Caledonian Sleeper discussion

[Essexman]

I'm on the northbound lowland sleeper tonight.
Board at Euston said front from Glasgow but it's actually the rear. Reversal at Wembley doesn't seem to have been accounted for.

I booked first class on flexipass but have berth with two beds although I'm assured it's just for me. Only a single number on the door but so is next door berth and person there has been told he'll be sharing.

 

[Mag_seven]

I booked first class on flexipass but have berth with two beds although I'm assured it's just for me.

I thought whole point of a first class berth was that you get the extra space with the top bunk folded up and out the way?

 

[theironroad]

I'm on the northbound lowland sleeper tonight.
Board at Euston said front from Glasgow but it's actually the rear. Reversal at Wembley doesn't seem to have been accounted for.

I booked first class on flexipass but have berth with two beds although I'm assured it's just for me. Only a single number on the door but so is next door berth and person there has been told he'll be sharing.

Does that other person have a first class ticket as well?

I looked at the northbound lowlander for tonight as thought about taking it and seemed to be quite a few empty standard class berths , not sure about the dedicated single berths though.

 

[al78]

If you book a first class ticket, and end up sharing a berth, are you entitled to a refund of the price difference between first and standard class?

 

[theironroad]

If you book a first class ticket, and end up sharing a berth, are you entitled to a refund of the price difference between first and standard class?

I'd certainly imagine so.

The bigger issue is reputational damage. I don't travel 1st, but if I'd booked 1st because I wanted to have the cabin alone and was told to share when I arrived at the station late in the evening, I'd be very wary of booking again if there is no guarantee and choose to fly.

Certainly on my TOC , if first class is declassified then all 1st day ticket and season tickets holders can claim the difference.

 

[BRX]

If you book a first class ticket, and end up sharing a berth, are you entitled to a refund of the price difference between first and standard class?

I'd ask for a full refund as I would not have been provided with what I paid for, full stop. And possibly would have made different journey plans if I'd known the sleeper might mean sharing with a snoring cabin mate who'd stop me getting a night's sleep.

 

[marks87]

I'd certainly imagine so.

The bigger issue is reputational damage. I don't travel 1st, but if I'd booked 1st because I wanted to have the cabin alone and was told to share when I arrived at the station late in the evening, I'd be very wary of booking again if there is no guarantee and choose to fly.

Certainly on my TOC , if first class is declassified then all 1st day ticket and season tickets holders can claim the difference.

I’ve made the point before that if I were expected to share a cabin, whether it’s through a downgrade or (what CS would consider) an upgrade from the seats, I’d expect to be able to cancel my plans and get a full refund.

CS themselves recognise the risks involved with sharing, via warnings at the point of booking and indeed through the “same gender” policy (the same risks can apply between people of the same gender). With that in mind, the option of a refund should always be on the table IMO.

 

[aar0]

I saw the sleeper for the first time this year on Friday night at York Station, and took this excellent photo for you all...

View media item 3119

 

[syorksdeano]

I saw the sleeper for the first time this year on Friday night at York Station, and took this excellent photo for you all...

View media item 3119

Am I the only one that can't see the photo?

 

[DanNCL]

Am I the only one that can't see the photo?

I can't see it either.

 

[JModulo]

I'm on the northbound lowland sleeper tonight.
I booked first class on flexipass but have berth with two beds although I'm assured it's just for me. Only a single number on the door but so is next door berth and person there has been told he'll be sharing.

Had this happen 3 times to me now to be told "its because the new coaches aren't here", same old excuse used for everything. Was offered £5 compensation for the inconvenience.

 

[Chrism20]

Had this happen 3 times to me now to be told "its because the new coaches aren't here", same old excuse used for everything. Was offered £5 compensation for the inconvenience.

I was under the impression that the new stock had less rooms/beds due to some of the rooms being doubles and suites so how can this possibly be an excuse?

 

[47271]

I was under the impression that the new stock had less rooms/beds due to some of the rooms being doubles and suites so how can this possibly be an excuse?

It's a new thing that seems to have started since they've reconfigured the mk3s to have a mixture of First and Standard rooms to the same wacky pattern as the new stock. Before they did this you either got coaches that were entirely First or entirely Standard or, more recently, consistently set up composites.

Now you just need one coach out of formation or an older booking that doesn't quite correspond to the new layout and it's quite possible that a First Class passenger could find themselves in a Standard Class compartment. This in itself is okay, unless of course someone else is booked in there too and the train's full, which it very often is at this time of year...

 

[Chrism20]

It's a new thing that seems to have started since they've reconfigured the mk3s to have a mixture of First and Standard rooms to the same wacky pattern as the new stock. Before they did this you either got coaches that were entirely First or entirely Standard or, more recently, consistently set up composites.

Now you just need one coach out of formation or an older booking that doesn't quite correspond to the new layout and it's quite possible that a First Class passenger could find themselves in a Standard Class compartment. This in itself is okay, unless of course someone else is booked in there too and the train's full, which it very often is at this time of year...

Surely the correct thing to do in this case then is to look at the forward bookings and re-allocate accordingly.

I’m saying that as the son of a family of hoteliers (I’m one of only a few in my immediate family not to work in that field) - and a (travelling) hotel is what serco put themselves across as being.

This is merely “Managing the inventory” as father would say.

