Caledonian Sleeper Mk5 Discussion

[mushroomchow]

How long is the full transition expected to take - as in, how long will the Mk 2/3 stock have once these coaches begin to be phased in?

I'd like to ride both while I have the chance, but I can't see myself being able to justify it work leave and finance wise until the autumn at least.

 

[Townsend Hook]

Isn't it still screw couplings between loco and coaches tho? I thought most locos nowadays had both Buckeye and screw but that might not be the case?

The class 73/9s have drophead buckeye couplers, pretty much everything else used on the sleeper will have to use screw couplings.

 

[stu77]

How long is the full transition expected to take - as in, how long will the Mk 2/3 stock have once these coaches begin to be phased in?

I'd like to ride both while I have the chance, but I can't see myself being able to justify it work leave and finance wise until the autumn at least.

New stock has been delayed to the autumn. There,s a article in yesterday's Scotsman newspaper look it up under transport.

 

[twpsaesneg]

New stock has been delayed to the autumn. There,s a article in yesterday's Scotsman newspaper look it up under transport.

https://www.scotsman.com/news/trans...leeper-trains-delayed-until-october-1-4662730

Confirms that the stock at Polmadie is not fully fitted out internally too.

 

[Clansman]

 

[gingerheid]

Am I allowed to say that I preferred the old standard berth? The sink / table thing was great!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Am I allowed to say that I preferred the old standard berth? The sink / table thing was great!

I do find it surprising that they haven't carried that useful feature over onto the new stock, from looking at that photo.

 

[Marklund]

No obvious luggage rack above either. Hmm.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

No obvious luggage rack above either. Hmm.

Would there even be room to fit one? There isn't in the Mk3s either is there? Luggage is usually stowed underneath the lower bunk.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I do find it surprising that they haven't carried that useful feature over onto the new stock, from looking at that photo.

Yeah the lack of any kind of table is odd. I wonder if they might retrofit.

Or does that "slot" under the sink maybe pull out?

 

[TimboM]

Yeah the lack of any kind of table is odd. I wonder if they might retrofit.

Or does that "slot" under the sink maybe pull out?

Could well be looking at it.

There's a good chance this isn't the 100% finished article either.

Also, won't most people be paying loads to be in one of these berths solo (no sharing with strangers etc.) and therefore have the other half of the bunk to put things on

 

[Peter Mugridge]

does that "slot" under the sink maybe pull out?

Ooh - hadn't spotted that; it looks like it might well do so. Could be a weak point though; in that position if it does it's just asking for people to sit on it isn't it?

 

[Furrball]

Ooh - hadn't spotted that; it looks like it might well do so. Could be a weak point though; in that position if it does it's just asking for people to sit on it isn't it?

I used to quite like sitting on the shelf and watching the world go by!

 

[BRX]

I think the GW sleeper refits did away with the little shelf too.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Amid all the criticism, though, they do look like a very high quality job. And (as usual) I like the "fake wood" interior.

 

[Marklund]

Would there even be room to fit one? There isn't in the Mk3s either is there? Luggage is usually stowed underneath the lower bunk.

Yes, the Mark 3s have them above where the bottles of water and shaver socket/USB outlets are.

Yes the solo option does give the option of using the bed, if it's left down, but as a twin, (without two together discount ) not very good for stowing baggage.
The finish does look nice and modern though.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Oh those little shelves! I never really consider those as luggage racks in the normal way as they aren't very big compared to those on other trains...

 

[Marklund]

Oh those little shelves! I never really consider those as luggage racks in the normal way as they aren't very big compared to those on other trains...

Ahh. Enough for aircraft cabin baggage, and soft bags to go in, while her monsters go under the bed, or on the shelf above the feet on the bottom bunk.

The more I look at the new cabin view, the more I become concerned about the lack of shelves.

Where does the top bunk occupant keep devices on charge? Easy access to small bags in bed?

I look forward to be proven wrong when a fully fitted out picture is posted.

 

[Clansman]

A comparison of the berths in the mock-up show there's still a few bits and pieces to be done, providing they're still sticking with the original design that was displayed in Edinburgh two years ago, which looks to be the case almost.

 

[TimboM]

A comparison of the berths in the mock-up show there's still a few bits and pieces to be done, providing they're still sticking with the original design that was displayed in Edinburgh two years ago, which looks to be the case almost.

