Caledonian Sleeper discussion

[theironroad]

I was on the Friday night northbound lowlander which managed to leave euston about 25 late (as did a couple other London midland trains) due to a unknown to me cause but with running either really late or really early en route, managed to arrive in Glasgow right time.....gotta love the sleeper lol

My recent sheet issues were pretty much avoided by sleeping on top of the duvet, though luckily my duo compartment was left with just me.....to use the other duvet on top..

 

[TimboM]

It wasn't allowed a good run up Camden Bank and was caught out by a flange lubricator, causing it to slip to a stand. Given a good run up the bank it made it fine - bearing it mind it's load 16 and with a dead 92 on the back!

Ah ok - yes the 126 tonnes strapped on the back probably isn't helpful.

90046 has just crawled through Camden Jnc with 1S26 too - maybe some adhesion problems all round tonight.

 

[BRX]

Why does it come all the way back through Camden Junction anyway? When I did the trip on a Sunday night a couple of nights back, we went along the North London Line, through Hampstead, then at Gospel Oak back down to Camden... at first glance continuing along to Harringay and joining the ECML there would seem like a less tangled route with fewer junctions to cross.

On the return trip, on a Monday morning, we didn't take the North London line, instead joining the WCML at Camden and going through Queens Park.

(As a South Londoner I've had to spend some time peering at the rail maps of that area to understand exactly what route we did take...)

 

[Kite159]

Why does it come all the way back through Camden Junction anyway? When I did the trip on a Sunday night a couple of nights back, we went along the North London Line, through Hampstead, then at Gospel Oak back down to Camden... at first glance continuing along to Harringay and joining the ECML there would seem like a less tangled route with fewer junctions to cross.

On the return trip, on a Monday morning, we didn't take the North London line, instead joining the WCML at Camden and going through Queens Park.

(As a South Londoner I've had to spend some time peering at the rail maps of that area to understand exactly what route we did take...)

IIRC to access the route at Harringay you need to cross over the "down" lines. I can remember when Hull Trains diverted that way over a bank holiday weekend a couple years ago the 180 had to do a double reversal move over the flyover to reach the route down towards Goblin.

But the biggest reason why it doesn't go via Harringay (onto Goblin towards Gospel Oak) is the slight lack of wires

 

[BRX]

But the biggest reason why it doesn't go via Harringay (onto Goblin towards Gospel Oak) is the slight lack of wires

Oh yeah!

 

[87015]

Up Inverness caped at Waverley too, busted 92044

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C73216/2017/06/11/advanced

 

[TimboM]

Up Inverness caped at Waverley too, busted 92044

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C73216/2017/06/11/advanced

Oh dear

92044 appears to be running the ECS all the way to Wembley, which suggests an ETS fault (or something along those lines)?

I'm wondering why whatever (92038?) brought the Lowlander Edinburgh portion and would ordinarily be stabled in Waverley overnight wasn't available as a replacement...? I think it's because it went South along with 90042 on 1M11 (positioning move with 86401 heading back North to resume Polmadie ECS duties?) but not entirely sure.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Couldn't they run without ETS? It'd be cold, but some would rather get there cold than not at all. Or are all the bogs the type that require power?

 

[38Cto15E]

What happened to all the passengers (many would be asleep)on the Up Highlander?

 

[Scotrail84]

Couldn't they run without ETS? It'd be cold, but some would rather get there cold than not at all. Or are all the bogs the type that require power?

No air con, heating or lights without ETH, not to mention all the boilers, fridges and microwaves so no catering either. No way the train could run without ETH.

No ETH for over 2 hours = failure.

 

[Scotrail84]

What happened to all the passengers (many would be asleep)on the Up Highlander?

Probably forward on the 05:40 to kgx

 

[najaB]

Couldn't they run without ETS? It'd be cold, but some would rather get there cold than not at all. Or are all the bogs the type that require power?

I doubt it's the bogs that are the problem, more likely the lighting (from a safety point of view) and possibly the fire detection system. The batteries won't last forever.

 

[TimboM]

Probably forward on the 05:40 to kgx

That's what CS advised - would've got them into to KX c.45 mins later than planned arrival at Euston - however the rude awakening in the early hours and being turfed out of their berths/seats no doubt wasn't welcome.

