Caledonian Sleeper discussion

[theageofthetra]

Agree with most of that. The pricing of the "classic" rooms is the main point of contention I think. We'll have to see what comes out in the wash.

I also find the new "no sharing with strangers" rule unnecessary, and taking that option has been one way for solo travellers to opt for a more affordable price. I know people who regularly go for that. It seems silly and wasteful to have two single travellers each paying over the odds for a solo cabin, when they'd both have been happy to share. It makes it more expensive for those two people and it means that two further people who might have wanted to travel can't. This point seems all the more relevant when the overall number of "classic" cabins has been reduced, which as I understand it is the case with the new stock.

I don't understand how this sharing rule can be enforced? -surely there will be FB or other social media groups set up pretty quickly so solo travellers can pair up. This already happens extensively with twin cabin sharing in the cruise ship market and is actively encouraged by some of the cruise operators

 

[TimboM]

I don't understand how this sharing rule can be enforced? -surely there will be FB or other social media groups set up pretty quickly so solo travellers can pair up. This already happens extensively with twin cabin sharing in the cruise ship market and is actively encouraged by some of the cruise operators

Aye... I’ve made that point a few times previously.

CS explicitly say they’re happy for people to share with who they want, so they’re not “banning” sharing with a stranger, what they’re removing is the option of a “guest” selecting the option (via the CS booking system) of a shared berth but with a.n.other stranger they only meet on the night. They’re not stopping “strangers” getting together beforehand via social media etc and booking a twin berth together to save costs. It’s obviously not as easy as it is now and you need to find a “match” but it certainly won’t be prohibited.

 

[ScottDarg]

Performance figures for the period between the 12th of November and the 9th of December have been released here: https://www.sleeper.scot/images/Performance/TrainPerformanceP9.pdf

 

[TimboM]

Performance figures for the period between the 12th of November and the 9th of December have been released here: https://www.sleeper.scot/images/Performance/TrainPerformanceP9.pdf

As always with stats, they can hide the real picture...

Whilst using the "on time" metric of being <1 minute late as the key benchmark (which is good in terms of setting a high standard) - it does give rise to some potentially odd figures. Looking at the detail, London-Edinburgh (1S26+1B26) is the "worst" at 37.5%. However, from memory, I can't recall that many 1B26's arriving hugely late (have been a couple cancelled due to other issues), although they do often arrive 2-3 mins late. I suspect this is what's driving this apparently weak performance on that route and the PPM (within 10 minutes) % is likely to be significantly higher.

On the other hand, the 43.5% of Fort William services that didn't arrive "on time" likely included a good few that were very (or very very) late due to the various issues that have occurred on that route.

The PPM figure (arriving within 10 mins) probably gives a better indication (although not perfect still) of the comparative performance of the routes - although no detail of this is given on the CS info.

 

[Sarahs_Railway]

Following my previous rant over sleeper pricing policy..... I return to happier ground with a picture on my Flickr account of 73967 running light yesterday from Loughborough to Craigentinny. Not the greatest shot ever but it was nearly dark and I couldn't find a back lit location!

I also have a short video of the Dundee portion running back to Glasgow today but I have recorded in such a way that it appears 90 degrees rotated! Can anyone advise a way to rotate an MP4 file then I can publish it too?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/149563882@N07/40027192572/in/dateposted-public/

 

[waynemorrell]

Following my previous rant over sleeper pricing policy..... I return to happier ground with a picture on my Flickr account of 73967 running light yesterday from Loughborough to Craigentinny. Not the greatest shot ever but it was nearly dark and I couldn't find a back lit location!

I also have a short video of the Dundee portion running back to Glasgow today but I have recorded in such a way that it appears 90 degrees rotated! Can anyone advise a way to rotate an MP4 file then I can publish it too?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/149563882@N07/40027192572/in/dateposted-public/

You could try https://www.rotatemyvideo.net

 

[James James]

It seems like you don't get berth selection or meal selection for any trip from about March (haven't checked February). I'm guessing that means there won't be any lounge reservations for anyone, so I just need to make sure I'm on the train early to get an early dinner?

Does anyone know if I could call or email someone to get my berth moved though? I've been given 01L (solo ticket) but would prefer middle of the coach, and it looks like they're just filling the berths front to back (if I try another reservation for the same day I see 2L, then 3L if I add another, etc.) - so I'm guessing middle of the coach is still available.

