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Caledonian Sleeper Highlander – can I get off at Edinburgh?

Mag_seven

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What I don't understand here is why they were able to book a seat from London to Edinburgh on the Highlander - Edinburgh as a destination is not shown on the CS website as an option for the Highlander, only the Lowlander.
 
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What I don't understand here is why they were able to book a seat from London to Edinburgh on the Highlander - Edinburgh as a destination is not shown on the CS website as an option for the Highlander, only the Lowlander.
I can send you a copy of the ticket if you would like? To see if there is anything particular about it?
 

alistairlees

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I can send you a copy of the ticket if you would like? To see if there is anything particular about it?
I would like to see this do we can work out how /where /why this was sold. It would be best to ensure that no one else is incorrectly sold this.
 

CyrusWuff

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What I don't understand here is why they were able to book a seat from London to Edinburgh on the Highlander - Edinburgh as a destination is not shown on the CS website as an option for the Highlander, only the Lowlander.
I suspect it's due to the requirement for passengers travelling through to Fort William having to change carriages at Edinburgh.

Quite how it's been issued without reservations on the FTW portion (assuming that is indeed the case) I have no idea, however!
 

800002

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Indeed! Even in a bed you'd be lucky to get 5 hours sleep. Skinflints should have sent you up the day before and paid for a hotel.
That would be the British tax payer....

I neither agree nor disagree with the commercial business offering a paid job to someone and paying their travel expenses, based on established processes, but we know some operators within the rail world are shaky, at best.

I trust an exorbitant fee has been commanded, for what others have not picked up on (maybe), is that they'll also be travelling back south after their shift, somehow.
 
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For anyone wondering what the ticket looks like for this service. I have edited details to remove barcode and other numbers.
 

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CyrusWuff

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Indeed! Even in a bed you'd be lucky to get 5 hours sleep. Skinflints should have sent you up the day before and paid for a hotel.
Or on the flip side: They shouldn't have given a shift in Edinburgh to someone who lives in the South East in the first place!
 

Bletchleyite

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Bletchleyite I have posted the ticket for you

Thanks. I'm amazed that was even issued. I assume it was a mistake because for Fort William passengers you need the split reservation, but your employer's sales system didn't realise that?

As mentioned I would seek to get them to change it onto the Highlander service which does carry passengers to Edinburgh and arrives at a far more sensible time. This ticket shouldn't have been issued and you may have some issues leaving the station depending on exactly how they manage the Fort William "day train" these days.
 

Bill57p9

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Thanks. I'm amazed that was even issued. I assume it was a mistake because for Fort William passengers you need the split reservation, but your employer's sales system didn't realise that?

As mentioned I would seek to get them to change it onto the Highlander service which does carry passengers to Edinburgh and arrives at a far more sensible time. This ticket shouldn't have been issued and you may have some issues leaving the station depending on exactly how they manage the Fort William "day train" these days.
@Bletchleyite - I think you mean "change it on to the Lowlander service".
However the OP starts work before the Lowlander arrives.

I do agree - no idea how that ticket was even sold!
 

Bletchleyite

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@Bletchleyite - I think you mean "change it on to the Lowlander service".
However the OP starts work before the Lowlander arrives.

I do agree - no idea how that ticket was even sold!

If the original poster starts work before the Lowlander arrives then the appropriate thing to change it to is a day train the night before (or a flight) and a hotel. There are plenty of budget hotels in Edinburgh, my personal recommendation would be Motel One, there are at least two, both of which are convenient for Waverley, but there are a million others for all budgets.

Whether the ticket is Advance or flexible it shouldn't be hard to get it refunded because it is an incorrect issue and technically has no validity at all. If it was travelled on the poster has a lot of risk of hassle at some point on the journey so it should not be attempted to travel on it, even if a contract to travel is technically in place it may well be one that has to be pursued legally afterwards which is never good unless you're a hobby litigant which I'm sure they are not.
 

Bletchleyite

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He starts work at 0520 so the Lowlander wouldn't be much use.

Then he will need to travel the day before and stay overnight. There is a very high chance of hassle:

1. Not being allowed to board at Euston
2. Hassle on board (though at least CS aren't a Penalty Fare TOC)
3. Being unable to leave the station at Edinburgh and having to hang around a fair while for security to let him out.

The ticket should never have been issued and should be refunded regardless of whether it is normally refundable or not.

The only exception to this would be if due to engineering CS have deliberately made this available as a one off, but I very much doubt it, I never heard of them doing that other than maybe letting a few people do it in a cancellation scenario on the day.

To be honest if the employer came up with this nonsensical idea then a new job might be the priority! There is no way anyone will be working to a high quality after a night in the seats with a 4am start at the end of it.
 

Royston Vasey

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I note the seat booked is the wheelchair space and companion seat. If this was a requirement (I don't want to assume anything), is the requirement for a wheelchair space been a factor here, e.g. all other wheelchair accommodation on all portions are booked that night?

And/or some pragmatic lateral thinking for a rail company employee/contractor to allow them to travel to their specific arrival time requirements.
 
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I note the seat booked is the wheelchair space and companion seat. If this was a requirement (I don't want to assume anything), is the requirement for a wheelchair space been a factor here, e.g. all other wheelchair accommodation on all portions are booked that night?

And/or some pragmatic lateral thinking for a rail company employee/contractor to allow them to travel to their specific arrival time requirements.
Just to let you know I don't need a wheelchair space. I've contacted Calendonan on X.
 
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Ive spoke to Caledonian Sleeper on X they can't move my seat. Looking at the seat map for the Highlander it looks like someone is next to me. This will be a fun night.
 

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