Caledonian Sleeper

[prasa]

I’ve noticed Caledonian Sleeper change their arrival times to suit themselves - and to avoid delay repay.

The last couple of times I have travelled I’ve had an email to say arrival time has been amended, but none of the intermediate timing points have.

According to RTT it’s going to take me 46 minutes to get between Camden South Junction and Euston, which normally is booked for 3 minutes.

They Delay repay is taken from the amended arrival time so, if you arrive at 0840 into Euston - you’re only 10 minutes late rather than the 40 you actually are!

Of course that’s an amended time anyway because the booked time is 07:47 not the 08:00 they tell you.

I travel regularly - and most but not all times they do get in touch to advise why - such as due to speed restrictions. The last few times they've offered free cancellations when they've amended the arrival time a day or two before.

The sleeper operates with a huge subsidy anyway, so I don't mind that they miss out in paying me automatic delay repay on forseen delays. Often there is every chance they still arrive at the originally booked schedule time.

 

[JonathanH]

I’ve noticed Caledonian Sleeper change their arrival times to suit themselves - and to avoid delay repay.

More to warn passengers that the arrival time can't be guaranteed.

 

[side effect]

Me and my son are on board tonight. Going to Aberdeen.

 

[13 valleys]

Hi,
I have been trying to book the sleepers (twin berth) from London to Fort William on Monday 1st December, however it is fully booked and furthermore the entire week is fully booked. I appreciate it is fairly short notice but is it normal for the passenger loadings to be so high on that route ?

 

[JonathanH]

Hi,
I have been trying to book the sleepers (twin berth) from London to Fort William on Monday 1st December, however it is fully booked and furthermore the entire week is fully booked. I appreciate it is fairly short notice but is it normal for the passenger loadings to be so high on that route ?

Fort William portion is only running as a four coach train at this time of year, so that means only two sleeping coaches.

 

[13 valleys]

Fort William portion is only running as a four coach train at this time of year, so that means only two sleeping coaches.

Thanks for your reply. I didn't realise that.

 

[Highlander1]

Thanks for your reply. I didn't realise that.

They balance out the coaches. Aberdeen portion gets an extra coach when demand is lower in Fort William.

 

[styles]

They balance out the coaches. Aberdeen portion gets an extra coach when demand is lower in Fort William.

Do they do this ahead of time? I'm curious how it factors into a booking system which allows bookings 12 months in advance.

 

[alistairlees]

Do they do this ahead of time? I'm curious how it factors into a booking system which allows bookings 12 months in advance.

Yes everything is managed 12 months + ahead

 

[styles]

Yes everything is managed 12 months + ahead

So just to clarify, "Aberdeen portion gets an extra coach when demand is lower in Fort William.", doesn't mean they change the trainset on demand based on short-medium term bookings, but on general patterns over long periods of time?

 

[alistairlees]

So just to clarify, "Aberdeen portion gets an extra coach when demand is lower in Fort William.", doesn't mean they change the trainset on demand based on short-medium term bookings, but on general patterns over long periods of time?

It is planned 18 months ahead or so

 

[hexagon789]

They balance out the coaches. Aberdeen portion gets an extra coach when demand is lower in Fort William.

Though it was two extra coaches?

I.e. basically the sleeping car elements of Fort William vs Aberdeen portions swap over during summer/winter.

 

[JonathanH]

Though it was two extra coaches?

I.e. basically the sleeping car elements of Fort William vs Aberdeen portions swap over during summer/winter.

The formations reduce to 7 coach 'units' rather than 8 coach 'units' over the winter so it isn't just a swap.

 

[hexagon789]

The formations reduce to 7 coach 'units' rather than 8 coach 'units' over the winter so it isn't just a swap.

Oh.

So the full Highlander becomes load 14 instead of load 16?

 

[route101]

Found it harder to find space on the sleeper , even in the seats short notice now.

 

[enginedin]

Found it harder to find space on the sleeper , even in the seats short notice now.

I've just booked a seat on the highland sleeper at less than 1 week's notice, although annoyingly I (officially...) have to travel to Waverley, out again 1 stop northbound, to get the sleeper to go back to Waverley, because you're not allowed to board the Highland at Waverley

 

[styles]

Found it harder to find space on the sleeper , even in the seats short notice now.

It probably comes in peaks and troughs; but anecdotally I've had difficulty booking the sleeper for a while now, rooms especially. It could just be the days/routes I'm usually wanting to book for though.

 

[kingqueen]

Of course that’s an amended time anyway because the booked time is 07:47 not the 08:00 they tell you.

