Caledonian Sleeper

[Bletchleyite]

The southbound doesn't stop at WFJ does it?

Note that reservations are actually compulsory on CS - if you turn up without one for a seat you will likely be turned away.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

The southbound doesn't stop at WFJ does it?

The Lowlander does, at 06.38

 

[railfan99]

Thank you to so many of you for amazingly detailed and relevant information. A foreigner, I'm hopefully doing this in not too long: I had no difficulty booking, but the thought of having to sit in the lounge/dining car doesn't impress.

Another Australian friend who used CS recently said the ride was quite rough, but otherwise he enjoyed it. I don't know whether he was over the bogies at the end of a car (sorry, in Oz, 'car' is short for 'carriage').

 

[Peter Sarf]

I have my first sleeper journey in almost 12 months at the end of next week. Despite the fact that I am seated and the ticket I've got requires me to bail out at Watford junction at some ungodly time on a Saturday morning, I'm really quite looking forward to it. With the exception of during covid, I have never gone this long between uses of the sleeper since I started using it back in about 2005. I'm glad from the point of view of the amount of subsidy hopefully won't need for much longer DA8 is the busiest it's ever been but still saddened that the the entire package is being marketed at tourists and that regular locals like myself are simply no longer de-as able as we wants were to use this very useful service. I'm I'm riding on and off-peak return from Edinburgh to Hampshire which will be broken multiple times in the northbound direction and the sleeper may be used northbound from Watford the following week if I can get a seat

Just in case you missed it @Blindtraveler see BELOW.

..................

Note that reservations are actually compulsory on CS - if you turn up without one for a seat you will likely be turned away.

 

[Iskra]

Thank you to so many of you for amazingly detailed and relevant information. A foreigner, I'm hopefully doing this in not too long: I had no difficulty booking, but the thought of having to sit in the lounge/dining car doesn't impress.

Another Australian friend who used CS recently said the ride was quite rough, but otherwise he enjoyed it. I don't know whether he was over the bogies at the end of a car (sorry, in Oz, 'car' is short for 'carriage').

What do you mean by the thought of sitting in the lounge/dining car doesn’t impress?

 

[Blindtraveler]

Thanks for the help and concern of posters above. Yes I'm fully aware of the compulsory reservations, I've been asleep a user for long enough to not be caught by this one. What I meant and probably should have said was that the Edinburgh seats on a northbound Friday I usually pretty well loaded and as I don't know my exact plans for the end of that week yet I suspect that by the time I ring up to enquire about the availability of a seat there will be none left. The lowlander allows passengers to fall out at Watford at the somewhat and savoury time of 6:35 or thereabouts of a morning, yuk. I have one of my favourite seats in the new seating coaches reserved in row 10 for the southbound trip.

 

[Essexman]

I see there is now a strike on 15th Sept.

Does that mean that the southbound sleeper from Inverness on 14th is likely to be cancelled?



This trip is my last opportunity to use two of my three remaining Flexipass tickets so if the trip is cancelled I hope I’ll get a refund and not a refunded flexipass with three days validity left on it.

I’ve already told CS that I won’t be buying another Flexipass after they refused to extend the validity despite two trips being cancelled – one due to strike, one due to the weather.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

The strike on the 15th is a drivers strike.

The Sleeper will be unaffected unless the RMT announces a strike on the same date - which they must do no later than tomorrow. If there is no RMT strike called tomorrow, you'll be safe.

 

[JamieL]

I see there is now a strike on 15th Sept.

Does that mean that the southbound sleeper from Inverness on 14th is likely to be cancelled?



This trip is my last opportunity to use two of my three remaining Flexipass tickets so if the trip is cancelled I hope I’ll get a refund and not a refunded flexipass with three days validity left on it.

I’ve already told CS that I won’t be buying another Flexipass after they refused to extend the validity despite two trips being cancelled – one due to strike, one due to the weather.

Do the flexipass tickets offer much of a saving? I had a quick look and the cost seemed to equate to £210 per journey whereas a Club single is normally less than that. Have I miscalculated or is the value just to avoid the Summer price peaks?

 

[Essexman]

Do the flexipass tickets offer much of a saving? I had a quick look and the cost seemed to equate to £210 per journey whereas a Club single is normally less than that. Have I miscalculated or is the value just to avoid the Summer price peaks?

