Caledonian Sleeper

[paul1609]

I do wonder if they’ll bring it back into ScotRail… But that’s just my own wondering, haven’t heard anything official yet.

Question, Is the Scottish Government able to run rail services which are primarily operating in England?

 

[Trainbike46]

Question, Is the Scottish Government able to run rail services which are primarily operating in England?

the scottish government is responsible for the caledonian sleeper franchise. Why wouldn't they be able to have scotrail operate it?

 

[RT4038]

Question, Is the Scottish Government able to run rail services which are primarily operating in England?

The number of stations served in Scotland is far greater than the number in England. The distances in between them are irrelevant. The passengers are, by and large, travelling between both countries. Why wouldn't the Scottish Government be able to run it?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Question, Is the Scottish Government able to run rail services which are primarily operating in England?

It effectively already does. The service is mostly for the benefit of Scotland in bringing in tourism and connecting it with London.

 

[JamieL]

Question, Is the Scottish Government able to run rail services which are primarily operating in England?

Let's hope so - because the Government in England seems determined to do just about anything to hobble the train services that (indirectly) fall under its own remit.

 

[Christmas]

It was foolish to split the Sleeper from the main ScotRail franchise. The benefit from remerging is cutting staff duplication in managerial and administrative roles.

 

[BRX]

My first trip in the mk5 seats tonight. Was interested to see how the lighting is dealt with, as others have mentioned it being too bright.

Getting on the train, it was fairly bright. There are lights up by the luggage racks which reflect off the ceiling and provide general lighting over the centre of the coach. Then there are the ones directly above the windows that shine downwards, lighting up the edges of the coach at the window seats.

An hour or so into the journey the lighting was dimmed somewhat by turning off the ceiling lights, but leaving on the over-window lights. As per photo below.

This doesn't make sense to me. The lights that are annoying if you're trying to sleep in a seat are the ones closest to your eyes...the window ones. So why not switch off these and leave on the ceiling ones?

Anyone who wants extra light can use one of the individual reading lights provided at each seat.

Better still why not just dim the lights, the ones over the window and/or the ceiling ones? Someone who knows about these carriages tells me they each have 4 brightness settings. Why aren't they made use of?

 

[Bletchleyite]

First thing that occurred to me looking at that is - put the blinds up - it's reflecting off those!

 

[BRX]

First thing that occurred to me looking at that is - put the blinds up - it's reflecting off those!

I know! But the person in the seat behind me has pulled down the blind that our rows share...

 

[Bletchleyite]

I know! But the person in the seat behind me has pulled down the blind that our rows share...

And in one the reason I hate blinds on trains!

Curtains are better, each person can adjust their own.

 

[BRX]

And in one the reason I hate blinds on trains!

Curtains are better, each person can adjust their own.

I agree completely.

 

[Ted633]

I travelled with no one sitting behind me, so I had control of the blind and travelled with it up. The sidewall lights are still far too bright. As you said, they should be switched off with the indirect ceiling lights providing light for the carriage. No idea why it isn't that way round as it makes absolutely no sense. (Unless of course, it's a gentle nudge to push you towards the more expensive beds next time )

 

[BRX]

The southbound Highlander is usually assembled at Edinburgh as follows:

1. 1B16 from Aberdeen arrives in platform 2. Locos detach and run to Craigentinny
2. 1M16 from Inverness arrives in platform 19. Locos detach and run to Craigentinny
3. 1B01 from Fort William arrives in platform 1, then runs into Calton north tunnel before being propelled onto the east end of 1B16 in platform 2
4. 1B16+1B01 propelled into east end of 1M16. The ex-Fort William portion is split with the lounge and seated/brake coaches drawn back into Calton north tunnel before being propelled into a bay platform (usually 5)

An observation (from on board) tonight, slight variation on the above -

The 92 attached onto the (ex) back of the Inverness portion propelled it eastwards onto the Aberdeen portion.
This happened while 1B01 was still in Calton tunnel.

 

[HST43257]

I travelled on the northbound highlander seats the other week. Main lights dimmed a little from before boarding but struggled immensely with the bright light above the window and the aircon blasting out below it

 

[lachlan]

I've tried the seats now and the lights dont bother me too much when I wear the eyemask, I just find the seating position uncomfortable and frustratingly the seats are too far from the wall of the carriage for learning on the side of the train.

Is anyone here able to get much sleep in a seat?

 

[_toommm_]

I've tried the seats now and the lights dont bother me too much when I wear the eyemask, I just find the seating position uncomfortable and frustratingly the seats are too far from the wall of the carriage for learning on the side of the train.

Is anyone here able to get much sleep in a seat?

I think I got about three or four hours broken sleep when I did it from Euston to Inverness. I fully agree with your sentiments, especially if you have the solo seat as you just can’t get comfy. I imagine if you had the pair of sears to yourself, curling up might be easier and slightly more comfortable (so long as there’s no sharp braking that hurls you towards the seat in front).

 

[lachlan]

I think I got about three or four hours broken sleep when I did it from Euston to Inverness. I fully agree with your sentiments, especially if you have the solo seat as you just can’t get comfy. I imagine if you had the pair of sears to yourself, curling up might be easier and slightly more comfortable (so long as there’s no sharp braking that hurls you towards the seat in front).

I found noise cancelling headphones help as the noise of the air conditioning is quite loud (and last time I travelled someone was playing nursery rhymes out loud for the first three hours or so).

It's remarkable how easily I can fall asleep in a train seat during the day but on the actual "sleeper" it's so difficult

 

[BRX]

I got maybe an hour or two of something approaching sleep last night. I didn't really expect any better though.

