Serco for Sleeper

[Kite159]

Am I alone in mourning the fact that (I presume) the new stock will not have openable windows like the mk3s do? It's a simple pleasure to get up in the morning, and go and take a breath of fresh highland air by the window.
The sleeper will become less attractive to me once the new trains are running, I think.

Or the ability to have openable windows on the Fort William section to allow the use of cameras to photograph the stunning scenery without risk of the window reflecting the camera back.,

 

[BRX]

Or the ability to have openable windows on the Fort William section to allow the use of cameras to photograph the stunning scenery without risk of the window reflecting the camera back.,

Yes, that too.

Not sure if openable windows are basically completely ruled out for new stock because of safety concerns etc, or whether they'd be able to have some if people wanted them.

 

[najaB]

Not sure if openable windows are basically completely ruled out for new stock because of safety concerns etc, or whether they'd be able to have some if people wanted them.

I don't know of any rule that prohibits opening windows, just a general trend towards towards air conditioning everywhere.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Or the ability to have openable windows on the Fort William section to allow the use of cameras to photograph the stunning scenery without risk of the window reflecting the camera back.,

It's quite easy to photograph through windows without getting reflections although I do agree that at some lighting angles such reflections are inevitable.

 

[RichmondCommu]

Am I alone in mourning the fact that (I presume) the new stock will not have openable windows like the mk3s do? It's a simple pleasure to get up in the morning, and go and take a breath of fresh highland air by the window.
The sleeper will become less attractive to me once the new trains are running, I think.

I'm almost sorry for saying this but what you've typed almost beggars belief! I think it has to be considered a transport miracle (or moment of madness) that new rolling stock is being ordered for a sleeper service in Europe and yet you don't think you'll like the journey as much because you can't open the window?

 

[Holly]

I don't know of any rule that prohibits opening windows, just a general trend towards towards air conditioning everywhere.

It would not be hard to fit an air conditioning interlock switch to the windows.
So that if the window is open then the air conditioning and heating are turned off.

 

[BRX]

I'm almost sorry for saying this but what you've typed almost beggars belief! I think it has to be considered a transport miracle (or moment of madness) that new rolling stock is being ordered for a sleeper service in Europe and yet you don't think you'll like the journey as much because you can't open the window?

The fact that new stock is being ordered is great in that it shows a commitment to keeping the sleeper services running in the longer term.

Nonetheless, the loss of openable windows will remove some of the pleasure of the journey for me.

I don't see that those two sentiments are contradictory. New stock but with one or two openable windows per train would be the ideal. It's not such an issue on the lowland services but for the Fort William and Inverness ones, it would be very welcome.

 

[Fishplate84]

I don't know what sleeper you've been on but from what I can see the windows in the current sleeper don't open anyway? All the cabins have sealed units and its only the doors that have the old slide-down windows. I thought these were not allowed on new stock under safety regulations anyway.

 

[bb21]

I'm almost sorry for saying this but what you've typed almost beggars belief! I think it has to be considered a transport miracle (or moment of madness) that new rolling stock is being ordered for a sleeper service in Europe and yet you don't think you'll like the journey as much because you can't open the window?

Some people consider different aspects of a journey as being more important for them. What is wrong with that?

I don't know what sleeper you've been on but from what I can see the windows in the current sleeper don't open anyway? All the cabins have sealed units and its only the doors that have the old slide-down windows.

Erm, those are the ones he meant.

 

[sprinterguy]

Am I alone in mourning the fact that (I presume) the new stock will not have openable windows like the mk3s do? It's a simple pleasure to get up in the morning, and go and take a breath of fresh highland air by the window.

I'll admit that it can be quite relaxing and atmospheric to have a peer out of one of the door windows on the West Highland sleeper and I've done so myself a couple of times, but I don't think that the lack of this feature will lessen the experience for me, or most people, at all. I'll be much quicker to welcome the absence of draughts and wind noise in the vestibules (though the sleeper stock seems to have a better seal on the drop downs when raised than I was familiar with on the day stock that formerly operated over the WCML) that will result from all windows being sealed on the new stock, than to bemoan the loss of a largely superfluous feature.

 

[Clip]

It would not be hard to fit an air conditioning interlock switch to the windows.
So that if the window is open then the air conditioning and heating are turned off.

But then what about the other passengers? Just for the sake of 1 or 2 who may want to hang their heads out the window you would be happy to have the comfort of other passengers disrupted?

 

[po8crg]

But then what about the other passengers? Just for the sake of 1 or 2 who may want to hang their heads out the window you would be happy to have the comfort of other passengers disrupted?

I think the suggestion was to have openable windows in the sleeping compartments and the interlock would kill the aircon in that compartment - so it wouldn't affect any other passengers. If you also interlocked the door and the window so only one could be open at a time, then you should protect everyone else from the drafts.

 

[BRX]

Yes there can be issues with the mk3 vestibule windows causing draughts etc. But if it was something designed into the new stock then their position could be such that this wouldn't be a problem.

For example, combined with a baggage/cycle storage area.

I don't think this is just about rail enthusiasts hanging their heads out. When I travel on the sleeper in the summer I frequently see "civilians" standing by the windows. Just enjoying a bit of fresh air or taking photos.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I think the suggestion was to have openable windows in the sleeping compartments and the interlock would kill the aircon in that compartment - so it wouldn't affect any other passengers. If you also interlocked the door and the window so only one could be open at a time, then you should protect everyone else from the drafts.