It used to cover the cost of about 7 journeys with 3 as a bonus - ideal when I bought it for work for 3 - 4 business trip a year so I could have a couple just for enjoyment.

With the new fares the savings are greater on the Highlander in summer when it's busy but less I think on the Lowlander and when trains are quiet. But it does give flexibility as booking can be cancelled free of charge up to a couple of days before travel.

Railcards however can't be used, so that, less need for business travel, along with CS inflexibility to allow me to extend the validity when two trips were cancelled due to trains not running, mean that I won't buy another one and will use the sleeper less.

 

[railfan99]

What do you mean by the thought of sitting in the lounge/dining car doesn’t impress?

Sorry, I must have forgotten to add 'on the stools.' I vastly prefer chairs with backs.

 

[Iskra]

Sorry, I must have forgotten to add 'on the stools.' I vastly prefer chairs with backs.

Okay, there are some proper chairs.

 

[railfan99]

Okay, there are some proper chairs.

Maybe you didn't read previous comments. Allegedly, some staff can be uppity about one person occupying a four-seater 'booth' if I can use that term.

That's fine if there are groups of say three or four wanting a space in which to dine together, but it's not good if this dining/lounge car is otherwise pretty empty. One could sit there and make it clear to staff that they'll move if a larger party arrives.

 

[Iskra]

Maybe you didn't read previous comments. Allegedly, some staff can be uppity about one person occupying a four-seater 'booth' if I can use that term.

That's fine if there are groups of say three or four wanting a space in which to dine together, but it's not good if this dining/lounge car is otherwise pretty empty. One could sit there and make it clear to staff that they'll move if a larger party arrives.

The best way is to get there early and courteously request a proper seat, but expect some form of negotiation ie. ‘that’s fine, but it might have to be later on.’ It’s really important to be polite and respectful and reasonable with the staff, as well as being polite it will result in a better journey.

 

[zero]

In June, I singly occupied the four-seater table for about 2 hours with some people deciding that they didn't want to sit with me and going back to their room. Then a couple approached me and asked if they could sit there, which they did for 20 minutes until they were then kicked out by the staff.

They had wanted to order something but no staff were visible for 20 minutes, so they got out some snacks from their bag. When the staff member came by he began the interaction by quite rudely saying "you're not allowed outside food here" so they decided to leave, even though they had wanted to order something (they were talking to each other about the menu options).

 

[Statto]

The strike on the 15th is a drivers strike.

The Sleeper will be unaffected unless the RMT announces a strike on the same date - which they must do no later than tomorrow. If there is no RMT strike called tomorrow, you'll be safe.

RMT have announced a strike for 15th September

 

[Essexman]

We’re going to Fort William tonight. Just had a text to say room service only for breakfast. I’m taking my wife and have told her many times how good it is having breakfast in the lounge car crossing Rannoch Moor.
Can we take our food once delivered to our cabin and eat it in the lounge car. Or at least sit there to enjoy the views?

 

[JamieL]

We’re going to Fort William tonight. Just had a text to say room service only for breakfast. I’m taking my wife and have told her many times how good it is having breakfast in the lounge car crossing Rannoch Moor.
Can we take our food once delivered to our cabin and eat it in the lounge car. Or at least sit there to enjoy the views?

Yes. On the occasions I have had the same, the staff have always offered this.

 

[Essexman]

RMT have announced a strike for 15th September

Bother. I wonder if CS will extend my Flexipass this time as there’s now no date before 18th when it runs out that I can reasonably make the trip.

 

[XAM2175]

We’re going to Fort William tonight. Just had a text to say room service only for breakfast. I’m taking my wife and have told her many times how good it is having breakfast in the lounge car crossing Rannoch Moor.
Can we take our food once delivered to our cabin and eat it in the lounge car. Or at least sit there to enjoy the views?

I suspect what they actually mean is that it's the room service menu only.

 

[Trainfan2019]

Looks like the Caledonian Sleeper is diverted through Alsager, Kidsgrove and Stoke tonight...

