Caledonian Sleeper

[PaxVobiscum]

I said I wouldn't be doing this but I've just booked Advances for another trip despite it being 62% higher than at the same time last year – OK so I'm a mug. Still, that's saved at least one night's stay in a hotel in London or half a day's travel time.

But since when did Caley Sleeper start charging £7.50 if you want your tickets posted out?? Night time robbery! It was free 1st Class postage last year.
I saved myself the £7.50 by just collecting my latest tickets at a station.

*EDIT: Another little irritation – what's the point of asking for Railcard details on the online booking form if there's no discount actually given?
*And in post #115 I answer my own question.

 

[Leisurefirst]

I said I wouldn't be doing this but I've just booked Advances for another trip despite it being 62% higher than at the same time last year – OK so I'm a mug. Still, that's saved at least one night's stay in a hotel in London or half a day's travel time.

But since when did Caley Sleeper start charging £7.50 if you want your tickets posted out?? Night time robbery! It was free 1st Class postage last year. (I just collected them at a station earlier this evening since I was passing through anyway.)

Another little irritation – what's the point of asking for Railcard details on the online booking form if there's no discount actually given?

Says something in their Help section about tickets over £250 not being eligible for first class post, only secure delivery.
Which will be most tickets now...
Suppose people could maybe order outwards and return separately if that helps?

 

[Bletchleyite]

With check-in and named tickets (I think they are?) why do they even need to issue any tickets? Surely going along with some sort of proof of ID and being ticked off a list should be adequate.

I have never, that I recall, checked into a hotel in the UK with anything other than walking up and telling them my name (then perhaps a card swipe, but only if I was going to charge things to the room). Elsewhere, all I've ever shown is my passport. Isn't it supposed to be a hotel on wheels?

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Says something in their Help section about tickets over £250 not being eligible for first class post, only secure delivery.
Which will be most tickets now...
Suppose people could maybe order outwards and return separately if that helps?

Thanks - I hadn't seen that. I suppose it makes some kind of sense with the value of the tickets now.

With check-in and named tickets (I think they are?) why do they even need to issue any tickets? Surely going along with some sort of proof of ID and being ticked off a list should be adequate.

I have never, that I recall, checked into a hotel in the UK with anything other than walking up and telling them my name (then perhaps a card swipe, but only if I was going to charge things to the room). Elsewhere, all I've ever shown is my passport. Isn't it supposed to be a hotel on wheels?

Fair point – I could have gone for an eTicket, but I'm enough of an anorak to want to keep the card tickets for the significant journeys I've made by rail.

 

[marks87]

With check-in and named tickets (I think they are?) why do they even need to issue any tickets? Surely going along with some sort of proof of ID and being ticked off a list should be adequate.

I have never, that I recall, checked into a hotel in the UK with anything other than walking up and telling them my name (then perhaps a card swipe, but only if I was going to charge things to the room). Elsewhere, all I've ever shown is my passport. Isn't it supposed to be a hotel on wheels?

Isn’t it the case under the National Rail Conditions of Carriage that a valid ticket is required to travel on the rail network?

It is also a train first and foremost. People will expect to be issued with a ticket in advance of travel because that’s what they expect.

 

[BRX]

Thanks - I hadn't seen that. I suppose it makes some kind of sense with the value of the tickets now.



Fair point – I could have gone for an eTicket, but I'm enough of an anorak to want to keep the card tickets for the significant journeys I've made by rail.

Why not just collect from machine. Or maybe your starting station doesn't have one?

 

[Scotrail84]

Those timings seem to suggest the sleeper on the Thursday will be going via the ECML.

There is a lot of ECML diversions this year as well as diversions via Manchester.

 

[Leisurefirst]

Thanks - I hadn't seen that. I suppose it makes some kind of sense with the value of the tickets now.



Fair point – I could have gone for an eTicket, but I'm enough of an anorak to want to keep the card tickets for the significant journeys I've made by rail.

Oh, I'm like that as well!
Normally I do collect from a machine (which still appears to be an option according their Help section, though confusingly when I tried a booking after reading your post it states that "Your train tickets will be sent to your email address as an e-ticket" without mentioning any other options on the customer details page.)
For a special journey like these I liked to have the tickets in the CS wallet etc.
At their prices I think they can afford the envelope and stamp!
Really want to travel on the new trains but at those prices and no Two Together discount it would have to be the "cheap" seats where the discount still applies.

 

[CJSwan]

There is a lot of ECML diversions this year as well as diversions via Manchester.

Yeah, my boyfriend and are going on the sleeper (his first time and he’s excited) in April. Our return on Sunday 15th is via the East Coast Mainline with an earlier departure from Euston.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Isn’t it the case under the National Rail Conditions of Carriage that a valid ticket is required to travel on the rail network?

1. A TOC is allowed to offer superior T&C than the NRCoT, it just can't offer inferior T&C. Not requiring one is clearly superior.

2. It says "or other authority to travel", which being told that going up to the desk and giving in your name clearly does constitute.

