Caledonian Sleeper

[gordonjahn]

Anyone noticed that you can't book a ticket from Carlisle to London for a Friday night on the Caledonian Sleeper website? We toyed with the idea, but the train leaves Carlisle on the Saturday morning and it won't let you select a Saturday departure - the Friday option being 1:45 on the Friday. If you try for the Sunday night train, you're told there's no trains (which is sort of right as it's on Monday morning). In the end, the lack of an easy way to combine Sleeper and return on day train meant we didn't bother and booked first class advances from Glasgow so inclusive beer and dinner in place of late bed/early start!

 

[Scotrail84]

Anyone noticed that you can't book a ticket from Carlisle to London for a Friday night on the Caledonian Sleeper website? We toyed with the idea, but the train leaves Carlisle on the Saturday morning and it won't let you select a Saturday departure - the Friday option being 1:45 on the Friday. If you try for the Sunday night train, you're told there's no trains (which is sort of right as it's on Monday morning). In the end, the lack of an easy way to combine Sleeper and return on day train meant we didn't bother and booked first class advances from Glasgow so inclusive beer and dinner in place of late bed/early start!

Yes you can, just done a mock booking for Saturday the 16th.

 

[Deafdoggie]

Anyone noticed that you can't book a ticket from Carlisle to London for a Friday night on the Caledonian Sleeper website? We toyed with the idea, but the train leaves Carlisle on the Saturday morning and it won't let you select a Saturday departure - the Friday option being 1:45 on the Friday. If you try for the Sunday night train, you're told there's no trains (which is sort of right as it's on Monday morning). In the end, the lack of an easy way to combine Sleeper and return on day train meant we didn't bother and booked first class advances from Glasgow so inclusive beer and dinner in place of late bed/early start!

Yes you can, just done a mock booking for Saturday the 16th.

Think it might depend on the dates. If you try to book when it is running via East Coast and avoids Carlisle then you can't.

 

[faltskog36abba]

Early hours might be an issue. FWIW the station car park is £54 prebooked for that. How far from Preston do you live? You may want to consider a taxi each way instead.

It looks like ill have to pay the parking charges instead, We live in Manchester so a taxi isn't an option. Neither is the train to and from Preston as it would be cheaper to park than have four return rail fares-There is also waiting around at 4.45 am waiting for the first train to arrive. Ill have a look at Preston station parking info, Thank you for your reply- Much appreciated.

 

[TimboM]

It looks like ill have to pay the parking charges instead, We live in Manchester so a taxi isn't an option. Neither is the train to and from Preston as it would be cheaper to park than have four return rail fares-There is also waiting around at 4.45 am waiting for the first train to arrive. Ill have a look at Preston station parking info, Thank you for your reply- Much appreciated.

Did you consider going from/to Crewe? Slightly more sociable times for departure (23:50 ish) and arrival (05:15 ish) on the Highlander and similar drive time/distance as Preston. Rail connections may be a bit better too.
Pretty sure the prices are all the same, so CS may be amenable to amending the journey details if that was a bit better?

 

[Mathew S]

It looks like ill have to pay the parking charges instead, We live in Manchester so a taxi isn't an option. Neither is the train to and from Preston as it would be cheaper to park than have four return rail fares-There is also waiting around at 4.45 am waiting for the first train to arrive. Ill have a look at Preston station parking info, Thank you for your reply- Much appreciated.

For what it's worth, you wouldn't have long to wait for a connection back to Manchester on the Saturday morning; the first Preston - Manchester service is at about 0455. There's also a late train (to Blackpool) which gets you into Preston about 30 mins before the sleeper departs.
I've just had a quick look on national rail enquiries and 2 X adult + 2 X child anytime returns Manchester - Preston is ~£38. There are advances available on the route as well, for less than that.
Assuming you can get to/from Piccadilly with little hassle, the rail connection might be worth considering.

The caveat to all of that is that we don't yet know what the Northern timetable will be for when you want to travel. Though we should know within the next few weeks.

Hope that's some help.

 

[GW43125]

UID freightliner 90 on 1S25 tonight

 

[TimboM]

UID freightliner 90 on 1S25 tonight

Skoda 42

 

[31160]

Skoda 42

Has the use of 90's been reducing of late, the usual quotes are 92's now? Also will the ECS 86's and 87 be made compatible with the new stock or will they be released when the MK5's start

 

[TimboM]

Has the use of 90's been reducing of late, the usual quotes are 92's now? Also will the ECS 86's and 87 be made compatible with the new stock or will they be released when the MK5's start

Only 92s and 73/9s will be compatible with the Mk5s. Everything else will go off-hire (86s, 87, 90s, 67s).

90 use has increased recently as the 92s prepare for the Mk5s (mods, testing etc). There are 3x 90s on hire currently and typically will be working 2 of the 5 diagrams and 92s the other 3 - but can be more or less.

The last time there was no Skoda involved was mid-July last year.

 

[87031]

Booking on new stock after June??. Does anyone know if breakfast is included in the new fare which at the moment for the basic single room appear the same as the Mk3 stock in price?

 

[Scotrail84]

Theres a spare 90 lying at Waverley in case of failures as well.

 

[TimboM]

Theres a spare 90 lying at Waverley in case of failures as well.

