Caledonian Sleeper

[norbitonflyer]

Most people will want to go home again so you don't need to abandon it, just park it

Fine for a business trip or family visit, but public transport has the great advantage over a private car that you can leave it somewhere and pick it up somewhere else. Much of the sleepers' custom, particularly the Highland sleeper, is tourists get to and from walking or cycling trips - for example the West Highland Way (Glasgow-ish to Fort William) or the Great Glen Way (FW to Inverness). (The Great Glen Way can also be cycled).

 

[Bald Rick]

Fine for a business trip or family visit, but public transport has the great advantage over a private car that you can leave it somewhere and pick it up somewhere else. Much of the sleepers' custom, particularly the Highland sleeper, is tourists get to and from walking or cycling trips - for example the West Highland Way (Glasgow-ish to Fort William) or the Great Glen Way (FW to Inverness). (The Great Glen Way can also be cycled).

My trip was for walking

 

[Bletchleyite]

Fine for a business trip or family visit, but public transport has the great advantage over a private car that you can leave it somewhere and pick it up somewhere else. Much of the sleepers' custom, particularly the Highland sleeper, is tourists get to and from walking or cycling trips - for example the West Highland Way (Glasgow-ish to Fort William) or the Great Glen Way (FW to Inverness). (The Great Glen Way can also be cycled).

True, but there is a day train service that can get you back to your car.

 

[John Bishop]

Highlander guests offloaded in Kingussie this morning due to fire alarms onboard. Apparently also suggestions of traction problems as well.

The story has made the local press with pictures of numerous passengers with suitcases standing at Kingussie station awaiting busses.

 

[norbitonflyer]

True, but there is a day train service that can get you back to your car.

From Inverness to Fort William? That takes all day - nearly eight hours, which will become thirteen if you arrive at Queen Street more than 15 minutes late.

Granted the City Link bus only takes two hours, although that's not a lot of help if you did the GGW by bike.

Many years ago I did the West Highland Way during a train strike, which did involve driving to Glasgow, leaving the car there and returning by public transport (planned to be by bus, but in fact the strike was resolved before we got to FW). We returned to find the car had been vandalised.

 

[JonathanH]

Highlander guests offloaded in Kingussie this morning due to fire alarms onboard. Apparently also suggestions of traction problems as well.

The story has made the local press with pictures of numerous passengers with suitcases standing at Kingussie station awaiting busses.

73970 went to Fort William alone this morning, having put in a creditable performance on the southbound Inverness service last night.
66738+73967 swapping to the Inverness off Fort William
73969+73971 on Aberdeen.

No sign of anything coming to rescue 66747. They will be running out of siding space at this rate.

 

[Tormod]

Highlander guests offloaded in Kingussie this morning due to fire alarms onboard. Apparently also suggestions of traction problems as well.

The story has made the local press with pictures of numerous passengers with suitcases standing at Kingussie station awaiting busses.

I noticed that it eventually went onto Inverness as 5S25

 

[Sleepy]

I used the "solo sleeper supplement" several times with a std class All Line Rover about 8-12 years ago on both the Euston to Aberdeen and Paddington to Penzance (PNZ) sleepers. The PNZ one was £50 and the Aberdeen one was slightly more but cannot remember the exact price £55/£60 ?.
I see the PNZ solo supplement is now £90:

London - Cornwall sleeper train | Night Riviera timetable, fares & tickets

Timetables, fares, information & how to buy tickets for the First Great Western 'Night Riviera' sleeper train service between London & Penzance, Plymouth, St Ives, Truro, Falmouth and other destinations in Cornwall. Also connections from Penzance to the Scilly Isles, Penzance to Land's End & St...

www.seat61.com

One thing to note when travelling with companion the connecting door cannot be unlocked between cabins as staff unable to enter berths (Covid restriction)

 

[BRX]

73970 went to Fort William alone this morning, having put in a creditable performance on the southbound Inverness service last night.
66738+73967 swapping to the Inverness off Fort William
73969+73971 on Aberdeen.

No sign of anything coming to rescue 66747. They will be running out of siding space at this rate.

73970 did indeed put in a creditable performance last night; I was one of the passengers. We were about 12 minutes down by the time we reached Drumochter.

It's a bit disappointing to see that the various lockdown periods have not allowed CS to get on top of maintenance. There are still lots of things broken, and some of them the same things that were broken last time I travelled about a year ago. The (shared) toilet doors for example. The one on our coach was completely off its runners and stuck half open. The one on the neighbouring coach out of order for unknown reason, so you had to walk at least two coach lengths to find a functioning one. Multiple small things in the cabin like a rubber tread missing on the ladder leaving some screws and metal edges to catch your feet on. The cumulative effect of all these things gives an impression not entirely different from the last couple of years of the mk3s where things were generally being allowed to start to fall apart. Perhaps not that bad yet - but give it two more years rather than another 30.

