Caledonian Sleeper discussion

[najaB]

How come 66705 was on the Aberdeen portion (Southbound) on August 14th when I was on, if the dual units are specifically for both Highland lines?

I don't think the gradients to/from Aberdeen are particularly taxing.

 

[Clansman]

I don't think the gradients to/from Aberdeen are particularly taxing.

Unless a 73 can't haul 3xMk3s + 2xMk2s up onto the Tay Bridge

 

[Bungle965]

They run in multi. The 73 also provides traction.

Apologies, my memory lets me down

The return of ETHEL?!

. Perhaps ETS will be better
Sam

 

[47271]

I was on the sleeper from Edinburgh last night. We arrived in Euston at 6.30 and the steward said the train has been arriving very early most days recently. Normally I find that they tend to arrive almost on the dot of the scheduled time. Personally I'd prefer it not to be early as I like my sleep!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I’m invariably woken at Carstairs or Edinburgh by shunting on the sleeper. It seems to be done with a lot of banging and bumping. My recollection from days gone by of locomotives backing onto trains, or coaches being added, was that you could just feel a bump but not the lurch that seems to happen on the sleeper. Is my recollection wrong, do shunters use less care on the sleeper, or is there another reason for all the bumping and banging?

Nothing new I'm afraid, see my post from this thread, referring to the Carlisle portion of the Glasgow to Euston sleeper in the early 1990s:

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=131303

The Carlisle portion was actually two coaches, presumably one First and one Standard. In the up direction, you went to bed at a normal time in Platform 8 and at around 1am a psychopath in an 08 shunter propelled you across the station at 80mph and slammed you into the back of the waiting Glasgow to Euston train at a similar speed.

That's what it felt like anyway.

 

[185143]

1M16 and 1S25 terminating at Edinburgh and Preston due to a problem with the OHLE this evening

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

 

[roversfan2001]

VSTP service 1T25 is timed for 179mph apparently... hock:

 

[najaB]

VSTP service 1T25 is timed for 179mph apparently... hock:

This is a known fault in the software that generates the VSTP. Divide by (I think) 2.3 to get the real speed.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Hows the Fortbill Edinburgh portion been behaving of late on Sundays? Also is this a pare of 73s?

 

[the sniper]

VSTP service 1T25 is timed for 179mph apparently... hock:

Every time this fault is highlighted, an angel loses its wings...

 

[TimboM]

So whats going to happen to the defective coach which is in platform 10 at Crewe? Surely if it was usable it would be attached to another sleeper service. I assume therefore it will need repairing and checked inspected for safety.. Can it be done at Crewe , or will it have to be moved by road?

Might have seen this already (and a bit late I know!) but the defective coach was taken back to Wembley the next day behind 92032. Now that's an exclusive sleeper service I'd like to try! YouTube link:

https://youtu.be/VXapWkJ4yCs

 

[philjo]

I may be using the sleeper in mid-October.
I need to get to Inverness - I see the 1st advance sleeper fare from Euston to Inverness is showing as £230 that night !
Aberdeen is £195 so not much saving changing there & getting the train on to Inverness.

On the Inverness or Aberdeen portions, what is the likelihood of having to share if I book the standard berths - these were showing as £140.

 

[najaB]

I may be using the sleeper in mid-October.
I need to get to Inverness - I see the 1st advance sleeper fare from Euston to Inverness is showing as £230 that night !

What date? I just had a quick look and a First flexible ticket was only £205.

Edit: Have you considered getting a supplement for the date in question - £75 for a solo berth.

 

[Bodie]

What's supplement mean?
I'd like to get a solo berth for £75 - what's the catch?

 

[najaB]

What's supplement mean?
I'd like to get a solo berth for £75 - what's the catch?

If you already hold a valid 'day' ticket (e.g. an Off-Peak return) then you can pay for the berth. The ticket can't be a TOC-specific one (e.g. East Coast only).

 

[Hadders]

Remember that since the useless Serco took over you can't get a solo berth supplement with a standard class ticket.

 

[fgwrich]

I found the best way is to buy the standard Caley Sleeper flexi ticket for the seated coaches, then buy an berth upgrade after. Both can be done online and will save you a little bit. It also gives you that little bit extra of flexibility.

 

[najaB]

Remember that since the useless Serco took over you can't get a solo berth supplement with a standard class ticket.

Hmm.... interesting. I have.

 

[Flying Snail]

Hmm.... interesting. I have.

When?

They were available with Serco CS for some time but have been removed since.

That and increasing the remaining supplements by up to 50%.

 

[philjo]

I found the best way is to buy the standard Caley Sleeper flexi ticket for the seated coaches, then buy an berth upgrade after. Both can be done online and will save you a little bit. It also gives you that little bit extra of flexibility.

THe CS webpage on supplements says you can't do that:

Berth Supplements

If you have already purchased a ticket valid on any operator and wish to travel in a berth on the Caledonian Sleeper, you can do so by paying a supplement.

