Caledonian Sleeper discussion

[Bungle965]

92014 failed I believe.
Sam

 

[whiteyrhys]

Does anyone know what happened to last night's Down Lowland Sleeper (1S26)? Appears to have failed just outside Birmingham and then been rescued after c.3 hours?

Passengers on board complaining of cold, so also assuming rescue loco didn't have ETH?

Hey TimboM!

I was on the lowland sleeper last night going north! I woke up about 3ish and noticed there was complete silence which, for anyone who's been on the sleeper (even when stationary), isn't usual. I decided to check maps on my phone to see where we were ...Birmingham International when we should have been away past Preston. Not to mention Birmingham isn't even a station we usually pass through. I am puzzled as to that one myself, can someone elaborate?

The train didn't go to Edinburgh(which was the portion I was in) and the entire train went to Glasgow.

Locomotive failure apparently was the reason given to me by the staff onboard.

Hope this helps satisfy a curious mind!

 

[Tim R-T-C]

It looks like the run through Birmingham and up through Bescot was pre-planned, ran the same way last week too and it booked to for a few months on Sunday only - http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C72725/2016/09/18/advanced

Must be some engineering works around Nuneaton area I guess, although I would have thought running up through Wolverhampton would be quicker than Bescot?

 

[najaB]

Must be some engineering works around Nuneaton area I guess, although I would have thought running up through Wolverhampton would be quicker than Bescot?

Quicker and sleeper don't often go together.



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[Gonzoiku]

I'm assuming First Class? I've only got one helpful suggestion.

So that's four single journeys in two adjoining cabins, I don't know about the 'hound' nowadays, I think that Serco are reducing the fee for dogs. And remember you don't have to be ready to go until just before midnight and you'll be in for 8am.

You could buy a ten journey Flexipass for £1500, let £600 of it go on this trip and still have six single trips in hand for whatever takes your fancy over the next year: Inverness, Aviemore, Kingussie, Pitlochry, Fort William, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow...

I've no idea about the £200 to get you to Euston, or the parking, but the sleeper isn't that expensive for business for those who know that they're going to make ten trips in a year. But I know, it's just so so expensive for those making a casual enquiry a few days before travel.

I can add what I hope is also helpful: it is always worth asking here if anyone has a Flexipass ticket or two to spare.

GZ

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[Sleepy]

Would tend to agree with Night Riveria comment regarding Solo cabins - searching for random dates eg October 3rd (Monday) Cornwall -Paddington single cabins fully booked !!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Would tend to agree with Night Riveria comment regarding Solo cabins - searching for random dates eg October 3rd (Monday) Cornwall -Paddington single cabins fully booked !!

I don't entirely understand why they do it that way, and why they don't just sell any cabin as either a single or a twin depending who books what when, just as hotels do.

 

[TimboM]

92014 failed I believe.
Sam

And it'd been doing so well since it's "modifications"

 

[Clip]

I don't entirely understand why they do it that way, and why they don't just sell any cabin as either a single or a twin depending who books what when, just as hotels do.

because they make more money from selling as a twin than they do a single?for hotels it doesnt really matter who occupys it as each eprson doesnt need a seperate ticket to sleep

 

[leomartin125]

And it'd been doing so well since it's "modifications"

Well that's it then. Goodbye 92's for good it seems.. If they can't even work after modifications then the only place they will go is HS1. Can't see Brush wanting to look at it anymore, rather scrap it and the others that don't or won't work.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Whilst I agree with you here I suspect we will get an outbreak of posters saying just how good 92s are and how long 1 hasnt failed for.

 

[87015]

Whilst I agree with you here I suspect we will get an outbreak of posters saying just how good 92s are and how long 1 hasnt failed for.

In fairness it is the first time it's blown up (totally at least) in months.

 

[Domh245]

Well that's it then. Goodbye 92's for good it seems.. If they can't even work after modifications then the only place they will go is HS1. Can't see Brush wanting to look at it anymore, rather scrap it and the others that don't or won't work.

They don't have a choice though. The new stock has a higher ETS requirement than the existing stock, so it'll have to be hauled by 92s, because the existing stock isn't powerful enough. The alternative solution is to fit a generator van to the rake, but that is then eating up platform space.

 

[Sleepy]

I don't entirely understand why they do it that way, and why they don't just sell any cabin as either a single or a twin depending who books what when, just as hotels do.

I see your point Neil - but I think Cornish sleeper has gone from strength to strength since "1st class" cabins were consigned to history and the mix between solo and twin cabins works well most of the time.

 

[headshot119]

Well that's it then. Goodbye 92's for good it seems.. If they can't even work after modifications then the only place they will go is HS1. Can't see Brush wanting to look at it anymore, rather scrap it and the others that don't or won't work.

Warning hyperbole alert :roll:

Locomotives of ALL classes can and do fail on a daily basis around the network, we only hear so much about the sleeper because it's attractive to enthusiasts.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I see your point Neil - but I think Cornish sleeper has gone from strength to strength since "1st class" cabins were consigned to history and the mix between solo and twin cabins works well most of the time.

