Caledonian Sleeper discussion

[Chrism20]

Transport Scotland will likely have hired legal teams specialising in contract law and EU tendering, then there will be management consultants, financial accountants etc. all brought in so the civil servants are 'squeaky' in the event of legal challenges.

I knew it wouldn't be cheap but TBH I'm a bit taken aback with the amount for such a small franchise.

 

[70014IronDuke]

Yes, I think we have now got your thoughts on Serco and their maintenance regime, you keep saying the same thing over and over again.
....

Perhaps with good reason?

Incidentally, I see all the media stories seem to talk about ageing stock. I do wish the message was put across that, with the correct maintenance, this is a red-herring. The stock will be good for another 50 years if properly maintained.

Of course, management, and their bean counters, also need to understand this.

 

[Starmill]

Is it just me or is this strike action not just the latest in a long list of things Serco haven't lived up to in their contact? If TS spent that much tendering it, surely some of the penalties have been triggered by now!?

 

[cjmillsnun]

Perhaps with good reason?

Incidentally, I see all the media stories seem to talk about ageing stock. I do wish the message was put across that, with the correct maintenance, this is a red-herring. The stock will be good for another 50 years if properly maintained.

Of course, management, and their bean counters, also need to understand this.

I don't know about another 50 years, but it should manage another 10 easily if correctly maintained

 

[Chrism20]

Perhaps with good reason?

Incidentally, I see all the media stories seem to talk about ageing stock. I do wish the message was put across that, with the correct maintenance, this is a red-herring. The stock will be good for another 50 years if properly maintained.

Of course, management, and their bean counters, also need to understand this.

I think they might be done before they are eighty even with all the tlc in the world. Maintained correctly however there is more than a good few years left in them yet.

Is it just me or is this strike action not just the latest in a long list of things Serco haven't lived up to in their contact? If TS spent that much tendering it, surely some of the penalties have been triggered by now!?

There was reporting of the Abellio penalties under the Squire scheme, I haven't seen anything about CS but I would be surprised if the EDB cancellations haven't triggered some sort of penalty.

 

[LeylandLen]

Just seen it spent 1hour 26 mins at Watford Junction having left Euston on time at 2116. Now about 112 mins late at Rugby. No doubt the reasons will become apparent later today Tuesday:cry:. Im only looking at it on RTT to see its also being diverted via Stoke and Alsager on the slow single line as my train , the 1835 Euston to Glasgow was before due to engineering works between Stafford and Crewe. The southbound sleeper is due to take its usual path along WCML .

 

[Starmill]

NRE mentioned a driver taken ill as casue of disruption between Euston and Watford Jn.

 

[CosherB]

at least it isn't down to Serco and their maintenance regime ..... :roll:

 

[marks87]

at least it isn't down to Serco and their maintenance regime ..... :roll:

On the contrary, they quite clearly should be maintaining their drivers better.

 

[CosherB]

92014 and 92023 have been returned to Loughborough for attention....

 

[Peter Mugridge]

92014 and 92023 have been returned to Loughborough for attention....

The 92s should be back on the sleeper by Easter ( the advantage of being on a postal subscription to Rail... there's a big article about this on page 16 of issue 791, which arrived on Wednesday... )

 

[Highland37]

Does anyone know if you can travel as foot passengers on the Sleeper? I am planning a trip from Spean Bridge to Corrour and there are 20 of us staying at Loch Ossian Youth Hostel.

CS say "You will be permitted travel, however you must purchase an Anytime Travel ticket through National Rail Enquires or indeed Scotrail.
No reservations will be made for seats on the service and seats on board are dependent on availability."

That doesn't inspire me with confidence and it can't be booked through Scotrail despite what CS say.

 

[najaB]

Does anyone know if you can travel as foot passengers on the Sleeper?

Yes you can. Between Spean Bridge and Corrour the sleeper is a 'day train' so no reservation is required.

 

[Highland37]

Thanks. I have looked on Scotrail, National Rail and the Sleeper site. There is no way to purchase these tickets but they can be purchased through The Train Line.com

What about purchase on train?

 

[najaB]

What about purchase on train?

Just purchase an appropriate ticket (I would've thought Off Peak) and board. There's no guarantee you'll get a seat but I doubt it will be anywhere near full this time of year.

