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Caledonian Sleeper

FQTV

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27 Apr 2012
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1,067
Not ‘shooting the messenger’, and I have no doubt that what you say is right, but it‘s strange in that case, then, that CS have made it quite clear on their website that passengers should only make bookings for the sleeper if their journey is ‘absolutely necessary’. Unless that is an old message from the days of strict lockdown, which they will remove on 15th? Most TOCs at the moment, even those which operate entirely within England where hospitality has re-opened, have made it quite clear that leisure travel is strongly discouraged while social distancing measures are needed on trains (though not necessarily against the law any more). I see entirely why this is the case, as trains have very limited capacity with the restrictions.

Presumably CS passengers are, for the moment, being asked to confirm that their journey is essential before booking (or asked for some proof of this when boarding)? I know that this is the case on CalMac ferries, and that police have also been (quite rightly) enforcing this in some Scotrail stations, turning away non-essential travellers. Will this practice continue after the 15th? In other words, are bookings for non-essential journeys on the sleeper accepted after July 15th? Or is it still essential travel only? I can imagine that a number of tourists might be attracted to the sleeper after 15th given that it provides socially distanced berths, but will they be allowed on it?
Leisure travel has never been against the law, other than the period that there was a general prohibition on leaving the home other than for specific purposes.
Any journey that is or was legal by car is and was legal by train.
"Guidance" said otherwise, but guidance is not the law.

In direct communication with Caledonian Sleeper Guest Relations, they've been more than happy to engage with queries and assist with all my bookings for future travel.

All that they have (politely) asked is that, just prior to travel, passengers check the latest guidance and rules for that travel - but they have not in any way discouraged me from making bookings that I have put in for August and November Highlander trips.

The only other thing that they mention in correspondence, as I noted upthread, is that the Club Car will be out of use until the end of August unless otherwise advised.

This really mirrors what the airlines are doing; you can make a booking without having to qualify your eligibility to travel at the time of booking, but by the same token you must ensure that you are eligible to travel immediately prior to actual departure.

To this end, most airlines are emailing passengers the day or two before travel, with any updated operational policies and links to government websites.
 
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RailUK Forums

47421

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7 Feb 2012
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london
I went Euston to Inverness and back on sleeper recently and wondered whether I would be challenged as to why I was travelling.

There is no restriction on booking on the CS website, and no requirement to confirm why you are travelling. They do ask you to state business or leisure, but i think that is just for market research purposes and has always been there.

Joining at Euston was just like normal other than masks/distancing. No queries about purpose of journey. Ditto at Inverness. Although strangely, after everyone had joined and just before departure there was an on train announcement that anyone not making an essential journey should disembark and rebook.
 

43 302

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Does anyone have the up to date set formations for the sleeper currently? Last I have is from march.
 

Peter Sarf

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Croydon
Does anyone have the up to date set formations for the sleeper currently? Last I have is from march.

Last nights (Tuesday 07/07/2020) Northbound "Highlander" formed
92020
15325
15305
15315
15335
15334
15211
15107
15010
15333
15302
15336
15301
15314
15202
15105
15011

Brought into Euston by 92010.

Notice how all four sleeper coaches ending in "5" are together !.

Notice how all the latest sleeper coaches into service/testing are together - 15301, 15336 & 15302. Well I suppose it makes sense to keep coaches with the same amount of usage together in the same 8-car set.

Also some of the leading coaches mentioned Aberdeen on their destination screen before departure !.

Roll on 15340 - not been seen in action since its bump with a 73 in 2019 (November iirc).

Apologies for late posting. My bed dragged me away from the computer last night.
 

TimboM

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12 Apr 2016
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3,732
CS05 worked south from Inverness last night (1M16) so will be working north tonight on 1S25/1D26 to Glasgow. Consist last night at least was:

15007 15104 15208 15318 15328 15320 15319 15309

CS06 was the southbound Glasgow portion last night (1C16/1M16). Not had the consist confirmed for last night, but on its way north to Glasgow the night before it was a Load 7 comprising:

15003 15109 15210 15326 15321 15304 15311


In addition, the spare sets at Wembley rotated out at the weekend are:

CS02: 15004 15101 15214 15313 15306 15330 15323 15317
CS08: 15001 15110 15212 15339 15337 15338 15322 15204

I think 15203 and 15206 are also at Wembley.

