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Caledonian Sleeper

Bald Rick

Veteran Member
Joined
28 Sep 2010
Messages
29,070
I’ve never yet seen a Mk5 cabin with the top bunk stowed (and I’ve booked single occupancy each time) though, so presumably they don’t usually bother doing this?

50% of my journeys had the top bunk stowed....

That's sad to hear that the sociable atmosphere of the lounge car has been lost. I wonder if it will find itself a new balance with time though.

It's probably something that could be influenced quite a bit by things like lighting level - if anyone involved with managing the train were to take an interest in such things.

The sociable atmosphere of the lounge car has not been lost. Both my trips on the new stock were extremely sociable, and I was travelling solo.
 
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RailUK Forums

47271

Established Member
Joined
28 Apr 2015
Messages
2,983
Was that aided by the wide range of whiskeys on offer though? :lol:
WHISKEY??? No whiskey is served on the train. Only WHISKY.

I have been on when someone asked if they served Jim Beam. That got a frosty response. 'We only serve Scotch sir'.
 

GrimShady

Established Member
Joined
13 Dec 2016
Messages
1,740
Have the stopped turning everyone out on arrival at Euston. I had this a few times where the train arrived at 0630 and before. They woke everyone up early and said we had 5 mins before the depot movement, yeah...lies.

This was 2018 and 2017 though.
 

ld0595

Member
Joined
1 Aug 2014
Messages
570
Location
Glasgow
I've got a small question with regards to access in the seated coach. I know that previously first class had priority access and would board first. How does this work with the new coaches?

I'm thinking about making a booking in May over a long weekend (one way, leaving FTW on Friday) and would quite like to bring my partner for her first trip along the West Highland Line and sit in one of the booths for dinner and drinks. It's difficult to justify paying an extra £100 for a club room for a shower we'll probably not use, but have they reintroduced reservations for tables? Or is it essentially a free for all for those in classic seated accommodation?
 

TimboM

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Joined
12 Apr 2016
Messages
3,732
I've got a small question with regards to access in the seated coach. I know that previously first class had priority access and would board first. How does this work with the new coaches?

I'm thinking about making a booking in May over a long weekend (one way, leaving FTW on Friday) and would quite like to bring my partner for her first trip along the West Highland Line and sit in one of the booths for dinner and drinks. It's difficult to justify paying an extra £100 for a club room for a shower we'll probably not use, but have they reintroduced reservations for tables? Or is it essentially a free for all for those in classic seated accommodation?
There is no access to the Club Car for seated passengers. Club (berth) passengers have priority and Classic (berth) are able to use it too if there's sufficient space.
 

BRX

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Joined
20 Oct 2008
Messages
3,602
Is the club car what we're supposed to call the lounge car now?
 

Grandnat

Member
Joined
11 Mar 2018
Messages
18
Further to my review where I expressed disappointment that I’d booked a solo use Classic room but it was set up with both bunks, I’ve just noticed on the website that the text in says the Classics are “Twin Bunk Beds” whereas for the Club room it says, “Twin bunks or single bed options”.

Perhaps all the Classics are just in twin bunk mode all the time now to save them the time?

(Edit) And reading further here’s confirmation.


“Please note, both beds will be in place even if booked for solo use.”
 
Last edited:

BRX

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20 Oct 2008
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3,602
Further to my review where I expressed disappointment that I’d booked a solo use Classic room but it was set up with both bunks, I’ve just noticed on the website that the text in says the Classics are “Twin Bunk Beds” whereas for the Club room it says, “Twin bunks or single bed options”.

Perhaps all the Classics are just in twin bunk mode all the time now to save them the time?

(Edit) And reading further here’s confirmation.


“Please note, both beds will be in place even if booked for solo use.”
So, you're not allowed to opt to share with a stranger to save some money, but having paid for solo use you'll get a cabin set up for twin use.
 

83G/84D

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Joined
28 Oct 2011
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5,952
Location
Cornwall
Middle of a coach to be as far away from doors, bogies and toilets as you can and preferably in the coach as far away from the lounge car as possible to minimise the amount of bell-ends walking past your cabin yakking away to their pals at 2am.

Agree with you on the dwindling amount of long distance trains that provide an acceptable level of comfort, Pendo 1st class is about the only remaining option for London - Scotland that I would even consider now, those 8xx seats are an insult in both classes.

I tried to book similar on the GWR sleeper only to end up in the front coach right behind the engine. Little sleep that night.

