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Caledonian Sleeper diversions on Sunday night departures

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ForTheLoveOf

ForTheLoveOf

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I'm looking to book the Caledonian Sleeper from one of the Highlander origins to Crewe, departing on a Sunday night. I don't really mind what date I travel but, from RealTimeTrains it seems that there are a hell of a lot of diversions via the ECML, with some trains going straight into King's Cross rather than Euston, during the May and June period.

Does anyone know why these diversions are happening? Is there some sort of longer engineering work project happening on the WCML? Very annoying as I want to travel on a date when there's reasonably priced fares available, which there don't seem to be many of, and I would like to make the trip before the old stock finishes. Perhaps it's unrealistic to expect the two to coincide...
 
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The Planner

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Pretty sure its a standard diversion that happens at the same time every year.
 
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Hooligan

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was told there were around 15 weeks of weekend diversions via east coast main line this year
 
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Journeyman

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ForTheLoveOf said:
What work is happening then?
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A lot of it is down to major work at Euston for HS2. The sleepers can only fit into 2 platforms, which creates a lot of problems if capacity at the station is reduced for any reason.
 
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The Planner

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On the Network Rail website in the information for operators sections, sits in a zip file with the timetable planning rules.
 
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vlad

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Journeyman said:
A lot of it is down to major work at Euston for HS2. The sleepers can only fit into 2 platforms, which creates a lot of problems if capacity at the station is reduced for any reason.
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I think (having checked sleeper.scot) that trains are only using London King's Cross this weekend - presumably for the reason you've given.

However, trains are going via the ECML till at least June. To the OP, are you able to start from London (in my opinion it's more convenient to travel to London and get on the train before 9pm than to hang around on Crewe station for the train to arrive around midnight), or travel on a different day when the train will stop at Crewe?
 
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Norther Monkey

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ForTheLoveOf said:
I'm looking to book the Caledonian Sleeper from one of the Highlander origins to Crewe, departing on a Sunday night. I don't really mind what date I travel but, from RealTimeTrains it seems that there are a hell of a lot of diversions via the ECML, with some trains going straight into King's Cross rather than Euston, during the May and June period.

Does anyone know why these diversions are happening? Is there some sort of longer engineering work project happening on the WCML? Very annoying as I want to travel on a date when there's reasonably priced fares available, which there don't seem to be many of, and I would like to make the trip before the old stock finishes. Perhaps it's unrealistic to expect the two to coincide...
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I've always wondered why they can't make calls at stations on the ECML during diversions. Crewe used to work for me when I had work in Lincoln. Full days work, then over to Crewe for the sleeper home. Going via London would be tight time wise and expensive.

Doncaster, York and Newcastle would, I think, be open when the diverted sleeper passed through. Why not offer it as an option?
 
43095john

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Norther Monkey said:
Doncaster, York and Newcastle would, I think, be open when the diverted sleeper passed through. Why not offer it as an option?
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1) Too far away to offer as a alternative for Crewe/Preston/Carlisle
2) Not logistically viable to bus passengers at Midnight all the way across from Crewe to Doncaster
3) Of the 3 stations, currently only York stays open overnight. To keep Doncaster/Newcastle open would require paying LNER to have the station staffed overnight
 
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Norther Monkey

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43095john said:
1) Too far away to offer as a alternative for Crewe/Preston/Carlisle
2) Not logistically viable to bus passengers at Midnight all the way across from Crewe to Doncaster
3) Of the 3 stations, currently only York stays open overnight. To keep Doncaster/Newcastle open would require paying LNER to have the station staffed overnight
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1. Not everyone boarding at Crewe originates from Crewe. I didn't when I used Crewe regularly. Doncaster or York would have been equally - if not more practical. Certainly better than no stop out with London.

2. Agree, only advertise it as being from York, Doncaster etc. No bus is offered under current plans.

3. York alone would provide a service north of London - better than the current offer.
 
tsr

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I think York would probably be the ideal for passengers, given it tends to have late-night TransPennine trains which may reach within touching distance of the "normal" CS route on the WCML.
 
Starmill

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In days gone by, I think the Cal Sleeper did call at York when diverted away from its Preston and Crewe calls, both in an official and unofficial capacity. It seems unlikely it would happen now, though.
 
ForTheLoveOf

ForTheLoveOf

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For those wondering, I replanned my journey around the engineering works. Still, as others have said, at least one intermediate call would have helped with the situation. I've booked to do the ECML diversion on a later date, too, though.
 
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