It's gone via the coast the last 2 weekends.
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Caledonian Sleeper discussion
- Thread starter LeylandLen
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It's gone via the coast the last 2 weekends.
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RailUK Forums
No. Believe it did the same last weekend.
47271
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Reports I'm receiving are that the northbound Highlander did run with an Aberdeen lounge at least one night earlier this week, I'm not sure which, but it does look like it's the plan to have it in.
It also seems to be going okay at King's Cross from a passenger point of view. There was a bit of confusion between crew and passengers alike over coach letters on the night in question and this held up boarding, but that's hardly surprising if they've been forced to reduce the formation in the way that they have.
And, granted on the basis of only a few days, if anything timekeeping seems a bit better than when it uses the West Coast!
I think CS deserve credit for getting back to near normal times on both trains, with the exception of northern pickups and dropoffs, when there's still a great big hole in the middle of the WCML.
It also seems to be going okay at King's Cross from a passenger point of view. There was a bit of confusion between crew and passengers alike over coach letters on the night in question and this held up boarding, but that's hardly surprising if they've been forced to reduce the formation in the way that they have.
And, granted on the basis of only a few days, if anything timekeeping seems a bit better than when it uses the West Coast!
I think CS deserve credit for getting back to near normal times on both trains, with the exception of northern pickups and dropoffs, when there's still a great big hole in the middle of the WCML.
leomartin125
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Thanks. that clarifies it. I understand that they are there but they change in traction would incur delays when having diesel all the way would probably be easier.
Don't think anyone would prefer to have seemingly unreliable 47s all the way.
Makes you wonder how things would have been if the 67s weren't getting retained (for now) at the start of the Serco run.
captainbigun
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I don't understand this. Where has a 47 failed on the sleeper job?
Folk just cannot help having a poke at the CS despite all the stops being pulled out to run what is proving to be a reliable workaround.
47271
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I'm not one of those folk, and at the risk of repeating myself from a few hours ago, I think that of all the operators upset by Lamington, CS comes away with by far the most credit.
I think there have been a few coughs and splutters along the way, and probably one or two more than you'd expect from the 67s, but the 47s are doing fine on the GSW. They certainly have no place running all the way to Euston however when there are 90s humming around all over the place, and I'm not sure if they'd have been the answer for long term use before the 73s, but that's something that never happened so we don't need to worry about it.
The shortened formations may well be helping with getting the stock perked up, I'm not hearing about anything too bad recently.
Which reminds me, what happened with the strikes, I've heard no more?
I think there have been a few coughs and splutters along the way, and probably one or two more than you'd expect from the 67s, but the 47s are doing fine on the GSW. They certainly have no place running all the way to Euston however when there are 90s humming around all over the place, and I'm not sure if they'd have been the answer for long term use before the 73s, but that's something that never happened so we don't need to worry about it.
The shortened formations may well be helping with getting the stock perked up, I'm not hearing about anything too bad recently.
Which reminds me, what happened with the strikes, I've heard no more?
Thought I read something on here about them giving up a few times whilst on the GSW diversions. Sorry if incorrect.
I'm quite happy to be hauled all the way to London or back behind a 47, or pair of. In my experience you're less likely to end up on the floor of your compartment than when having to suffer the snatching, banging and lurching of electric haulage!
It's not the ride quality of the Sleeper coaches, as on diesel hauled sections the ride is normally far superior. Then the change of traction to a 90 results in a hard ride - no smooth pull aways and as for coming to a halt - bang head on cabin wall time!!
Yes, it's 47 all the way for me!
CS have pulled out all the stops to keep things running, their customer service team are second to none, any questions I've had have been answered sensibly and politely. They will always help if they can!
The on board staff are the most important employees and for front line staff - excellent.
I get fed up with people having a pop at CS too. If First were still involved they would have handled the situation differently - yes, and probably as far as customers were concerned - a lot worse. Leave CS alone, others could learn lots.
It's not the ride quality of the Sleeper coaches, as on diesel hauled sections the ride is normally far superior. Then the change of traction to a 90 results in a hard ride - no smooth pull aways and as for coming to a halt - bang head on cabin wall time!!
Yes, it's 47 all the way for me!
CS have pulled out all the stops to keep things running, their customer service team are second to none, any questions I've had have been answered sensibly and politely. They will always help if they can!
The on board staff are the most important employees and for front line staff - excellent.
I get fed up with people having a pop at CS too. If First were still involved they would have handled the situation differently - yes, and probably as far as customers were concerned - a lot worse. Leave CS alone, others could learn lots.
PHILIPE
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Agree. Most credit. Virgin and TPEs Information machines lacking and lack of co-ordination and info re ticketing.
47271
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http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?p=2432277
Maybe my post 24 on this thread, I understand that the 47s had an air and/or ETH hairy just outside Edinburgh one night last week on the up Highlander. Lots of lurching and sleepless passengers, aircon on/aircon off. Finally got to Carlisle at 6am. There was also the incident at Central last night mentioned by the Scotrail driver upthread.