It is also a train first and foremost. People will expect to be issued with a ticket in advance of travel because that’s what they expect.

Maybe so, but it's different enough from every other train in concept that people would understand it being different. You'd expect to be able to book every train via all the booking sites, but you can't this one as it's different.

 

[Kite159]

There is a lot of ECML diversions this year as well as diversions via Manchester.

Any potential dates for diverts via Manchester?

 

[31160]

Although the line to Ft Bill is shut for 9 days in Oct the online site still shows booking to Ft Bill, is this because of the bus transfer

 

[Journeyman]

I said I wouldn't be doing this but I've just booked Advances for another trip despite it being 62% higher than at the same time last year – OK so I'm a mug. Still, that's saved at least one night's stay in a hotel in London or half a day's travel time.

But since when did Caley Sleeper start charging £7.50 if you want your tickets posted out?? Night time robbery! It was free 1st Class postage last year. (I just collected them at a station earlier this evening since I was passing through anyway.)

Another little irritation – what's the point of asking for Railcard details on the online booking form if there's no discount actually given?

I'm going on it in a couple of weeks time, and ordered the tickets a couple of weeks ago. Postage was free.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Although the line to Ft Bill is shut for 9 days in Oct the online site still shows booking to Ft Bill, is this because of the bus transfer

I'd imagine so, otherwise you'd need to pay a new fare for that.

 

[VT 390]

Does anyone know if there are any planned closures on the Fort William line in July 2019? (this is when I am looking to travel)

 

[PaxVobiscum]

I'm going on it in a couple of weeks time, and ordered the tickets a couple of weeks ago. Postage was free.

Out if interest, was the total less than £250? My Glasgow - London return wasn’t.

 

[InOban]

Does anyone know if there are any planned closures on the Fort William line in July 2019? (this is when I am looking to travel)

Can you imagine the ruckus if NR decided to carry out planned engineering during peak season?

 

[Scotrail84]

Any potential dates for diverts via Manchester?

Yes, 19th of July to the 2nd of August inclusive all services diverted via Chat Moss, Piccadilly and Wilmslow. Then again on the 4th and 9th of August.

 

[Scotrail84]

Does anyone know if there are any planned closures on the Fort William line in July 2019? (this is when I am looking to travel)

Yes, weekend of the 26th of July Friday and Sunday.

 

[Scotrail84]

Can you imagine the ruckus if NR decided to carry out planned engineering during peak season?

Sleeper will be diverted to/from Oban from 05th October to the 13th of October inclusive, a full week of Oban diversions as the WHL line is shut at various points for track renewals, viaduct/tunnel upgrades.

 

[Essexman]

CS tweeted that Southbound Highlander is running 90 minutes late due to locomotive fault but doing their best to make up time. Doesn’t say if problem was on one of the three portions on from Edinburgh.

 

[marks87]

CS tweeted that Southbound Highlander is running 90 minutes late due to locomotive fault but doing their best to make up time. Doesn’t say if problem was on one of the three portions on from Edinburgh.

Aberdeen and Fort William were on time and the Inverness was only 11 minutes late, but the full formation was then 2 hours late departing Edinburgh.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/G61073/2019/01/23/advanced

 

[Journeyman]

Out if interest, was the total less than £250? My Glasgow - London return wasn’t.

Yeah, one-way Edinburgh to London for two, came to £170. I posted that before I saw the £250 comment.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

...Another little irritation – what's the point of asking for Railcard details on the online booking form if there's no discount actually given?

Now that I have read all of the 26-30 Railcard and Caledonian Sleeper thread which brought my attention to https://www.sleeper.scot/tickets-timetables/railcards I understand that there are no longer Railcard discounts on the shared rooms, but they are still available on the solo berths. Strange.

 

[Kite159]

Yes, 19th of July to the 2nd of August inclusive all services diverted via Chat Moss, Piccadilly and Wilmslow. Then again on the 4th and 9th of August.

Thanks

 

[Highlandspring]

Aberdeen and Fort William were on time and the Inverness was only 11 minutes late, but the full formation was then 2 hours late departing Edinburgh.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/G61073/2019/01/23/advanced

92010 failed at the Waverley.

 

[gordonjahn]

When I read this, I thought "ooh, that's brave"...

Worth noting a 92 has not failed on the Sleeper since January last year. It's more likely the stock itself has some sort of issue, particularly whilst its new and any gremlins are resolved.

Then this shows up!

92010 failed at the Waverley.

 

[Highlandspring]

I'm not sure it was accurate in the first place because I dealt with another 92 failure at Edinburgh before Christmas (can't remember the number..)

 

[Highlandspring]

They're trying out the new shunting arrangements for 1M16/1S25 at Edinburgh tonight.

 

[al78]

I've been looking on the website for London to Inverness tickets during the week before the second May bank holiday and it keeps coming back with no tickets available. Either the website has messed up or the sleeper is rammed full the week before the bank holiday. If the latter, it doesn't look like it is pricing itself out of the market at the moment.

Just checked for the 2nd June, "We could not process your request at this time. Please try again." Oh joy, another dose of flakiness.