Caledonian Sleeper

[TimboM]

All the mk3 sets have been reduced in length permanently; each ‘half-set’ now only has a maximum of 5 sleeping cars; this was to allow 8 sleeping cars due regular exams to be withdrawn for scrap.

They desperately need the new trains to be ready for summer to restore capacity to its previous levels on busy nights....

The sets always ran as Load 14 at this time of year (off peak) to allow for coaches to be taken out of circulation for maintenance / repair ahead of the summer.

There's reasonable confidence in having the Mk5s on the Lowlander by Spring - as soon as that happens the Highlander can be made up to Load 16s again if required until Mk5s are ready on those routes.

Capacity won't be restored to previous levels with Mk5s as they have less berths per coach/per 8 coach half-set.

 

[oxfordray1]

Good evening everyone, I've not been on CS but I was looking at booking tickets (from Mondon or Crewe) to Arrochar & Tarbet at the end of June. The website says that all sets are 'Unavailable'. This is the same for all days in the last two weeks of June. I put some other randon days in and can book seats without issue for April, May, October and December. Surely seats cannot be fully booked for the end of June already? I can book rooms at the end of June without issue, but our budget is a bit tight. Interestingly, the styling of the website changes on Sunday 2nd June - I don't know if this is relevant, but I cannot book seats then either

I'll give customer services a call when I next get chance but I'd be very grateful if anyone knows what is going on.

 

[alistairlees]

Good evening everyone, I've not been on CS but I was looking at booking tickets (from London or Crewe) to Arrochar & Tarbet at the end of June. The website says that all sets are 'Unavailable'. This is the same for all days in the last two weeks of June. I put some other random days in and can book seats without issue for April, May, October and December. Surely seats cannot be fully booked for the end of June already? I can book rooms at the end of June without issue, but our budget is a bit tight. Interestingly, the styling of the website changes on Sunday 2nd June - I don't know if this is relevant, but I cannot book seats then either

I'll give customer services a call when I next get chance but I'd be very grateful if anyone knows what is going on.

There is an issue with booking seats on the Fort William portion for dates from 2nd June (when the new trains are being introduced) onwards. It should be fixed in the next day or two. There shouldn't be any issues with seats being bookable for any journey before then, or on any other trains after then. If there is, it is most likely because the seats are all booked.

 

[oxfordray1]

There is an issue with booking seats on the Fort William portion for dates from 2nd June (when the new trains are being introduced) onwards. It should be fixed in the next day or two. There shouldn't be any issues with seats being bookable for any journey before then, or on any other trains after then. If there is, it is most likely because the seats are all booked.

Thank you very much. I'll wait a day or two before trying again.

 

[Hipster Dashie]

Has anyone ever taken a folding bike on the Caledonian Sleeper? I'm booked to travel from London to Fort William late April, and I'd like to bring my folding bike with me.

I'm hoping I can store it in the guard's wagon (or equivalent thereof) as the berths are small enough without having to squeeze a folding bike in as well! My only concern is, will I have to wake up at Edinburgh to move it when the train splits? I do struggle to fall asleep on the Sleeper and I would hate to have to get up in the middle of the night to move my stuff around. If that's going to be the case then I'll just bring it into my berth with me.

 

[TimboM]

Has anyone ever taken a folding bike on the Caledonian Sleeper? I'm booked to travel from London to Fort William late April, and I'd like to bring my folding bike with me.

I'm hoping I can store it in the guard's wagon (or equivalent thereof) as the berths are small enough without having to squeeze a folding bike in as well! My only concern is, will I have to wake up at Edinburgh to move it when the train splits? I do struggle to fall asleep on the Sleeper and I would hate to have to get up in the middle of the night to move my stuff around. If that's going to be the case then I'll just bring it into my berth with me.

https://www.sleeper.scot/on-board/cycles-and-pets

Subject to availability on board, we can transport bikes free of charge and we are able to carry road and mountain bikes (one bike per guest). Please book your bike by, at least noon the day before you travel, through sleeper.scot or by calling our Guest Service Centre. We guarantee the safe arrival of bikes with a reservation, booked by noon the day before travel. For group bookings (nine or more guests travelling) who want to book together, you must call the Guest Service Centre at the time you book to agree arrangements for transporting your bikes.

