Mainly platform utilisation, but I'm sure that could be worked around.What's to stop it waiting for longer in Edinburgh before going north?
Mainly platform utilisation, but I'm sure that could be worked around.What's to stop it waiting for longer in Edinburgh before going north?
Yes....and no reports since departing Crianlarich at 22 44. Not looking good at all.Tonight's 1B01 19.00 Fort William to Edinburgh portion appears to be in trouble according to RTT. right time away from Ft. William, 39 late away from Rannoch and 86 late away from Crianlarich.
It had some issues with the fire alarm but it’s still on the move. Will divert via the E&G.Yes....and no reports since departing Crianlarich at 22 44. Not looking good at all.
Sit before the Bridge at Dalmeny would solve that, unless the loop isn't for passengers. (Sure I've been looped in the distant past there)Mainly platform utilisation, but I'm sure that could be worked around.
They need to plan for multiple simultaneous issues, because those are what happens.
But at what cost?
Ensuring you employ enough staff so that overtime is only for really exceptional situations is part of the cost of running your business.
How many simultaneous issues is it reasonable or practical to plan for, because every day those issues do not occur there will be staff and resources sitting around doing nothing, but having to be paid for ?
I would suggest that a devastating global pandemic ongoing for well over a year is a really, really, really exceptional situation !
However - good communication, got a text with full details including the fact we can stay in rooms till 8, ticket acceptance on Scotrail and links for delay repay.
Does anybody know if you can make a booking over the phone using priv cards? I've been calling all day with no answer. Also how far in advance can you book? Many thanks.
Every operator is furloughed perchance?They’re having problems with their phone lines currently:
Sit before the Bridge at Dalmeny would solve that, unless the loop isn't for passengers. (Sure I've been looped in the distant past there)
Does anybody know if you can make a booking over the phone using priv cards?
OK I've tried at my local station but they are having difficulty as well. Thanks anyway.AFAIK remote priv bookings (ie by phone or on line) were withdrawn due to abuse, and they can only be made at a station.
Much as I like Oban there isn't really an argument for it v Fort William. The population is half that of Fort William and whilst it does have the ferries to the islands these by and large wouldn't connect well with a sleeper arrival. Its much like the Orkney and Shetlands ferries at Aberdeen which I would suggest doesn't attract any through traffic either.No, it really wouldn't. If you want to take a coach from Inverness/Glasgow to FW they already exist.
There's an argument for Oban instead, but the argument to ditch it (unless you ditch the whole thing) belongs in the 90s.
The population of Oban Lorn and the Isles is slightly larger than that of Lochaber. The idea that Oban is half the size of FW is because the figure for FW includes all its outer areas such as Caol whereas that for Oban doesn't include Dunbeg, Connel etc. Outwith the summer season there is far more traffic on Oban trainsMuch as I like Oban there isn't really an argument for it v Fort William. The population is half that of Fort William and whilst it does have the ferries to the islands these by and large wouldn't connect well with a sleeper arrival. Its much like the Orkney and Shetlands ferries at Aberdeen which I would suggest doesn't attract any through traffic either.
Seems the FW and Aberdeen portions are both empty to Edinburgh tonight and delayed boarding at EUS on the Highlander due to ‘operational reasons’.
Things not getting any better.
I have difficulty understanding the economics of this service. If the FW portion "is full most nights during the season"Are you serious? Fort William is an extremely popular destination, especially between March and October; the Fort William portion is full most nights during the season. There is no way that a coach from Dalwhinnie would be sufficient in the present time (and the Fort William passengers, if forced to use this, would just use the Lowland sleeper/fly to Glasgow and get a day train from there which would be just as easy).
That actually makes some sense - two seated cars to Inverness, with a connecting coach for the Fort William passengers. They still have to change but at least it's at a more sociable hour.A connecting coach to Dalwhinnie (which is a much shorter journey than Glasgow) would surely give the seated passengers a better product and give CS a simpler operation and reduced costs.
We did on a nice day this June. It's not a good route for a coach!You've obviously never used the road from Dalwhinnie towards FW
I have not, no. Is it not suitable for a 14 seater?You've obviously never used the road from Dalwhinnie towards FW
There were three of us last Monday.I have difficulty understanding the economics of this service. If the FW portion "is full most nights during the season"
how many passengers is this assuming 4 sleeping carriages? 30-ish?.
Similarly people must be really desperate to use the seated facilities if you're turfed out at Waverley at some unearthly hour in order to switch carriages.
A connecting coach to Dalwhinnie (which is a much shorter journey than Glasgow) would surely give the seated passengers a better product and give CS a simpler operation and reduced costs.
That actually makes some sense - two seated cars to Inverness, with a connecting coach for the Fort William passengers. They still have to change but at least it's at a more sociable hour.
It would mean the loss of a day service either way though.
The seated coach has the Train Manager's office and the bikes/large luggage space. Certainly on the old stock you couldn't run without the seated coach (and indeed, I've had a cancellation for that reason) but not sure about the Mk5s.It really doesn't make sense at all. Anyone who wants to do that can already take the Lowlander to Glasgow and a bus (or day train) to FW. There's also a bus from Inverness to FW, though to my great surprise it's nowhere near as scenic as the one to Glasgow.
If you want to simplify the operation, what would make sense is to ditch the Aberdeen and run it as a simple pair of half-trains, one to Inverness and one to FW. Or if you want to keep it, switch round which one you have to swap coaches for recognising that these days demand to FW is higher.
Also...isn't it the case that the seated coaches contain some sort of important electronics, so you can't run a portion without one? As building independent vehicles as per the RIC standards was presumably too sensible?
What time does that get you to Fort William though?It really doesn't make sense at all. Anyone who wants to do that can already take the Lowlander to Glasgow and a bus (or day train) to FW.
As above, I would only run the Aberdeen portion as far as Dundee to tap into what St Andrews traffic there is. The demand is probably going to be higher going south with the late departure letting people get one more round of golf and an evening meal in before heading to London, which suits CS's upmarket intentions.If you want to simplify the operation, what would make sense is to ditch the Aberdeen and run it as a simple pair of half-trains, one to Inverness and one to FW. Or if you want to keep it, switch round which one you have to swap coaches for recognising that these days demand to FW is higher.
I know they did on the old stock, but assumed they didn't on the new. There was also a rather large wheel which I assumed was because it was also a brake van.Also...isn't it the case that the seated coaches contain some sort of important electronics, so you can't run a portion without one? As building independent vehicles as per the RIC standards was presumably too sensible?
As above, I would only run the Aberdeen portion as far as Dundee to tap into what St Andrews traffic there is.
I know they did on the old stock, but assumed they didn't on the new. There was also a rather large wheel which I assumed was because it was also a brake van.