Caledonian Sleeper

[47421]

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.

 

[TimboM]

Yes 70 & 71, 68 hauled 68 back to Craigentinny early yesterday evening

73971 + 73968 worked 1S25.

Confirmed by a chap who should know!!

 

[43 302]

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

 

[Peter Sarf]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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?

 

[TimboM]

I guess so. Would these sets be CS04 and CS07 respectively?

15010 etc. (1C16) is CS07
15011 etc. (1M16) is CS04

 

[43 302]

15010 etc. (1C16) is CS07
15011 etc. (1M16) is CS04

Thanks, got it the wrong way around then

 

[Peter Sarf]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

 

[6Z09]

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

The 73 Locomotives have a very good success rate of getting to Fort William!

 

[jfollows]

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."

 

[Oscar46016]

The 73 Locomotives have a very good success rate of getting to Fort William!

They do - I think it was yesterday or the day before they got capped

 

[Sleeper69]

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]

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

 

[TimboM]

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

Stock fault to be more specific. Back underway and currently 50L at Brinklow.

 

[alangla]

On time by Abington and currently 20 early at Blair Atholl

 

[92002]

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.

 

[jfollows]

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.

Yes, despite their numerous early mistakes, it seems that Avanti West Coast has been the exception here - they've been publishing detailed timetables over recent weeks. The Caledonian Sleeper information is woeful in comparison, it's as if they deliberately don't want people to use their services.