Caledonian Sleeper discussion

[ScottDarg]

Why the run round the Hamilton loop - just to turn the set?

I think so, that's usually the reason for going via Hamilton I'm sure.

 

[Fleetwood Boy]

I think so, that's usually the reason for going via Hamilton I'm sure.

Isn’t the main line shut at Rutherglen?

 

[ScottDarg]

Isn’t the main line shut at Rutherglen?

Yep, they avoided Rutherglen and Cambuslang by running via Mount Florida (http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/G60149/2018/03/31/advanced). It deviated from the booked route and ran via Uddingston after the first pass through Newton instead of running via Hamilton first.

 

[Mag_seven]

It will be going via Hamilton etc to turn the set to ensure it ends up the correct way round at Euston on Monday morning!

 

[marks87]

edit: got confused! Rethinking this post...

 

[thaitransit]

What kind of failure are these carriages having? Is it the usual failed aircon or toilet issues? In Australia they normally keep the train in service if its just toilet not working in one carriage as there are others available on the train. If its aircon failure in winter it stays in service but spring, summer and autumn they bus replace passengers from that car only and hope nothing else gives out. Been on a train where they have done that before. If its door faults they just sticker it as not in service and you walk through from other car.

 

[thaitransit]

This one?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-43202018

There was no escaping the white stuff - even on the sleeper train to Edinburgh.

Mary Duffy was travelling into Scotland's capital when she spotted snow had worked its way through the gaps between carriages and doors.

Snow Inside the carriage! Wow! I assume that there is no heating or it wasn't working that night! My goodness I hope there were extra blankets for passengers that night and lots of hot tea and coffee to get through what must have been record breaking conditions. I hope its never like this in September or October! I have never been on a train when its been snowing or personally seen a train with snow on the ground around it. I am more used to 40 plus degree temps or extremely high humidity with mid 30s temps outside on many of my train trips.

 

[47271]

This thread scrutinises every jolt and squeak of the Caledonian Sleeper in a way that no other operator is subjected to so don't worry too much - the service is no more or less reliable than any other in the UK.

I only use the sleeper very occasionally but I'm in regular touch with a number of very frequent Highlander travellers and I'm told that rolling stock faults are at about the same level as they have been for the past two years. There was a very bad period in late 2015 just after Serco took over and this is well documented upthread.

The mk2s (seated and lounge coaches) suffer far more than the sleepers themselves but they are 45 years old to be fair.

 

[marks87]

It will be going via Hamilton etc to turn the set to ensure it ends up the correct way round at Euston on Monday morning!

Is there a reason why the ECS tomorrow night couldn't have gone direct from Polmadie to Shields, and reverse? That would have achieved the same goal in what, on the face of it, seems a much simpler movement (tomorrow will involve a trip into Central and reverse, before going to to Shields and reverse onto the City Union - so in effect, three turns of the stock, including today's wander down to Hamilton).

 

[hexagon789]

Snow Inside the carriage! Wow! I assume that there is no heating or it wasn't working that night! My goodness I hope there were extra blankets for passengers that night and lots of hot tea and coffee to get through what must have been record breaking conditions. I hope its never like this in September or October! I have never been on a train when its been snowing or personally seen a train with snow on the ground around it. I am more used to 40 plus degree temps or extremely high humidity with mid 30s temps outside on many of my train trips.

I've seen a video of The Canadian where the snow was a foot deep in the doorways.

 

[Chris999999]

I've seen a video of The Canadian where the snow was a foot deep in the doorways.

I have travelled on the Canadian in February, but the snow was only at the ends of the carriages, and there was plenty of it. The train was warm enough other than when passing between carriages - just don't stay there or you would get cold!

It was a great journey and we broke the journey to spend 3 days in Jasper - Dog sledding, Frozen river walking, Skidoo etc. I thoroughly recommend it.

 

[Scotrail84]

Is there a reason why the ECS tomorrow night couldn't have gone direct from Polmadie to Shields, and reverse? That would have achieved the same goal in what, on the face of it, seems a much simpler movement (tomorrow will involve a trip into Central and reverse, before going to to Shields and reverse onto the City Union - so in effect, three turns of the stock, including today's wander down to Hamilton).

Needs an Electric engine to lead out of Qst.

 

[JModulo]

Needs an Electric engine to lead out of Qst.

Been posted elsewhere it may be 47749 working it tomorrow.

 

[SC318250]

Is there a reason why the ECS tomorrow night couldn't have gone direct from Polmadie to Shields, and reverse? That would have achieved the same goal in what, on the face of it, seems a much simpler movement (tomorrow will involve a trip into Central and reverse, before going to to Shields and reverse onto the City Union - so in effect, three turns of the stock, including today's wander down to Hamilton).

I am guessing that line might be blocked from Polmadie to Shields.

