Is there demand for more sleeper services?

[oxfordray1]

They said whilst it had “some merits”, it also “generated substantial issues about patronage*, subsidy levels**, and a range of operational risks***... and declined to support the proposal****”

I think it was said to have 'merit on a conceptual level'. It's rare to see a civil servant being so direct. I think the closest I have used was 'somewhat unorthodox'.

 

[Journeyman]

I think it was said to have 'merit on a conceptual level'. It's rare to see a civil servant being so direct. I think the closest I have used was 'somewhat unorthodox'.

While it would have been great to see it materialise, I'll be honest and say I'd have used it once, as I suspect would be the case with lots of other people. I have very little need to travel to the Far North, and unfortunately not many other people do either.

 

[Tobbes]

While it would have been great to see it materialise, I'll be honest and say I'd have used it once, as I suspect would be the case with lots of other people. I have very little need to travel to the Far North, and unfortunately not many other people do either.

The only circumstances I could see this making any sense is if a sleeping car could be added to the first Far North Line service or service to Kyle each day, with the sleeper detached and serviced before being returned to Inverness on the last connecting service. However, this does rather presuppose loco-hauled coaching stock, and we're not in the game of 27s and Mark 1s!

(e.g., something like this: https://images.app.goo.gl/djWiUfdPgcZ2CdAr9)

 

[Journeyman]

The only circumstances I could see this making any sense is if a sleeping car could be added to the first Far North Line service or service to Kyle each day, with the sleeper detached and serviced before being returned to Inverness on the last connecting service. However, this does rather presuppose loco-hauled coaching stock, and we're not in the game of 27s and Mark 1s!

(e.g., something like this: https://images.app.goo.gl/djWiUfdPgcZ2CdAr9)

If you could operate some sort of mixed train, conveying goods that would benefit from quick delivery with an early arrival, you might be able to do it, but there isn't much of that kind of traffic to such a sparsely populated area, and it's the sort of stuff - like parcels, mail and newspapers - that the railway struggles to manage in a highly competitive environment.

 

[class26]

Probably explains cheap flights to Wroclaw more than Rome! Though I'm sure Wroclaw is nice.

It is !

 

[adamedwards]

What we need is a single person circular sleeping pod and a vacuum tube. It can be called Hypersleep and will instantly be funded by Elon Musk.

 

[Purple Orange]

I notice you're not quoting evidence of any of this. Indeed, the first two words of what I've quoted are probably a giveaway.

Has anyone anywhere given any evidence in their posts? Or am I just expected to do that to support a post highlighting my opinion?

For what is purely an academic question, I sense you’re getting unnecessarily uptight here. It’s just a subject to allow discussions to kick the tyres.

 

[43096]

Has anyone anywhere given any evidence in their posts? Or am I just expected to do that to support a post highlighting my opinion?

For what is purely an academic question, I sense you’re getting unnecessarily uptight here. It’s just a subject to allow discussions to kick the tyres.

I’m not getting up tight at all!

You don’t have to provide evidence, though it means your opinion has less basis to it.

 

[Journeyman]

The simple fact is, as stated by many who have researched this or understand railway economics, is that introducing new domestic or international sleeper services is almost impossible to justify financially, and the only reason the existing ones have survived is because axing them is too controversial, and no-one wants the blame for it.

 

[Bald Rick]

My evidence, for what it’s worth, is having worked in the sleeper section (albeit a long time ago), understanding the cost base and how the revenue systems work (having personally used early yield management tools for the sleepers). And, also, knowing some of the top people running the existing sleeper operation. With a bit of side knowledge re the maintenance regime on the LGVs in France, and the absolute intractability of shifting their maintenance hours even by ‘deux minutes’ to help make special arrangements.