Caledonian Sleeper

[Trainfan2019]

Spotted at Crewe this morning. My photos...

 

[Bald Rick]

Going to be even later in to Euston, it’s stranded north of a major signalling failure at Wembley.

 

[Highlandspring]

169L leaving Kingussie. Fielding 2x73s rather than 1x66+1x73 not such a good plan?

73967 dumped at Carrbridge for recovery to Craigentinny at some point.

 

[D6130]

Going to be even later in to Euston, it’s stranded north of a major signalling failure at Wembley.

Looks like the 'Journey of a night time' is going to be the 'Journey of a day time' too!

EDIT: RTT shows it terminating at Harrow & Wealdstone 156L. It's going to be the 'Journey of a bus time' again!

SECOND EDIT: If 73 967 has been dumped in the siding at Carr Bridge, presumably 73 971 was able to carry on solo over Druimuachdar. If the problem occurred on the downhill run from Slochd - which appears to be the case from RTT - presumably it was something to do with brakes (wheel flats?) rather than a power issue.

 

[800001]

Going to be even later in to Euston, it’s stranded north of a major signalling failure at Wembley.

Terminated at Harrow and Wealdstone.

 

[najaB]

If 73 967 & 73 971 have been dumped in the siding at Carr Bridge, what worked the train forward from there?

Were both 73s detached or just 73967?

 

[D6130]

Were both 73s detached or just 73967?

Sorry, I misinterpreted @Highlandspring's post, which contained a typo. It would appear that 73 967 was detached at Carr Bridge and 73 971 was able to carry on alone. I have amended my post accordingly.

 

[Highlandspring]

Sorry I didn’t spot the typo until later, I edited the post to correct it. Anyway the problem was with the engine (shut down and unable to be restarted) and was nothing to do with brakes or flats.

Also Carrbridge is one word not two and the loco was left in the loop.

 

[najaB]

Sorry, I misinterpreted @Highlandspring's post, which contained a typo.

Ah, okay. I was wondering if I'd misread something.

 

[D6130]

Sorry I didn’t spot the typo until later, I edited the post to correct it. Anyway the problem was with the engine (shut down and unable to be restarted) and was nothing to do with brakes or flats.

Also Carrbridge is one word not two and the loco was left in the loop.

Fair enough....I shall consider my hand well and truly slapped on both counts! However, if it was just a case of the engine shutting down, could the dead loco not have been towed on to Edinburgh....or would it have put the train over the weight limit for a single 73/9? Presumably the dead loco will have to be moved fairly quickly, as ISTR that there are passenger services which are booked to cross at Carrbridge.

 

[paul1609]

Fair enough....I shall consider my hand well and truly slapped on both counts! However, if it was just a case of the engine shutting down, could the dead loco not have been towed on to Edinburgh....or would it have put the train over the weight limit for a single 73/9? Presumably the dead loco will have to be moved fairly quickly, as ISTR that there are passenger services which are booked to cross at Carrbridge.

If its the 73 next to the train that's failed I don't think the front 73 can supply ETH which is necessary for the on train services doors etc.

 

[D6130]

If its the 73 next to the train that's failed I don't think the front 73 can supply ETH which is necessary for the on train services doors etc.

That makes sense....thanks.

 

[najaB]

Also Carrbridge is one word not two and the loco was left in the loop.

I can't remember, are the sidings at Carrbridge OOU?

Edit - Remembered I had a copy of the sectional appendix downloaded, answered my own question:

 

[FOCTOC]

I was planning an expensive family trip to Scotland and back to try out the new service last month. Never happened due to a variety of reasons but the more I look at this thread to more happy I am to have missed it!

 

[williamn]

I was planning an expensive family trip to Scotland and back to try out the new service last month. Never happened due to a variety of reasons but the more I look at this thread to more happy I am to have missed it!

Remember that only trips that go wrong get remarked upon here, the vast majority happen absolutely fine and there's no reason to write about them. I've been using the service regularly since March and the worst that's happened is the destination being moved from Glasgow to Edinburgh twice which is a minor inconvenience at most.

 

[185143]

Remember that only trips that go wrong get remarked upon here, the vast majority happen absolutely fine and there's no reason to write about them. I've been using the service regularly since March and the worst that's happened is the destination being moved from Glasgow to Edinburgh twice which is a minor inconvenience at most.

Anyone who was intending to connect onto the 08:23 Glasgow-Oban would disagree!

 

[Berliner]

Anyone who was intending to connect onto the 08:23 Glasgow-Oban would disagree!

When it runs to Edinburgh, it usually arrives into Waverely very early due to no shunt at Carstairs, meaning most of the time people can get the 0715 to Queen Street and make their connection to Oban.

 

[6Z09]

When it runs to Edinburgh, it usually arrives into Waverely very early due to no shunt at Carstairs, meaning most of the time people can get the 0715 to Queen Street and make their connection to Oban.

I think it's on very rare occasions anyone would get the 0715!
More often than not it's sat at Mid Calder to allow a Scotrail stopping train to run ahead.
Monday morning for example, 49 early leaving Carstairs, 11 late at Waverley, not a reliable connection for Oban!!

 

[800001]

Tuesday night I was 20 plus early, then sat at Midcalder Junction and arrived 3 late.
All through platforms are busy that time of morning.

 

[Gonzoiku]

Terminated at Harrow and Wealdstone.

I believe this may have been covered in Loose Women on TV - Daily Record refers:

Kaye Adams 'feels like she's held hostage' in furious rant on Caledonian Sleeper

The Scottish presenter ranted on Twitter after her train ran three hours late.

www.dailyrecord.co.uk

Kaye Adams went on a furious Twitter rant and complained she felt like she was 'being held hostage' on delayed Caledonian Sleeper train.

