Caledonian Sleeper

DelW · 16 Feb 2020

thaitransit said:
Why on earth would they sell more tickets for the day trains than there are seats available on the train its an all day train trip. I would be expecting a booked in advance reserved seat in any class and access to proper on board food and drinks throughout the trip!

They won't sell more tickets with reservations than there are seats on the train, but there will be passengers with walk up / flexible tickets (which can be used on any train) travelling on those services as well.

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paul1609 · 16 Feb 2020

47271 said:
I've seen a video of that portable piece of equipment in action. It was a one third full whisky tumbler placed on a table in a mk5 Club Car. The train was travelling at around 60mph on good track at Greenloaning between Dunblane and Gleneagles, a section of line that provided a creamy smooth ride for mk2 lounges, never mind mk3 sleepers. Every other train type passes over there without a murmer, I know because I'm up and down there all the time.

The vertical knocking and rattling is so bad that Scotch is spilling out onto the table. The passenger remarks to others. The travelling CAF engineer is challenged as he passes by. First he says that the noise is cutlery rattling on the tables, and then blames the track. This provokes ridicule from the passengers and he disappears.

I can't decide if they know how bad it is and can't tackle it, or are in denial. Going by the CAF guy's reaction I fear that it might be the latter.

The correct suspension settings for the Mk 5 bogies must be very difficult anyway. They have to deal with a great variation in the track standards from the West Highland Line where many stretches are frankly no better than many heritage railways with many stretches still made up of worn 95lb jointed bullhead rail to the WCML where they have to deal with a considerable cant deficiency- because of the low speed of the sleeper compared to the line speed. Given the other issues with the stock I think the settings probably haven't been optimised yet.

Bletchleyite · 16 Feb 2020

DelW said:
They didn't have much in the way of train management (computer) systems or other electronic equipment either though, which probably made them less vulnerable?

You don't put computers on the underframe. The sort of thing you put there is waterproof/water resistant, just like things in car engine bays which are not sealed at the bottom and so get water ingress from the road.

Bletchleyite · 16 Feb 2020

thaitransit said:
Why on earth would they sell more tickets for the day trains than there are seats available on the train its an all day train trip. I would be expecting a booked in advance reserved seat in any class and access to proper on board food and drinks throughout the trip!

Because the UK has a walk-up railway system, with only the Caledonian Sleeper being compulsory reservation (I don't think there are any others, are there? The Night Riviera isn't, I've travelled walk-up on it using a Super Off Peak Return from Bletchley to Truro purchased on the day of travel from the TVM).

You can reserve a seat if you wish, however, this is optional.

Steve Harris · 16 Feb 2020

Bletchleyite said:
You don't put computers on the underframe. The sort of thing you put there is waterproof/water resistant, just like things in car engine bays which are not sealed at the bottom and so get water ingress from the road.

I'm guessing you obviously haven't been underneath a modern car lately then. Even my 2005 plate vauxhall had a great big plastic undertray / sumpguard. I'm not saying it kept all water out, but the engine bay never seemed to get wet (unless I drove through a flood), unlike my 1976 Ford Escort.

I agree you wouldn't put delicate eletric/electronic components underneath without adequate protection from the elements unless you was a rather poor engineer.

Toast is nice · 17 Feb 2020

On the southbound Lowlander. All going well but have been stuck north of Stafford for getting on for an hour. I am guessing flooding south of Stafford (poss. Shugborough?).

Statto · 17 Feb 2020

Looks like because the Southbound Lowlander is so late leaving the Stafford area it was able to use the normal route via the Trent Valley rather than the planed diversion route via Penkridge, Bescot & Coventry.

alangla · 17 Feb 2020

And only 7 minutes late into Euston. Looks like a generally good night, though the up highlander is about half an hour late

TimboM · 17 Feb 2020

Statto said:
Looks like because the Southbound Lowlander is so late leaving the Stafford area it was able to use the normal route via the Trent Valley rather than the planed diversion route via Penkridge, Bescot & Coventry.

