Caledonian Sleeper discussion

[sprinterguy]

It left pretty much on time as i was stood a few feet from it. It left a Class 90 there on its own.

The loco by the buffer stops is the one that will have hauled the empty sleeper stock in from Wembley depot.

 

[najaB]

The loco by the buffer stops is the one that will have hauled the empty sleeper stock in from Wembley depot.

That's what I was thinking. It goes back to Wembley about 10 to 15 minutes after the Sleeper departs.

 

[cf111]

An ex Virgin FO and BSO on the southbound Fort William today. No pictures because it's raining so severely I fear I might drown!

 

[Observer]

Passengers on the London to Inverness sleeper were delayed by two-and-a-half hours yesterday after part of a pallet was thrown onto the roof of the train.

Police have launched an investigation into the incident which caused major disruption on the 9.16pm service from London Euston to the Highland capital.

Staff on the Serco-run route received reports of an object on the roof after the train left Preston just after 3am yesterday morning.

Network Rail engineers were called out and the train was stopped in the Barton area.
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The overhead cables were made safe and the piece of wood was eventually removed.

On social media, the Caledonian Sleeper’s page initially told frustrated service users that the delay had been caused by “a table that has found its way on to the roof”.

However, it is understood that the wood is now thought to have been part of a pallet, and that the police were yesterday treating the incident as “malicious”.

The train arrived in Inverness 148 minutes late yesterday morning.

Passengers also reported that the sleeper service to Fort William was cancelled and replaced with a bus from Edinburgh.

A spokesman for the British Transport Police said: “We were called at 3.06am on Thursday, December 3, to reports of an object on the roof of the 9.16pm London Euston to Inverness service.

“Staff noticed the object, a piece of wood, on the train roof as it passed through Preston station.

“The train was stopped in the Barton area and overhead cables were isolated while the piece of wood was removed, before the train resumed its journey.

“Enquiries to establish how the piece of wood came to be on the train are ongoing.”

Anyone with information was asked to contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40, or text 61016.

Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/f...after-pallet-lands-on-inverness-sleeper-roof/

 

[ld0595]

Looks like pretty big problems on the sleeper last night which I'm guessing is due to the storm. Highland portion was cancelled at Edinburgh and the lowland still on its way.

Looking at RTT, the highland was 50 down until Lockerbie where it left 300 late! Likewise for the lowland where it left Preston 92L which eventually turned into 193L at Carlisle.

 

[LeylandLen]

Obviously all sleepers using ECML to/from London Euston tonight (Sun Dec 6TH) due to WCML unusable between Carlisle and Glasgow/Edinburgh .

 

[Blindtraveler]

Thats assuming the lines open?

 

[captainbigun]

EC is clear.

 

[Bungle965]

For now.
Sam

 

[Philip Phlopp]

For now.
Sam

Don't.

It's just the sort of day for something to go disastrously wrong with the OLE on the ECML.

For the Sleeper, I'd be sorely tempted to tuck up a diesel loco inside the electric loco, just in case.

 

[najaB]

For now.
Sam

Any reason to think that it won't be? It's been blue sky and sunshine all the way for me so far (at least as far as York).

 

[sonic2009]

Cannot seem to find a STP path for these on RTT.

 

[fgwrich]

Obviously all sleepers using ECML to/from London Euston tonight (Sun Dec 6TH) due to WCML unusable between Carlisle and Glasgow/Edinburgh .

From NRE.

Caledonian Sleeper

The following alterations will apply to Caledonian Sleeper services running tonight.
Services will be diverted via the East Coast Main Line and won't call at intermediate stations between London Euston and Glasgow Central / Edinburgh
The trains from Aberdeen and Inverness to London will start at Edinburgh. Passengers should contact Caledonian Sleeper Guest Services on 0330 060 0500.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/today.aspx

So at least for tonight, Edinburgh should get it's portion running!

 

[LeylandLen]

The 2145 Euston to Glasgow via ECML is VAR path on RTT.

 

[Mainliner]

Back on the WCML tonight, Lowland Edinburgh portion left bang on time behind 67007.

 

[GatwickDepress]

Took the sleeper for the first time out of Edinburgh last night - bang on time throughout to boot!

