Caledonian Sleeper discussion

[Scotrail84]

The station isn't open so it's not like passengers can pop off to the shops. If they got in the habit of unlocking the doors and I guarantee that before long we'd be hearing stories of people getting left behind at the station in the middle of the night.

Not only that, it also prevent any chancers from boarding the train, it wont be the first time people have tried to stowaway on the sleeper or hitch a ride to various station North of Edinburgh. This is quite common during the Edinburgh festival.

 

[najaB]

I have plenty of photos of 002 backing on at Waverley when I was on the Aberdeen portion - with absolutely no issue taking place...

That's because the Ft Willam and Aberdeen portions share seated accommodation south of Edinburgh. So the doors have to be opened, but it's a pretty controlled move.

 

[Scotrail84]

When have these hours of delay happened? Thankfully your opinion seems to be in a minority of Waverley/CS operating staff in my experience, most seem more than happy with the interest.

What are you talking about? There have been many instances of hours of delays at places like Crewe and Preston and even Carlisle in recent months. Not sure what you're getting at here. The suggestion that rail staff should ignore rules to please a few trainspotters wanting a picture or video is ridiculous.

 

[Scotrail84]

That's because the Ft Willam and Aberdeen portions share seated accommodation south of Edinburgh. So the doors have to be opened, but it's a pretty controlled move.

Yes thats correct, doors are only open for the duration of the transfer of passengers from one carriage to another. It is not an open invitation for people to get off and go walkies.

 

[stuart]

Is there a reason they make the seated passengers transfer via the platform? I'd always imagined that the transfer would have been done by walking down the train corridors: couple up the Fort William portion, move the passengers, pull off the spare seated coach and lounge car.

 

[najaB]

Is there a reason they make the seated passengers transfer via the platform? I'd always imagined that the transfer would have been done by walking down the train corridors: couple up the Fort William portion, move the passengers, pull off the spare seated coach and lounge car.

I imagine it's simpler.

 

[marks87]

It would mean needing to walk through the sleeper carriages, which would risk disturbing people who are sleeping, not to mention the corridors are incredibly narrow.

It’s just a lot easier to use the platform.

 

[TimboM]

Is there a reason they make the seated passengers transfer via the platform? I'd always imagined that the transfer would have been done by walking down the train corridors: couple up the Fort William portion, move the passengers, pull off the spare seated coach and lounge car.

I'm not entirely sure the Fort William "day coaches" are even attached before the Aberdeen portion is taken off and even if they were it would involve walking through the ABD lounge, 6x Sleeper coaches (which don't have the widest of corridors - clattering past many folk sleeping in their berths), then through the FTW lounge and finally to the FTW seats... if indeed they're even attached.

Much more sense for the FTW seated passengers to get off the ABD seated coach at an appropriate/safe time during the shunting manoeuvres; then likewise board the FTW seats when they are coupled up and deemed ready/safe for boarding.

 

[Scotrail84]

Is there a reason they make the seated passengers transfer via the platform? I'd always imagined that the transfer would have been done by walking down the train corridors: couple up the Fort William portion, move the passengers, pull off the spare seated coach and lounge car.

You can't get big bags or bikes down the corridors plus it would be disruptive to those in the berths. Much easier and safer to transfer via the platform.

 

[route101]

On the sleeper on Sunday night coming , Euston to Glasgow via ECML . I know it reverses but how does it get to the ECML?

 

[marks87]

I'm not entirely sure the Fort William "day coaches" are even attached before the Aberdeen portion is taken off and even if they were it would involve walking through the ABD lounge, 6x Sleeper coaches (which don't have the widest of corridors - clattering past many folk sleeping in their berths), then through the FTW lounge and finally to the FTW seats... if indeed they're even attached.

Much more sense for the FTW seated passengers to get off the ABD seated coach at an appropriate/safe time during the shunting manoeuvres; then likewise board the FTW seats when they are coupled up and deemed ready/safe for boarding.

Don’t the Fort William coaches attach to the sleeper end of Aberdeen, rather than the lounge? So it’s “only” the Aberdeen sleepers they’d be walking through.

Not that it changes the point; it’s better to use the platform.

 

[TimboM]

On the sleeper on Sunday night coming , Euston to Glasgow via ECML . I know it reverses but how does it get to the ECML?

Goes back to Camden Junction, via the freight line through the old Primrose Hill station (now closed) to Camden Road then joins the ECML just north of Kings Cross at Copenhagen Junction (just prior to Copenhagen Tunnels) - again via the (usually) freight-only connecting line.

 

[Scotrail84]

1M16 will go round the Edinburgh suburban line tonight to turn the set to allow the removal of a defective vehicle at Edinburgh.

 

[TimboM]

Don’t the Fort William coaches attach to the sleeper end of Aberdeen, rather than the lounge? So it’s “only” the Aberdeen sleepers they’d be walking through.

