Caledonian Sleeper

[Norther Monkey]

92018 on the Highlander sleeper to London failed last night had to return to Edinburgh and passengers chucked on LNER services this morning shambles

How were the passengers accommodated overnight? If allowed to stay in their berths until the morning then, in my opinion, not too bad an outcome.

 

[Caleb2010]

(edited to tidy up predictive text) The sleeper has got better lately in continuing the journey where possible. It must have been a real problem if the rescue loco couldn't continue with the train, albeit late.

 

[tehmarks]

If allowed to stay in their berths until the morning then, in my opinion, not too bad an outcome.

If travelling for leisure, perhaps. As a self-employed person who often travels Edinburgh-London for work, 'sorry I'm five hours late, my train broke down' is not a conversation I ever want to have.

I very rarely take the Lowlander now because the reliability of the service makes it too much of a risk.

 

[styles]

If travelling for leisure, perhaps. As a self-employed person who often travels Edinburgh-London for work, 'sorry I'm five hours late, my train broke down' is not a conversation I ever want to have.

I very rarely take the Lowlander now because the reliability of the service makes it too much of a risk.

When I've taken the sleeper for work I've always had a backup option in mind, same as I do for many rail/air journeys. Sometimes it's a flight, other times a coach, or even hiring a car and driving it. None are ideal of course.

 

[D1537]

92010 on the northbound Lowlander has sat down just north of Lockerbie. There's a 1Z99 approaching from the north (which is presumably 92028, the portion loco) which is currently at Beattock, so it might not cause too many issues - the first northbound TPE has been cancelled at Carlisle, but the northbound Avanti isn't due for another 45 minutes yet.

Edit: Not going smoothly. 1Z99 sat at Beattock on the down line for 45 minutes and the first northbound Avanti, 1S34, has been at Carlisle for 30 minutes (now cancelled).
Edit: 1Z99 has now disappeared from the map so presumably it has arrived at 1S26.
Edit: Now on the move, 189 late.

 

[kingqueen]

Tonight's Glasgow to London is being started at Edinburgh due to "an unexpected operational issue".

Caledonian Sleeper (@CalSleeper) on X

⚠️ Important Service Update – Tonight's Glasgow to London Euston Service We're very sorry to announce that, due to an unexpected operational issue, tonight's Glasgow to London Euston Caledonian Sleeper service will now start from Edinburgh. Please visit our Travel Updates page:

x.com

 

[Tetragon213]

Something heat related, possibly? Or a locomotive fault?

 

[D1537]

Something heat related, possibly? Or a locomotive fault?

See my post just above. They will presumably be a locomotive short, and I think the whole of 1S26 went to Edinburgh.

 

[hexagon789]

See my post just above. They will presumably be a locomotive short, and I think the whole of 1S26 went to Edinburgh.

The whole train appears to have indeed gone to Edinburgh this morning instead of splitting at Carstairs, but the ECS ran to Polmadie depot afterwards, as is usual, so the coaches are actually currently in Glasgow!

Presumably it's loco shortage as you surmise.

 

[CW2]

I assume they don't trust the newly arrived 92006 even to do the ECS from Polmadie to Central?

 

[cats_five]

Something heat related, possibly? Or a locomotive fault?

Unlikely at 6am.

 

[31160]

I assume they don't trust the newly arrived 92006 even to do the ECS from Polmadie to Central?

Well they really do just keep it for empties just depends on what one

 

[43096]

The whole train appears to have indeed gone to Edinburgh this morning instead of splitting at Carstairs, but the ECS ran to Polmadie depot afterwards, as is usual, so the coaches are actually currently in Glasgow!

Presumably it's loco shortage as you surmise.

The issue is a locomotive shortage as a result of the failure. Glasgow Central cannot take a full 16-car set so starting at Waverley (which can) is the least-worst option. Edinburgh is also the busier of the two destinations, too, I believe?

 

[FrodshamJnct]

I assume they don't trust the newly arrived 92006 even to do the ECS from Polmadie to Central?

It’s gone up to do some static testing of some new mods on the Mk5s.

 

[hexagon789]

The issue is a locomotive shortage as a result of the failure. Glasgow Central cannot take a full 16-car set so starting at Waverley (which can) is the least-worst option. Edinburgh is also the busier of the two destinations, too, I believe?

I realised the full 16 can't fit Glasgow Central but I thought it was a least a little ironic the coaches went to Glasgow anyway for servicing.