There’s flooding in the Birmingham/Walsall area, so it may well have had to wait until the overnight possession on the Trent Valley route was lifted.

There’s 5 mins “padding” between the working timetable (eg as shown on RTT) and the public timetable, so the Up Lowlander (1M11) was officially 2 mins late in the end.

side effect · 17 Feb 2020

I'm travelling tonight and my e ticket attachments cannot open. Now theres one member of staff that take delight in this.

alistairlees · 17 Feb 2020

side effect said:
I'm travelling tonight and my e ticket attachments cannot open. Now theres one member of staff that take delight in this.

You should have both a pdf and a pkpass attachment for your eTicket - they are the same thing, just in different formats. Is it the pdf that is the problem, or the pkpass? If you are trying to open the pkpass on a device that is not an iPhone or iPad then they won’t work, unless you have installed an app. There is no need to do this though - your pdf tickets are all that you need.

side effect · 17 Feb 2020

Ok I have noticed there are 4 attachments and theres 2 of us travelling so what you saying is 2 of those will not work. I hav

side effect · 17 Feb 2020

Have managed to get somewhere but now my son cannot get the printer working. Nothing goes easy for me lol many thanks.

alistairlees · 17 Feb 2020

side effect said:
Have managed to get somewhere but now my son cannot get the printer working. Nothing goes easy for me lol many thanks.

You can just display the PDF on a phone (I assume you have a phone that can do that?) There is no need to print it out, that's just an option.

Toast is nice · 17 Feb 2020

alangla said:
And only 7 minutes late into Euston. Looks like a generally good night, though the up highlander is about half an hour late

Yup, I was pleasantly surprised. I have expressed my frustration with some aspects of the CS service in recent months but, credit where credit’s due, last night was excellent. Ok, we couldn’t board until 22:45 but - with all of the weather issues - getting in a couple of minutes late was more than I was hoping for (I was provisionally booked on a flight to Stansted this morning just in case). Plumbing all worked, it was not too rattly and the service was excellent.

awsnews · 17 Feb 2020

alangla said:
And only 7 minutes late into Euston. Looks like a generally good night, though the up highlander is about half an hour late

The Fort William portion sat for an hour at Garelochhead last night, conditions at Craigendoran no doubt of concern due to the weather. Scotrail had suspended Dumbarton to Helensburgh by that time and the last WHL service stopped at Helensburgh Upper

DelW · 17 Feb 2020

Bletchleyite said:
You don't put computers on the underframe. The sort of thing you put there is waterproof/water resistant, just like things in car engine bays which are not sealed at the bottom and so get water ingress from the road.

My post originally followed from the statement in post 6767 which stated that on the mk5s, "Snow and ice can then interfere with some of the under-coach equipment, including exterior temperature controls." It's quite possible that the TMS would connect with such equipment and would be affected by its failure, even though (obviously) the computer itself wouldn't be there.
Following your car analogy, I once had an engine warning light come up on my car's dashboard. The problem turned out to be a damaged wire below the floor, which carried readings from a temperature sensor on the rear exhaust.

marks87 · 17 Feb 2020

DelW said:
My post originally followed from the statement in post 6767 which stated that on the mk5s, "Snow and ice can then interfere with some of the under-coach equipment, including exterior temperature controls." It's quite possible that the TMS would connect with such equipment and would be affected by its failure, even though (obviously) the computer itself wouldn't be there.
Following your car analogy, I once had an engine warning light come up on my car's dashboard. The problem turned out to be a damaged wire below the floor, which carried readings from a temperature sensor on the rear exhaust.

Late last year, my car gave me a tyre pressure warning. I inflated the offending tyre, but a couple of weeks later the same message. Rinse and repeat once more before booking a tyre check.

The tyre was fine...but the pressure warnings were real (i.e. the tyre was indeed losing air). The cause: a broken valve on the pressure sensor - meaning the loss of pressure was being caused by the thing that exists for no other reason than to warn of a loss of pressure.