The 58-year-old Scot vented that the eight hour journey was 3 hours late and there were no staff members on board to explain what was going on.

Kaye had been travelling from Scotland to London to present Loose Women but due to her train delays, she said it's not looking likely that she will make it.

The cost of a ticket for the Caledonian Sleeper ranges between £185 and £335 and the presenter was raging with the company.

Speaking to her 80,000 followers, Kaye vented about the journey.

She said: "On a train somewhere outside London, no idea where, three hours late on an eight hour journey, and I'm trying to say to myself, 'Kaye, calm down come on these things happen, they've obviously had a little accident during the night and then I think to myself, are you sh***ing me?'

She added: "This is extortionate, this is a commercial company, three hours late on an eight hour trip? NO! It's ****e!"

In another video, Kaye went on to say that she felt like she was being held hostage and even tagged the company.

She said: "I literally feel like I have been taken hostage by a train company. We're stuck at the station, there's nobody telling us piss all.

"We are two or three hours late, I have lost count and that's it, there's nobody to be seen."

Caledonian Sleeper responded on Twitter: "Hello there has been a signal failure at Harrow and Wealdstone. I would advise to speak to the staff on board. I believe you will be getting a day service train to arrive into London. I am not aware of how long this will take at this current time. Garry."

And Kaye replied: "Thanks Garry , zero communication from staff. Now in an Uber."

And Kaye's followers also replied to the videos.

One said: "Will be watching loose women to see if you make it"

And Kaye responded: "Not looking good at this date."

Another added: "100% Right Kaye."

While one wrote: "Of course they're obligated but things happen. Terrible unplanned things. Someone could have jumped somewhere along the line & that's the point you're missing. It's not about you. Just sit tight & you'll get there.......eventually."

The Daily Record contacted the Caledonian Sleeper.

A spokesperson for Caledonian Sleeper said: “Due to signalling issues in the Wembley area, our already late running Southbound Highlander service had to be terminated at Harrow & Wealdstone this morning. In order to get our guests to their destination as quickly as possible, we arranged for our guests to be escorted by our staff onto London Overground services. We’re sorry to all of our guests who were affected by these issues, and they can apply for refunds via the Delay Repay scheme. All of tonight’s Caledonian Sleeper services are due to run as scheduled.”

 

[Berliner]

I think it's on very rare occasions anyone would get the 0715!
More often than not it's sat at Mid Calder to allow a Scotrail stopping train to run ahead.
Monday morning for example, 49 early leaving Carstairs, 11 late at Waverley, not a reliable connection for Oban!!

I wouldn't say "very rare". I was on it on Wednesday and it arrived into Waverely at 0656, looking at RTT, on Saturday it was at 0701. I know of at least 2 occasions in the week before that where it's ran as one service and arrived in time for the 0715 GSQ service as I was in Waverley at that time and saw it coming in.

 

[Unstoppable]

Back to the usual 66 + 73 tonight.. Who ever thought it was a good idea to use 73s in the first place?

 

[najaB]

The 58-year-old Scot vented that the eight hour journey was 3 hours late and there were no staff members on board to explain what was going on.

I wonder where they went...?

 

[Bletchleyite]

I wonder where they went...?

What's their version of Coach K?

 

[6Z09]

I wouldn't say "very rare". I was on it on Wednesday and it arrived into Waverely at 0656, looking at RTT, on Saturday it was at 0701. I know of at least 2 occasions in the week before that where it's ran as one service and arrived in time for the 0715 GSQ service as I was in Waverley at that time and saw it coming in.

To suggest it's a reliable connection for Oban is ridiculous.

 

[800001]

I wonder where they went...?

She probably never looked

 

[adrock1976]

I wouldn't say "very rare". I was on it on Wednesday and it arrived into Waverely at 0656, looking at RTT, on Saturday it was at 0701. I know of at least 2 occasions in the week before that where it's ran as one service and arrived in time for the 0715 GSQ service as I was in Waverley at that time and saw it coming in.

When you say "arrived in time for the 07:15 Glasgow Queen Street (GLQ is the three letter code)", do you mean that it arrived at 07:05 or earlier at Waverley?

The minimum interchange time at Edinburgh Waverley is 10 minutes, therefore any arrivals after 07:05 is not a recognised connection.

 

[Bald Rick]

How many people on the lowlander are going to be aiming for the Oban train? Not very many, I’d wager.

 

[Berliner]

To suggest it's a reliable connection for Oban is ridiculous.

Where did I suggest that?

I merely pointed out it's not "very rare" to arrive in time to make that connection as it has done so at least twice this week.

When you say "arrived in time for the 07:15 Glasgow Queen Street (GLQ is the three letter code)", do you mean that it arrived at 07:05 or earlier at Waverley?

The minimum interchange time at Edinburgh Waverley is 10 minutes, therefore any arrivals after 07:05 is not a recognised connection.

You don't need 10 minutes to make a connection at Waverley, official time or not. Being a recognised connection is irrelevant. That aside, if the Glasgow portion is cancelled and it runs to Edinburgh, if it arrives in time to make the 0715 train to Glasgow then people will go for it, they aren't going to hang around and miss the train just because it's not an official connection. In both of my examples from this week it arrived before 0705 anyway.

 

[SteveM70]

The bottom line is that CS is an incredibly fragile service, and it is the least resilient TOC in the event that something goes wrong. Conversely, it charges the highest fares and is the only TOC that advertises itself as, for want of a better expression, more than just a train service.

And it’s a real shame too. I used to love getting the sleeper from Preston up to Fort Bill. But I wouldn’t do it now