 

[aar0]

 

[Mag_seven]

Was offered £5 compensation for the inconvenience.

£5 - that's almost laughable if not insulting!

 

[marks87]

Surely the correct thing to do in this case then is to look at the forward bookings and re-allocate accordingly.

I’m saying that as the son of a family of hoteliers (I’m one of only a few in my immediate family not to work in that field) - and a (travelling) hotel is what serco put themselves across as being.

This is merely “Managing the inventory” as father would say.

If only David Hilbert were still alive

 

[47271]

Surely the correct thing to do in this case then is to look at the forward bookings and re-allocate accordingly.

I’m saying that as the son of a family of hoteliers (I’m one of only a few in my immediate family not to work in that field) - and a (travelling) hotel is what serco put themselves across as being.

This is merely “Managing the inventory” as father would say.

I don't doubt that they are trying to do exactly this, but if a coach has been lost from the formation of a fully booked train just ahead of departure then potential for confusion is very high.

I've just made this up, but from what I hear it's the sort of thing that's happening. You rock up thinking you're booked in (say) First Class room G4. Coach G has (say) no aircon and has had to be taken out of use. They've shifted you to C4 at the last minute which would've been fine when all mk3s had the same layout, but they're overworked because they need to move a dozen people in a full train and have overlooked that room 4 can mean different things in different coaches. There are no other spare berths.

So you have a choice: share, travel in a compartment with no aircon (I tried that one summer in the days of First, never again) or stay on the platform. From what I can see upthread the problem is more the way that they're dealing with the sharing option rather than that it exists. £5 compensation is outrageous. I would expect to be allowed to travel and receive a full refund.

 

[Essexman]

I didn't have to share on Sunday but there was no offer of first class breakfast (although I may not have wanted it anyway) and second berth means you can't easily sit on lower one. I don't like mixed first and standard coaches as less quiet than just first.

 

[Bletchleyite]

So you have a choice: share, travel in a compartment with no aircon (I tried that one summer in the days of First, never again) or stay on the platform. From what I can see upthread the problem is more the way that they're dealing with the sharing option rather than that it exists. £5 compensation is outrageous. I would expect to be allowed to travel and receive a full refund.

At the very least it should be the difference between the First Class and Standard fare at the price tier you booked, which is what would be offered, without question, by every other TOC in the event of a downgrade.

£5 is so insulting it would actually make me consider Court action for breach of contract (if legally feasible). It's like leaving a 1p tip at a restaurant. Leaving nothing just means you might be someone who doesn't tip. Leaving 1p is making a massive point.

 

[JModulo]

The way the coaches are set out now on the mk3s though (I believe) Rooms 1 - 6 are always set up as 1st. Rooms 7-11/12 are set up as standard. What I believe had happened to others (and myself) is the website allocates a berth regardless. I have seen me try to book a solo berth, and then be reserved room 8 which in theory should be "standard". Surely it should show before departure on the check in list that 1st passengers have been allocated a wrong berth (if my theory above is right, anyway).

 

[jellybaby]

At the very least it should be the difference between the First Class and Standard fare at the price tier you booked, which is what would be offered, without question, by every other TOC in the event of a downgrade.

£5 is so insulting it would actually make me consider Court action for breach of contract (if legally feasible). It's like leaving a 1p tip at a restaurant. Leaving nothing just means you might be someone who doesn't tip. Leaving 1p is making a massive point.

The Guest Charter (at https://www.sleeper.scot/images/guestcharter/CSGuestCharterSept2016.pdf ) says:

If you are downgraded, you will receive a full reimbursement for the difference in price between your booked accommodation and your final accommodation. We will base this on the equivalent fare level of the ticket at the time of booking

 

[Scotrail84]

A few E+G diverts coming up next few weekends for the Lowlander and Highlander, including Polmont, Falkirk Grahamston, Cumbernauld, Whifflet, Mossend via Wishaw.


http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C70069/2018/06/03/advanced

 

[JModulo]

86401 DIT behind 92032 on this evenings 1S26 to allow 401 to be in position for the SRPS tour tomorrow / Saturday.

 

[Mag_seven]

86401 DIT behind 92032 on this evenings 1S26 to allow 401 to be in position for the SRPS tour tomorrow / Saturday.

Not quite - they are both on the Highlander - 1S25

1S26 should be 90045.

 

[JModulo]

Not quite - they are both on the Highlander - 1S25

1 digit out

 

[Scotrail84]

Not quite - they are both on the Highlander - 1S25

1S26 should be 90045.

How will the work then as it will be blocked in at Waverley went the locos come off and get stabled in the south loop siding.

 

[marks87]

How will the work then as it will be blocked in at Waverley went the locos come off and get stabled in the south loop siding.

Surely it can just run off to where it needs to be once the coaches have gone?

 

[Scotrail84]

Surely it can just run off to where it needs to be once the coaches have gone?

Both locos will be detached at the same time, the 92 usually goes into the south loop meaning the 86 will be blocked in the south loop by the 92 unless they have another driver waiting to take the 86 away but thats unlikely.

 

[JModulo]

Both locos will be detached at the same time, the 92 usually goes into the south loop meaning the 86 will be blocked in the south loop by the 92 unless they have another driver waiting to take the 86 away but thats unlikely.

Or just uncouple and place them in 1 at a time in the correct order required.