 

[Altnabreac]

Mrs Altnabreac used the sleeper recently so in light of the comments here I thought I would ask her to rate the experience as a regularish user (1-2 journeys per year) using it for the first time since the franchise change.

Her comments in order of importance:

• Pillows, bedding and mattresses hugely better than before.
• New website much easier to use and understand than previously.
• Ability to board earlier at Glasgow a big improvement so can get to sleep at a reasonable hour.
• Breakfast very good (Muesli), better than previous offering (Brioche).

Now her arrival was on time so she might not have been so happy if it had been delayed but overall she was very impressed with the new service and didn't notice any maintenance issues / problems etc.

She is far from being an enthusiast so thought it might be a useful perspective of an ordinary business user of the sleeper.

 

[robbeech]

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/G85841/2015/12/07/advanced

Timed for that speed, i bet that was a rough ride

 

[Scotrail84]

The ex virgin coaches for the ft willy are stabled at Waverley in the klondyke loop, which is now a battery end. Ususally blocked in by a 90 or a 67. There was a 92 and a 73 in the old motorail the other day.

 

[CosherB]

I'm surpried no one has reacted to the news that the DBS Class 90 has gone off-hire and has been replaced by a GBRf 92 .....

 

[Blindtraveler]

We'll react when the bluddy thing breaks down and starts clocking up the delay minutes

 

[Bungle965]

I'm surpried no one has reacted to the news that the DBS Class 90 has gone off-hire and has been replaced by a GBRf 92 .....

Probably because it has not broken down yet.
Sam

 

[Furrball]

Looking at booking tickets for July next year and noticed that the carriage lettering is changing with Aberdeen being H, J, K, Inverness starting from A and the Fort William coach being W.



I assume this is to put a more logical sequence on the platform at Euston.

 

[ld0595]

How's the testing of the 73s going? I saw this on RTT which was a sleeper locomotive from Bo'ness to Aberdeen which I'm guessing was a 73?

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O52388/2015/12/14/advanced

 

[IanXC]

Last night's Fort William portions were cancelled due to a fire in signalling equipment in the Helensburgh area.

When we arrived at Euston we were informed of this - having earlier received an email stating to check their website, which said nothing of any disruption at any point. Fort William passengers were accommodated in the Inverness portion before being placed on buses from Kingussie - which hadnt turned up after the train waited 20 minutes.

Not sure when the Helensburgh issue will be resolved however I gather that there is now 1 Fort William portion in Fort William, and 1 in Polmadie, so what will happen tonight we wait to see!

 

[Carntyne]

Last night's Fort William portions were cancelled due to a fire in signalling equipment in the Helensburgh area.

When we arrived at Euston we were informed of this - having earlier received an email stating to check their website, which said nothing of any disruption at any point. Fort William passengers were accommodated in the Inverness portion before being placed on buses from Kingussie - which hadnt turned up after the train waited 20 minutes.

Not sure when the Helensburgh issue will be resolved however I gather that there is now 1 Fort William portion in Fort William, and 1 in Polmadie, so what will happen tonight we wait to see!

Cable fire last night near Dalmuir which has been repaired/replaced overnight. Shocking of CS not to have info, it was ongoing from late afternoon yesterday at least.

 

[Observer]

Not sure when the Helensburgh issue will be resolved however I gather that there is now 1 Fort William portion in Fort William, and 1 in Polmadie, so what will happen tonight we wait to see!

Usually a day move from Polmadie to Wembley with whatever they can use to take it down there.

 

[Requeststop]

See the Caledonian sleeper Staff have voted 91% in favour of industrial action. Any idea what that is about and when the likely dates are?

 

[Essexman]

https://www.sleeper.scot/2-news/130-service-alterations-september-to-november-2015

Cancelled on 22nd & 23rd December.

Very disappointing that this couldn't be resolved without industrial action that will further harm the sleeper service.

 

[Altnabreac]

https://www.sleeper.scot/2-news/130-service-alterations-september-to-november-2015

Cancelled on 22nd & 23rd December.

Very disappointing that this couldn't be resolved without industrial action that will further harm the sleeper service.

Very poor by the RMT in the run up to Christmas.

Can't see strike action as justified in these circumstances. Suspect this has much more to do with Calmac than the sleeper issues as such.