Caledonian Sleeper

[BRX]

If I understand this correctly, does a room supplement apply in addition to a standard ticket purchased but where using the sleeper is a viable option (i.e. not purchasing seated accommodation on the sleeper). For example, I buy a ticket from London to Inverness which isn't tied to a specific train, I can buy a room supplement and travel on the sleeper in a cabin?

Yes and it means you can choose to do day time one way and sleeper the other, if you so desire. And have some degree of flexibility too.

 

[zero]

Subject to any route restrictions. For example, you wouldn't (AFAIK) be able to use a 'VIA YORK' ticket to travel between London and Edinburgh.

What if it's going via ECML?

 

[najaB]

What if it's going via ECML?

Can't see any problem if that's the booked route.

 

[al78]

Yes and it means you can choose to do day time one way and sleeper the other, if you so desire. And have some degree of flexibility too.

Thanks, that is worth considering in the future.

 

[Caleb2010]

Is there a walk up ticket routed via York then, normally it wouldn’t be valid due to the sleeper using the wcml

Not sure if it would be valid for the upgrade if the train is routed via the ECML as it doesn’t stop anywhere for public use and it’s an engineering diversion!

Pretty sure it would need to be an any permitted ticket!

 

[najaB]

Not sure if it would be valid for the upgrade if the train is routed via the ECML as it doesn’t stop anywhere for public use and it’s an engineering diversion!

The routeing guide says (my bold):

Where the fare specifies a particular route, there will be restrictions in the fare routes data that will affect thee routes listed in the Guide which pass through the station shown in the route description.

There doesn't appear to be a requirement for a passenger call at the station listed in the route field, nor in any other specific station(s).

 

[Caleb2010]

Fair enough, the CS website just says the list of tickets, with no routeing info so i guess it’s a go then!

 

[MP33]

Waiting at Preston station this morning, on my way back from Blackpool North. The special indicator board was advertising an arrival of the Sleeper. I thought it appears rather late. They would have to serve luncheon rather than breakfast.

 

[Falcon1200]

Waiting at Preston station this morning, on my way back from Blackpool North. The special indicator board was advertising an arrival of the Sleeper.

None of the Sunday night into Monday sleepers went via Preston - all via the ECML!

 

[najaB]

None of the Sunday night into Monday sleepers went via Preston - all via the ECML!

I wonder if that's why it was still on the display board?

 

[trainophile]

Please can I ask a quick question without having to read the entire thread?

I've just booked four tickets for next Feb to Fort William, and the confirmation email reads:

Club Twin Room only Supplement

@ £210 per twin bunk "room". And Room numbers allocated.

Slightly confused by the use of the word "Supplement" as I haven't booked anything else for it to be a supplement to. Am I supposed to book seats as well or something? Don't want to mess it up.

 

[alistairlees]

Y

Please can I ask a quick question without having to read the entire thread?

I've just booked four tickets for next Feb to Fort William, and the confirmation email reads:

Club Twin Room only Supplement

@ £210 per twin bunk "room". And Room numbers allocated.

Slightly confused by the use of the word "Supplement" as I haven't booked anything else for it to be a supplement to. Am I supposed to book seats as well or something? Don't want to mess it up.

You’ve booked four supplements (or two twin supplements?). So you already possess off-peak return tickets or similar to and from Fort William?

 

[trainophile]

No, haven't booked anything else yet. It's far too early for next Feb anyway.

 

[alistairlees]

No, haven't booked anything else yet. It's far too early for next Feb anyway.

Ok. The point I am making is that you have purchased 2 * Club Twin Supplements (at £210.00 each) for February. These are always the same price. More to the point, they require you to possess a travel ticket - such as an Off-Peak or Anytime Single from London to Fort William - for the actual journey. This is because the supplements are for the room only and do not include travel.