Everything else is at Polmadie.
 

43 302

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CS05 worked south from Inverness last night (1M16) so will be working north tonight on 1S25/1D26 to Glasgow. Consist last night at least was:

15007 15104 15208 15318 15328 15320 15319 15309

CS06 was the southbound Glasgow portion last night (1C16/1M16). Not had the consist confirmed for last night, but on its way north to Glasgow the night before it was a Load 7 comprising:

15003 15109 15210 15326 15321 15304 15311


In addition, the spare sets at Wembley rotated out at the weekend are:

CS02: 15004 15101 15214 15313 15306 15330 15323 15317
CS08: 15001 15110 15212 15339 15337 15338 15322 15204

I think 15203 and 15206 are also at Wembley.

Everything else is at Polmadie.
15305, 15315, 15335, 15334, 15211, 15107, 15010 is at GLC on 1C16.

15333, 15302, 15336, 15301, 15314, 15202, 15105, 15011 is on 1M16 from INV
 

TimboM

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15305, 15315, 15335, 15334, 15211, 15107, 15010 is at GLC on 1C16.
15325 been knocked out again then?

1D26 last night was possibly being used just to move it from Wembley to Polmadie - it's been out of action at Wembley for almost a month.
 

43 302

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15325 been knocked out again then?

1D26 last night was possibly being used just to move it from Wembley to Polmadie - it's been out of action at Wembley for almost a month.
I guess so. Would these sets be CS04 and CS07 respectively?
 

Peter Sarf

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Croydon
CS05 worked south from Inverness last night (1M16) so will be working north tonight on 1S25/1D26 to Glasgow. Consist last night at least was:

15007 15104 15208 15318 15328 15320 15319 15309

CS06 was the southbound Glasgow portion last night (1C16/1M16). Not had the consist confirmed for last night, but on its way north to Glasgow the night before it was a Load 7 comprising:

15003 15109 15210 15326 15321 15304 15311


In addition, the spare sets at Wembley rotated out at the weekend are:

CS02: 15004 15101 15214 15313 15306 15330 15323 15317
CS08: 15001 15110 15212 15339 15337 15338 15322 15204

I think 15203 and 15206 are also at Wembley.

Everything else is at Polmadie.

I notice that of the six sets (2 I saw (and also see 43 302 below) and 4 you have just reported) only one has two of the accessible sleepers in it (152xx). Of course without the need for a three way split then a third accessible coach in a 2*8-car set is not necessary. But I wonder if the 152xxs have something that means they are not wanted in sets ?.

15305, 15315, 15335, 15334, 15211, 15107, 15010 is at GLC on 1C16.

15333, 15302, 15336, 15301, 15314, 15202, 15105, 15011 is on 1M16 from INV

15325 did not last long - bang goes my pattern conspiracy or did I jinx it !.
 

TimboM

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I notice that of the six sets (2 I saw (and also see 43 302 below) and 4 you have just reported) only one has two of the accessible sleepers in it (152xx). Of course without the need for a three way split then a third accessible coach in a 2*8-car set is not necessary. But I wonder if the 152xxs have something that means they are not wanted in sets ?.
There's two 152xx PRM coaches that have been knocked-out at Wembley and still there as far as I know. Suspect it's just (bad) luck they were both 152xx coaches, rather than any specific reason the PRM coaches are not wanted.
 

Peter Sarf

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15325 been knocked out again then?

1D26 last night was possibly being used just to move it from Wembley to Polmadie - it's been out of action at Wembley for almost a month.

And it looks like 15325 is back in action after only two days. Appears to have replaced 15333 !.

Perhaps Polmadie found it was only a simple problem (or just a service) and gave it back to Wembley working !. Perhaps 15325 was a bit spare and 15333 got a worse problem. [/conjecture]
 

mralexn

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2 Nov 2010
Messages
460
It would seem this mornings northbound Fort William portion didn't go so well today due to a fatality. Thoughts are with everyone involved.

It is nice however to see that sleeper wise, things are slowly getting back to normal.
 