I agree "1st class" is pointlessly confusing and that it should be a Standard class train with supplements. All I mean is that the mix of cabins should be based on who books what when. So any given cabin should be bookable as a twin or a single, so they shouldn't run out of singles or run out of twins, just out of cabins when it's totally full.

 

[captainbigun]

Well that's it then. Goodbye 92's for good it seems.. If they can't even work after modifications then the only place they will go is HS1. Can't see Brush wanting to look at it anymore, rather scrap it and the others that don't or won't work.

Where do you get this tripe?

92014 has returned the best figures for a 92 ever. Nothing else will be capable of heating the new stock. The 92s are here to stay and they will be perfectly reliable. Not as though skodas ever fail is it?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Whilst I agree with you here I suspect we will get an outbreak of posters saying just how good 92s are and how long 1 hasnt failed for.

And rightly so. Some folk need to get with the program and look at the facts.

 

[NotATrainspott]

They don't have a choice though. The new stock has a higher ETS requirement than the existing stock, so it'll have to be hauled by 92s, because the existing stock isn't powerful enough. The alternative solution is to fit a generator van to the rake, but that is then eating up platform space.

There's enough space at Euston for a loco at both ends. If all else fails, then the train could run to Edinburgh/Carstairs in push-pull configuration using the rear loco to provide additional ETS.

 

[Carntyne]

It won't though, as it's going to use 92's.

 

[najaB]

There's enough space at Euston for a loco at both ends. If all else fails, then the train could run to Edinburgh/Carstairs in push-pull configuration using the rear loco to provide additional ETS.

that would require through wiring to allow control from either end.

 

[ainsworth74]

I agree "1st class" is pointlessly confusing and that it should be a Standard class train with supplements. All I mean is that the mix of cabins should be based on who books what when. So any given cabin should be bookable as a twin or a single, so they shouldn't run out of singles or run out of twins, just out of cabins when it's totally full.

I wonder if it's a hangover from the Volo TV days when cabins that were fitted with the TVs couldn't lower the upper berth so presumably that had to be reflected in the booking engine?

 

[najaB]

So any given cabin should be bookable as a twin or a single, so they shouldn't run out of singles or run out of twins, just out of cabins when it's totally full.

Unless you have exactly 2x the number of people booking twins as book singles you'll have either empty berths or people who can't book what they want.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Unless you have exactly 2x the number of people booking twins as book singles you'll have either empty berths or people who can't book what they want.

Yes, but "first come, first served" seems fairer, particularly as a single traveller is basically relegated to the seats on GW as sharing with an unknown passenger is not permitted and booking a two for one person is not AIUI allowed at all (or would you be allowed to buy two tickets?). If sharing was permitted it wouldn't be an issue.

 

[najaB]

If sharing was permitted it wouldn't be an issue.

I didn't realise that gWr didn't allow sharing with an unknown person. In light of that, your suggestion makes complete sense.

 

[Muzer]

It's a shame what's been happening. I'd like to think that it'll all be worth it when the new stock arrives, but I'm not so sure.

Am I going crazy, or did there used to be super-cheap advances called Bargain Berths available under Scotrail, for something like 25 quid? Now there's nothing less than 70 GBP (!), unless their fares don't show up in BRFares for some reason.

The lack of solo supplements is really a pain but is not the end of the world. I've been on plenty of sleepers sharing with strangers and have had no problem.

Also, does anyone else think that in their haste to make the ALR invalid if it's the last day of validity, that they've actually made it valid before its first day of validity?

"All Line Rover tickets valid for the date of arrival in destination" (nothing about departure of the origin).

And yeah, the new supplement fares are rather steep. You're paying more for shared occupancy than you used to pay for single occupancy.

 

[najaB]

Am I going crazy, or did there used to be super-cheap advances called Bargain Berths available under Scotrail, for something like 25 quid? Now there's nothing less than 70 GBP (!), unless their fares don't show up in BRFares for some reason.

Yes, Scotrail used to offer Bargin Berths starting from £19 if memory serves correct.

 

[JohnR]

Yes - they had Bargain Berths at £19, £29, £39 and £49, if I recall correctly. You had to book a while in advance to get the very cheapest, but it was an excellent way to fill up the trains. I often got £29 or £39 tickets.

Nothing like that anymore. I wonder what loadings are like?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Yes - they had Bargain Berths at £19, £29, £39 and £49, if I recall correctly. You had to book a while in advance to get the very cheapest, but it was an excellent way to fill up the trains. I often got £29 or £39 tickets.

Nothing like that anymore. I wonder what loadings are like?

 

[Sleepy]

I didn't realise that gWr didn't allow sharing with an unknown person. In light of that, your suggestion makes complete sense.

It would seem GWR have scrapped the policy of no sharing with a stranger, their website will allow booking of 1 berth in a twin cabin.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It would seem GWR have scrapped the policy of no sharing with a stranger, their website will allow booking of 1 berth in a twin cabin.

Ah, right. In that case my objection is withdrawn.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

They now seem to have three 92s in full service.

The Lowlander on Sunday night was 92 010 with the Carstairs - Edinburgh bit being 92 018. Parked in the siding for the Highlander at Waverley was 92 014.

Last night, predictably, the same two 92s worked the Lowlander back; presumably 014 worked the Highlander throughout from Waverley to Euston.