Having said all that, this time we were in an end cabin - and noise/ride didn't seem to me as bad as some other reviews here suggest. I'd not say it's noticeably better/worse than the mk3s.

 

[JonathanH]

Movements around Scotland:

66747 going to Craigentinny as 0M16 Dunkeld & Birnham to Craigentinny

- - TrackIT!

trackit.uppyjc.co.uk

66791 heading to Millerhill and then presumably to Aberdeen
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:38764/2021-06-29/detailed
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:38788/2021-06-29/detailed

I guess there should be a balancing 73 move from Aberdeen to Aviemore to rescue the Inverness sleeper.
1Z99 reported at Pitlochry at 1252 but can't see where it has come from

Pitlochry - TrackIT!

trackit.uppyjc.co.uk

 

[JohnMcL7]

Someone was asking about a small loco they'd seen south of Stonehaven at around half ten which someone answered was a 73 going to Aviemore (although can't find it on RTT), what happened to the Inverness sleeper? When is the sleeper likely to be moving back up to Inverness?

 

[JonathanH]

Someone was asking about a small loco they'd seen south of Stonehaven at around half ten which someone answered was a 73 going to Aviemore, what happened to the Inverness sleeper?

Inverness sleeper failed at Kingussie this morning - reports of fire alarm being activated and the 73 not being able to supply ETS - passengers off at Kingussie, but I think it has managed to proceed to platform 1 at Aviemore.

Pictures here (as noted in the posts above)

Sleeper passengers stranded at Kingussie 'will receive full refunds'

Service operator apologises for locomotive problems on way to Highland capital

www.inverness-courier.co.uk

Caledonian Sleeper has to quit its journey to Highland capital at Kingussie
By Tom Ramage - [email protected]
Published: 12:50, 29 June 2021 | Updated: 12:56, 29 June 2021

There were also problems with the locomotive engine, according to witnesses at the Badenoch stop.

The train came to a half round about 9am and it wasn't long before coaches appeared to pick up the travellers.

Passengers were transferred to coaches for the rest of the journey to the Highland capitalPassengers were transferred to coaches for the rest of the journey to the Highland capital
By noon the empty train limped on to Aviemore, where it sat awaiting technical support.

Magnus Conn, Serco’s operations director of the Caledonian Sleeper, told the Strathy:

“We are very sorry that our guests on the Highland service to Inverness had their journey disrupted.

"There was a technical problem on one of the two locomotives pulling the train and we took the decision to stop the train at Kingussie and complete the guests’ journey by coach.

"All our guests will be offered a full refund.”

I noticed that it eventually went onto Inverness as 5S25

No, only as far as Aviemore.

 

[6Z09]

A couple of posts mention cycle trips to the Highlands.
Inverness, yes a viable journey on the Sleeper.
Fort William, less so, as you have the considerable grief of transferring your bike at Waverley in the middle of the night!

 

[Leisurefirst]

Sleeper was still sat at Aviemore platform 1 this morning when I passed through the station around 11 and still there at 2.30pm (see pic).
Had gone sometime in the next 30 minutes, platform now empty.

 

[JonathanH]

Sleeper was still sat at Aviemore platform 1 this morning when I passed through the station around 11 and still there at 2.30pm (see pic).
Had gone sometime in the next 30 minutes, platform now empty.

66738 and 73967 should have left Aviemore for Inverness at 1408 (as 0Z25) and the replacement 73 plus stock (as 5S25) at 1452.

 

[Stathern Jc]

73790 alone on the front of Inverness train this evening. We're currently making slow but steady progress towards slochd.

Saw it come over Culloden Viaduct. Thought 73970 seemed to be doing pretty well considering it was on its own.

 

[BRX]

Saw it come over Culloden Viaduct. Thought 73970 seemed to be doing pretty well considering it was on its own.

I think we saw you filming, just at that location!

 

[al78]

Fine for a business trip or family visit, but public transport has the great advantage over a private car that you can leave it somewhere and pick it up somewhere else. Much of the sleepers' custom, particularly the Highland sleeper, is tourists get to and from walking or cycling trips - for example the West Highland Way (Glasgow-ish to Fort William) or the Great Glen Way (FW to Inverness). (The Great Glen Way can also be cycled).

I've done that myself, Sleeper to Blair Atholl, walk the Minigaig over two days, Sleeper from Kingussie. It allows a good weekend of walking in Scotland if you live in SE England. If I was planning on doing that now, the increased cost of the sleeper would incite me to take a day off work either side of the weekend and drive to Blair Atholl, walk for 2-3 days, say, to Aviemore up glen Tilt and across the Lairig Ghru, then get a train back to Blair Atholl.

 

[Stathern Jc]

Was surprised to be the only one up there. Can't have been many times that a lone 73 has worked the sleeper out of Inverness.