This, and the Sleeper often being early, causes me difficulties as a wheelchair user / disabled person.
I find getting up difficult, and getting up early especially so, and it takes some management of the practicalities, especially in the different environment of the Sleeper cabin,
I always emphasise that assistance shouldn't come with the ramp until the "get off the train" deadline.
But like yesterday the Lowlander arrived in Euston 0651, timetabled for 0730 arrival and due to be kicked off at 0745,
I would plan to be ready for the ramp at 0745, specify this really clearly in the assistance booking, yet they would be knocking at my door at 0651 whilst I'm still in a state of undress, sorting out continence and other things, being dressed etc.
It is very stressful.
The converse also never happens; I book assistance through the autistic hell that is Euston, to the Sleeper lounge at a relevant time to have a shower before boarding, it never turns up.
Then assistance to get on board when boarding starts, Euston assistance never turns up then either, thankfully the Sleeper staff put the ramp down.
Then Euston staff mark me on the app as not having turned up, so when I get to Fort William or wherever the station staff assume I'm not there / I don't need the assistance I booked.
Euston and the assistance system aren't set up for the unique "different boarding / alighting than arrival/ Departure Time" situation on the Sleeper,
and even more so not for the routine early arrivals.

 

[side effect]

Just awaiting 1m16 for our journey home. Even with sleeping tablets I got sleep paralysis. Still you get what you pay for.

 

[Rover]

This, and the Sleeper often being early, causes me difficulties as a wheelchair user / disabled person.

I sympathise with you. We've come an awful long way in how we treat disabled persons better, sadly there's a long way to go yet. I know, my wife is disabled.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Anyone know what happened to 1B16 last night? Seems to have sat down for nearly five hours between Stonehaven and Montrose....

Realtime Trains | 1B16 2143 Aberdeen to London Euston | 28/11/2025

Real-time train running information for 1B16 2143 departure from Aberdeen to London Euston on 28/11/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[hexagon789]

Anyone know what happened to 1B16 last night? Seems to have sat down for nearly five hours between Stonehaven and Montrose....

Realtime Trains | 1B16 2143 Aberdeen to London Euston | 28/11/2025

Real-time train running information for 1B16 2143 departure from Aberdeen to London Euston on 28/11/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

The 73 failed between Carmont and Laurencekirk.

66307 was sent to assist.

Passengers for destinations South accommodated on alternative services, as the main bulk of the Highlander was well on its way to Preston when the Aberdeen portion finally made Edinburgh Waverley.

 

[side effect]

We use to love the seated sleeper but once again these last 2 Eus-Abd and Inv-Eus. Were unbearable. Considering I took diazepam and Zopiclone but my goodness it is 10x worse than the old stock. Sorry to moan again .Highlight was a trip to Leuchars and seeing 3 Typhoons take off. I would love to experience just the take off if my body could handle it. Hopefully my son buys a place between Aberdeen and Inverness with close proximity to the line.

 

[DaventryRabbit]

Hi all
I am tyring to book on the Highlander from Helensburgh to Birmingham International on Monday 13/4/26. The website is saying there is no service between 3rd April and 26th April, despite me having already booked Euston to Aviemore on Good Friday 3rd April (albeit via ECML that night) as part of a Rail Holiday in Scotland. Can anyone shed any light please?
Thanks

 

[HS2isgood]

Hi all
I am tyring to book on the Highlander from Helensburgh to Birmingham International on Monday 13/4/26. The website is saying there is no service between 3rd April and 26th April, despite me having already booked Euston to Aviemore on Good Friday 3rd April (albeit via ECML that night) as part of a Rail Holiday in Scotland. Can anyone shed any light please?
Thanks

No Birmingham if ECML, ECML is always non-stop to Edinburgh. Idk if that's the case this time but might be.

 

[GordonT]

No Birmingham if ECML, ECML is always non-stop to Edinburgh. Idk if that's the case this time but might be.

Which raises the interesting question of what provision will there be for Birmingham International pax when services are diverted via the ECML for whatever reason.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Which raises the interesting question of what provision will there be for Birmingham International pax when services are diverted via the ECML for whatever reason.

The same as for Crewe and Preston at the moment I’d imagine

 

[DaventryRabbit]

No Birmingham if ECML, ECML is always non-stop to Edinburgh. Idk if that's the case this time but might be.

Ah ok thanks for that
Looks like it'll have to be a hotel for that night then, or book through to London

 

[johnr57]

Notice the Lowlander was 36 early today , much to the relief of a worried friend who was on it, but what happened here?
What route was taken south of Northampton ?

 

[alistairlees]

Notice the Lowlander was 36 early today , much to the relief of a worried friend who was on it, but what happened here?
What route was taken south of Northampton ?



View attachment 193637

It went via Weedon I suppose.