Not that it changes the point; it’s better to use the platform.

From memory the Down Highlander (1S25 from Euston) south to north is:
INV Seats / Lounge + 6 Sleepers
ABD Seats / Lounge + 3 or 4 Sleepers
FTW 2 or 3 Sleepers
Loco

In EDB, the electric loco is at the east end on arrival, diesel attaches to the "rear" (west) end and takes Inverness away to the west.
Second diesel attaches to ABD, again from the west end, and takes the seats/lounge and ABD sleepers away to the west.
Third diesel shunts the day coaches (FTW lounge and seats) onto the east end (where the electric loco was) then runs round the now formed up FTW portion and attaches to the west end to take it away.

I think....!

Assuming that's correct, you'd be walking through all 6 sleepers - as above though, I think the ABD portion may get removed before the FTW day coaches are attached - or at least until everything's sorted, tested etc and safe to board.

 

[InOban]

And aren't new passengers allowed to join the Fort William seated coach?

 

[JonathanH]

Is there a reason they make the seated passengers transfer via the platform? I'd always imagined that the transfer would have been done by walking down the train corridors: couple up the Fort William portion, move the passengers, pull off the spare seated coach and lounge car.

The sleeper hasn't split in Braidhurst loop for a long while but I imagine that when it used to split there Fort William passengers would have to walk through from the Aberdeen seats to the Fort William ones.

 

[TimboM]

As I know folk love a bit of traction news - 92 032 on a rare (these days) outing on the Down Lowlander tonight (1S26).

 

[Bletchleyite]

And aren't new passengers allowed to join the Fort William seated coach?

Yes, they are. It is a day train to/from Edinburgh, and the station is not "locked up"; it is opened to allow people to get off (from FTW) and on (to FTW).

When I last did it the doors were opened on arrival and left open for quite a period of time before locking for the FTW coaches to be added, then opened again once they were. So there was plenty of scope for a wander around if anyone wanted, though as you might imagine at that time of the morning (except for us FTW scum class passengers) it was not a popular choice.

 

[BRX]

The suggestion that rail staff should ignore rules to please a few trainspotters wanting a picture or video is ridiculous.

Do the rules state that staff have no discretion in deciding whether to release doors in such circumstances?

 

[uww11x]

Dead in Tow

 

[ScottDarg]

Building fire alongside the railway has blocked all lines between Euston & Watford Junction:

Description

A large fire in a building next to the railway near Wembley Central is causing major disruption to trains between London Euston / Clapham Junction and Watford Junction.

How does this affect my journey?

All lines are currently blocked and trains are unable to run between London Euston and Watford Junction and between Clapham Junction and Milton Keynes Central. Journeys may be delayed by up to 90 minutes. Some trains will be cancelled. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/188095.aspx

 

[43096]

As I know folk love a bit of traction news - 92 032 on a rare (these days) outing on the Down Lowlander tonight (1S26).

And allocated to 1M11 tonight.

90046 in place for 1M16; 90047 is 1C11.

 

[Scotrail84]

1S25 around 60 late.

 

[Scotrail84]

ECML tonight and pretty much every Sunday until June!

 

[TimboM]

ECML tonight and pretty much every Sunday until June!

1M11 (Up Lowlander) also going via Mount Florida tonight

5M11 (Polmadie-Glasgow ECS this evening) running Polmadie-GLC (reverse)-Mount Florida-Hamilton Circle-Uddingston Jnc-GLC (again, but the other way round...!)
5C11 (Polmadie-Edinburgh ECS this evening) running T'n'T Polmadie-GLC (reverse)-Mount Florida-Carstairs-Waverley

So anyone in Glasgow Central from around 2000 should see both halves of the Lowlander and four different locos (90047; 92018 / 023 / 043).

 

[pitdiver]

When he Highlander goes up the ECML os this mean thta when it gets to Edinburgh the formation is the "wrong" way round or does it just mean that the shunting process is d one in a different way?

 

[najaB]

When he Highlander goes up the ECML os this mean thta when it gets to Edinburgh the formation is the "wrong" way round or does it just mean that the shunting process is d one in a different way?

The reversal at Wembley and arrival into Edinburgh from the wrong end takes care of that.

 

[LeylandLen]

The reversal at Wembley and arrival into Edinburgh from the wrong end takes care of that.

Yes when running up from Euston on WCML it arrives west end of Edinburgh Waverley ; arriving from ECML obviously arrives at east end, makes sense now !

 

[pitdiver]

I forgot the reversal at Wembley. So the Fort William end is still at the East end of Waverley. As a matter of interest, now we are in the summer season does I assume another sleeper car is added. Does it get occupied to capacity in May or will there still be room for standard ticket holders in the Lounge car whatever type it is.

 

[ScottDarg]

1M11 seats out of use tonight, seated passengers upgraded to berths.

90047 leading us south, 92023 on the blocks