The current 'spare' at Waverley, 90044, was showing "F"ailed on TOPS on Wednesday before 92 018 took it north on 1S25 that night.

 

[VT 390]

Booking on new stock after June??. Does anyone know if breakfast is included in the new fare which at the moment for the basic single room appear the same as the Mk3 stock in price?

I think Breakfast is included in the price of the Club and Caledonian Double rooms on the new stock, but can be purchased when travelling in the classic rooms.

 

[Scotrail84]

The current 'spare' at Waverley, 90044, was showing "F"ailed on TOPS on Wednesday before 92 018 took it north on 1S25 that night.

No cab heating in one driving cab.

 

[Deafdoggie]

From a purely technical perpesctive, as the new TPE stock is MK5, same as the new CS stock, could a TPE class 68 haul the sleeper? And a CS 73/92 haul a TPE train?
Or is it a bit like saying the current CS stock is MK3 & The Highland Chiefton is MK3, but you can’t stick HST power cars on the Sleeper?
I appreciate there are 1001 other reasons why it would never happen even if it could in theory, but for people like me with no technical knowledge at all, can it be done?

 

[Bletchleyite]

No. The CS stock has Scharfenberg couplers and the TPE stock conventional drawgear and buffers.

 

[87031]

I think Breakfast is included in the price of the Club and Caledonian Double rooms on the new stock, but can be purchased when travelling in the classic rooms.

Thanks for that info.

 

[MrEd]

Booking on new stock after June??. Does anyone know if breakfast is included in the new fare which at the moment for the basic single room appear the same as the Mk3 stock in price?

Further to this question, does anyone know what sort of changes are planned as regards catering on the new stock? Will the Club Car be a similar sort of set-up to the current lounge car, with modernised furniture and perhaps an enhanced menu, and will there still be a buffet for seated passengers/sleeper passengers who want to take refreshments back to their berths? Presumably the new Mk5 kitchens will have a larger range of equipment so that certain items on the menu can be cooked from fresh? Will the Club Car be strictly first class only, or will it be the same policy as applies currently (i.e. both classes usually allowed, but can be restricted to first class customers at busy times)?

 

[gordonjahn]

Yes you can, just done a mock booking for Saturday the 16th.

My mistake - turns out it’s if you select a date, e.g a Friday expecting the Friday night sleeper, then realise it’s given you the Thursday night sleeper, you can’t go forward and select Saturday - you have to restart the booking process.

 

[TimboM]

Further to this question, does anyone know what sort of changes are planned as regards catering on the new stock? Will the Club Car be a similar sort of set-up to the current lounge car, with modernised furniture and perhaps an enhanced menu, and will there still be a buffet for seated passengers/sleeper passengers who want to take refreshments back to their berths? Presumably the new Mk5 kitchens will have a larger range of equipment so that certain items on the menu can be cooked from fresh? Will the Club Car be strictly first class only, or will it be the same policy as applies currently (i.e. both classes usually allowed, but can be restricted to first class customers at busy times)?

It'll be similar to the current service, although the kitchens will have improved cooking facilities (currently just a microwave I believe).

Club Car will provide a full bar service and evening meal options to be eaten either there or guests can take to their berth/room. Guests in the seats will have an at seat service available.

Breakfast is included in Caledonian Double or Club accommodation or can be purchased in Classic or seats.

There's some shots of the insides of the carriages, including the Club Car, on the CAF website: https://www.caf.net/en/productos-servicios/proyectos/proyecto-detalle.php?p=277

 

[leightonbd]

Hiatus boarding the northbound Lowlander tonight - apparently the designated engine failed. Late boarding (2250 or so) with the train temporarily powered by the inbound 86, Mons Meg.

Waiting with bated breath ... not quite the same, wondering if you’re going to be turfed off!

Staff all VG though with someone who seemed to be a senior manager at the check in to help manage any disaffected customers, though I didn’t see any. Yet!

 

[Jedipickles]

Hiatus boarding the northbound Lowlander tonight - apparently the designated engine failed. Late boarding (2250 or so) with the train temporarily powered by the inbound 86, Mons Meg.

Waiting with bated breath ... not quite the same, wondering if you’re going to be turfed off!

Staff all VG though with someone who seemed to be a senior manager at the check in to help manage any disaffected customers, though I didn’t see any. Yet!

87002 is apparently working 1S26 tonight...

 

[leightonbd]

87002 is apparently working 1S26 tonight...

Is that the original choice or the planned replacement?

 

[Jedipickles]

Is that the original choice or the planned replacement?

VSTP Replacement

 

[Highlandspring]

VSTP Replacement

What do you mean by the term VSTP? The train is running under the booked WTT schedule albeit 22 mins late at the moment.

 

[TimboM]

Is that the original choice or the planned replacement?

014 was the planned loco on 1S26. Issue with some in-cab equipment.
87002 the only other available loco at Wembley and ran in to take the train north... what bad luck, eh!!!

 

[island]

What do you mean by the term VSTP? The train is running under the booked WTT schedule albeit 22 mins late at the moment.

I think it’s a variation on STP short term plan, possibly adding “very”.

 

[MadCommuter]

A nice 87 & 86 top n tail at Glasgow Central this morning.

 

[leightonbd]

Well, congrats to 87002. Late away but made up the time easily; might even have been early at Carstairs. Presumably it has to do it all again tonight?