There is loads of warning of this on the site:

(screenshot shows sleeper.scot website with supplement warning on bright blue background. Text reads:
"This page is for booking Room Supplements only. Room Supplements allow holders of tickets which are valid in any operator to travel in Sleeper accommodation. Examples of these tickets are Anytime, Off-Peak, Super Off-Peak, Britrail, InterRail and some other tickets. Room Supplements do not include travel. If you are looking for combined travel and accommodation tickets you need to exit this page and re-enter the details.

Holders of Standard tickets can only purchase Classic Room Supplements.
Holders of First Class tickets can purchase either Club or Classic Room supplement.

If you have a Room Supplement without a travel ticket you will need to purchase one from another online retailer or station."

You will need to either:
- buy travel tickets
- refund these supplements and buy proper Sleeper tickets, which include both travel and accommodation

The latter is £600.00 for four adults in two rooms for many dates in February.

 

[trainophile]

Oh dear, I did mess it up then. Would you know whether the tickets I've just bought are refundable?

I should have studied the information on the green panel but stupidly I didn't. It's not very helpful where it says "you need to exit this page and re-enter the details", it doesn't tell you where to re-enter them.

Edit: I've messaged their Contact form to see if I can get a refund, and I see they have a live chat facility from midday tomorrow so I'll have to try that. The last straw was finding I'd have to book 1st Class travel tickets to go with the Club rooms.

 

[alistairlees]

Oh dear, I did mess it up then. Would you know whether the tickets I've just bought are refundable?

I should have studied the information on the green panel but stupidly I didn't. It's not very helpful where it says "you need to exit this page and re-enter the details", it doesn't tell you where to re-enter them.

They are refundable. There are no fees.

 

[trainophile]

They are refundable. There are no fees.

Oh that's a relief. How do I apply for a refund? I'd better re-book the correct ones as even 11 months ahead there are only eight rooms left.

 

[alistairlees]

Oh that's a relief. How do I apply for a refund? I'd better re-book the correct ones as even 11 months ahead there are only eight rooms left.

Ring up, email or tweet the Caledonian Sleeper Guest Service Centre.

 

[trainophile]

Thanks again for all your help. I'm trying to buy the correct thing now. Would you or anyone be so kind as to check out 4 passengers (2x2 rooms) for 21st Feb 2024 in Club rooms, and confirm whether the shown price of £700 includes the train tickets or not? I really don't want to repeat this mistake. I don't find their website very clear - you select the "Tickets" option and end up on the page with the different types of rooms again. Hoping that's because it's the correct way to buy them as a package, don't know how I got the wrong one earlier.

What confuses me now is that the original price of £420 is only £280 less than the £700 now shown, i.e. £70 per person, which seems low for a 1st Class ticket for such a long distance.

 

[alistairlees]

Thanks again for all your help. I'm trying to buy the correct thing now. Would you or anyone be so kind as to check out 4 passengers (2x2 rooms) for 21st Feb 2024 in Club rooms, and confirm whether the shown price of £700 includes the train tickets or not? I really don't want to repeat this mistake. I don't find their website very clear - you select the "Tickets" option and end up on the page with the different types of rooms again. Hoping that's because it's the correct way to buy them as a package, don't know how I got the wrong one earlier.

What confuses me now is that the original price of £420 is only £280 less than the £700 now shown, i.e. £70 per person, which seems low for a 1st Class ticket for such a long distance.

I will DM you in a minute

 

[trainophile]

I will DM you in a minute

Thank you, appreciate that.

 

[trek]

Thanks again for all your help. I'm trying to buy the correct thing now. Would you or anyone be so kind as to check out 4 passengers (2x2 rooms) for 21st Feb 2024 in Club rooms, and confirm whether the shown price of £700 includes the train tickets or not? I really don't want to repeat this mistake. I don't find their website very clear - you select the "Tickets" option and end up on the page with the different types of rooms again. Hoping that's because it's the correct way to buy them as a package, don't know how I got the wrong one earlier.

What confuses me now is that the original price of £420 is only £280 less than the £700 now shown, i.e. £70 per person, which seems low for a 1st Class ticket for such a long distance.