The renders on the newtrains.sleeper.scot website (which are much more recent I believe) suggest the photos from the factory are very close to the finished article:

http://newtrains.sleeper.scot/on-board/classic-rooms/

The only main bits that appear to be missing are the padding around the bed and the socket for plugs/USB. So no obvious shelves unless they are behind the “camera” in the render.

(Use menu to look at the renders for other rooms.)

The site reminded me there’s supposed to be WiFi throughout - and the coaches have their own satelitte receiving equipment in the roof which may mean this will work even in remote areas.

 

[whhistle]

Anyone else think they look a bit weird... trailer coaches that look like Pendolino trains (for the most part).

 

[Marklund]

The only main bits that appear to be missing are the padding around the bed and the socket for plugs/USB. So no obvious shelves unless they are behind the “camera” in the render.

Hmm, that's a bit of a disappointment.
When you compare the old with new, the old seems to make a much greater use of space, and while the old looks a bit claustrophobic, similar lighter colours to the new stock would have lifted that feeling.

I do hope that the only baggage stowage isn't under the bottom bunk.

 

[TimboM]

Anyone else think they look a bit weird... trailer coaches that look like Pendolino trains (for the most part).

Can't say I've ever seen a Pendolino that looks like those photos above...?

Certainly not the interiors at any rate. The Mk5s also have bigger windows that passengers/"guests" can actually see out of by the looks of them.

 

[Highlandspring]

The exeriors of the coaches certainly resemble a Pendolino, to me at least. It's surely just the way the photo has come out but that cabin looks tiny - smaller than the existing ones!

 

[tiptoptaff]

The exeriors of the coaches certainly resemble a Pendolino, to me at least. It's surely just the way the photo has come out but that cabin looks tiny - smaller than the existing ones!

They look more like Class 800s

 

[Drumtochty]

In the recent Rail Magazine interview with the Serco Sleeper Managing Director one piece of info he gave was, "In the event of line closures, the Mk 5s will also be gauge cleared for the Settle-Carlisle Line, for the Glasgow & South Western via Dumfries, and for the East Coast Main Line."

Therefore being simplistic if the sleeper is run on the Settle Carlisle line, which is not electrified that suggest that unless it was running empty stock. The train could only have at best 8 carriages as the only Loco that could pull it with passenger facilities working would be a Sleeper modified 73 and they would have to use less electrical power than they would behind a 92 Loco.

Or is there any other Diesel Loco available with the same ETH facilities.

 

[route:oxford]

Therefore being simplistic if the sleeper is run on the Settle Carlisle line, which is not electrified that suggest that unless it was running empty stock. The train could only have at best 8 carriages as the only Loco that could pull it with passenger facilities working would be a Sleeper modified 73 and they would have to use less electrical power than they would behind a 92 Loco.

If a single 73 was capable of hauling 8 Mk5 sleeper coaches over the Settle & Carlisle (I'm sure someone will confirm the hauling capacity)

Then surely a push-pull set of 16 coaches could be accommodated if hotel power was limited to 8 coaches each?

 

[AngusH]

Divide in two, 8 coaches and one locomotive each?

 

[jopsuk]

I'd suspect you'd need a pair of 73s (as with the Inverness portion) for each 8 car set. Given that almost all the converted 73s would be in use in the Highlands that would be a little tricky to arrange for.

Top and Tail would require the coaches to be equipped for top and tail control operation.

 

[marks87]

I'd suspect you'd need a pair of 73s (as with the Inverness portion) for each 8 car set. Given that almost all the converted 73s would be in use in the Highlands that would be a little tricky to arrange for.

Top and Tail would require the coaches to be equipped for top and tail control operation.

Some of the Durham Coast diversions had a 66 up front with a 67 on the rear providing ETS as a glorified ETHEL. Could similar not happen here, albeit with both 73s providing power?

I understand that you can’t just use two locomotives and get double the ETS capability, but is it theoretically possible to electrically separate the portions so that the front loco provides power to the front 8, and the rear provides power to the back?

Alternatively, what are the batteries like in the new stock? Could it be the lack of suitable diesel traction for diversions has led to high-capacity batteries being included that store enough power for the longest possible diversion without wires?