Caledonian Sleeper discussion

[BRX]

I found them quiet too , cant remember what the distinguishable class 73 noise is

I've got a feeling they have some kind of cooling fan setup though...they do sometimes make quite a loud noise that's not far off that cl92 fan noise. I might be quite wrong.

 

[TimboM]

Photos on Twitter of:

92038 + Dellner coupling + retractable buffers (and no tunnel rings/CE depot shields + a new coat of paint by looks of it) - 92020 (in process of being reinstated) hiding in the background too.

73968 + Mk5s at Polmadie

https://twitter.com/Clinnick1/status/957976569716396032

 

[DuncanS]

I had an excellent time on the Highland on Friday night through to Inverness. Just enough room for me, and eight year old and a rucksack. Goodness knows how cramped it would be with two adults and related luggage. The boy slept really well, right through until the steward came through with our coffee/juice. I didn't sleep so well, though.

I'm able to get a suitcase under the bottom bunk, space has never been an issue in a shared cabin.

 

[Bennybob]

Evening everyone! Would anyone be able to provide me with the allox for 1S25 out of Euston tonight please.

Thanks in advance
Sam.

 

[TimboM]

Evening everyone! Would anyone be able to provide me with the allox for 1S25 out of Euston tonight please.

Thanks in advance
Sam.

Pretty sure it’s 92018

92043 bringing the stock in and will work 1S26 later.

 

[Bennybob]

Thanks TimboM

 

[8J]

Any ideas what is hauling the Highlander tonight would be much appreciated. Thanks

 

[ScottDarg]

Any ideas what is hauling the Highlander tonight would be much appreciated. Thanks

Which direction?

 

[TimboM]

Any ideas what is hauling the Highlander tonight would be much appreciated. Thanks

Which direction?

Beat me to it Scott...!

1S25 (North) likely to be 92010
1M16 (South) likely to be 92018

67018 on the Inverness portion North of Edinburgh (both 1M16/1S25)

 

[PHILIPE]

Safety Checks have closed the line between Helensburgh and Crianlarich with disruption until the end of the day. Buses for Scotrail. NRE says information re Caledonian Sleeper tonight TBA

 

[marks87]

Network Rail are looking into the cause of the line closure...

Source: https://twitter.com/ScotRail/status/958347129243799552

(Picture shows a hole under the track)

 

[ScottDarg]

Network Rail are looking into the cause of the line closure...

Source: https://twitter.com/ScotRail/status/958347129243799552

(Picture shows a hole under the track)

A bit of extra info from Network Rail:

The void near #Garelochhead is at a location where the line crosses the Highland Boundary Fault - the geological junction between Scotland's Highlands & Lowlands. https://t.co/tgv9rIxIH9

https://twitter.com/NetworkRailSCOT/status/958360752204800001

 

[BRX]

There are going to be some expensive repairs all round if the highland boundary fault starts moving....

 

[LeylandLen]

From NRE ..

The 19:50 Fort William to London Euston service will not run between Fort William and Edinburgh. Customers are advised to contact Caledonian Sleeper for assistance and information on alternative travel arrangements.

 

[marks87]

From NRE ..

The 19:50 Fort William to London Euston service will not run between Fort William and Edinburgh. Customers are advised to contact Caledonian Sleeper for assistance and information on alternative travel arrangements.

With the stock obviously trapped, will that mean a short-formed northbound lowlander tomorrow night? Or is there still a spare half-set kicking around at either Wembley or Polmadie?

I would guess that, being a Tuesday in late January, accommodating the Fort William passengers in the Inverness and Aberdeen portions won't be too much of an issue.

 

[bonzawe]

With the stock obviously trapped, will that mean a short-formed northbound lowlander tomorrow night? Or is there still a spare half-set kicking around at either Wembley or Polmadie?

I would guess that, being a Tuesday in late January, accommodating the Fort William passengers in the Inverness and Aberdeen portions won't be too much of an issue.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O64689/2018/01/30/advanced

Interestingly a 5B01 ECS has left Fort William. Would you operate an empty train through a work site that you would not with passengers on board?

 

[Mag_seven]

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O64689/2018/01/30/advanced

Interestingly a 5B01 ECS has left Fort William. Would you operate an empty train through a work site that you would not with passengers on board?

Maybe the damage has been repaired but the alternative arrangements for the sleeper pax have already been put in place?

EDIT: NR reporting issue will be fixed by 22.30

 

[TimboM]

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O64689/2018/01/30/advanced

Interestingly a 5B01 ECS has left Fort William. Would you operate an empty train through a work site that you would not with passengers on board?

I doubt it. It'll be a timing issue of when a decision re cancelling had to be made and what was known at that point vs what is know now regarding the estimated completion of repair...​

Maybe the damage has been repaired but the alternative arrangements for the sleeper pax have already been put in place?