It seems that in general, the more sensors and warning systems you build into something, the greater the risk that it's them that actually cause the problem they're checking for/warning about.

Steve Harris · 17 Feb 2020

marks87 said:
Late last year, my car gave me a tyre pressure warning. I inflated the offending tyre, but a couple of weeks later the same message. Rinse and repeat once more before booking a tyre check.

The tyre was fine...but the pressure warnings were real (i.e. the tyre was indeed losing air). The cause: a broken valve on the pressure sensor - meaning the loss of pressure was being caused by the thing that exists for no other reason than to warn of a loss of pressure.

It seems that in general, the more sensors and warning systems you build into something, the greater the risk that it's them that actually cause the problem they're checking for/warning about.

Indeed. Best to Keep It Simple Stupid !!
(A great engineering term Btw).

Ian Wallbank · 17 Feb 2020

I have being trying to find a cabin plan of the Caledonian Sleeper coaches online to no avail. Does anyone know where one can be found?

alistairlees · 17 Feb 2020

Ian Wallbank said:
I have being trying to find a cabin plan of the Caledonian Sleeper coaches online to no avail. Does anyone know where one can be found?

In the booking process, just click on the ‘select rooms’ link.

47271 · 17 Feb 2020

Ian Wallbank said:
I have being trying to find a cabin plan of the Caledonian Sleeper coaches online to no avail. Does anyone know where one can be found?

Just proceed as if you're making a booking and then you can view coach plans.

Elecman · 17 Feb 2020

Toast is nice said:
On the southbound Lowlander. All going well but have been stuck north of Stafford for getting on for an hour. I am guessing flooding south of Stafford (poss. Shugborough?).

Could be due to the OLE dewirement yesterday at Rickerscote had not been handed back?

Meerkat · 17 Feb 2020

marks87 said:
Late last year, my car gave me a tyre pressure warning. I inflated the offending tyre, but a couple of weeks later the same message. Rinse and repeat once more before booking a tyre check.

The tyre was fine...but the pressure warnings were real (i.e. the tyre was indeed losing air). The cause: a broken valve on the pressure sensor - meaning the loss of pressure was being caused by the thing that exists for no other reason than to warn of a loss of pressure.

It seems that in general, the more sensors and warning systems you build into something, the greater the risk that it's them that actually cause the problem they're checking for/warning about.

What car has an actual pressure sensor in the wheel? I thought the ABS worked it out based on rotation speeds....

Bald Rick · 17 Feb 2020

Meerkat said:
What car has an actual pressure sensor in the wheel? I thought the ABS worked it out based on rotation speeds....

Almost every car since 2015 (I discovered today).

Meerkat · 17 Feb 2020

Bald Rick said:
Almost every car since 2015 (I discovered today).

How did you find out? Not doubting you, just very surprised as the ABS method sounds infinitely simpler!

ejstubbs · 18 Feb 2020

Meerkat said:
How did you find out? Not doubting you, just very surprised as the ABS method sounds infinitely simpler!

What is mandated is a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS). This can be implemented either as a direct system, using actual pressure sensors, or as an indirect system which uses data from other sensors such as those used by the ABS to detect differences in wheel rotation speeds. I have the latter on my 67 reg car.

Bald Rick · 18 Feb 2020

Meerkat said:
How did you find out? Not doubting you, just very surprised as the ABS method sounds infinitely simpler!

I googled type pressure monitoring.

M7R · 18 Feb 2020

Bald Rick said:
I googled type pressure monitoring.

The abs method is easier but no where near as accurate, it will pass type approval but not as easily as direct monitoring will.

alistairlees · 18 Feb 2020

Meerkat said:
How did you find out? Not doubting you, just very surprised as the ABS method sounds infinitely simpler!

Bald Rick said:
I googled type pressure monitoring.

M7R said:
The abs method is easier but no where near as accurate, it will pass type approval but not as easily as direct monitoring will.

Even for the Caledonian Sleeper thread this is getting wildly off topic. But maybe it’s a good sign?

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