185143
Established Member
- Joined
- 3 Mar 2013
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The equivalent for Caledonian Sleeper would be running five trains a night each way. I don't believe for one moment that they would do that, even if the Train Gods gifted them the rolling stock and a couple of spare platforms at Euston. The operating costs would be ludicrous.To be fair with a very short train on a railway designed for 10x26m does make it easier for them to provide lounge and seating coach capacity than CS. The seats don't even require reservations, as there is far more capacity than is ever likely to be needed on the overnight section, and adding another Mk3 if they did need to wouldn't make the train too long for Paddington.
The Riviera is a charming little operation, but it's a much simpler one with far fewer limitations and constraints than CS.
Good morning
We are contacting you regarding your journey booked with us for travel on our Highland services in the coming weeks.
Unfortunately, we are very sorry to have to inform you that due to a delay in the availability of our new trains, we will not be able to operate our new fleet on your journey. We recognise that this is disappointing news and we apologise for this.
We will instead, be running our current trains and can therefore still ensure you get to your destination and experience our excellent levels of service and hospitality on board.
Our decision to put back the introduction by a few weeks has been taken to allow CAF, the manufacturer, to complete the further work required on the carriages to ensure that they are fit for purpose to be accepted into service. This is intended to ensure that when they do enter service our guests have the best possible experience. We will be confirming a new date for introducing our new trains on our Highland routes as soon as possible.
If you still want to travel with us on your original booking date, you don’t need to do anything else. Your booking will be automatically updated to an alternative accommodation type on our current trains, and the tickets you have remain valid for your journey. You do not require replacement tickets.
Your reservation will be automatically transferred to a room on our current train. We will automatically refund you £20 per room.
Please be aware all rooms will be configured with both beds made up. However you will still receive the First Class amenities that your ticket offers, including complimentary breakfast, Arran toiletries, First Class Lounge access and priority access to the Lounge Car.
However, we understand if you wish to change or cancel your journey with us. If this is the case, we have two options available:
- You can cancel your booking and we will give you a full refund, even if you did not book a flexible ticket.
- We can re-book you on to a service when our new trains are in operation. Again, this option is available for holders of both fixed and flexible tickets.
Are you getting a refund for the full difference between the Classic and Club room rates?
I booked the sleeper from Fort William to London for August 28 and just got an e-mail stating that it won't run with the new Mk5 coaches, but with the old ones, and that I can get a £20 refund, or a full cancellation, or change my reservation to a different date:
I booked the sleeper from Fort William to London for August 28 and just got an e-mail stating that it won't run with the new Mk5 coaches, but with the old ones, and that I can get a £20 refund, or a full cancellation, or change my reservation to a different date:
Good morning
We are contacting you regarding your journey booked with us for travel on our Highland services in the coming weeks.
Unfortunately, we are very sorry to have to inform you that due to a delay in the availability of our new trains, we will not be able to operate our new fleet on your journey. We recognise that this is disappointing news and we apologise for this.
We will instead, be running our current trains and can therefore still ensure you get to your destination and experience our excellent levels of service and hospitality on board.
Our decision to put back the introduction by a few weeks has been taken to allow CAF, the manufacturer, to complete the further work required on the carriages to ensure that they are fit for purpose to be accepted into service. This is intended to ensure that when they do enter service our guests have the best possible experience. We will be confirming a new date for introducing our new trains on our Highland routes as soon as possible.
If you still want to travel with us on your original booking date, you don’t need to do anything else. Your booking will be automatically updated to an alternative accommodation type on our current trains, and the tickets you have remain valid for your journey. You do not require replacement tickets.
Your reservation will be automatically transferred to a room on our current train. We will automatically refund you one third of what you have paid plus £20 per room.
Please be aware all rooms will be configured with both beds made up. However you will still receive the First Class amenities that your ticket offers, including complimentary breakfast, Arran toiletries, First Class Lounge access and priority access to the Lounge Car.
However, we understand if you wish to change or cancel your journey with us. If this is the case, we have two options available:
- You can cancel your booking and we will give you a full refund, even if you did not book a flexible ticket.
- We can re-book you on to a service when our new trains are in operation. Again, this option is available for holders of both fixed and flexible tickets.
Have they given a new date for the introduction of Mk5s on the Highlander, or is it delayed indefinitely? Clearly they won’t be ready even in September. Would early October perhaps be an achievable introduction date? It’s perhaps best not to rush their introduction and to make sure that they’re working reliably.
Caledonian Sleeper @CalSleeper Jun 25
Replying to @thefreqtravels
Hello, New rolling stock will be with us for the 8th of July. LL
They were quoting to people on Twitter yesterday that it was still 8th July for the Highland. Obviously they need to brief their twitter team better. https://twitter.com/CalSleeper/status/1143643029749882881
They were quoting to people on Twitter yesterday that it was still 8th July for the Highland. Obviously they need to brief their twitter team better. https://twitter.com/CalSleeper/status/1143643029749882881
No .Supposedly TPE mess room gossip has it that their Mk5 fleet is going into warm storage - the same for Caledonian Sleeper?
Weird, I must have been imagining things then when I was on a CAF built Viewliner diner coach last year . From what I heard from the staff, the coaches simply do their job, but the ride quality is worse than the previous generation.Rumours have it that the Viewliners CAF are making for Amtrak in the US, and which are extremely delayed (we are talking years) have been sold to Canada without running a single mile on US rails... I think the faster Serco and TPE can get out of this deal, the better.
A bit off-topic here, but AIUI at least some of the Viewliner 2 problems stem from changes in Amtrak management and policy as well as from CAF's delayed delivery. The previous regime ordered Viewliner diners, but by the time they arrived, the new boss was cutting back on-train catering to cold or microwaved airline style meals, and the new diners went into storage.Rumours have it that the Viewliners CAF are making for Amtrak in the US, and which are extremely delayed (we are talking years) have been sold to Canada without running a single mile on US rails... I think the faster Serco and TPE can get out of this deal, the better.