If it is, the prices are simply too high. Sunday night, £48 for a seat on the sleeper, £27.90 on National Express (those are for London Glasgow).Isn’t that the purpose of the seats on the sleeper?
If it is, the prices are simply too high. Sunday night, £48 for a seat on the sleeper, £27.90 on National Express (those are for London Glasgow).Isn’t that the purpose of the seats on the sleeper?
If it is, the prices are simply too high. Sunday night, £48 for a seat on the sleeper, £27.90 on National Express (those are for London Glasgow).
And the overheads that the railway carries but the coach operator does not.No, on the train you are paying for the larger seat, more space, availability of food and drink (albeit that you have to pay for) and, for enthusiasts, the haulage.
And the overheads that the railway carries but the coach operator does not.
No, on the train you are paying for the larger seat, more space, availability of food and drink (albeit that you have to pay for) and, for enthusiasts, the haulage.
And the overheads that the railway carries but the coach operator does not.
All of which is irrelevant to me if, as was suggested, I'm just someone who's looking for a cheap, comfortable-enough way to get to/from Scotland. I'm sorry, but normal people couldn't care less about overheads, haulage, etc.
All of which is irrelevant to me if, as was suggested, I'm just someone who's looking for a cheap, comfortable-enough way to get to/from Scotland. I'm sorry, but normal people couldn't care less about overheads, haulage, etc.
No, I'm not. I was merely responding to the idea that that was the market the seats were aimed at, and saying that, if that's the case, then the price is too high.Indeed, go by coach. Unless you are suggesting that the Scottish taxpayer should subsidise the sleeper further to reduce ticket prices, to fill up berths and seats that are already largely booked at the higher prices?
It is not absurd at all - the coach will always have lower fixed costs than the train - it can divert easily if the Motorway is shut - it provides adequate accommodation at an affordable price and you simply sit there, shut your eyes and sleep.
There aren't that many overnight coaches either - Megabus run a fast and a slow M11 service to Glasgow and M20 to Edinburgh. National Express run 588 and 592 to Glasgow and 594 to Edinburgh. (The fast M11 and 592 go on to Aberdeen.) You can choose which one you want to take on cost, time of departure and time / location of arrival.
At least some of the passengers on the slow M11 are for Birmingham / Manchester / Preston and on the M20 are for Newcastle.
The demand for London to Scotland on overnight coaches is probably about 200 people on a reasonably busy night. That is not a material market and it is catered for by the coaches.
I've never been on the fast M11 service when there wasn't a least 1 relief coach
Personally I find the M11 Megabus fast service a better travelling experience that the seated sleeper the reliable sub 8 hour journey with only the driver changeover stop. I've no interest in any sort of couchette service.
I don't think I have ever been on the fast M11 service when there has been a relief coach - maybe I don't go at busy enough times.
Isn’t that the purpose of the seats on the sleeper?
Alpine bunks" (basically a continuous shelf with pads on it) with some dividers, as people would sleep sideways. Doubt it'd sell in the UK though. The sort of thing you get on some Indonesian ferries.
That's really quite astounding for a new, lightly used, carriage....... The cabin has REALLY bad wear and tear......
Scratches on the windows, bins broken, lights broken, stains on the carpets, chipped coverings on the beds and around windows, scratches over the light and plug switches. Really bad.
What has annoyed me more is the fact that we were not even provided the usual breakfast or any hot drink. Just the bog standard, customers were only told of the changes 30 minutes before arriving into Dundee where they were woken, told and the breakfast in bag provided. Staff also seem very demotivated which is a real shame, I actually felt really sorry for our host last night. The lack of information out of Serco CS is shocking. I've just spent 2.5hrs in a shared taxi with another passenger. Others going to Crianlarich and Rannoch - no chance of them getting there anytime soon...
What a disappointment, my delay repay is already submitted.
Glasgow would be a better option than both - it’s nearer than Dundee and means not travelling all the way up to Inverness to be driven back down to Ft William.
Scratches on the windows, bins broken, lights broken, stains on the carpets, chipped coverings on the beds and around windows, scratches over the light and plug switches. Really bad.
What has annoyed me more is the fact that we were not even provided the usual breakfast or any hot drink. Just the bog standard, customers were only told of the changes 30 minutes before arriving into Dundee where they were woken, told and the breakfast in bag provided. Staff also seem very demotivated which is a real shame, I actually felt really sorry for our host last night. The lack of information out of Serco CS is shocking. I've just spent 2.5hrs in a shared taxi with another passenger. Others going to Crianlarich and Rannoch - no chance of them getting there anytime soon...
What a disappointment, my delay repay is already submitted.
I’m on the Fort William Highlander tonight from Euston. What a mess. 3 busy carriages and now we’re going to Dundee to be bused due to flooding at Bowling
You’ll get a peh at Dundee!
Seriously though surely Inverness would be a better option for Fort William than Dundee, don’t understand that decision.
Glasgow would be a better option than both - it’s nearer than Dundee and means not travelling all the way up to Inverness to be driven back down to Ft William.
Moan, moan, moan.....
If the line is shut at Bowling, and the Fort William portion is not going to run, exactly what do you expect CS to do? Yes it is disappointing, but that is just life.
CS could tip you out in Edinburgh at 4am and try to transport you from there [as has happened to me in similar circumstances before], but whatever, you re going to have a long journey by road transport.
Perhaps the trip to Dundee gives you a longer time in bed.
I am unsure of the purpose of the shared taxi comment? Were you expecting a private taxi (although you've just been travelling on a train shared with many others), or is it the 2.5 hr journey, the length of which could only be mitigated by CS chartering you a helicopter.
I realise that you are bitterly disappointed, but your rant is a bit over the top, in what was clearly a difficult situation with probably limited options available. (Anothr post higher up commenting that the Inverness sleeper as diverted via Aberdeen due to flooding......).
I travelled on the Lowland sleeper on Thursday night and my cabin was in pristine condition, everything working and no noticeable scratches, not that I studied it that closely. The staff were very good and did not appear at all demoralised.
Moan, moan, moan.....
I understand why CS have taken the action they did, they had no option the 1B01 got stuck at Dalreoch and started as 5Y11 this morning empty to FTW in prep for Sunday and they had possible problems on the Inverness due to flooding. Where I had concern is around the communication of the issues, that, by the way, was me and others onboard - there was a lot of unhappy pax on the service tonight due to multiple issues not just the fact we ended up in Dundee. The fact there is still ongoing issues with the stock after the length of time they've been in service is not ideal in anyway - and is actually pretty embarrassing now given the price point CS charge. The disruption and the way they handled it - could be improved.
You’ll get a peh at Dundee!
Seriously though surely Inverness would be a better option for Fort William than Dundee, don’t understand that decision.