The Berth Supplement must be for the same class of travel for the ticket you hold.

You may only purchase Berth Supplements if you hold:

Open/Off-Peak/Super Off-Peak tickets for the entire journey being made
All Line Rover tickets valid for the date of arrival in destination
BritRail passes valid for the date of arrival in destination. Wales/England and England only BritRail passes are only valid between Carlisle and London
InterRail Passes valid for travel in Great Britain and for date of arrival in destination

You may not purchase Berth Supplements if you hold:

Caledonian Sleeper dedicated seated fares
Dedicated fares of other operators
Open/Off Peak/Super Off-Peak tickets which only cover part of your journey

If you wish to upgrade your class of travel from Standard to First, you will need to pay the difference between the Standard and First Class fare in addition to the Berth Supplement. Upgrades can only be sold at station booking offices.

If you have a daytime train ticket and want to travel in the seated accommodation on the Caledonian Sleeper, there is nothing extra to pay – please contact the Guest Service Centre to reserve your seat.

https://www.sleeper.scot/ticket-type/berth-supplements

 

[najaB]

When?

They were available with Serco CS for some time but have been removed since.

It was a little while back so probably before they removed them.

 

[47271]

On the Inverness or Aberdeen portions, what is the likelihood of having to share if I book the standard berths - these were showing as £140.

To directly answer this question - the northbound Inverness section is generally most heavily loaded, to the point of being absolutely full even in October, on Thursday and Friday nights. So if you can make the journey at the start of the week or midweek you'll increase your chances of single occupancy.

The Aberdeen section is less busy generally, but to go round that way is a palaver. If your strategy is to pay for a Standard berth and have it to yourself, my advice would be to aim for the Inverness on a Monday or Tuesday night. But you might still have someone in with you if it's busy or a coach is out of service, or whatever...

 

[Flying Snail]

To directly answer this question - the northbound Inverness section is generally most heavily loaded, to the point of being absolutely full even in October, on Thursday and Friday nights. So if you can make the journey at the start of the week or midweek you'll increase your chances of single occupancy.

The Aberdeen section is less busy generally, but to go round that way is a palaver. If your strategy is to pay for a Standard berth and have it to yourself, my advice would be to aim for the Inverness on a Monday or Tuesday night. But you might still have someone in with you if it's busy or a coach is out of service, or whatever...

As there is no right to have single occupation, even if you book into an empty cabin and the other berth remains un-booked the attendant can put another passenger in there for any reason.

I assume the old trick still works of booking to/from Crewe or Preston making it much more likely that you will get sole occupancy as they generally don't mix passengers for different stops in the same cabin.

 

[92002]

As there is no right to have single occupation, even if you book into an empty cabin and the other berth remains un-booked the attendant can put another passenger in there for any reason.

I assume the old trick still works of booking to/from Crewe or Preston making it much more likely that you will get sole occupancy as they generally don't mix passengers for different stops in the same cabin.

Mid October sounds like the Scotland school holidays.

So maximum fares will be getting charged. All parts of the sleepers will be busy. So in all probability trains will be running full.

 

[jopsuk]

Remember there's only about 125 beds* on each of the Edinburgh & Glasgow portions and the Inverness portion. It doesn't take very many bookings for it to be busy!

*12 or 13 cabins per carriage, so say 12.5 average. 4x Standard is 100 Standard berths in 50 cabins, 2x First is 25 solo berths.

 

[Steveman]

On the Inverness or Aberdeen portions, what is the likelihood of having to share if I book the standard berths - these were showing as £140.

Have no idea about the chance of that but regarding sharing I've done it twice and both times it was horrendous. Let's face it you wouldn't invite a stranger into your bedroom at home and go to sleep without worrying.
I'd rather walk then share again on a sleeper.

 

[jopsuk]

Yet many, many people are fine with sharing. Rather like (youth) hostels.

 

[Steveman]

Yet many, many people are fine with sharing. Rather like (youth) hostels.

Can you point me to an official report that says so, I would imagine that anybody sharing is doing so as an absolute last resort and they have no other choice.

 

[najaB]

Can you point me to an official report that says so, I would imagine that anybody sharing is doing so as an absolute last resort and they have no other choice.

Erm... I think the fact that people book shared cabins indicates that they can't have that much of an issue with it. Curious as to why you think it is as much of an issue as you do?

Next time I use the sleeper I'll be booking a shared cabin - and I also have stayed in hostels.

 

[jopsuk]

Can you point me to an official report that says so, I would imagine that anybody sharing is doing so as an absolute last resort and they have no other choice.

I'm not sure what end point you want here? fifty less beds available and all tickets at the 1st class price?

 

[LowLevel]

I'd not want to share with someone I didn't know - close friends are bad enough and if I've had a few pints and start snoring they might not let me leave alive