All Guests who book bikes on our Fort William service are required to move these to a new coach during a changeover of coaches at Edinburgh Waverley.

Please note that there are a maximum 3 bike spaces on the Inverness to London Euston service, please contact the Guest Service Centre for more information.

 

[cjp]

Has anyone ever taken a folding bike on the Caledonian Sleeper? he.

Book a cycle space and it will travel with you and be with you when you arrive. No moving it when the train splits.
Spaces on the train are limited and must be booked

 

[TimboM]

Book a cycle space and it will travel with you and be with you when you arrive. No moving it when the train splits.
Spaces on the train are limited and must be booked

If the designated bike space is in the brake coach/seats (which I believe it is) then @Hipster Dashie 's bike would end up in Aberdeen if not moved at Edinburgh when the train splits and the additional Fort William brake coach (+ lounge) are added?

 

[cjp]

You may well be right as I have not had occasion to take my bike up to Fort William only through to Inverness.
Perhaps a word with those helpful people at Caledonian Sleeper would be best.

 

[alistairlees]

Book a cycle space and it will travel with you and be with you when you arrive. No moving it when the train splits.
Spaces on the train are limited and must be booked

This is incorrect. For Fort William, the bike must be moved at Edinburgh. You need to book a space for a bike on the train; there are only 6 spaces. The OP would solve all his problems by keeping it in the room (as it's a folding bike).

 

[BRX]

You may well be right as I have not had occasion to take my bike up to Fort William only through to Inverness.
Perhaps a word with those helpful people at Caledonian Sleeper would be best.

It's very clearly stated on the CS website, which @TimboM already quoted above! Anything in the guard's van for Fort William has to be moved when the split takes place.

 

[route101]

Regarding the Fort William service , has there been an occasion when the lounge/seats does the whole route FW to Euston?

 

[Hipster Dashie]

If it would have to be moved if it went into the guard van, then I'll bring it into my berth. I'll drop CS a line and see what they suggest as well.

Done the lowland sleeper a few times now but this'll be my first trip on the Highland sleeper! I've also booked onto the Night Riviera too, very excited!

 

[Kite159]

I hope the inability to select your seat on the 'new' website when booking on the highlander in June is only temporary. Unless I'm being blind and not seeing the option to change seat (or even see if "Row 08, Seat A" is a single seat (which is what I prefer) or a window seat in a pair.

(Also it seems the only delivery option is e-tickets)

 

[TimboM]

I hope the inability to select your seat on the 'new' website when booking on the highlander in June is only temporary. Unless I'm being blind and not seeing the option to change seat (or even see if "Row 08, Seat A" is a single seat (which is what I prefer) or a window seat in a pair.

(Also it seems the only delivery option is e-tickets)

Scroll up just a few posts and you'll see @alistairlees has already kindly provided an answer to the June booking issues.

The seat numbering/lettering is:

[Row #] A - single seat

[Row #] B - aisle seat in the pair
[Row #] C - window seat in the pair

There are no seats 01B or 01C as this is the wheelchair space (01W).

 

[alistairlees]

Scroll up just a few posts and you'll see @alistairlees has already kindly provided an answer to this!

To be fair, this is a reference to the coach plans and the ability to change your seat (or room) on new trains (not just Highlander) from 2 June. It's coming soon.

 

[TimboM]

To be fair, this is a reference to the coach plans and the ability to change your seat (or room) on new trains (not just Highlander) from 2 June. It's coming soon.

Aye, I saw the extra parts of the request and have edited my post to add some info as to how the lettering convention is due to work.

