Caledonian Sleeper discussion

[Scotrail84]

Given that things seem to be getting pretty bad with the Mk2s, would it perhaps make sense, as we move into the quieter season, to shorten the trains by a sleeper coach each and stick a Mk3 FO in for the passengers instead? (The Mk2 could remain for guard use)

Won’t happen and there’s many reasons why.

 

[adrock1976]

Coaches were RLO 6702 and BUO 9800. Both coaches were moved to Polmadie by 92044 yesterday: https://flic.kr/p/2aA8QCZ

92033 subbed in for 92044 on Wednesday night/Thursday morning after it arrived with 1S25: https://flic.kr/p/29vrom5

Could you please translate?

It is forum policy not to use abbreviations or acronyms without first saying what they mean.

 

[adrock1976]

Elgin isn't a city (assuming it's my "city" remark you were referring to?).

How come is the local football team called "Elgin City FC"?

 

[haggishunter]

How come is the local football team called "Elgin City FC"?

Royal Burgh and Cathedral City, but legal status of a city is granted by letters patent as was the case of Inverness in 2000. Going with the honorific Catherdal title you have the City and Royal Burgh of Dornoch!

 

[GW43125]

Could you please translate?

It is forum policy not to use abbreviations or acronyms without first saying what they mean.

RLO- Restaurant lounge open-lounge car
BUO-brake unclassified open-seated car

 

[Kite159]

Nice one , is it busy ?

Judging by the check in queues at Euston, the Edinburgh part looked more busy.

 

[route101]

Judging by the check in queues at Euston, the Edinburgh part looked more busy.

Was like that in April when i went from Euston too . Sunday night Northbound and very quiet .

 

[Tom m]

I travelled on the southbound highlander yesterday arriving today. Was not overly impressed with the provisions to be honest, text in the morning to say there would be no hot food, no problems as I eat before I got on, the message said breakfast was unaffected. I Was greeted with a wake up to say my choice of breakfast was not available, despite having ordered it months ago with my ticket purchase and to top it off the tea and coffee was a cup of hot water and a make it yourself afair.

Really not what I expected of what is effectivly a premium service

Edited to correct spelling mistake

 

[marks87]

...and to top it off the tea and coffee was a cup of hot water and a make it yourself afair.

Not really sure I see the problem with that.

If you're someone who drinks both, it means you don't need to decide in advance which you want. But even if you only drink one or the other, you have the option to make it as strong or weak as you like.

 

[Tom m]

Why offer the choice of different drinks then if all I am getting is a cup of hot water to make it myself.

 

[Highlandspring]

If it's any consolation its the same on the Night Riviera, along with horrible room temperature UHT milk cartons.

 

[TimboM]

Are some of them going to lose their jobs when the new stock comes in? As presumably the new couplings need less manual intervention.

You'd think they would, but in practice there's still plenty to do... the ETS load on the Mk5s is too high to go through the Dellner, so the ETS cables still need disconnecting/connecting - there's also two sets of them from what I understand. One for power and one for all the controls (doors, PA etc.)

The shunts at Carstairs and Edinburgh (as you know) involve reversing a train on to another at various points during the night - this will still need staff to supervise / advise the driver when to slow/stop etc. The Dellner coupling speed has to be below 1.5 mph; so arguably there'll be more onus on shunters to assist with the process to help ensure these tight parameters are adhered to.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Not really sure I see the problem with that.

If you're someone who drinks both, it means you don't need to decide in advance which you want. But even if you only drink one or the other, you have the option to make it as strong or weak as you like.

Instant coffee is not a premium thing, even Azera etc. Premium coffee would be espresso-based, or served in a quality cafetiere (i.e. an actual Bodum).

As for tea, on a premium service that should be served in a pot.

 

[BRX]

You'd think they would, but in practice there's still plenty to do... the ETS load on the Mk5s is too high to go through the Dellner, so the ETS cables still need disconnecting/connecting - there's also two sets of them from what I understand. One for power and one for all the controls (doors, PA etc.)