I wasn't actually thinking of the compartment windows but I guess that could be an option. I do find sleeping in a completely air conditioned space a bit stuffy and would welcome the option to have the AC off and some fresh air instead. But I realise this may not be the case for most people.

 

[6Z09]

A reasonable pay rise for Serco staff, and vacancies being filled, Are things for the staff not too bad with Serco?

 

[Bodiddly]

A reasonable pay rise for Serco staff, and vacancies being filled, Are things for the staff not too bad with Serco?

Can I ask, where did you get this information from and if possible, could you post a link?

Thanks

 

[ainsworth74]

Are things for the staff not too bad with Serco?

The staff I came across on Thursday evening all seemed in good spirits and not just going through the motions which suggests morale is reasonable.

 

[6Z09]

Can I ask, where did you get this information from and if possible, could you post a link?

Thanks

Pay rise info on RMT site ( Circular re pay deals agreed with different companies. ,cant find it know! think it was 3%)

Vacancies advertised on Serco jobs site. London, Inverness and Edinburgh.

 

[Bodiddly]

Pay rise info on RMT site

Vacancies advertised on Serco jobs site.

Can you PM me the RMT webpage link? I've looked in the members area and can't see any pay deal for Serco sleeper staff. That may have been the last deal from First Scotrail which expired this April.

Thanks

 

[Essexman]

I came south on the Aberdeen sleeper last night - excellent lemon pudding in lounge car.
I noticed that the departure boards at Aberdeen & Stonehaven showed the train as destination Edinburgh with no stops. I didn't notice any other boards but wondered if anyone knows why they didn't say Euston.

 

[ainsworth74]

I did the Highland to Euston last Thursday. The vanilla cheesecake is lovely and well worth the price. I also had the lamb and it was okay but nothing to write home about. The bacon roll in the morning was also nice however and unlike FGW well stuffed with bacon.

Hopefully when they get their new rolling stock they'll get upgraded catering facilities allowing them to do much higher quality food (what are the latest details on the new stock other than the seated/pod/berth/ensuite info that was released a while ago?). Certainly from the number of people who ordered food in the Inverness lounge car it seems like they'd do a good trade!

 

[87015]

DB 90s reported handed back (to replace the last red 92s instead?) so should be safe to avoid them now. 6 GB 92s looking in position and available for service this afternoon.

 

[XC90]

I came south on the Aberdeen sleeper last night - excellent lemon pudding in lounge car.
I noticed that the departure boards at Aberdeen & Stonehaven showed the train as destination Edinburgh with no stops. I didn't notice any other boards but wondered if anyone knows why they didn't say Euston.

This will be because that portion and the Fort William portion theoretically terminate at EDB before attaching to the Inverness - Euston portion.

Confusing for customers, particularly when the FTW - EDB used to stop at Westerton on the 'wrong platform' and they were waiting on platform 1 for a London train which had departed from platform 2, destination EDB. This was because the train crossed over to take the Maryhill branch to connect to the main Gasgow - Edinburgh line.

 

[Essexman]

I was confused for a moment, then concerned that it might be terminating at Edinburgh for some reason, but anyone not so used to travelling might think this wasn't their train. It would seem, to an outsider anyway, to be a simple issue to rectify.

 

[XC90]

The screens at the stations monitor the train's headcode as it progress's through its journey. The headcode information is taken from the Darwin system which in turn takes it from TOPS (trust) system which means the destination can't be changed to Euston.
The best that can be done is to add a comment which will scroll underneath the EDB destination. Something along the lines of 'this service continues to London Euston" or 'attaches to London Euston service'.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Should have said......you can't have 3 headcodes on the 1 path from EDB - EUSTON and if all 3 displayed EUSTON from their departure point then you would have 2 trains terminating early at EDB 6 times a week, in theory, 12 part cancellations.

Not sure how the lowlander sleeper, which attaches at Carstairs is shown at EDB and Haymarket. 1C52 (I think) EDB-Carstairs. The Glasgow portion has the headcode right through from GLC to Euston.

 

[CallySleeper]

I've been through Aberdeen two or three nights in the past week and the boards definitely definitely said Euston

Also, had a MkII 'lounge car' on 1M16 (Inverness) last night vice the usual arrangement. Any ideas?

 

[me123]

As per Cally Sleeper, I've never seen the Sleeper advertised to any destination other than London Euston.

 

[Essexman]

I hadn't used it from Aberdeen from some time but when I've used the other portions it has always said Euston at Inverness & Fort William.

Mark 2 lounge car on Aberdeen last night - Well I think that's what it was. The ones with the distinctive braking sound that reminds me of train travel in my youth.

 

[XC90]

As per Cally Sleeper, I've never seen the Sleeper advertised to any destination other than London Euston.

Where do you board the train, is it the service from Inverness?

Perhaps, Aberdeen are able to show the train as Euston because it is the beginning of the journey and therefore doesn't require tracking on the service.

I know scotrail are updating all the customer displays so it may be that some are more technologically advanced than others and can be manipulated to show Euston. My understanding, admittedly a few years old, was the reason I gave above about headcodes and train tracking.

It was brought to light when some Manchester utd fans missed the sleeper at Westerton because it left from platform 2 and had EDB as destination. When did Celtic last play man utd in Glasgow? That was the up to date info then. I assume some screens at some stations must still be of that vintage.

 

[DEE-DE]

In my trip in April the displays were saying Edinburgh in Dundee as well. Don't think that was the case before.

 

[Chrism20]

On March 31st the screens in Fort Bill were showing Edinburgh as per the CS pictures on their Facebook page.