First thing's first, after reading through the Caledonian Sleeper Discussion thread I give permission for an admin to move this to the thread should they see fit.
What's the latest on the new sleeper carriages? I read an article a couple of months ago on Rail Magazine on the sleeper and it states that mockups of the carriages were due last autumn but as far as I'm aware there has been no such release.
What's the latest on the new sleeper carriages? I read an article a couple of months ago on Rail Magazine on the sleeper and it states that mockups of the carriages were due last autumn but as far as I'm aware there has been no such release.
Quoted from the article written on 16/09/2015:
The big change comes in 2018 when the present Mk 2 and Mk 3 rolling stock is replaced by the Mk 5 fleet being built by CAF in Beasain, Spain. A mock-up of these all-new vehicles is due this autumn, ahead of their delivery for testing in 2017. They will enter traffic in 2018. The plan is that the coaches will transform the iconic CS service into an outstanding hospitality service that is “emblematic of the best of Scotland.”
Seventy-five carriages will be built by CAF and they are being leased by the specialist rail asset financing arm of Lombard, part of The Royal Bank of Scotland, supported by additional funding from the Scottish Government. CAF will continue to support the new fleet with a contract to supply and manage spares while the coaches will be maintained by Alstom.
The new coaches will offer four innovative ways to travel in comfort on the Sleeper service - cradle seats, pod flatbeds, berths and en suite berths, and will include a brasserie-style club car for dining. Edinburgh-based designer Ian Smith is responsible for creating a contemporary style for the new coaches.
“The mock-up will show all the types of accommodation, rather than being a full vehicle. It is really important to show what they will look like. They [CAF] are being first class in the way they are working, as is Ian Smith and the design team.
“When people see these things, they will be impressed,” asserts Strachan.
The cradle seats recline and have footrests. The pod flatbeds will fully recline, from a seat into a bed, and offer a privacy screen and reading light. The berths ensure privacy and personal security, as well as all the facilities modern travellers need. En suite berths are also available, with toilet and shower facilities.
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