norbitonflyer
Established Member
Having used both the Night Riviera and the Caledonian Sleeper within the past two weeks I feel in a position to compare them.
I slept slightly better in the Mark 3s than the Mark 5s. The ride seemed better - whether this is due to the suspension or Brunel's civil engineering prowess I don't know, but I woke up several times on the Scottish trip but slept until after 6 on the Riviera.
Somehow GWR have found a way of providing more headroom in the bunk beds.
In the Riviera sleepers (redesigned since I last used them, but still using Mark 3s) only the top bunk has a convenient shelf to put things like spectacles on. In the Caledonian sleeper only the bottom bunk has such a shelf.
Riviera provides a lid to cover the sink.
The ladder to reach the top bunk - Caledonian: the treads are far too narrow for comfort in bare or stockinged feet.
- Riviera: an ingenious design which folds into the doorframe when not in use, making it easier to get into and out of the bottom bunk. It also has wider rungs.
Lounge car - Riviera 36. (to serve four sleeping cars).
- Caledonian 21 seats, seven perches (to serve up to six sleeping cars). There is supposed to be a priority system for club class, but in my experience it's first come first served
Staff - generally polite, although the Caledonian staff in the Club Car can get a bit officious - mainly because I suspect their Club Car gets much busier than the Riviera's. I was told off for entering the Club Car in my stockinged feet ("health & safety" apparently), although I doubt that the mud-caked walking boots I had left in the cabin would have been much more welcome. Also was told if we weren't having a full meal we had to use the bar stools rather than the proper seats, despite the fact that my companion was on crutches, and her legs wouldn't reach the floor from the stool even when she does have two fully functioning legs.
Arrival. At Euston they can't wait to get rid of you. At Paddington we were given the option (which we took) of not being woken until over an hour after the train had arrived.
Ticketing - I observed that Riviera seemed quite happy to take walk-up passengers in the seating (this was a godsend to many passengers arriving in the late evening at Penzance having had their flights from the Scillies cancelled earlier in the day due to fog), and will even upgrade them to a berth if one is available. Not so keen on their refund policy though - no refund at less than seven days notice, only 75% at less than 14 days. And any refund has to be processed by the same means that you made the booking (whether on the GWR website or at a ticket office)
This compares with Caledonian's flexible offer, which allows changes or cancellation at 48 hours notice.
What surprises me most is how Caledonian, with a new design of carriage, have made a much less attractive offer than GWR, who have adapted carriages which are over 40 years old.
I slept slightly better in the Mark 3s than the Mark 5s. The ride seemed better - whether this is due to the suspension or Brunel's civil engineering prowess I don't know, but I woke up several times on the Scottish trip but slept until after 6 on the Riviera.
Somehow GWR have found a way of providing more headroom in the bunk beds.
In the Riviera sleepers (redesigned since I last used them, but still using Mark 3s) only the top bunk has a convenient shelf to put things like spectacles on. In the Caledonian sleeper only the bottom bunk has such a shelf.
Riviera provides a lid to cover the sink.
The ladder to reach the top bunk - Caledonian: the treads are far too narrow for comfort in bare or stockinged feet.
- Riviera: an ingenious design which folds into the doorframe when not in use, making it easier to get into and out of the bottom bunk. It also has wider rungs.
Lounge car - Riviera 36. (to serve four sleeping cars).
- Caledonian 21 seats, seven perches (to serve up to six sleeping cars). There is supposed to be a priority system for club class, but in my experience it's first come first served
Staff - generally polite, although the Caledonian staff in the Club Car can get a bit officious - mainly because I suspect their Club Car gets much busier than the Riviera's. I was told off for entering the Club Car in my stockinged feet ("health & safety" apparently), although I doubt that the mud-caked walking boots I had left in the cabin would have been much more welcome. Also was told if we weren't having a full meal we had to use the bar stools rather than the proper seats, despite the fact that my companion was on crutches, and her legs wouldn't reach the floor from the stool even when she does have two fully functioning legs.
Arrival. At Euston they can't wait to get rid of you. At Paddington we were given the option (which we took) of not being woken until over an hour after the train had arrived.
Ticketing - I observed that Riviera seemed quite happy to take walk-up passengers in the seating (this was a godsend to many passengers arriving in the late evening at Penzance having had their flights from the Scillies cancelled earlier in the day due to fog), and will even upgrade them to a berth if one is available. Not so keen on their refund policy though - no refund at less than seven days notice, only 75% at less than 14 days. And any refund has to be processed by the same means that you made the booking (whether on the GWR website or at a ticket office)
This compares with Caledonian's flexible offer, which allows changes or cancellation at 48 hours notice.
What surprises me most is how Caledonian, with a new design of carriage, have made a much less attractive offer than GWR, who have adapted carriages which are over 40 years old.
