Though Freightmaster's post indicates that they may be back on the Inverness portion from next week, unless they have found a solution to the problem they are having at Aberdeen.
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Caledonian Sleeper discussion
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Wash them by hand :P
a_c_skinner
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I doubt his wife will tolerate several speculative trips!
Looks like the Aberdeen sleeper broke down yesterday morning (31/03). 11E leaving Arbroath but broke down somewhere between there and Inverkelior. Ended up arriving in Aberdeen 257 late!
Looks like it was a 67 rather than a 73.
Looks like it was a 67 rather than a 73.
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Colas 60076 has had to go and rescue it.
Sam
Sam
The original 67030, just back into service was the culprit which didn't make Aberdeen. It was rescued by 67009 which had worked the Lowland sleeper to Edinburgh, then light to Montrose for the rescue. Meanwhile the Edinburgh Thunderbird had went to rescue the Glasgow/Kings Cross which had a rest on the wcml.
There was a couple of 73s at CraigentinnHi folks,
The problem there is no crew to man them.
So another poor night for Caledonian sleeper thanks to Discuss maintenance or lack of it.
side effect
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Doing my fourth seated sleeper trip on Thursday and would just like to say I have enjoyed the last 3 with my two kids. This trip is with my son only and it probably helps that we love trains. We chose airline seats and not even worried if their facing travel or not. Very much looking forward.
Hi - first post and hoping just to clarify sleeper formation.
Wife and I are going up to Fort William boarding at Crewe. Last time had to do a bit of a jog if I recall as it was right at the front of the train when it arrived at Crewe - and it is a fair jog when it arrived a couple of minutes late with a suitcase.
Can anyone confirm the Fort William coaches will be at the very front when it arrives at Crewe?
Wife and I are going up to Fort William boarding at Crewe. Last time had to do a bit of a jog if I recall as it was right at the front of the train when it arrived at Crewe - and it is a fair jog when it arrived a couple of minutes late with a suitcase.
Can anyone confirm the Fort William coaches will be at the very front when it arrives at Crewe?
It should be a fixed formation from Euston to Edinburgh, so if it was there last time it should be there again!
I used the sleeper to Corrour and back from Fort William this week. Excellent journeys.
A couple of technical issues - no blind in my berth outward & no heat in seated coach (from Fort William) return - they moved passengers to berths I think.
Can anyone tell me where the blue & cream lounge car that's currently running to Fort William has been borrowed from and what it would normally be used on. Seated / guards van coach is ex Virgin.
Edit - Another mechanical issues Id forgotten. Outward one of the Aberdeen berth coaches had no power. We had to walk though in almost dark (just some light sticks) to get back to our coach from lounge car.
A couple of technical issues - no blind in my berth outward & no heat in seated coach (from Fort William) return - they moved passengers to berths I think.
Can anyone tell me where the blue & cream lounge car that's currently running to Fort William has been borrowed from and what it would normally be used on. Seated / guards van coach is ex Virgin.
Edit - Another mechanical issues Id forgotten. Outward one of the Aberdeen berth coaches had no power. We had to walk though in almost dark (just some light sticks) to get back to our coach from lounge car.
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From the descripton that you have posted they sound like they are Rivera Coaches which are normally used for charter trains although, they can be used for spot hire work an example being with CS.
Sam
Sam
Hi - first post here so apologies if this has been answered elsewhere. I have searched.
I have London-Glasgow and Fort William-London 1st class trips booked in late July (a surprise trip for my wife's birthday).
Trying to work out where the lounge car is in relation to the sleeping carriages and if I should book nearer the lounge car for ease of access (I read somewhere that being too far away could mean making trips back and forth to the lounge car to chance upon some empty seating).
I did accidentally book non-adjoining berths so will have to cancel and re-book (seems odd that the Ambassadors can't change the berths for me!), so thought I should get some advice on this before doing so.
Many thanks for any tips on this - and in general.
I have London-Glasgow and Fort William-London 1st class trips booked in late July (a surprise trip for my wife's birthday).
Trying to work out where the lounge car is in relation to the sleeping carriages and if I should book nearer the lounge car for ease of access (I read somewhere that being too far away could mean making trips back and forth to the lounge car to chance upon some empty seating).