You can always ring them up, they'll be able to cancel and refund the incorrect tickets on the phone, and you can ask for the correct tickets for what you desire and book that way to make sure you're doing the right thing. They'll also be able to book you in cabins next to each other (although there's no interconnecting doors in club, in classic there is).

 

[trainophile]

You can always ring them up, they'll be able to cancel and refund the incorrect tickets on the phone, and you can ask for the correct tickets for what you desire and book that way to make sure you're doing the right thing. They'll also be able to book you in cabins next to each other (although there's no interconnecting doors in club, in classic there is).

Thank you. I messaged them about my mistake as soon as I realised, and they have confirmed they are cancelling the "supplement" booking and refunding the money. I have just this evening managed to get the correct bookings made, so it's all systems go!

 

[jagardner1984]

Thank you. I messaged them about my mistake as soon as I realised, and they have confirmed they are cancelling the "supplement" booking and refunding the money. I have just this evening managed to get the correct bookings made, so it's all systems go!

Have to say for whatever other faults Serco may have - I have always found dealings with their customer services very straightforward and always have resolved my issue.

 

[duncananderson]

Hi all,
My wife and young son have seats booked to Aberdeen tomorrow night (5th April), and has just been told that they will have to change carriages during the night at Edinburgh. Does anyone know the reason for this? Not happened to us before on the Aberdeen portion though I know it has been (is?) standard practice for the Fort William portion.

She's less than impressed as it's likely that once the wee one wakes up to move seats, he won't go back to sleep again. In her words "if I'd known beforehand, I'd never have considered it as a travel option". They're going for a funeral so she's not keen to cancel her trip, but is considering it.

 

[route101]

Hi all,
My wife and young son have seats booked to Aberdeen tomorrow night (5th April), and has just been told that they will have to change carriages during the night at Edinburgh. Does anyone know the reason for this? Not happened to us before on the Aberdeen portion though I know it has been (is?) standard practice for the Fort William portion.

She's less than impressed as it's likely that once the wee one wakes up to move seats, he won't go back to sleep again. In her words "if I'd known beforehand, I'd never have considered it as a travel option". They're going for a funeral so she's not keen to cancel her trip, but is considering it.

I wonder if its due to shorter formation of sleeper due to going to Kings Cross.

 

[trainophile]

Another question - is there a "dress code" for the onboard lounge for the evening/night when people are in there to have a few drinks and avoid staying in their tiny rooms. We'll be backpacking and don't particularly want to have to bring smart clothes, but don't want to lower the tone either. I imagine breakfast will be pretty casual, but the night session and dinner might be more formal?

 

[SargeNpton]

Another question - is there a "dress code" for the onboard lounge for the evening/night when people are in there to have a few drinks and avoid staying in their tiny rooms. We'll be backpacking and don't particularly want to have to bring smart clothes, but don't want to lower the tone either. I imagine breakfast will be pretty casual, but the night session and dinner might be more formal?

1st April was last Saturday.

 

[Bletchleyite]

1st April was last Saturday.

It's not an entirely stupid question given that it's sold as a premium train (yes, I know it's more like a Premier Inn!) and premium trains often do have dress codes.

CS doesn't, however, bar basic decency (i.e. something on your top and bottom half and a pair of shoes, trainers, flipflops or non-muddy boots of some kind). Alongside the cabins being a Premier Inn on wheels (albeit at a more Hilton like price), think of the lounge car as (overpriced) 'Spoons on wheels in those terms.

 

[43066]

Another question - is there a "dress code" for the onboard lounge for the evening/night when people are in there to have a few drinks and avoid staying in their tiny rooms. We'll be backpacking and don't particularly want to have to bring smart clothes, but don't want to lower the tone either. I imagine breakfast will be pretty casual, but the night session and dinner might be more formal?

I think you’re confusing the Caledonian Sleeper with the Orient Express.