 

[Bald Rick]

I've done that myself, Sleeper to Blair Atholl, walk the Minigaig over two days, Sleeper from Kingussie. It allows a good weekend of walking in Scotland if you live in SE England. If I was planning on doing that now, the increased cost of the sleeper would incite me to take a day off work either side of the weekend and drive to Blair Atholl, walk for 2-3 days, say, to Aviemore up glen Tilt and across the Lairig Ghru, then get a train back to Blair Atholl.

If taking the day off - why not day train?

 

[Bletchleyite]

If taking the day off - why not day train?

Very true - if you're going from London, WCML to Glasgow then on to FW is a genuinely interesting and in places stunningly beautiful trip throughout, and not actually all that expensive even walk-up. Whereas driving it in one go while possible is a drag. In some ways it's a waste of the scenery to use the Sleeper!

 

[paul1609]

My recent experience: in order to get to Fort William for 10am, leave home at 7pm the previous evening, M1, M6 and Carlisle Travelodge. £100 one way all in.

Whilst I am not advocating it, I mention it to show that there are other options available.

You can get a range of flights from London Airports at lunchtime that will let you connect with the 15.25 Citylink bus to Fort William (bus stop 7 at Glasgow Airport) gets to Fort William 18.15.

 

[JonathanH]

Whereas driving it in one go while possible is a drag. In some ways it's a waste of the scenery to use the Sleeper!

At this time of year most of the journey on the Fort William sleeper over the most scenic sections is in daylight and after passengers would normally wake up in any case.

You can get a range of flights from London Airports at lunchtime that will let you connect with the 15.25 Citylink bus to Fort William (bus stop 7 at Glasgow Airport) gets to Fort William 18.15.

Yes, although my experience is that you need to book the coach as there is no guarantee there will be seats available if you don't. The driver had a clipboard and was doing careful monitoring of numbers when I made the journey one time.

 

[paul1609]

That's fine if you have a car and don't mind abandoning it at FW. (Having tried on a previous trip, I could find no car hire firms which offered one-way hire beginning or ending at FW)

Practical Fort William are in Corpach they will pick you up drop you off in Fort William. I couldnt book it on line but my local agent in Rye Sussex could arrange a one way in two hours, it wouldnt have undercut Europcar for a similar journey but it wasnt extortionate either.

At this time of year most of the journey on the Fort William sleeper over the most scenic sections is in daylight and after passengers would normally wake up in any case.


Yes, although my experience is that you need to book the coach as there is no guarantee there will be seats available if you don't. The driver had a clipboard and was doing careful monitoring of numbers when I made the journey one time.

Dont get the point you are making you have to book the flight or the sleeper so why is it an issue for the coach?

 

[Bald Rick]

You can get a range of flights from London Airports at lunchtime that will let you connect with the 15.25 Citylink bus to Fort William (bus stop 7 at Glasgow Airport) gets to Fort William 18.15.

Not so useful for getting to FW mid morning, but 8 agree there are many options.

 

[JonathanH]

Practical Fort William are in Corpach they will pick you up drop you off in Fort William. I couldnt book it on line but my local agent in Rye Sussex could arrange a one way in two hours, it wouldnt have undercut Europcar for a similar journey but it wasnt extortionate either.

Yes, I used them once - picked up at Corpach Station and arrangements were to leave the car keys with the ticket office at Fort William on return.

Dont get the point you are making you have to book the flight or the sleeper so why is it an issue for the coach?

I didn't say it was an issue - more a warning that loadings can be tight.

 

[Bletchleyite]

At this time of year most of the journey on the Fort William sleeper over the most scenic sections is in daylight and after passengers would normally wake up in any case.

Don't forget the WCML is interesting near enough throughout, quite nice through the Chilterns, and the bit over Shap is one of the most visually stunning pieces of railway (and motorway) in the country in my view.

Yes, although my experience is that you need to book the coach as there is no guarantee there will be seats available if you don't. The driver had a clipboard and was doing careful monitoring of numbers when I made the journey one time.

Yes, absolutely book the coach, it fills up, often well in advance too!

 

[paul1609]

Not so useful for getting to FW mid morning, but 8 agree there are many options.

The OP was saying he had to get a taxi from home at 5am to stay in a hotel overnight in FW thats nonsense.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The OP was saying he had to get a taxi from home at 5am to stay in a hotel overnight in FW thats nonsense.

When I've done it by day train I've stayed overnight in Glasgow and taken the first normal day train. Admittedly only gets you there for 12ish.

 

[Blindtraveler]

If any mods are looking at this what are the chances of possibly splitting sleeper discussion into two separate threads? One of them discussing day-to-day operations and things like that which is where people more interested in broken locomotives, unusual allocations or or horrendous or not customer experiences might go and another for discussing the viability or otherwise of the service, whether we should still be sharing cabins in 2021 and things relating to trip ideas and car hire etc. For my personal liking there's just too many topics on one page