transform into flatbeds
Cradle Seats - modern comfortable cradle seats

Cradle seats seems to be another airline term for something not quite as posh as a flat bed pod. I wonder if the Northlink seats shown on page 4 of this thread are the proposed "cradle seat" rather than the full pod seat as from what Northlink say on their website these do not provide a full lie flat experience.

 

[Tracky]

A four class system seems a little over the top. Most important thing for me is what is the future of the lounge car?

Oh and will the existing MkIII sleeper stock find a new use elsewhere?

 

[SPADTrap]

A four class system seems a little over the top. Most important thing for me is what is the future of the lounge car?

Oh and will the existing MkIII sleeper stock find a new use elsewhere?

The Mk2? Scrap heap I'd imagine!

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Oh and will the existing MkIII sleeper stock find a new use elsewhere?

2018 is just about the date when all interest in converting Mk3s evaporates.
GW and EC will be in the process of releasing HST sets because of IEP introduction.