I did accidentally book non-adjoining berths so will have to cancel and re-book (seems odd that the Ambassadors can't change the berths for me!), so thought I should get some advice on this before doing so.
Many thanks for any tips on this - and in general.
If memory serves correctly the Fort William set shares the lounge with the Inverness portion so the walk will be pretty much the same (plus/minus one car length) no matter which berths you're booked into.
For going up to Glasgow (I presume on the Lowland service?), you will be the front part of the train (rear detaches to Edinburgh) - I can't recall where the Lounge will be
From Fort William, the formation should be Seated, Lounge/Buffet, 1st Berth, Standard Berth if it is 4 carriages - either way you'll never be far from it. The Seated and Lounge cars come off at Edinburgh and from then on you'll share with Aberdeen
From Fort William, the formation should be Seated, Lounge/Buffet, 1st Berth, Standard Berth if it is 4 carriages - either way you'll never be far from it. The Seated and Lounge cars come off at Edinburgh and from then on you'll share with Aberdeen
sprinterguy
Veteran Member
They're only travelling south on the Fort William sleeper, so as far south as Edinburgh (by which time I would assume they'll have retired to their berths) they'll have no more than two carriages between themselves and the lounge car at most. I've only travelled in first class on the Fort William sleeper once, and can't remember where they located it on the train.
Between London and Edinburgh (and vice versa) the Fort William sleeper shares a lounge car with the Aberdeen portion.
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Indeed they are - must read more carefully!
47271
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If you're worried about not getting seated in the lounge straight away (I think that's what you mean by trips back and forth) this is most unlikely to be a problem on the Lowlander between Euston and Glasgow. Most people are just a quick whisky and cheeseboard at most at that time of night. I've never used the FW section so I don't know about departures from there but it's generally always good advice to get checked in bang on first boarding time and hot footing to the lounge or you can find it full or partly reserved. Don't rock up five minutes before departure.
You may have read a reference to busy lounges on northbound Highlander departures, or the Inverness lounge on departure southbound. The northbound Inverness lounge is notorious for being full to bursting point and until around 11pm, especially on Thursday and Friday nights. Again, the only way to avoid this to make sure you're checked in and seated on the dot.
You can prepay dinner now (I haven't been on that much since Serco started) and I think that comes with a table reservation, it might be worth looking into that too?
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You may have read a reference to busy lounges on northbound Highlander departures, or the Inverness lounge on departure southbound. The northbound Inverness lounge is notorious for being full to bursting point and until around 11pm, especially on Thursday and Friday nights. Again, the only way to avoid this to make sure you're checked in and seated on the dot.
You can prepay dinner now (I haven't been on that much since Serco started) and I think that comes with a table reservation, it might be worth looking into that too?
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk
I hadn't realised that you can book a meal now and found that all the tables were reserved on the Aberdeen (& Fort William) lounge car at Euston. I had to sit on one of the sideways seats but some saw the numbers and went away. There is supposed to be priority for first class ticket holders but I've never seen that enforced.
Coming back from Fort William there were more tables but most were booked or partly booked.
Coming back from Fort William there were more tables but most were booked or partly booked.
As another poster has pointed out, if boarding at Euston and certainly on the Highlander, get to the train as soon as possible. I was travelling a few weeks ago with a few other members from here when the service was diverted to Oban - we were on about an hour before time and as there were 4 of us, made a quick dart to the Lounge car to get a table and order - we were Standard Berth so as such didn't have "first dibs" but nothing was said and we remained there until after departing Crewe at midnight. All the seats were taken but there weren't as many people trying to get in as I may have expected
I recently travelled on the southbound sleeper from Inverness-Euston. I booked the tickets yonks ago before I joined the railway, so was travelling on the full public fare. With our railcard the fare was about £200 one way.
This was my first time on the Caledonian Sleeper, although have done the Night Riviera to Cornwall before so had a good idea of what the cabin accommodation would be like.
Here are my honest first impressions of the CS (I hope it doesn't sound too Victor Meldrew):
- Boarding was prompt at 2000hrs, the attendant was polite and efficient.