It wasn't too busy so I could sprawl across two seats in a variety of uncomfortable positions. The mk5 seats don't strike me as especially worse than the mk2 ones. The ride quality is fairly terrible across pointwork and jointed track but alright on welded. I thought there was maybe less sharp braking than on the mk2/3 sets. The only jolt I really noticed at edinburgh was when the 92 attached (directly to the seated coach). Quite enjoyed hearing the various sounds of the 92 through the night though.

The temperature was not bad - maybe a little warmer than I would choose but it seemed fairly consistent, unlike on the old coaches.

The light above the windows/blinds is really annoying though. Even with the supplied eye mask on, I felt like I was still conscious of it unless I had my face turned away. It seems like such a simple problem to fix. What's the point of those lights, other than to be on at the start and end of a journey?

Also - I noticed on the menu that only "instant" coffee was available. I thought that part of the hotel on wheels setup was that they'd have a proper coffee machine. Or is that only if you are in the lounge car?

 

[Peter Sarf]

So. Note to self. If I ever sample the sleeper/seats I will take a roll of Gaffa tape with me. The window lighting suggests to me that one will not be able to see out during the night BUT any person outside will be able to see in !.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

I found noise cancelling headphones help as the noise of the air conditioning is quite loud (and last time I travelled someone was playing nursery rhymes out loud for the first three hours or so).

It's remarkable how easily I can fall asleep in a train seat during the day but on the actual "sleeper" it's so difficult

I have still to travel on the Mk5 sleeper, but whenever I have difficulty sleeping at home, I play an audio recording made in a compartment an old Mk3 sleeper carriage. Soothing and slowly changing noises from the wheels alleviate the sudden whoosh of the frequent overbridges and occasional passing train. Probably seems weird to other folks but it works every time for me.

 

[paul1609]

Apart from the lighting and the noise there's just too many stops on the sleeper for me to consider the seats.
I sleep much better on the non-stop megabus service in an extra leg room seat to Glasgow. Scheduled 8 hrs but always arrives early imx.
Only stops at Lancaster services for a driver change. Proper breakfast in Glasgow then onwards to where I want in Scotland for less than half the price.

 

[185143]

I've tried the seats now and the lights dont bother me too much when I wear the eyemask, I just find the seating position uncomfortable and frustratingly the seats are too far from the wall of the carriage for learning on the side of the train.

Is anyone here able to get much sleep in a seat?

Depends how drunk and tired I am!

I've had a few reasonable nights actually. Best was travelling from Bridge of Orchy to Euston I'd say. Food, few beers and a quick nap on the way to Edinburgh, change carriages and slept most of Edinburgh-Euston, though I did seem to wake up every hour or so to have to readjust my posterior.

Heading to Fort William once I woke up lay across two seats near Rannoch. Admittedly the last thing I remember was having yet another drink passing Oxenholme at the end of the Aberdeen seats, so not sure how long I'd actually slept for obvious reasons.

 

[lachlan]

Depends how drunk and tired I am!

I've had a few reasonable nights actually. Best was travelling from Bridge of Orchy to Euston I'd say. Food, few beers and a quick nap on the way to Edinburgh, change carriages and slept most of Edinburgh-Euston, though I did seem to wake up every hour or so to have to readjust my posterior.

Heading to Fort William once I woke up lay across two seats near Rannoch. Admittedly the last thing I remember was having yet another drink passing Oxenholme at the end of the Aberdeen seats, so not sure how long I'd actually slept for obvious reasons.

Yes I don't drink but have wondered if it would help!

 

[Techniquest]

Yes I don't drink but have wondered if it would help!

My memory of the 2011 ALR and its many sleeper journeys is that I had to be beyond the point of exhaustion to sleep on the trains. This seems to apply to any method of transport though, I've seen too much of the motorways at night on the many past journeys overnight, and sleeping on long-haul flights is not terribly common for me. I think I managed 4 hours kip on the long way back from Sydney in 2019, but that was only after being awake for too many hours to remember!

The 2011 and indeed 2012 sleeper journeys, I seem to remember there was a combination of alcohol and long hours of being awake before sleep would arrive. The sleeper journey in October 2020, in a berth, was not much different somehow, it took being awake for something in the 19-20 hours range for sleep to come around at all. Mind you, the bedding was really nice and I still want it on my own bed!

So in short, me and overnight journeys don't go together too well!

 

[Speed43125]

Yes I don't drink but have wondered if it would help!

I find it helps. I literally ran out of a university 'gaff' one time to catch the overnight Glasgow Birmingham Natex and manged to doze back off despite the lights coming on at stops every hour or so.

I wouldn't recommend trying to get that drunk in the bar car though!

 

[185143]

I find it helps. I literally ran out of a university 'gaff' one time to catch the overnight Glasgow Birmingham Natex and manged to doze back off despite the lights coming on at stops every hour or so.

I wouldn't recommend trying to get that drunk in the bar car though!

"Fortunately" seated plebs customers passengers Guests aren't allowed in there, so you'd certainly struggle at that!

 

[Lee_Again]

There was talk on here a few days back about early May and tickets not being available. Anybody able to elaborate on that. I'm off to Fort William in early May (tickets already booked) and I'm hoping it won't be cancelled. I understand there's maintenance at Carstairs plus the travel uncertainty around the May bank holidays and the King's coronation.

 

[Butts]

"Fortunately" seated plebs customers passengers Guests aren't allowed in there, so you'd certainly struggle at that!

Have you no access to refreshments onboard then ?

 

[Trainbike46]

Have you no access to refreshments onboard then ?

I thought the policy was seats passengers could buy stuff from the bar, but can't stay in the bar carriage, so need to then go back to their own seats

 

[BRX]

You're not even supposed to step inside the lounge car I think - there is a button above the seat to summon service.