Caledonian Sleeper

[Bletchleyite]

Waterloo (but that is nonsense).

It's the only one I can think of...St Pancras hasn't got a connection from the HS lines onto the WCML, has it?

I know there was a theory about moving it to a different terminus so as to allow for the Euston redevelopment work (then probably move it back so it connects with HS2)...but there aren't a lot of options!

 

[JonathanH]

It's the only one I can think of...St Pancras hasn't got a connection from the HS lines onto the WCML, has it?

No, neither does it have long enough platforms nor constant electrification from Nuneaton.

 

[Blindtraveler]

New menu perhaps for the catering? Introduction of advance purchase bargain berths as previously seen on the old ScotRail operated service on limited trains in limited numbers

 

[Bletchleyite]

No, neither does it have long enough platforms nor constant electrification from Nuneaton.

Only other vague possibility I can think of is Paddington, diesel hauled via Brum. Certainly a grand departure from London, but it seems far fetched. And is there a long enough platform?

 

[JonathanH]

New menu perhaps for the catering? Introduction of advance purchase bargain berths as previously seen on the old ScotRail operated service on limited trains in limited numbers

It is doing quite well without the need for bargain berths judging by nights it is shown as sold out.

 

[Bald Rick]

I'm sort of deriving from that that it isn't Euston either, possibly related to the loss of P16 for HS2? Intriguing. What London terminus can get you onto the WCML and has platforms long enough?

it will surely be staying at Euston, at least for now.

It's the only one I can think of...St Pancras hasn't got a connection from the HS lines onto the WCML, has it?

it does. Albeit not commissioned.

No, neither does it have long enough platforms nor constant electrification from Nuneaton.

it does have long enough platforms - 400m is plenty

 

[The Planner]

Its not terminus related if what I have heard is correct.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Its not terminus related if what I have heard is correct.

Ah, thanks. Thought the "it isn't Kings Cross" thing was an attempt to drop a hint that it was!

Properly intrigued now - clearly it's not insignificant...

 

[xotGD]

Introduction of 67s for the Inverness portion?

Station calls at Birmingham New Street?

 

[Jan Mayen]

Inverness portion to split on arrival, with carriages going forward to Kyle and Wick (via Thurso) perhaps?

 

[PG]

I hope it's not something as simple as a livery change now!

Not that it would be exactly simple to change the livery...

A longshot would be CS being relieved of the sleeper by ScotGov.

 

[james_the_xv]

Station calls at Birmingham New Street?

Coventry and New Street both have facilities for the sleeper iirc (I believe Coventry has a sleeper stop board and new street is definitely long enough)

A longshot would be CS being relieved of the sleeper by ScotGov.

Surely something like that would be just straight announced rather than building hype over it

 

[Techniquest]

Not that it would be exactly simple to change the livery...

A longshot would be CS being relieved of the sleeper by ScotGov.

I should elaborate by explaining I meant 'simple' as in nothing terribly exciting. Right now, it seems like hype is being built up to produce a news item that will leave us saying "Oh, is that it?"

As I read the other replies, funnily enough I also thought that about CS no longer running things as such. It seems a weird way to go into such a drastic change, but it could happen.

Waiting until 7th March to find out the answer is going to drive me nuts! If it is a terminal change, albeit temporary, then it could lead to some interesting track being covered. Perhaps it's a change of diesel locomotive operations, or it could just be something like extending the Aberdeen portion to Dyce? I really don't know, but I am keen to find out.

 

[najaB]

I can't see it being timetable related. There is nothing exciting about the timetable (and unlike e.g. Avanti West Coast or LNER, speeding it up wouldn't be exciting).

What's more, if it was timetable related we'd probably already see signs of it in the data feed.

 

[JonathanH]

Inverness portion to split on arrival, with carriages going forward to Kyle and Wick (via Thurso) perhaps?

Who would want to travel in their cabin for four more hours at 0900?

 

[PG]

Who would want to travel in their cabin for four more hours at 0900?

Someone who'd had more than a dram or two and retired to their cabin in the wee small hours

 

[43 302]

Could anyone post a screenshot of the email please?

 

[najaB]

I really wouldn't be surprised if the announcement was something along the lines of "To help the railway recover in the post-Covid environment Transport Scotland and Serco have agreed to bring Caledonian Sleeper back to it's historic home alongside all other Scottish routes. This consolidation will give Caledonian Sleeper more flexibility to integrate with Scotrail services, giving our guests a wider range of travel opportunities."

Or something similar.

 

[JonathanH]

Could anyone post a screenshot of the email please?

[Screenshot from email from Caledonian Sleeper showing a person in casual clothes walking through a lounge car with comment "Something exciting is happening..." "We are working on something exciting and we can't wait to share it with you. Keep your eyes open on 7th March..."]

 

[Bletchleyite]

She doesn't look very excited!

 

[Kite159]

She doesn't look very excited!

Probably a seated passenger having to walk through the club car looking for a working toilet after the toilet in the seated car locked itself out of use

 

[Roast Veg]

Steam haulage up the west highland in summer, courtesy of the Jacobite locos?

 

[najaB]

Steam haulage up the west highland in summer, courtesy of the Jacobite locos?

With a 73 attached to provide the ETS.

 

[6Z09]

Big announcement?
Water coming out of the shower head will no longer be cold??

Seriously, must be Menu related.

 

[31160]

Probably a seated passenger having to walk through the club car looking for a working toilet after the toilet in the seated car locked itself out of use

My god how often does that happen... lots and lots of times

 

[Scotrail84]

Its not terminus related if what I have heard is correct.

What have you heard like?

 

[D6130]

Are they bringing back the cheap stand-by fares?

 

[williamn]

Are they bringing back the cheap stand-by fares?

Doubt it given how busy it always seems to be.

 

[AberdeenBill]

Maybe something simple like being able to book a time slot in the lounge car in advance. Perhaps free for Club passengers and a booking fee if you are in Classic

 

[norbitonflyer]

I should elaborate by explaining I meant 'simple' as in nothing terribly exciting. Right now, it seems like hype is being built up to produce a news item that will leave us saying "Oh, is that it?"


Waiting until 7th March to find out the answer is going to drive me nuts! If it is a terminal change, albeit temporary, then it could lead to some interesting track being covered. Perhaps it's a change of diesel locomotive operations

I doubt if CSs publicity department would think a change of traction would be thought of as of great interest to most of the public. I would be surprised if most users of the Highlander even notice the locomotive has morphed overnight.