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Caledonian Sleeper discussion

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marks87

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Wouldn't combining the Glasgow and Aberdeen create problems with timings? No matter what departure time you choose, either the Glasgow portion would arrive too early, or the Aberdeen portion too late (even allowing for the former needing to head west).
 
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Something like

INV [6+L+S] + FTW [3]
GLC [6+L+S] + ABD [3+L+S]
EDB [6+L+S]

It would place a disproportionate demand on the Inverness Lounge/Seats though. And create an opportunity to run a lounge/seats through to Fort William that isn't there at present (if extra sets were built)
Yes - that is exactly what I was thinking. You are correct regarding the Inverness lounge/seats. Presumably the Aberdeen seats are the quietest so that's why they are "paired" with the Fort Bill seats currently.
 

47271

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Granted it was over a year ago now, but what I heard was King's Cross with Inverness as a standalone service.
 

TimboM

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Any ideas on tonight’s loco allocations please?
1S25 - 92018
1S26 - 92010
1M11 - 92033
1M16 - 92043
Carstairs portion 1C11/1B26 - 90049

London Lowlander ECS loco - 87002
Glasgow ECS loco - 86101

Inverness portion 1M16/1S25 - 67018
Fort William portion 1B01/1Y11 - 73966
Aberdeen portion 1B16/1A25 - 73969
 
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amywok

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92s at Euston this morning 010 on lowlander 1M11 and 018 highlander 1M16
 
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Muzer

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Trying to book the lowland sleeper for this Sunday evening and noticed that it wouldn't let me share with a stranger. I didn't want to, but I thought someone on here said that plan had been reversed? It seems surprising, that now the only way to get an actual berth with a standard class All Line Rover is to find a friend or buy an entirely new ticket...

What's the plan for when the new stock arrives? Will supplements still be available at all? If so, I assume you'll be able to book out a whole compartment for yourself even with a standard class ticket?
 

gcmozart

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Trying to book the lowland sleeper for this Sunday evening and noticed that it wouldn't let me share with a stranger. I didn't want to, but I thought someone on here said that plan had been reversed? It seems surprising, that now the only way to get an actual berth with a standard class All Line Rover is to find a friend or buy an entirely new ticket...

What's the plan for when the new stock arrives? Will supplements still be available at all? If so, I assume you'll be able to book out a whole compartment for yourself even with a standard class ticket?
I spoke to them about using railcards & they said that would not be back in place until sometime late in Feb so maybe it is the same with the sharing. I have in my memory 22nd Feb, but cannot be absolutely certain about that
 

TimboM

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Trying to book the lowland sleeper for this Sunday evening and noticed that it wouldn't let me share with a stranger. I didn't want to, but I thought someone on here said that plan had been reversed? It seems surprising, that now the only way to get an actual berth with a standard class All Line Rover is to find a friend or buy an entirely new ticket...

What's the plan for when the new stock arrives? Will supplements still be available at all? If so, I assume you'll be able to book out a whole compartment for yourself even with a standard class ticket?
The info is here: https://www.sleeper.scot/travel-after-25-february

In particular:
Please note that moving from transitional fares back to our existing fare structure requires an update to our booking system and as a result, some railcard discounts will only be available to book after 25 February 2018.

The "no stranger sharing" as also part of the transitional fare structure so likewise will be available again for bookings after 25th Feb once the update to the system has been made.
 

swaldman

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The "no stranger sharing" as also part of the transitional fare structure so likewise will be available again for bookings after 25th Feb once the update to the system has been made.

Oooh, I might be able to afford to use the train again! (for a short while until this goes away again...)
 

AY1975

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1S26 will split at Carlisle on 31/03/18

1M11 will depart from Glasgow queen street high level on:

Sun 01/04/18 (via ECML)
Mon 02/04/18 (via ECML)


1S26 will arrive in Glasgow queen street high level:

Mon 02/04/18 (via ECML)

That's yer lot just now.

I'm guessing that this will be the first time that a Sleeper train has started or terminated at Glasgow Queen Street High Level for many years, possibly since the Scottish internal (Glasgow/Edinburgh-Inverness) Sleepers were withdrawn in about 1990.

If 1S26 splits at Carlisle on 31st March, I presume this means the Glasgow portion will go via Dumfries and the Edinburgh portion via the Tyne Valley and the ECML?

Also, with all lines out of Euston being closed on Easter Sunday 1st April, I guess this means the Sleepers will be the only trains out of Euston that day, so they will either have to open the station specially just for a few hours that evening, or it will be open all day just to use the ticket office and retail outlets (which won't get many customers during the day if they do open). That is, unless that evening's Sleepers go from King's Cross.

BTW, does anyone know what work will be done at Euston that day? I'm guessing that it's in connection with HS2.
 
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gordonjahn

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I'm guessing that this will be the first time that a Sleeper train has started or terminated at Glasgow Queen Street High Level for many years, possibly since the Scottish internal (Glasgow/Edinburgh-Inverness) Sleepers were withdrawn in about 1990.

If 1S26 splits at Carlisle on 31st March, I presume this means the Glasgow portion will go via Dumfries and the Edinburgh portion via the Tyne Valley and the ECML?

