I don't know how your journey went, but the highland sleeper from London ended up going via Stratford!
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Caledonian Sleeper services
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I don't know how your journey went, but the highland sleeper from London ended up going via Stratford!
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R
RailUK Forums
I've used it a couple of times, and haven't felt any risk. Theft risk is probably lower than if you're on a day intercity traveling alone and go to the buffet. 4 and 6 berth couchettes are still common in Europe. Restricting the sleepers to just solo berths would mean that in twelve sleeper coaches on a sixteen carriage train there would only be 156 beds. Equipping the cabins with ensuite? I reckon you'd at best lose a third of those beds- making for 104 beds per full train.
laphroaig
Member
Stratford? Really??
I'd be fascinated to learn what route it took!
tsr
Established Member
Yes indeed. It was given an incorrect route in the Camden Road Jn area (IIRC) and ended up reversing at Stratford, with a loco run round via Maryland! I think it was 103 down when it left Stratford!
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33056
Established Member
It wasn't "wrong routed", apparently there was a possession on the Kings Cross Incline so alternative arrangements had to be made 
causton
Established Member
How lucky they were! 
I took the sleeper to Edinburgh the week before and going via the NLL was nice enough for me, the odd feeling of heading up the ECML at night making me think I was going home but instead heading a lot further away!
I took the sleeper to Edinburgh the week before and going via the NLL was nice enough for me, the odd feeling of heading up the ECML at night making me think I was going home but instead heading a lot further away!amcluesent
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Very well! Left EDB around midnight and then it was non stop to EUS. Far better sleep then when on WCML when you are woken by shunting at PRE(?).
tsr
Established Member
It wasn't "wrong routed", apparently there was a possession on the Kings Cross Incline so alternative arrangements had to be made
Correct. I do apologise for posting inaccurate information. That was what I was told at the time and what I believed until I looked it up to check just before you posted!
myself...
DarloRich
Veteran Member
I found 67020 at the head of the sleeper at Euston this morning:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/darlo2009/9009300561/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/darlo2009/9009300561/
AJP62
Member
So how did it get back to the ECML - Canonbury Curve? Is that electified?
Aictos
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It wasn't "wrong routed", apparently there was a possession on the Kings Cross Incline so alternative arrangements had to be made
Certainly was engineering works on the Kings Cross incline thus preventing it being used by the services, that's why the services were a hour late passing Finsbury Park due to the Stratford reversal.
33056
Established Member
No problems, just like to correct things rather than having aspersions cast on colleaguesCorrect. I do apologise for posting inaccurate information. That was what I was told at the time and what I believed until I looked it up to check just before you posted!
Darlo Rich, keep looking out at Euston; diversions on next Sunday / Monday and for a whole week next month as well (w/c 14th July)
I am booked on the Caledonian Sleeper, Euston to Fort William on the 15th July, looking forward to the divert, a first for me. (£97.90 First class with railcard)
Just over 14 hours on the train, longer than to LAX or BKK by airplane, but a lot cheaper.
I am hoping for an on time arrival in Fort William so that I can go on the 1015 Jacobite to Mallaig.
Just over 14 hours on the train, longer than to LAX or BKK by airplane, but a lot cheaper.
I am hoping for an on time arrival in Fort William so that I can go on the 1015 Jacobite to Mallaig.
cjp
Member
Take an early breakfast in the Lounge car and enjoy the views.
After passing Corrour ask them to point out the green tarpaulin on the left by the loch side which is all one can presently see of the engine which took the diversion off the tracks and down through the trees.
cjp
Thanks for that, I did actually see it a few weeks ago when coming in the other direction, I will try and get a piccie, and also see if anything new is happening regarding recovery.
Board Members, what time before departure does boarding commence at Euston for the Highland sleeper, is it the usual Euston Usain Bolt boarding or is the Caledonian sleeper a more relaxed process?
On my day of travel the train departs at 1951 hours.
TIA
Thanks for that, I did actually see it a few weeks ago when coming in the other direction, I will try and get a piccie, and also see if anything new is happening regarding recovery.
Board Members, what time before departure does boarding commence at Euston for the Highland sleeper, is it the usual Euston Usain Bolt boarding or is the Caledonian sleeper a more relaxed process?
On my day of travel the train departs at 1951 hours.
TIA
Floydlover25
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You can normally board the sleeper around 30 mins before departure. If travelling first class you can avail yourself of the virgin 1st class lounge
Boarding starts well before departure - usually about 45 minutes. Boaring time is advertised on timetable. There is no rush but if it's busy you might have to wait a few minutes for your turn to book in with the steward. For good choice of seats in lounge car (on Highland Sleeper) it's best to board reasonably early.
cjp
Member
With your first class ticket I think you are best spending a half an hour or more relaxing in the Virgin First Class lounge - Wifi free soft drinks, nibbles, cake and fruit. (If you are feeling naughty take a packet of biscuits for the morning.)
The Virgin lounge is quite remote from platform 15 but you can easily wander over in the ten or fifteen minutes before departure and get to the front of the train where your carriage will await you next to the lounge car.
The train lounges have sockets for computers or phones otherwise you will to take a European travel adapter to make the most of a shaver socket
In the morning the lounge ought not to be too busy as those for Aberdeen & Inverness will have gone their own way leaving a much shorter train.
Oh and do not bank on much of mobile signal - which will cause your phone to eat power as it looks for a cell
Floydlover25
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Gus,
At Euston you will normally find the first class sleeper coach for Fort William at the very front of the 16-coach train and is NOT next to the lounge car which is actually part of the Aberdeen portion some 5 coaches behind. Another lounge car (for use in the morning) and seating coach for Fort William is attached at Edinburgh around 4.30 in the morning
At Euston you will normally find the first class sleeper coach for Fort William at the very front of the 16-coach train and is NOT next to the lounge car which is actually part of the Aberdeen portion some 5 coaches behind. Another lounge car (for use in the morning) and seating coach for Fort William is attached at Edinburgh around 4.30 in the morning
cjp
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