- The train was 95% full from Inverness so, since we were travelling Standard class, we were told the lounge car was for 1st Class customers only for the first hour after departure, but that we could get a takeaway drink once we departed. This was a bit disappointing, but understandable for obvious reasons.
- We trundled down to the lounge after leaving Inverness to get a drink to take back, only to find all the sofas occupied by school/college age students returning home from some adventure holiday. I know for sure they weren't first class ticket holders so I was a bit miffed since I had just sat in my cabin for an hour. I understand it's difficult for the crew to enforce this kind of thing, it just disappointing there are p*ss takers out there who do as they please.
- Later on we went back to the lounge at about 2200 and managed to get a seat and have a drink/some desert.
- I don't know if we caught the lounge crew on a bad day, but everything seemed like a bit of an effort. At first I thought it was an at seat service, but after a long wait ended up hovering awkwardly by the 'kitchen' door to get served.
- At about 2230 a couple of lads wanted some hot food, but all the attended replied he only had 1 vegetable curry and 1 haggis left. I saw a few dirty plates knocking around the lounge car but nothing to suggest an army had just been fed, so was surprised the food supply had run out after only a couple of hours. Are CS guilty like other railway companies of having an impressive offering on paper on for it to fall short in reality?
- The cabin was as expected. I had booked a cabin right in the middle of the carriage to avoid the noise over the bogies, but had forgotten about the noise of the air conditioning unit and generator! I can only liken it to 'sleeping' next to a noisy fridge or listening to your neighbours loud washing machine. It's also a shame you cannot close the air con grill rather than just adjust the temperature. I forgot to take some gaffer tape to fix a magazine over the hole. Unfortunately the noise from the generator underneath the carriage floor prevented much sleep. On a couple of occasions it fell silent for 30 seconds, perhaps this was its natural cycle or because we went through a neutral section? When the air generator switched off the cabin was very peaceful just gliding along the rails - this would have been perfect for sleeping! But soon enough it kicked back in. I hope when the new carriages arrive the noise is less intrusive.
- The cabin door and interconnecting door rattled like mad, so had to wedge them both shut with the eye masks provided. The bin also rattled to had to wedge a magazine behind that!
- The blind was broken in the closed position.
- The beds were as expected so no complaints there, although the quilts were slightly browned around the edges. The toilets were clean.
- Breakfast was disappointing. We had paid £6 each for the highland breakfast, but had to get a magnifying glass out to find the sausage and half a piece of bacon. Sadly there was no egg, although I thought I saw this advertised? Naturally the crew only have a microwave to work with, but in general the portions CS provide in the cartons are stingy for the money you pay.
All in all it was an ok experience, but I'm not sure if I would be enticed back so quickly the next time I need to make such a long journey. The noisy generator, rattling door and lacklustre breakfast and lounge car were not a good advert. My partner could sleep on a washing line but even they struggled to sleep with the generator noise. Next time I'm tempted to fly with Easyjet from Gatwick to Inverness - it's only about £50 and takes less than two hours. I find that slightly sad as I'm an avid fan and advocate for railways and always to try to look on the positives, but sometimes the offering is just too hit and miss.
This was my first time on the Caledonian Sleeper, although have done the Night Riviera to Cornwall before so had a good idea of what the cabin accommodation would be like.
Here are my honest first impressions of the CS (I hope it doesn't sound too Victor Meldrew):
- Boarding was prompt at 2000hrs, the attendant was polite and efficient.
- The train was 95% full from Inverness so, since we were travelling Standard class, we were told the lounge car was for 1st Class customers only for the first hour after departure, but that we could get a takeaway drink once we departed. This was a bit disappointing, but understandable for obvious reasons.
- We trundled down to the lounge after leaving Inverness to get a drink to take back, only to find all the sofas occupied by school/college age students returning home from some adventure holiday. I know for sure they weren't first class ticket holders so I was a bit miffed since I had just sat in my cabin for an hour. I understand it's difficult for the crew to enforce this kind of thing, it just disappointing there are p*ss takers out there who do as they please.