Also, with all lines out of Euston being closed on Easter Sunday 1st April, I guess this means the Sleepers will be the only trains out of Euston that day, so they will either have to open the station specially just for a few hours that evening, or it will be open all day just to use the ticket office and retail outlets (which won't get many customers during the day if they do open). That is, unless that evening's Sleepers go from King's Cross.

BTW, does anyone know what work will be done at Euston that day? I'm guessing that it's in connection with HS2.

Apparently London Overground aren't affected and their services to/from Watford Junction are still looking like they'll be running. See http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/currentAndFuture.aspx?TravelDate=01/04/2018&TOC=lo for details.

Glasgow portion is planned for G&SW: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/G60109/2018/03/30/advanced - this avoids all the signalling work around Motherwell
Edinburgh portion is planned direct via WCML: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/G60089/2018/03/31/advanced - as it doesn't need to go near Motherwell

And VT say that it's prep work for HS2 but I've not seen any more...
 

Bletchleyite

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I was going to say they'd run the buses from the Platform 1 road area...but it seems they're using Stanmore instead. So I guess LO (and CS?) will be the only operator at Euston!
 

Rob F

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Was on the down Highlander last night and all was going well until we had a protracted unscheduled stand at Oxenholme and got to Edinburgh about 40 down. Anyone know the reason why?
Right time at Fort Bill, though.

Rob
 

Mag_seven

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Was on the down Highlander last night and all was going well until we had a protracted unscheduled stand at Oxenholme and got to Edinburgh about 40 down. Anyone know the reason why?
Right time at Fort Bill, though.

Rob

Possibly a reaction to a freight train failure earlier. The train involved was 414J 1814 Coatbridge F.L.T. to Crewe Bas Hall S.S.M. - real headcode 4M11:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/H32850/2018/02/21/advanced

A number of other trains were cancelled as a result as it was suggested that "dangerous goods" were involved.
 

Highlandspring

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Was on the down Highlander last night and all was going well until we had a protracted unscheduled stand at Oxenholme and got to Edinburgh about 40 down. Anyone know the reason why?
The guard to work the train forward from Preston was on a service cancelled due to the problem with 4M11 at Oxenholme, so had to be sent in a taxi from Carlisle.
 

Highlandspring

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TimboM

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Possibly a reaction to a freight train failure earlier. The train involved was 414J 1814 Coatbridge F.L.T. to Crewe Bas Hall S.S.M. - real headcode 4M11:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/H32850/2018/02/21/advanced

A number of other trains were cancelled as a result as it was suggested that "dangerous goods" were involved.
Spot on @Mag_seven

National Rail Enquiries Tweeted at 22:14 https://twitter.com/nationalrailenq/status/966436097235537923:
NEW: Disruption between Oxenholme Lake District and Lancaster expected until the end of the day, due to a safety inspection of a freight train that has resulted in all lines being blocked.
 

E6007

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I'm guessing that this will be the first time that a Sleeper train has started or terminated at Glasgow Queen Street High Level for many years, possibly since the Scottish internal (Glasgow/Edinburgh-Inverness) Sleepers were withdrawn in about 1990.

If 1S26 splits at Carlisle on 31st March, I presume this means the Glasgow portion will go via Dumfries and the Edinburgh portion via the Tyne Valley and the ECML?

Also, with all lines out of Euston being closed on Easter Sunday 1st April, I guess this means the Sleepers will be the only trains out of Euston that day, so they will either have to open the station specially just for a few hours that evening, or it will be open all day just to use the ticket office and retail outlets (which won't get many customers during the day if they do open). That is, unless that evening's Sleepers go from King's Cross.

BTW, does anyone know what work will be done at Euston that day? I'm guessing that it's in connection with HS2.
Although HS2 might take advantage of the closure, it's work (points replacement?) on the route around Wembley Central that's closing the line.
 

InOban

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https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/f...420987/sleeper-blows-hole-in-sercos-finances/

Press and Journal said:
Higher-than-expected operating costs for Caledonian Sleeper trains have blown a £47million hole in the balance sheet of operator Serco, prompting a warning from the company it may seek an early exit from the 15-year franchise.

Reporting 2017 results yesterday, the outsourcing giant said a net charge of £30.6million was driven by a “sharp increase in the estimated costs related to the delayed introduction and operation of the new sleeper service”.

One-off gains offset the financial impact of running night trains between London Euston and Edinburgh, Glasgow, Fort William, Inverness and Aberdeen.

Serco losing money on the Sleeper.
 
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Altnabreac

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Interesting, so pricing people off perhaps not working.

What do people think might happen...putting it back into ScotRail? Direct operation by the Scottish Government?

Suspect SG wouldn't really want it back currently. Lots of political pressure for a nationalised franchise but Sleeper not the one you'd want to nationalise first. Serco will probably want to see how new stock does before they hand keys back too.
 

Highlandspring

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ScotRail would not take the sleepers back without a fight either, there were sighs of relief all round (or at least at operational and middle management level) when they were taken away.
 

47271

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Serco’s results statement added: “We will be examining every option for reducing operating costs."

Can't say I like the look of that.
 

pacenotes

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£30 million down yet they werent ment to have the new trains yet.

All these outsourcing companies are the same 2% profit on everything and need new contracts to keep themselves going. Then when the contracts are slow coming in they go belly up.

I wouldn't book it at the moment at the cost they are charging! Maybe for the new trains but not the old stock.
 
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