But that's as bad as I've heard, I'm sure there have been no total flakeouts.
87015
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86401 looks likely to work M16 from Doncaster in the morning (but don't moan at me if it just goes on the back)
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captainbigun
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Just going on the back.
Is there any news regarding 87002, I heard it had burst earlier in the week.
87015
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Serviceable at WN, off repairs according to the system. Hopefully it will make an appearance at Kings X as I wouldn't mind a phot of it on the blocks
captainbigun
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Burst? No. The mind boggles as to where these quotes come from. At WN.
Poolie
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Were my tired, tipsy eyes deceiving me, or was it being tailed by a 66 as it went through Hartlepool at 2 o' clock this morning?
Are you sure it wasn't a 67? The 66 drags appear to have a 67 on the rear, which I'm assuming is for ETS purposes.Were my tired, tipsy eyes deceiving me, or was it being tailed by a 66 as it went through Hartlepool at 2 o' clock this morning?
A slightly off-topic question if I may, rather than starting a new thread....
I'm travelling on the CS from Inverness-Euston in a few months time.
Has anyone experience of the on-board food since it went over to CS? We have a few hours in Inverness before the train and wondered whether it would be safer to dine at the hotel near the station or risk it on the train?
Some TOCs have a habit of running out of food that is advertised, how do CS fare?
I've had a glance at the menu...will I be paying over the odds for essentially microwave food or is it reasonably decent?
Naturally I shall indulge in the alcohol!
I'm travelling on the CS from Inverness-Euston in a few months time.
Has anyone experience of the on-board food since it went over to CS? We have a few hours in Inverness before the train and wondered whether it would be safer to dine at the hotel near the station or risk it on the train?
Some TOCs have a habit of running out of food that is advertised, how do CS fare?
I've had a glance at the menu...will I be paying over the odds for essentially microwave food or is it reasonably decent?
Naturally I shall indulge in the alcohol!
cf111
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It depends on what you're planning to eat but in general while the food is microwaved, it is nice - if you're thinking of eating at the hotel attached to the Royal Highland Hotel instead then don't bother, it's awful.
I would recommend the haggis, followed by the cheese board enjoyed with a bottle of the Chianti.
Ha! You read my mind - yes the Highland Hotel was a possibility.
I might give the Haggis a bash, never had it before
Ha! You read my mind - yes the Highland Hotel was a possibility.
I might give the Haggis a bash, never had it before
Having dined and spent the night in the Highland Hotel I'd give it a bodyswerve for anything other than a coffee/pint pre-train.
The CS food is actually quite nice and although it's microwaved it's not cheap crap.
The Chicken & tarragon and the beef casserole are both very nice.
They do tend to run out occasionally and, if you want the breakfast it comes onto the train at Preston (well it did last week!) with the diversions I'm not too sure what the arrangements are!
However I agree, the food served is good quality, though as said not cheap, not the most expensive either.
Go for the haggis, can't beat a plate of haggis, a mk2 and the Highland main line.
However I agree, the food served is good quality, though as said not cheap, not the most expensive either.
Go for the haggis, can't beat a plate of haggis, a mk2 and the Highland main line.
cf111
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Ha! You read my mind - yes the Highland Hotel was a possibility.
I might give the Haggis a bash, never had it before
It's the only "main course" I think I've eaten on the Sleeper now I come to think about it! It is nice though, good quality haggis. If you're looking for somewhere to eat in town then there are some good restaurant in Inverness not too far from the station - the Mustard Seed is one and the Filling Station which is very close is also a decent bet if you're wanting something simple.
Before I lived here I used it to stopover because of how close it is to the station but I agree, the hotel itself is dated and the restaurant is to this day the only place I've ever sent a meal back to the kitchen. The breakfasts were OK though!
47271
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Improvements to the food served, and using locally sourced ingredients from around Inverness, was one of the three quick wins Serco brought to the franchise. The others were new comfortable bedding and the Inverness customer service office.
Absolutely eat on the train, they shouldn't be running out of anything that early in the run. It's all pretty good, so even if any of the recommendations made upthread aren't available then there's nothing really poor. Like the burger in a cardboard box Scotrail used to serve.
If all else fails and you can't wait, keep turning left three times outside Inverness station front door and Pizza Express will be before you!
Absolutely eat on the train, they shouldn't be running out of anything that early in the run. It's all pretty good, so even if any of the recommendations made upthread aren't available then there's nothing really poor. Like the burger in a cardboard box Scotrail used to serve.
If all else fails and you can't wait, keep turning left three times outside Inverness station front door and Pizza Express will be before you!
Or turn right once if you go out the side door.
47271
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They start boarding at 2000. Be there on the dot, get checked in, and hotfoot it down to the lounge, it may be busy but you'll have a seat at a table. All the more important if there's more than two of you. From experience of starting out from Inverness, it can take until nearly 11pm for it really thin out if it's a very busy lounge.
I heard a story recently about a regular who gets on at Aviemore and was considering backtracking to Inverness to start his journey because he couldn't get sat down in his favourite spot!
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