 

[VT 390]

They desperately need the new trains to be ready for summer to restore capacity to its previous levels on busy nights....

I thought that by the end of June the new trains would be operating all services on all routes, is this still the case?

 

[47271]

They desperately need the new trains to be ready for summer to restore capacity to its previous levels on busy nights....

They do, the southbound Inverness section is sold out short formed on Sunday night for example. So that'll be a few thousand quid down the pan.

 

[TimboM]

I thought that by the end of June the new trains would be operating all services on all routes, is this still the case?

Latest info on CS website is all routes by end of MAY; bookings for new trains now being taken for journeys from 2nd June onwards.

 

[TimboM]

They do, the southbound Inverness section is sold out short formed on Sunday night for example. So that'll be a few thousand quid down the pan.

Need to take into account the thousands saved on not keeping those 8x Mk3s on lease and putting them through the major exams that were due though.

I suspect the sums were done and the costs saved over the next few months far outweigh the odd weekend night when they could’ve sold a few more berths.

Elsewhere the (short-formed) Down Lowlander tonight has loads of availability on it.

 

[Scotrail84]

Need to take into account the thousands saved on not keeping those 8x Mk3s on lease and putting them through the major exams that were due though.

I suspect the sums were done and the costs saved over the next few months far outweigh the odd weekend night when they could’ve sold a few more berths.

Elsewhere the (short-formed) Down Lowlander tonight has loads of availability on it.

Not on the Edinburgh. Thats pretty full.

 

[TimboM]

Not on the Edinburgh. Thats pretty full.

True - although early this afternoon there was still a few spaces on it, so not at the point the "missing" coaches were losing any revenue.
Also not all that unrealistic that someone wanting to go to Edinburgh may go to Glasgow instead and get the day train across if Edinburgh full.

Anyhow, enjoy the ride - rare and feisty engine on the front tonight!

 

[route101]

True - although early this afternoon there was still a few spaces on it, so not at the point the "missing" coaches were losing any revenue.
Also not all that unrealistic that someone wanting to go to Edinburgh may go to Glasgow instead and get the day train across if Edinburgh full.

Anyhow, enjoy the ride - rare and feisty engine on the front tonight!

Whats a rare and feisty engine ?

Was on the SB lowlander last Friday . Glasgow portion , very quiet .

 

[TimboM]

Whats a rare and feisty engine ?

A certain blue/orange 92 that doesn't do the beds very much these days and won't be doing them at all come the Mk5s.
One of @Scotrail84 's favourites I believe

 

[185143]

I'm travelling to the 'Ness in the seats on Monday night-boarding at Crewe.

Am I likely to be able to get anything to eat/drink when I board? Do the lights get dimmed/eye masks given out? I've not used the Sleeper before and am looking forward to it!

 

[route101]

I'm travelling to the 'Ness in the seats on Monday night-boarding at Crewe.

Am I likely to be able to get anything to eat/drink when I board? Do the lights get dimmed/eye masks given out? I've not used the Sleeper before and am looking forward to it!

Last April i done London to Glasgow seats and had an eye mask , lights dont get dimmed annoyingly.Theres a buffet .

 

[GW43125]

SB lowlander cancelled tonight thanks to the wires falling apart at Law Jn

 

[Hipster Dashie]

Oh dear, Edinburgh to Euston service cancelled tonight owing to issues with the overhead power lines at Carstairs. I wonder what happens to sleeper passengers in this situation?

 

[TimboM]

SB lowlander cancelled tonight thanks to the wires falling apart at Law Jn

Just the Edinburgh portion cancelled - Glasgow portion still due to run.

Oh dear, Edinburgh to Euston service cancelled tonight owing to issues with the overhead power lines at Carstairs. I wonder what happens to sleeper passengers in this situation?

Usually get put up (to a fashion) in a nearby hotel and then day train down first thing in the morning.

The irony is the Edinburgh-Carstairs route isn’t blocked, but the wires down prevented the stock getting to Edinburgh from Polmadie.