DBS92042

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13 Apr 2019
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When the 1M16 sleeper passed me this morning, there was a rather loud hissing noise coming from between coach 6 and 7. It sounded like air but presumably wasn't serious. Does anyone know where/what it might've been coming from?
 

jfollows

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Although it appears that the Fort William service has started again, the Web site https://www.sleeper.scot/timetable/london-fort-william/ says "Due to the current COVID-19 outbreak, we are operating a special timetable. Please check our dedicated COVID-19 page for any changes to the advertised timetable." and the timetable this points me at doesn't show the Fort William service.

Am I being stupid here and missing something obvious?
 

Oscar46016

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15 Jan 2018
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Location
Cardiff
Although it appears that the Fort William service has started again, the Web site https://www.sleeper.scot/timetable/london-fort-william/ says "Due to the current COVID-19 outbreak, we are operating a special timetable. Please check our dedicated COVID-19 page for any changes to the advertised timetable." and the timetable this points me at doesn't show the Fort William service.

Am I being stupid here and missing something obvious?

Think they just haven't updated that page - if you go to the tickets section you can book tickets for Monday ( tonights is sold out )
 

jfollows

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Think they just haven't updated that page - if you go to the tickets section you can book tickets for Monday ( tonights is sold out )
Many thanks - I have a friend who might want to use it and I wanted to send him a link with the service details. But good to know it's not my incompetence meaning I can't find the timetable online!

EDIT: PS I did find the service on Realtime Trains, so I kind of knew that it was running.
 

FQTV

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27 Apr 2012
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Although it appears that the Fort William service has started again, the Web site https://www.sleeper.scot/timetable/london-fort-william/ says "Due to the current COVID-19 outbreak, we are operating a special timetable. Please check our dedicated COVID-19 page for any changes to the advertised timetable." and the timetable this points me at doesn't show the Fort William service.

Am I being stupid here and missing something obvious?

Train Operating Companies in general are being very poor at keeping their websites updated and checked for accuracy. Presumably it's that lack of attention that's also resulting in the National Rail website being out of date in places.

The Highlander Fort William portion is operating, as it does say on that linked COVID-19 page, but they just haven't updated the timetable page.
 

Oscar46016

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Many thanks - I have a friend who might want to use it and I wanted to send him a link with the service details. But good to know it's not my incompetence meaning I can't find the timetable online!

EDIT: PS I did find the service on Realtime Trains, so I kind of knew that it was running.

73967 & 73970 this morning - and they actually got to Fort Bill as well.
 

6Z09

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19 Nov 2009
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499
When the 1M16 sleeper passed me this morning, there was a rather loud hissing noise coming from between coach 6 and 7. It sounded like air but presumably wasn't serious. Does anyone know where/what it might've been coming from?
Toilet being flushed makes a fairly loud sound of air escaping.
 

jfollows

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Although it appears that the Fort William service has started again, the Web site https://www.sleeper.scot/timetable/london-fort-william/ says "Due to the current COVID-19 outbreak, we are operating a special timetable. Please check our dedicated COVID-19 page for any changes to the advertised timetable." and the timetable this points me at doesn't show the Fort William service.

Am I being stupid here and missing something obvious?
CS replied to me: "Please accept my apologies that the website has not bee (sic) updated with the Fort William timetable, I have passed this over to the relevant departments to add this."
 

Sleeper69

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15 Sep 2017
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Yesterday the service was cancelled at Airdrie (177 late) nothing to do with the reliability of the 73's the service unfortunately hit a person on the line. As a result the up service was also cancelled.
 

voyagerdude220

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13 Oct 2005
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1S25 21:17 from London Euston Sleeper has been sat at Watford Junction for nearly an hour, due to a train fault.
 

92002

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27 Mar 2014
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Clydebank
Although it appears that the Fort William service has started again, the Web site https://www.sleeper.scot/timetable/london-fort-william/ says "Due to the current COVID-19 outbreak, we are operating a special timetable. Please check our dedicated COVID-19 page for any changes to the advertised timetable." and the timetable this points me at doesn't show the Fort William service.

Am I being stupid here and missing something obvious?

There currently is a special service operating. The Highlander has no Aberdeen portion and Fort William gets a 6 car train. Whilst the Lowlander is an Edinburgh only train with no Glasgow portion. Odd days there is an empty portion run on the Lowlander for vehicle maintenance at Polmadie. Both Northbound and Southbound.

All Seems a bit odd but no doubt matches current bookings.

Scotland reopened for tourists this weekend. So essential travel is no longer necessary.
 

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