Caledonian Sleeper

[styles]

If we're appealing predominantly to those who would use youth hostels and want budget travel, yes absolutely. But thats not the market for the cabins and indeed, thats who the seats are intended for.

Couchettes would put off a good range of people. My partner wouldn't go anywhere near, and I'd be incredibly hesitant (and I'm quite happy to stay in a youth hostel).

You've got to bare in mind that those who are prepared to pay the (quite high) fees for the berths are more likely to spend a good bit of money in the lounge car, all of which adds to the viability of the sleeper.

I'm not saying couchettes are a bad idea, but when the sleeper is filling most nights a good month out, what is going to be achieved here? If the pricing structure is going to be as you suggested, what happens to the seats (who would use them without a price cut)? I think if I was going to do anything, it'd be strip out the seats and add pods in their place if you can get roughly a like for like number in their place - but again, you'd have to reassess the price structure and even a like for like number would (and should) cost more.



99% of the time I have absolutely no issues. Obviously sometimes sleep comes easier than others, but ultimately you are still on a moving train - so don't go expecting the best night's sleep! Having once paid £500+ as a surprise treat for the double room, I didn't leave feeling like I got poor value for money.

I feel like something may have been lost in translation here. I'm not suggesting replacing all accommodation on the CS with couchettes. I'm suggesting either replacing some of it with couchettes, or actually maybe even considering running an additional couchettes service, as there's clearly a market for sleepers which is current exceeding supply. You'd still be able to buy a private room, and even if it were all couchettes, you could just book all of them in a cabin anyway. I reckon that 4 couchettes could sell for more than a twin classic room which doesn't even cover rights to use the lounge car. So to answer the question about what would be achieved - it would be profitability, or something closer to it anyway. The current operation mainly serves a luxury traveller market but costs the Scottish government a fortune. I'm all for subsidising environmentally friendly travel but I feel like if we're going to do it then it shouldn't be just 30 seats (which are fairly priced but still not really serving a low income market when a flight is about the same price and a tenth of the time).

 

[Tetragon213]

Nightjet style pods are another option that CS could look into, if they want pax volumes. I think you can theoretically stack pods a bit more tightly than couchettes, which can make you a hell of a lot more money. Plus, they're more private than couchettes.

Of course, couchettes are easier to convert into compo stock for daytime workings...

 

[styles]

Nightjet style pods are another option that CS could look into, if they want pax volumes. I think you can theoretically stack pods a bit more tightly than couchettes, which can make you a hell of a lot more money. Plus, they're more private than couchettes.

Of course, couchettes are easier to convert into compo stock for daytime workings...

Yeah those would work great also!

I'm a bit longer in the tooth for hostel-style type sharing so pods would be great. I don't sleep well sat upright at all so the seats are not so good, but it does make me wince a bit when I stump up for the beds.