 

[TimboM]

What kind of failure are these carriages having? Is it the usual failed aircon or toilet issues? In Australia they normally keep the train in service if its just toilet not working in one carriage as there are others available on the train. If its aircon failure in winter it stays in service but spring, summer and autumn they bus replace passengers from that car only and hope nothing else gives out. Been on a train where they have done that before. If its door faults they just sticker it as not in service and you walk through from other car.

If you're travelling in Sept 2019 - have a look at what you'll most likely be travelling on here and don't worry about the current 30-40 year-old stock that will be replaced by then...!
http://newtrains.sleeper.scot/

 

[Scotrail84]

Been posted elsewhere it may be 47749 working it tomorrow.

Whatever is working 1M11 from Qst should be working it right down the ECML from Edinburgh after coupling up to the Edinburgh portion in Waverley. That will save a time consuming loco move in Waverley after coupling the 2 rakes together.

 

[JModulo]

Whatever is working 1M11 from Qst should be working it right down the ECML from Edinburgh after coupling up to the Edinburgh portion in Waverley. That will save a time consuming loco move in Waverley after coupling the 2 rakes together.

No Leccie locos (available) at the Glasgow side though. Would mean you would have to bring one through from Waverley.

 

[30907]

Snow Inside the carriage! Wow! I assume that there is no heating or it wasn't working that night! My goodness I hope there were extra blankets for passengers that night and lots of hot tea and coffee to get through what must have been record breaking conditions. I hope its never like this in September or October! I have never been on a train when its been snowing or personally seen a train with snow on the ground around it. I am more used to 40 plus degree temps or extremely high humidity with mid 30s temps outside on many of my train trips.

Snow can get inside the gangway in blizzard conditions - I saw it myself a month back on an East Coast daytime train - the door areas were on the cool side but the rest of the coach was fine and warm, to confirm what another poster has said.
And blizzard conditions are unheard of in the UK in September-October (unless climate change takes an unexpected turn).

 

[marks87]

Whatever is working 1M11 from Qst should be working it right down the ECML from Edinburgh after coupling up to the Edinburgh portion in Waverley. That will save a time consuming loco move in Waverley after coupling the 2 rakes together.

Would it be all that time consuming? Edinburgh portion sits in platform 7 (or 1) in front of the crossover; Glasgow portion pulls into platform 11 (or 20) behind the crossover; Glasgow loco is released; Edinburgh portion backs on.

That doesn't seem that much more time consuming than the Glasgow portion running past the Edinburgh and reversing. It also means the Edinburgh portion has a loco attached to keep the passengers warm without relying on the batteries.

 

[Scotrail84]

Would it be all that time consuming? Edinburgh portion sits in platform 7 (or 1) in front of the crossover; Glasgow portion pulls into platform 11 (or 20) behind the crossover; Glasgow loco is released; Edinburgh portion backs on.

That doesn't seem that much more time consuming than the Glasgow portion running past the Edinburgh and reversing. It also means the Edinburgh portion has a loco attached to keep the passengers warm without relying on the batteries.

Glasgow portion will back onto the Edinburgh portion which will be in P11 meaning the 1M11 loco will have to come off to be replaced by a lecky with the same driver doing the moves. Time consuming.

 

[Scotrail84]

No Leccie locos (available) at the Glasgow side though. Would mean you would have to bring one through from Waverley.

How is there not?

 

[JModulo]

How is there not?

No chance of getting it out as its located on the other side at Polmadie DHS. Wires isolated / possession.

 

[TimboM]

How is there not?

90047 was put in the DHS at Polmadie ex-5M11/0D11 on Fri night - now trapped by isolation/possession.

Only other a/c loco at Polmadie is 92038 set up for Mk5s.

47749 due to take 1M11 to EDB where it’ll be swapped for a 92 (043).

 

[xotGD]

So have I got this right - after 3 months of wibble about an electric loco working out of Queen Street it is going to be a diesel?

 

[TimboM]

So have I got this right - after 3 months of wibble about an electric loco working out of Queen Street it is going to be a diesel?

1M11 tonight will be, but 1S26 tomorrow morning and 1M11/1S26 tomorrow night will be electric - and the first electric locos in Queen St.

 

[JModulo]

So have I got this right - after 3 months of wibble about an electric loco working out of Queen Street it is going to be a diesel?

Yes. Tomorrow morning should be leccie though. "Should".

 

[Scotrail84]

1M11 will bw T and T to Edinburgh from Glasgow Qst, and 5C11 will be double headed via the A to B line to Edinburgh.

 

[SC318250]

Will 5C11 not need to be T&T as going via Shields.

 

[marks87]

Will 5C11 not need to be T&T as going via Shields.

Only from Polmadie. So the loco at the buffers in Queen Street could have been left behind as normal.

 

[Scotrail84]

Will 5C11 not need to be T&T as going via Shields.

Engine will run round at Shields to double head to Edinburgh via Bathgate.