(In hindsight, I should've just kept adding tickets to the basket until I got the preferred berth, then deleted all the intermediate ones - but I didn't think of that until well after booking.)

The other interesting thing is Fort William solo tickets are now going into coach E, looking at the dark depths of this thread I noticed that FTW used to be coaches X-Z.

 

[47271]

It seems like you don't get berth selection or meal selection for any trip from about March (haven't checked February). I'm guessing that means there won't be any lounge reservations for anyone, so I just need to make sure I'm on the train early to get an early dinner?

Does anyone know if I could call or email someone to get my berth moved though? I've been given 01L (solo ticket) but would prefer middle of the coach, and it looks like they're just filling the berths front to back (if I try another reservation for the same day I see 2L, then 3L if I add another, etc.) - so I'm guessing middle of the coach is still available.

(In hindsight, I should've just kept adding tickets to the basket until I got the preferred berth, then deleted all the intermediate ones - but I didn't think of that until well after booking.)

The other interesting thing is Fort William solo tickets are now going into coach E, looking at the dark depths of this thread I noticed that FTW used to be coaches X-Z.

From what I hear, online bookings for travel after the end of this month are a complete shambles because of changes to configuration ahead of the new trains. Flexipass passengers are having to get just about everything sorted out via email, for example you can't cancel anything online at the moment. Email them on [email protected]. They're very helpful, but for obvious reasons may take a few days to respond.

 

[Kite159]

Is there something happening with the lowlander from Glasgow on the 6th May? (Other than going via the ECML)

Seems XC have buses on RTT which suggests the regular route is closed. So diverted via Shotts or will that one be starting from Queen Street HL?

 

[TimboM]

From what I hear, online bookings for travel after the end of this month are a complete shambles because of changes to configuration ahead of the new trains. Flexipass passengers are having to get just about everything sorted out via email, for example you can't cancel anything online at the moment. Email them on [email protected]. They're very helpful, but for obvious reasons may take a few days to respond.

That and the fact it's all getting changed again to how it was...

 

[Chrism20]

Is there something happening with the lowlander from Glasgow on the 6th May?

Seems XC have buses on RTT which suggests the regular route is closed. So diverted via Shotts or will that one be starting from Queen Street HL?

Looking at RTT its avoiding Cambuslang and is also running via the ECML

 

[TimboM]

Is there something happening with the lowlander from Glasgow on the 6th May? (Other than going via the ECML)

Seems XC have buses on RTT which suggests the regular route is closed. So diverted via Shotts or will that one be starting from Queen Street HL?

Looking at RTT its avoiding Cambuslang and is also running via the ECML

1M11 going from Glasgow Central via Mount Florida & Shotts to Edinburgh (diesel hauled) then changing to electric traction for the onward journey to Euston via ECML.

5C11 (Edinburgh portion ECS) will also need to head into Glasgow Central T'n'T to reverse then back out to Edinburgh via the same route (and be diesel hauled).

Could be a good night to be in Glasgow Central... 47727 likely to be involved, plus 73/9(s) perhaps, or maybe a 67 and/or 66.

1S26 going the other way on the Sunday night/Monday morning is also via ECML, but I believe the possessions will have ended by the morning, so will just be 'straightforward' electric traction with the 1S26 loco staying on and running the Glasgow portion from Edinburgh via Carstairs to Central (after the Edinburgh portion is detached at Waverley).

 

[pitdiver]

I booked for May to and from Fort William and had absolutely no problem. The tickets and sleeper reservation arrived in about 4 days have all the coupons.

 

[Kite159]

1M11 going from Glasgow Central via Mount Florida & Shotts to Edinburgh (diesel hauled) then changing to electric traction for the onward journey to Euston via ECML.

5C11 (Edinburgh portion ECS) will also need to head into Glasgow Central T'n'T to reverse then back out to Edinburgh via the same route (and be diesel hauled).

Could be a good night to be in Glasgow Central... 47727 likely to be involved, plus 73/9(s) perhaps, or maybe a 67 and/or 66.

1S26 going the other way on the Sunday night/Monday morning is also via ECML, but I believe the possessions will have ended by the morning, so will just be 'straightforward' electric traction with the 1S26 loco staying on and running the Glasgow portion from Edinburgh via Carstairs to Central (after the Edinburgh portion is detached at Waverley).