EDIT: NR reporting issue will be fixed by 22.30

NR/CS would've needed to make a call earlier on (as they did) as to whether to inform passengers the service was cancelled and make alternative arrangements. As the NR team were only just getting to the site (if not even there by that point) they'll have erred on the side of caution and caped 1B01, thus giving more chance to make alternative arrangements for FTW 'guests'. Now NR have assessed the hole and commenced repairs they've estimated 22:30 for the line to be open and this means it is worth sending the ECS south (5B01) as doesn't get to Garelochhead until about 11pm.

The other consideration is that whilst NR are estimating 22:30, there's still a risk of 1B01 not getting to EDB in time for it to join up with the rest of 1M16 at c.01:10. It'd only need a 30-60 min overrun (plausible with a job taking several hours) and 1B01 would either have a knock on delay on 1M16, or be caped at EDB with passengers stranded and waiting for the first early morning VTEC. However, in terms of making sure 1Y11 runs back to FTW in the morning and hence getting the "day coaches" (brake coach/lounge car) from 1B01/5B01 to EDB - as well as the loco, driver/staff etc. being in the right position - if 5B01 was held up a bit longer than estimated at Garelochhead it shouldn't cause an issue re 1Y11 which leaves EBD at 04:50.

I'm wondering if it does make it in time to EDB, they'll still add the sleeper coaches to 1M16 so stock is in the right place? Apparently passengers are being bussed to Kingussie to join the Inverness portion there.​

 

[ScottDarg]

5M11: 86101 TnT 92033
1M11: 92033

 

[Kite159]

Is there any rough estimate when the Inverness portion will become double headed 73s rather than the hired in 67?

 

[AndrewE]

There are going to be some expensive repairs all round if the highland boundary fault starts moving....

I wondered if this had been noted here and was going to ask if it is the first time ever (in the UK anyway) that a geological fault has been blamed for a track defect? Usually anything active like a fault is a long way beneath the surface...

 

[ScottDarg]

Is there any rough estimate when the Inverness portion will become double headed 73s rather than the hired in 67?

Likely when they have enough + spares.

There are 4 in Scotland which would be enough for it, but that leaves no spares to cover failures/exams. I suspect they'll hold off until 970 and 967 return from Brush so they have that cover. When that'll be is anyones guess at the moment.

 

[BRX]

The empty FTW section seems to have kept to time and made it through the geological crime scene without incident.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O64689/2018/01/30/advanced

I assume that means that anyone travelling to FTW tonight (ie weds night) should be OK.

 

[TimboM]

The empty FTW section seems to have kept to time and made it through the geological crime scene without incident.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O64689/2018/01/30/advanced

I assume that means that anyone travelling to FTW tonight (ie weds night) should be OK.

Belated response, but yes - 73971 worked 1Y11 back to the fort, arriving 5E.

 

[TimboM]

Is there any rough estimate when the Inverness portion will become double headed 73s rather than the hired in 67?

Likely when they have enough + spares.

There are 4 in Scotland which would be enough for it, but that leaves no spares to cover failures/exams. I suspect they'll hold off until 970 and 967 return from Brush so they have that cover. When that'll be is anyones guess at the moment.

There's also now the 0Z73 path in tomorrow from Craigentinny to Doncaster Down Decoy GBRf (a typical staging post for moves to Brush) which suggests one (or more) of the four currently in Scotland is heading to Loughborough for a fix.

Based on reliable info elsewhere, 970 (Dellner mods) is probably another week or so away from release, and 967 which went in last week wasn't expected to be a big job I don't think. There will then be whatever 73(s) are heading South tomorrow in too.

So I reckon it's going to be at least mid-Feb, if not end of Feb until the 73/9s are at full-strength (or near enough) back in Scotland. The other thing to factor in is one 73/9 is likely to be allocated for extended periods to test the Mk5s (including mileage accumulation runs) - so they're really going to need all six back up there, and probably 47727 as a 7th diesel option before they can even consider using 2x73/9s on Inverness on a regular basis and hand back the DBC 67.

 

[Kite159]

I was just thinking for the summer months when I head up to Scotland to book to Stirling in an attempt to get some more 73s into my book [rather than booking to Glasgow/Edinburgh on the lowlander]

 

[TimboM]

I was just thinking for the summer months when I head up to Scotland to book to Stirling in an attempt to get some more 73s into my book [rather than booking to Glasgow/Edinburgh on the lowlander]

Think you'll be OK by the summer... maybe...

 

[Scotrail84]

1S26 left Euston 35 late. 92 033 working it. Back on time by Nuneaton.

 

[E6007]

1S26 left Euston 35 late. 92 033 working it. Back on time by Nuneaton.

and 21 early at first stop Preston, i.e. making up nearly an hour in the first half of the journey!

 

[TimboM]

1S26 left Euston 35 late. 92 033 working it. Back on time by Nuneaton.

Delay leaving was due to a misbehaving coach that needed to be shunted out of the rake at Euston I believe.