The shunts at Carstairs and Edinburgh (as you know) involve reversing a train on to another at various points during the night - this will still need staff to supervise / advise the driver when to slow/stop etc. The Dellner coupling speed has to be below 1.5 mph; so arguably there'll be more onus on shunters to assist with the process to help ensure these tight parameters are adhered to.

I was wondering whether the onboard staff could take on these roles, if heavy manual work/getting dirty/climbing on the track is no longer part of the process. Although, I think we previously speculated that connecting the cables can't be done from platform level, so it will still need people on the tracks, and I guess there needs to be someone on hand to sort things out when stuff doesn't work properly.

 

[Bungle965]

Instant coffee is not a premium thing, even Azera etc. Premium coffee would be espresso-based, or served in a quality cafetiere (i.e. an actual Bodum).

As for tea, on a premium service that should be served in a pot.

I'm sure when I have used the sleeper than tea and coffee has been served to me in a pot.
Sam

 

[Scotrail84]

I was wondering whether the onboard staff could take on these roles, if heavy manual work/getting dirty/climbing on the track is no longer part of the process. Although, I think we previously speculated that connecting the cables can't be done from platform level, so it will still need people on the tracks, and I guess there needs to be someone on hand to sort things out when stuff doesn't work properly.

Are you wanting shunters made redundant? Brake tests still need to done as well as the Delner coupling on the locos need raised and lowered as per requirements, there are more than 1 jumper cable to connect.

 

[cf111]

I'm sure when I have used the sleeper than tea and coffee has been served to me in a pot.
Sam

I've always had the hot water in the pot with the teabag/coffee in the packet. It doesn't put me up or down to be honest.

 

[JModulo]

I'm sure when I have used the sleeper than tea and coffee has been served to me in a pot.
Sam

Same here, although I usually ask for it / prefer it to be in a paper cup. Take it away upon leaving the train.

 

[BRX]

Are you wanting shunters made redundant? Brake tests still need to done as well as the Delner coupling on the locos need raised and lowered as per requirements, there are more than 1 jumper cable to connect.

I don't want anyone made redundant - but had assumed that part of the reason for going for the automatic couplings might be to reduce in the longer term the number of staff required to operate the service. It doesn't sound like that's really going to be the case though.

What I'd really like to see would be for the sleepers to become more popular, carry more passengers and maybe even expand the operation to employ *more* people than they do now. Whilst I have my scepticisms about the new stock and don't want the service to turn into a luxury only operation, perhaps the introduction of the new stock and hopefully more attractive service is going to be well timed to take advantage of what seems to be a bit of a boom in Scottish tourism.

 

[Scotrail84]

87 002 dragged 1M16 in from Wembley, 90 045 had worked the train South.

 

[Scotrail84]

92 033 on 1S25

90 045 on 1S26

90 046 on 1C11/1B26

 

[TimboM]

92 033 on 1S25

90 045 on 1S26

90 046 on 1C11/1B26

Did you catch the shunt loco for 5S96? Was a CS 92... 018?

 

[Scotrail84]

Did you catch the shunt loco for 5S96? Was a CS 92... 018?

No, sorry.

 

[TimboM]

No, sorry.

No worries.
Found out it was 018 on 5S96 last night.

Tonight’s Northbounds:
1S25 - 90048
5S95/1S26 - 92043
5S96: 87002

 

[TimboM]

92 044 has run in 0Z11 from Mossend to Polmadie earlier and on 1M11 out of Central tonight.

 

[Scotrail84]

92 033 on 1M16

 

[Harbon 1]

I'm booking for next week and the website states "Ticket vending machines at stations may have problems printing our tickets". I've read this is due to a new design being introduced. I'm not a fan of e-tickets and like having all my tickets in one place, so would collecting from the TVM at Euston on the night navigate around this, rather than chancing getting them from my local station?

 

[Scotrail84]

1S25 - 92 033/ 67 016
1S26 - 92 028
1C11/1B26 - 90 046

 

[BRX]

1S25 - 92 033/ 67 016
1S26 - 92 028
1C11/1B26 - 90 046

92028 went down to the Tunnel on Monday... I wonder when it sneaked back up again.

 

[31160]

Does anyone have any idea yet when the skip off the INV portion will be given back yet or is it there until the MK5 are in traffic, thanks