Realtime Trains | 1S25 2101 London Euston to Inverness and Fort William | 04/09/2022

Real-time train running information for 1S25 2101 departure from London Euston to Inverness and Fort William on 04/09/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 1S26 2330 London Euston to Glasgow Central | 04/09/2022

Real-time train running information for 1S26 2330 departure from London Euston to Glasgow Central on 04/09/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 1M11 2315 Glasgow Central to London Euston | 04/09/2022

Real-time train running information for 1M11 2315 departure from Glasgow Central to London Euston on 04/09/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

How rare is this diversion?

 

[Mawkie]

It’s really important to be polite and respectful and reasonable with the staff customers, as well as being polite it will result in a better journey.

I've corrected that for you.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Looks like the Caledonian Sleeper is diverted through Alsager, Kidsgrove and Stoke tonight...

Realtime Trains | 1S25 2101 London Euston to Inverness and Fort William | 04/09/2022

Real-time train running information for 1S25 2101 departure from London Euston to Inverness and Fort William on 04/09/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 1S26 2330 London Euston to Glasgow Central | 04/09/2022

Real-time train running information for 1S26 2330 departure from London Euston to Glasgow Central on 04/09/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 1M11 2315 Glasgow Central to London Euston | 04/09/2022

Real-time train running information for 1M11 2315 departure from Glasgow Central to London Euston on 04/09/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

How rare is this

On it now. Just been through Alsager. Also visited Northampton earlier this evening.

Depending on the severity of the back issues, that could well be a request for reasonable adjustments for a disability.

My wife was told by the staff she had to use the stool if we were only having a drink, despite her being too short for the surgical boot she was wearing to reach the floor. Fortunately a couple of fellow passengers who were eating offered to share their tsble.
We had already had problems as the lounge at Euston is at first floor level, there is only one lift, and it was out of order - which puts not only the lounge but the entire food court out of bounds to anyone with a wheelchair or heavy luggage.
( I noticed the accessible shower at Euston also had an out of order notice on it.)
And weve just had a text to say the lounge at Inverness will be closed tomorrow morning.
On the plus side, the compartment, complete with working shower, is lovely, as were all the staff at Euston.

 

[Blindtraveler]

I've said 4 years that there needs to be additional lifts or at least a travelator rather than escalator to the first floor area of Euston. Disappointing about the Inverness lounge as it not only contains accessible shower and toilet but a very nice lounge as well with decent coffee and plenty of plugs and Wi-Fi

 

[otter11]

Hi all,
My parents are trying to take the sleeper from Kingussie to London on Thursday 15th September, which is the RMT strike date.

Could someone recommend best course of action? I’m assuming the Thursday night sleeper won’t run as during the night there won’t be sufficient signalling staff.

Would they be better travelling Wednesday night instead? Or will this still be disrupted as it arrives on the morning of the strike?

Third option is just to cancel the sleeper altogether and try to get down to London some other way.

 

[Blindtraveler]

I wouldn't bank on there being any sleeper services on the Wednesday Thursday or Friday night of that week. I assume travelling on the Tuesday is impractical? If going to London another way then you would obviously have the option of the day trains on Wednesday or Friday but I wouldn't again we all that certain if Friday would operate particularly smoothly.

 

[otter11]

I wouldn't bank on there being any sleeper services on the Wednesday Thursday or Friday night of that week. I assume travelling on the Tuesday is impractical? If going to London another way then you would obviously have the option of the day trains on Wednesday or Friday but I wouldn't again we all that certain if Friday would operate particularly smoothly.

Good suggestion on the Tuesday actually, I’ll see if that works for them.

 

[paul1609]

Hi all,
My parents are trying to take the sleeper from Kingussie to London on Thursday 15th September, which is the RMT strike date.

Could someone recommend best course of action? I’m assuming the Thursday night sleeper won’t run as during the night there won’t be sufficient signalling staff.

Would they be better travelling Wednesday night instead? Or will this still be disrupted as it arrives on the morning of the strike?

Third option is just to cancel the sleeper altogether and try to get down to London some other way.

Whereabouts in London are they travelling to?

 

[otter11]

Whereabouts in London are they travelling to?

They are transferring to Paddington then getting the train to Bath.

 

[JamieL]

Fly Inverness to Bristol, bus to Temple Meads and train to Bath Spa.