 

[Bill57p9]

Edinburgh is the larger market for the sleeper, plus the locomotive can run round and therefore no additional locomotive is required.
I note that northbound both Glasgow and Edinburgh were served this morning and therefore 2 serviceable 92s (in addition to the 92 hauling the lowlander inbound from London) must have been available by this morning.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Anyone know what happened to the down Aberdeen this morning? Seems to have spent a couple of hours at Stonehaven

 

[JonathanH]

Anyone know what happened to the down Aberdeen this morning? Seems to have spent a couple of hours at Stonehaven

Railcam data says it had a brake fault.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Railcam data says it had a brake fault.

Thanks

 

[hexagon789]

Anyone know what happened to the down Aberdeen this morning? Seems to have spent a couple of hours at Stonehaven

Seems to have been a brake fault of some description, it lost time approaching Stonehaven.

Then rescued 110L.

Failed again at Portlethen.

Recovered and arrived Aberdeen 164L.

Caused quite a few cancellations, delays and diagram alterations.

The XC Aberdeen to Plymouth was started from Montrose for example.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Edinburgh is the larger market for the sleeper, plus the locomotive can run round and therefore no additional locomotive is required.
I note that northbound both Glasgow and Edinburgh were served this morning and therefore 2 serviceable 92s (in addition to the 92 hauling the lowlander inbound from London) must have been available by this morning.

There was a recent occasion, I believe, where it terminated at Motherwell because of a problem with the coupling on the rearmost vehicle, which would have prevented a loco connecting to the Edinburgh p[ortion at Carstairs or, if it had run all 16 coqches to edinburgh, could not have then gone to the depot.

 

[Peter0124]

I realised the full 16 can't fit Glasgow Central but I thought it was a least a little ironic the coaches went to Glasgow anyway for servicing.

I think Platform 11 can fit it, however is mostly used by Scotrail services

 

[popeter45]

I think Platform 11 can fit it, however is mostly used by Scotrail services

not a full 16 as the carriages alone are 2m too long (353m platform vs 355m carriages) and once you factor in the 2 class 92's its too long but a 14 carriage reduce length consist would just about fit

 

[Bill57p9]

There was a recent occasion, I believe, where it terminated at Motherwell because of a problem with the coupling on the rearmost vehicle, which would have prevented a loco connecting to the Edinburgh p[ortion at Carstairs or, if it had run all 16 coqches to edinburgh, could not have then gone to the depot.

I too have a vague recollection that the Lowlander ran to and was terminated at Motherwell for some reason earlier this year. Glasgow Central fire possibly? Obviously this also reduces the number of 92s required from 3 to 2 so can work around a dead loco though the preference appears to be to abandon the split and send the entire Lowlander to/from Edinburgh using platforms 7 & 11.

 

[InvHst]

Seems to have been a brake fault of some description, it lost time approaching Stonehaven.

Then rescued 110L.

Failed again at Portlethen.

Recovered and arrived Aberdeen 164L.

Caused quite a few cancellations, delays and diagram alterations.

The XC Aberdeen to Plymouth was started from Montrose for example.

Door interlock problems according to someone I know who works for them

 

[318266]

The northbound Highlander seems to have had a bad time last night... lost around 3 hours around Lockerbie. Has somehow managed to delay me, my train to Edinburgh was held at Carstairs for 0D24 (92014) to pass.

 

[800002]

DRS Service 4S45 failed on Beattock in the early hours. An 88 leading.Freights and sleepers delayed . Worst casualty 1S25 sleeper to Inverness now 180 late approaching Stirling. Fort William and Aberdeen section also significantly delayed

From the DRS thread..
Playing silly buggers, again, at Beattock.

 

[hexagon789]

The northbound Highlander seems to have had a bad time last night... lost around 3 hours around Lockerbie. Has somehow managed to delay me, my train to Edinburgh was held at Carstairs for 0D24 (92014) to pass.

Another Class 88-hauled freight came to grief.

 

[JamieL]

Real.lack of capacity on the CS this coming weekend. Been trying to book for Glasgow/Helensburgh on Lowlander/Highlander with zero availability on anything. Longer trains needed! Will have to use the day train instead.

 

[Steve Harris]

Real.lack of capacity on the CS this coming weekend. Been trying to book for Glasgow/Helensburgh on Lowlander/Highlander with zero availability on anything. .

Is that really a surprise considering it's the school holidays (and not just for the uk either) !?