Same could be said for most modern trains, most coaches contain equipment the rest of the train couldn't run without if said coach got infected...
Indeed, but most modern trains come in fleets of 20 or more, and not 9.
Same could be said for most modern trains, most coaches contain equipment the rest of the train couldn't run without if said coach got infected...
If the seated coach is infected it has to be removed for deep cleaning. The rest of the train can't run without it, as it contains both the train management system and the handbrake. So no train at all. Definitely "nope", not "yes".
there is a legal aspect to be consideredWhy so draconian ?. If the seated coach is NOT infected then the seats can be used. If the seated coach is infected then the seats can be put out of use with any bookings made cancelled at that point. The seated coach itself can continue to be formed in the train thus able to perform its duty as controller of the rake of up to 8 coaches. Surely it is not necessary to cancel the booking IN-CASE the coach gets infected ?.
Indeed, but most modern trains come in fleets of 20 or more, and not 9.
there is a legal aspect to be considered
if somebody get infected while in the seated coach (far more likely than on a standard train due to time or journey and nobody could keep wearing a face mask while sleeping) then somebody could in theory sue for unsafe conditions that caused them to become exposed to Covid
low likelihood of something like that actually happening but still enough that company lawyers may be saying best to avoid usage of the seats
nobody could keep wearing a face mask while sleeping
Are the sleeper coaches sometimes being removed from the formations for deep cleansing when they are "infected" (however that is determined)?If the seated coach is infected it has to be removed for deep cleaning. The rest of the train can't run without it, as it contains both the train management system and the handbrake. So no train at all. Definitely "nope", not "yes".
Well... From my experience, in a non railway setting, things are getting a more thorough clean during the day. This deeper cleaning is done without isolating the room/furniture from people. So I suspect, for the sleeper train, the deep clean would be carried out during the day. It would easily be done during the day if there is enough manpower.Are the sleeper coaches sometimes being removed from the formations for deep cleansing when they are "infected" (however that is determined)?
Isn't it the case that they are reluctant to keep changing the formations and swapping the coaches round due to the computers on board not liking the change?Are the sleeper coaches sometimes being removed from the formations for deep cleansing when they are "infected" (however that is determined)?
Isn't it the case that they are reluctant to keep changing the formations and swapping the coaches round due to the computers on board not liking the change?
I know that needs must sometimes, but I'm wondering if they would rather not risk issues.
Yes, I was aware of the 'usual' routine swap around, so you'd think they would be reluctant to do even more shunting around even if in the depots!They seem to remain fairly fixed. Complete 16 coach trains are being swapped at the moment as over half the fleet is idle. But before Covid-19 it was generally that an 8-coach set would come out of Polmadie having replaced an 8-coach set in the 16 coach train. There are a few spares so odd coaches can and do get swapped occasionally.
In non Covid-19 times you also have the Fortwilliam portion being only a part of an 8-coach set with the rest going to Aberdeen. The FW portion then gains two coaches in Edinburgh. So there is still plenty of scope for wearing out the connectors !.
Yes, at Polmadie, I think the aspiration was to only swap out an occasional coach for heavy maintenance/repair. That is apart from the spare 8-coach set for more general maintenance/servicing. I think the NORMAL (pre Covid-19) era of joining/splitting in Edinburgh accounts for the vast majority of (dis)connecting the coaches experience. A bad place to do it - on the live railway rather than in a depot !.Yes, I was aware of the 'usual' routine swap around, so you'd think they would be reluctant to do even more shunting around even if in the depots!
Well... From my experience, in a non railway setting, things are getting a more thorough clean during the day. This deeper cleaning is done without isolating the room/furniture from people. So I suspect, for the sleeper train, the deep clean would be carried out during the day. It would easily be done during the day if there is enough manpower.
We are employing extra contractors to cover some tasks. Things are noticeably cleaner !. A good example is the door handles and surrounding part of the doors. These are cleaned daily whilst in use. The site is 24-hour anyway. For the first few days the cloths were getting quite dirty. Now the cloths look almost unused !. Furniture is more involved. The point is we are cleaning more often and more thoroughly. BUT the cleaning is not being done as a reaction to anyone in particular being infected. We are just carrying out more thorough cleaning on a regular basis.
I suspect contact tracing is all that will be done with infected people.
Until when?The difference is you can just lock the relevant berth out of use in a sleeper coach.
Hi all,
Regarding the seated coach out of use (now until end of August).
If the situation persists beyond this and the ban gets extended I am led to believe that my tickets get refunded.
That seems to be it (other than the option to rebook in a berth if there is room at whatever price it is at that time, possibly more than when originally booking).
Is there no obligation to get me to my destination having bought a ticket, say by day train earlier in the day or the next morning if moving to a berth at no extra cost is not on the table?
The current policy is not filling me full of confidence to make advance bookings just now (hoping of course that the situation will improve.)
Hi all,
Regarding the seated coach out of use (now until end of August).
If the situation persists beyond this and the ban gets extended I am led to believe that my tickets get refunded.
That seems to be it (other than the option to rebook in a berth if there is room at whatever price it is at that time, possibly more than when originally booking).
Is there no obligation to get me to my destination having bought a ticket, say by day train earlier in the day or the next morning if moving to a berth at no extra cost is not on the table?
The current policy is not filling me full of confidence to make advance bookings just now (hoping of course that the situation will improve.)
Absolutely not talking about non-essential travel at the moment just to be clear.
Thinking about getting some kind of holiday for a few days at the end of the year if it's allowed by then and wary of £140 of seat fares turning into £400 plus potentially at the last minute!
That would be lovely if restrictions were relaxed by then. I’m afraid my advice to you is just wait and see, and see what the situation is as we approach the end of the year. We all hope these strange times have gone away, or are at least going back towards normal, by the autumn/winter. What I will say is that the sleeper (or at least the Highlander, at any rate) is very unlikely (as far as I can see) to be *very* busy until high summer 2021 if not later, as many folk will not be willing to book any holidays/trips given the uncertainty (and there won’t be many/any foreign tourists for the foreseeable future), so you should be able to book a trip relatively last-minute (say a week or so in advance) using the seated coach and get a reasonable fare. The sleeper is never that busy on weekday nights in November at the best of times.
Absolutely not talking about non-essential travel at the moment just to be clear.
Thinking about getting some kind of holiday for a few days at the end of the year if it's allowed by then and wary of £140 of seat fares turning into £400 plus potentially at the last minute!
It seems the Scottish govt are advising many tourist business that they'll be able to reopen from 15 July, including Cairngorms national park and the Jacobite steam service between ftw and mallaig.
I'd imagine that cal sleeper will change their messaging before then.
My little jolly on the CS has just come up on my facebook memories from last year including my room tour video. I make a comment about stealing the CS branded towel, I didn't, but do people take them with them?
The FW's main purpose is tourism from South East England, so there is no point reinstating that until the English are once again welcome to come and spend money.