 

[Highland37]

I might not have explained myself. There appears to be only one way to purchase a ticket - thetrainline.com and this doesn't fill me with confidence.

What about purchasing one on board?

 

[Essexman]

You can buy a ticket from the guard on board or from any TOC or 'agency' websites, or at a station ticket office. You just need a normal walk on ticket, not one for a specific train.

 

[najaB]

I might not have explained myself. There appears to be only one way to purchase a ticket - thetrainline.com and this doesn't fill me with confidence.

What about purchasing one on board?

Sorry, no, I didn't explain myself. You can board with any standard Off-Peak ticket. These are valid on any service outside peak times and aren't restricted to a specific train.

 

[Highland37]

You can buy a ticket from the guard on board or from any TOC or 'agency' websites, or at a station ticket office. You just need a normal walk on ticket, not one for a specific train.

That's not true actually. If you check various TOC sites you see that the Sleeper is not listed and you can't purchase tickets. Same for National Rail Enquiries.

I know that Serco have withdrawn their services from some previously in place system and they themselves have advised me to use Scotrail or National Rail. Neither is possible and I have sought clarification from them.

Knowing what Serco are like, I don't have confidence in the turn up approach in case they refuse us. It's the last train to Corrour and we need to get there.

 

[najaB]

That's not true actually. If you check various TOC sites you see that the Sleeper is not listed and you can't purchase tickets. Same for National Rail Enquiries.

Yes you can. What I don't think myself or Essexman have made clear enough is that you don't need to buy a ticket for that train. Any valid walk-up ticket between Spean Bridge and Corrour for that date will be valid on the Sleeper.

 

[Highland37]

Ok thanks. It's not the validity of the ticket I am worried about. It's getting a ticket in the first place. Not easy!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Is standing allowed? 20 would nicely fill the coach up. Might be better to plan to use a ScotRail service.

 

[najaB]

Ok thanks. It's not the validity of the ticket I am worried about. It's getting a ticket in the first place. Not easy!

Simply use the website to buy a ticket for any other service that day, and don't request a seat reservation.

 

[Highland37]

Is standing allowed? 20 would nicely fill the coach up. Might be better to plan to use a ScotRail service.

Not possible on the timings we have. We will also have a fair amount of stuff. I've used the Sleeper many times this way but not with 20 people...

 

[Hadders]

I've used the seated portion of the Fort William sleeper regularly to travel between Fort William and Glasgow.

You don't need a specific ticket. A normal off-peak ticket will do that you can purchase through any website without having to specify an exact service.

What I normally do though is book at a staffed station (any station that can do reservations will do) as they can arrange seat reservations for you.

I've also seen people boarding the sleeper and paying the guard.

You won't have an issue.

 

[Highland37]

Simply use the website to buy a ticket for any other service that day, and don't request a seat reservation.

Ok thanks. I will do that.

 

[najaB]

Ok thanks. I will do that.

It goes without saying, make sure you are getting an Anytime/Off-peak ticket rather than an Advance.

 

[Bletchleyite]

You won't have an issue.

With 20 people? You sure?

 

[alphamale]

With 20 people? You sure?

You can buy onboard, however you would probably irritate the guard if 20 people turned up without a ticket! It is supposedly a reservation only train remember, and while they do wave this at times, the guard does have the right to refuse your travel. I would recommend you do what others have suggested and just buy the off-peak ticket between corror and spean bridge from national rail on the date of travel. It's only one coach and I've seen it full at times with passengers having to stand between corror and fort William.

 

[reb0118]

You can buy on-board, however you would probably irritate the guard if 20 people turned up without tickets

Not me it wouldn't. It will be a Fort William based ScotRail guard (at present at any least) who are not fazed with the equivalent of a coach party turning up at short notice for a few stops.

You can put more than one passenger on one ticket and if the group leader states this at boarding and has near enough the right cash, or a good card then this is no different from issuing a single ticket to one passenger - also £6.30 commission for one ticket is not to be sneezed at......

.....buy from the guard.

Can anyone confirm that you can stand on the FTW to EDB portion? I am sure that it is treated as a normal day service, and must do too according to the franchise agreement?