- Later on we went back to the lounge at about 2200 and managed to get a seat and have a drink/some desert.
- I don't know if we caught the lounge crew on a bad day, but everything seemed like a bit of an effort. At first I thought it was an at seat service, but after a long wait ended up hovering awkwardly by the 'kitchen' door to get served.
- At about 2230 a couple of lads wanted some hot food, but all the attended replied he only had 1 vegetable curry and 1 haggis left. I saw a few dirty plates knocking around the lounge car but nothing to suggest an army had just been fed, so was surprised the food supply had run out after only a couple of hours. Are CS guilty like other railway companies of having an impressive offering on paper on for it to fall short in reality?
- The cabin was as expected. I had booked a cabin right in the middle of the carriage to avoid the noise over the bogies, but had forgotten about the noise of the air conditioning unit and generator! I can only liken it to 'sleeping' next to a noisy fridge or listening to your neighbours loud washing machine. It's also a shame you cannot close the air con grill rather than just adjust the temperature. I forgot to take some gaffer tape to fix a magazine over the hole. Unfortunately the noise from the generator underneath the carriage floor prevented much sleep. On a couple of occasions it fell silent for 30 seconds, perhaps this was its natural cycle or because we went through a neutral section? When the air generator switched off the cabin was very peaceful just gliding along the rails - this would have been perfect for sleeping! But soon enough it kicked back in. I hope when the new carriages arrive the noise is less intrusive.
- The cabin door and interconnecting door rattled like mad, so had to wedge them both shut with the eye masks provided. The bin also rattled to had to wedge a magazine behind that!
- The blind was broken in the closed position.
- The beds were as expected so no complaints there, although the quilts were slightly browned around the edges. The toilets were clean.
- Breakfast was disappointing. We had paid £6 each for the highland breakfast, but had to get a magnifying glass out to find the sausage and half a piece of bacon. Sadly there was no egg, although I thought I saw this advertised? Naturally the crew only have a microwave to work with, but in general the portions CS provide in the cartons are stingy for the money you pay.
All in all it was an ok experience, but I'm not sure if I would be enticed back so quickly the next time I need to make such a long journey. The noisy generator, rattling door and lacklustre breakfast and lounge car were not a good advert. My partner could sleep on a washing line but even they struggled to sleep with the generator noise. Next time I'm tempted to fly with Easyjet from Gatwick to Inverness - it's only about £50 and takes less than two hours. I find that slightly sad as I'm an avid fan and advocate for railways and always to try to look on the positives, but sometimes the offering is just too hit and miss.
Interestingly, I found the Riviera to Cornwall a nicer experience. Still the fan noise I suspect which didn't bother me, but there was a lack of creaking noises from the electrical equipment on the Riviera that I have experienced both times on the CS. On my most recent trip to Oban, the blind was broken in a down position too
With the Lounge, we had an at-seat service coming out of London - no awkward hovering around kitchen doors required!
leightonbd
Member
Anyone know what happened to the Northbound Lowland last (Thurs14th) night.
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/G67166/2016/04/14/advanced
Looks like some sort of failure at Preston.
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/G67166/2016/04/14/advanced
Looks like some sort of failure at Preston.
Not sure, but the Southbound Highland was similarly delayed at Carlisle.
PHILIPE
Veteran Member
Signal Black out at Tebay
Thanks. I was wondering as it looked like there were freight services delayed as well.
Kite159
Veteran Member
Sorry if old news, but I've just been checking prices for the sleeper for Euston towards Glasgow in October time and noticed that they now appear to have gone away with the flexible "refundable less £10 fee up-to midday" fares and offer Fixed and fully flexible (no £10 refund charge) fares.
Nothing would surprise me. Since Serco took over we've had:
- Appalling reliability (to be fair they did well during the Lamington closure)
- Massive increase in Berth fees
- Refusal to recognise Scottish Local Routeing Guide Easements
- Refusal to accept ALRs on their last day of validity
- Withdrawal of Advance fares on the seated sleeper between Fort William and Glasgow/Edinburgh
- Seat reservations not possible between Fort William and Edinburgh despite the train being 'reservations compulsory'
87002 out on Footex today.
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