Is a similar thing due to run on the bank holiday weekend at the end of May?

 

[TimboM]

Is a similar thing due to run on the bank holiday weekend at the end of May?

Similar, but think it may be via E&G rather than Shotts. Don't quote me on that though.

I believe there's a lot of diversions coming up in Spring/Summer, e.g. most Sunday nights via ECML and various additional diversions in/around Glasgow and the route to Edinburgh (including the well publicised foray into Queen Street High Level) - so things could be quite interesting...

 

[Essexman]

I went to Glasgow last year end of May bank holiday & it was via Edinburgh & Shotts. Am doing the same this year and timings are similar, so assume east coast again.
Going to Inverness tonight. Snow forecast.

 

[Kite159]

It is tempting to book from Glasgow for that Sunday, I assume it will use the Hamilton loop, pick up at Motherwell before heading towards Shotts via Holytown [like half the Lanark services used to do a few years ago]?

 

[Essexman]

Highlander shown as delayed on boards at Euston. Had a text earlier to say no lounge car so I wonder if delay is taking that out?

 

[TimboM]

It is tempting to book from Glasgow for that Sunday, I assume it will use the Hamilton loop, pick up at Motherwell before heading towards Shotts via Holytown [like half the Lanark services used to do a few years ago]?

Which Sunday? 27th May?

 

[TimboM]

Highlander shown as delayed on boards at Euston. Had a text earlier to say no lounge car so I wonder if delay is taking that out?

The ECS (5S95) certainly has not left Wembley yet (should've left there 80 mins ago).
When did you get the text? Could well be the reason.

Probably 92010 on 1S25 btw.

 

[Kite159]

Which Sunday? 27th May?

Sorry, 6th May

 

[Essexman]

Got the text at 19.07. They've just announced delay in first class lounge but can't say when we'll be leaving.

 

[TimboM]

Got the text at 19.07. They've just announced delay in first class lounge but can't say when we'll be leaving.

Stock was supposed to leave Wembley 18:43, so would suggest the text re missing lounge car and the delay are linked... could always be something else as well as/instead of too. I think 5S95 was/is due to come in T'n'T too (92043 / 92010) - not sure if that makes it easier or harder to remove a coach if there's another loco on the other end.

 

[TimboM]

This has just been posted on the CS website:

Guests on our Euston to Inverness/Aberdeen/Fort William service are advised of anticipated disruption and late boarding due to a carriage fault.
We are working hard to minimise delay and advise all those booked to arrive at stations on time for departure.

 

[Essexman]

This has just been posted on the CS website:

Just announced as major delay. Any idea how late we can leave and still arrive on time in Inverness?

 

[TimboM]

Just announced as major delay. Any idea how late we can leave and still arrive on time in Inverness?

Difficult to say - a lot depends on whether it can get a run on the Fasts at any point on the southern WCML (booked Slow lines, but sometimes can get put on fasts) and other factors like signals/other traffic being kind to it; whether engineering allowances in the timetable are needed etc.

There is a 30 minute engineering allowance in the timings at Abington (near Carstairs) - it's why the service leaves earlier on a Sunday. It's for Single Line Working but is rarely used - so hopefully that will be a "gimme" of 30 minutes. 1S25 can usually make up 20-30 mins by Preston too, and then north of Edinburgh time can be made up at various places (including by missing out some intermediate stops). Problem is if you don't get the rub of the green(s) and it loses its path (especially on the Highland Main Line) it starts getting held at stations etc.

I'd say if it's c.30-45 mins late leaving it should be fine; 45-60 mins should be just about recoverable but needs some luck; beyond an hour late leaving EUS it's starting to be more likely it'll cause a delay into Inverness.

 

[TimboM]

Some ECS is on its way into EUS... but it's 87002 with 5S96 Lowlander stock (50 Early) ...not 5S95 (Highlander).

 

[Essexman]

Just announced still in carriage sidings and heavily delayed. Seems a long delay to shunt out a coach.

 

[DimTim]

I’m aware of the staffing issues but could the Lowland stock that is on the way to Euston be used for the Highland then the defective stock has more time to reach Euston for the Lowland.

If staff are at Wembley - taxi to Euston?

 

[Essexman]

They've just announced that they are in the process of removing the faulty coach. The stock won't be here for at least 45 - 60 minutes, then they have to do fire tests. So by the time it boards it looks like being best part of two hours late.