 

[TimboM]

No air con, heating or lights without ETH, not to mention all the boilers, fridges and microwaves so no catering either. No way the train could run without ETH.

No ETH for over 2 hours = failure.

Was it definitely an ETH issue?

That's my assumption as the loco has been able to haul the ECS OK. Although could be something else (might even not be "traction equipment" related).

The ECS move looks like it stopped at Doncaster Royal Mail Terminal for the best part of an hour - not sure if that's to keep it out of the way for a time, or needed a new driver perhaps...

 

[Crun]

I have just seen the Caledonian Sleeper at 11:25 going through Peterborough heading south...

 

[TimboM]

I have just seen the Caledonian Sleeper at 11:25 going through Peterborough heading south...

That would've been the empty stock working (hauled by 92044) to get the coaches back to Wembley ready for the service tonight: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O04138/2017/06/12/advanced

 

[Scotrail84]

I have just seen the Caledonian Sleeper at 11:25 going through Peterborough heading south...

Crew change point.

 

[TimboM]

Crew change point.

Went straight through Peterborough on the Fasts by the looks of it. It did stop at Doncaster Royal Mail Terminal for best part of an hour, though, so maybe that was the crew change?

 

[LeylandLen]

That's what CS advised - would've got them into to KX c.45 mins later than planned arrival at Euston - however the rude awakening in the early hours and being turfed out of their berths/seats no doubt wasn't welcome.

What are the terms of compensation for those 'turfed out their berths' ?
I would hope they get a full refund . Plus free refreshments / food etc if on the 0540 to Kings Cross, and hopefully all put into first class where getting a brief sleep should be better than standard class !

 

[GW43125]

What are the terms of compensation for those 'turfed out their berths' ?
I would hope they get a full refund . Plus free refreshments / food etc if on the 0540 to Kings Cross, and hopefully all put into first class where getting a brief sleep should be better than standard class !

There's no way everyone will fit in first. You'd probably struggle to get them all onto the 05.40 as it is.

 

[IanXC]

There's no way everyone will fit in first. You'd probably struggle to get them all onto the 05.40 as it is.

The usual, and certainly VTEC's, ticket acceptance policy is to convey other TOCs passengers in the same class, and with the same benefits as their own passengers, in the same class as they had originally booked with their original TOC.

 

[GW43125]

The usual, and certainly VTEC's, ticket acceptance policy is to convey other TOCs passengers in the same class, and with the same benefits as their own passengers, in the same class as they had originally booked with their original TOC.

Yes but there comes a point where the number of punters exceeds the stated capacity.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Yes but there comes a point where the number of punters exceeds the stated capacity.

What stated capacity?

 

[Mag_seven]

What are the terms of compensation for those 'turfed out their berths' ?
I would hope they get a full refund . Plus free refreshments / food etc if on the 0540 to Kings Cross, and hopefully all put into first class where getting a brief sleep should be better than standard class !

Why would passengers in a standard class berth be put into a first class day coach? If you have a standard class ticket all you are entitled to is a standard class seat!

 

[GW43125]

What stated capacity?

400-odd sleeper punters are going to have a job fitting in amongst all the usual punters.

 

[Bletchleyite]

400-odd sleeper punters are going to have a job fitting in amongst all the usual punters.

That isn't what you said, though

There is no stated capacity; the capacity is as many as you can physically fit on.

 

[GW43125]

That isn't what you said, though

There is no stated capacity; the capacity is as many as you can physically fit on.

I'm rather crap at phrasing things. What I say and what I mean are often two very different things!

 

[BRX]

It would be 400-odd if each and every cabin were full and none were in single occupancy.

I'd have thought more likely 2 or 300.

There are around 5 or 600 seats on an IC225 aren't there?

 

[IanXC]

Yes but there comes a point where the number of punters exceeds the stated capacity.

Absolutely.

Apologies, I was really responding to the suggestion that all Caledonian Sleeper passengers could be provided with first class seats for their onward journey.

 

[GW43125]

It would be 400-odd if each and every cabin were full and none were in single occupancy.

I'd have thought more likely 2 or 300.

There are around 5 or 600 seats on an IC225 aren't there?

Having just checked the VTEC website, tomorrow's 1E01 has only around 70 seats remaining in standard. Even considering the unreserved carriage, once you take into account there will be walk-ups too you very quickly run out of space.