Same in several different brands of hotels over the years with inconsiderate guests walking past your room late at night after a night drinking. They seem to think it is perfectly acceptable to bang doors and speak loudly waking everyone up in the small hours.
 

alangla

Member
Joined
11 Apr 2018
Messages
1,178
Location
Glasgow
So, you're not allowed to opt to share with a stranger to save some money, but having paid for solo use you'll get a cabin set up for twin use.
Same as any hotel, surely? It’s probably cheaper just to have a standard linen pack set out & just have every room of each type made up the same way. Also allows a bit of flexibility if you were to no-show & they needed to relocate a pair of travellers.
 

GarethC

Member
Joined
22 Aug 2014
Messages
68
But surely staff will fold it away when asked?
I was under the impression that, as with the MK3 the mattress has to be removed to fold up the top bunk? Another reason to leave them down all the time. You could end up with a situation at say Fort William (as it's not a main depot) where they were short of mattresses!

Gareth
 

JModulo

Member
Joined
17 Nov 2013
Messages
523
Location
67A
I was under the impression that, as with the MK3 the mattress has to be removed to fold up the top bunk? Another reason to leave them down all the time. You could end up with a situation at say Fort William (as it's not a main depot) where they were short of mattresses!

Gareth

The beds on the Mk5s are designed so that they can stowed with the mattress in place (not made up).
 

BRX

Established Member
Joined
20 Oct 2008
Messages
3,602
Same as any hotel, surely? It’s probably cheaper just to have a standard linen pack set out & just have every room of each type made up the same way. Also allows a bit of flexibility if you were to no-show & they needed to relocate a pair of travellers.
Why bother to make it foldable-away at all then!
 

Grandnat

Member
Joined
11 Mar 2018
Messages
18
Why bother to make it foldable-away at all then!

I’m pretty sure in pre-launch versions of the website there were photos of Classics set up as solos, plus the wording reflected this. Maybe there’s a cached version somewhere.

This feels like a recent cost cutting exercise...
 

Richard P

Member
Joined
18 Dec 2018
Messages
92
All too predictably there's nothing on the CS website or Twitter feed but anyone travelling to or from Fort William tonight should be aware the West Highland line is closed between Crianlarich and Helensburgh Upper at the moment due to flooding at Garelochhead with buses replacing trains with an update that the line will remain disrupted until the end of the day. I'd suggest keeping in touch with RTT as this will be the most reliable source of information in terms of is the Sleeper is running or not later on
 

JonathanH

Veteran Member
Joined
29 May 2011
Messages
18,538
...and anyone on the northbound Glasgow portion tomorrow night may also find themselves short of a berth as well depending how busy it is.
 

SteveM70

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Joined
11 Jul 2018
Messages
3,802
All too predictably there's nothing on the CS website or Twitter feed but anyone travelling to or from Fort William tonight should be aware the West Highland line is closed between Crianlarich and Helensburgh Upper at the moment due to flooding at Garelochhead with buses replacing trains with an update that the line will remain disrupted until the end of the day. I'd suggest keeping in touch with RTT as this will be the most reliable source of information in terms of is the Sleeper is running or not later on

well it’s left Fort Bill, currently south of Rannoch. I assume they must be confident of the line reopening
 

cf111

Established Member
Joined
13 Nov 2012
Messages
1,347
I sent an email to CS after my journey last week. It wasn't really a complaint, I made positive comments about the crew and many aspects of the new stock but did say I was disappointed with the lack of hot water and no running water at all in the morning. They have processed a refund of half the ticket price (just over £100) which I was not expecting or looking for but I do consider a (very) fair resolution to any issues I had. I was just hoping that they would take my comments both positive and negative on board.
 

Grandnat

Member
Joined
11 Mar 2018
Messages
18
I did a Vlog of my trip on the Sleeper as written above [only about the Club Room portion) - here’s a link if interested (if I’m breaking rules posting a YouTube link, apologies, and delete]

 

TimboM

Established Member
Joined
12 Apr 2016
Messages
3,732
I must admit I find it a bit odd that for a sleeper service the twitter feed closes down at night
It's the "Guest Experience Team" who sign-off for the night at 0100 (when those travelling should are all on board). The Service Delivery team are still able to post during the night if they feel they need (and do on occasion) - although worth bearing in mind the on-board crew can update those passengers affected, if indeed they've selected the option to be disturbed in such circumstances.
 

cb a1

Member
Joined
9 Mar 2015
Messages
350
First time in Club last night. Flawless journey on Lowlander from Edinburgh.
I'm now on Euston concourse waiting for the Avanti lounge to open.
Was middle of carriage and slept pretty much as well as I do in my own bed.
Light from buttons didn't affect me, light levels low enough to be no different once eyes shut.
Don't know what difference in size from classic room, but they did feel much more spacious.
 

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