Caledonian Sleeper

[MrEd]

If the Lounge/Club car is full if the other is out of use are passengers with Club/Double room tickets also allowed to buy meals to take back to there rooms if they do not want to wait for ages?

Of course, the take-away buffet service is open to all passengers and lots of first class passengers use it if they just want a quick cup of tea in their room before bed.

If you have a first class/Club ticket, you are entitled to room service so you can ask your host to bring refreshments to your room. The takeaway/room service menu is largely the same as the ordinary lounge menu, except that some of the cooked evening meals (and cold snacks like the cheeseboard and charcuterie selection) are not suitable for takeaway.

 

[MrEd]

Whilst those in the beds might be able to use the Inverness lounge, what are the prospects for those in the seats to get a nightcap or a brew in the morning?

If you’re in the Aberdeen seats, you’ll be able to use the buffet in the Inverness section tonight, but unfortunately there’ll be no refreshments in the morning if the Aberdeen lounge is dead. If you’re going to Fort William in the seats, you’ll use the Inverness section buffet tonight, then a new lounge will be added for your section at Edinburgh so you’ll use that as normal in the morning.

 

[MrEd]

I suspect that other passengers haven't been informed... Thank you for the thought, appreciated. Unfortunately it won't make any difference for me because I'm a wheelchair user. I can't get into the lounge car anyway because between London and Edinburgh the Fort William accessible sleeper cabin is not next to the lounge. As a result they offer disabled people occupying the Fort William accessible cabin, room service from the Fort William / Aberdeen lounge car. But they say they won't if the Fort William / Aberdeen lounge car is out.

That’s not really very good. Admittedly they’d have to carry it a long way (15 coaches) but as it’ll be in a takeaway container I can’t see how that’d be a problem, any more than walking home with your Chinese takeaway. Admittedly you may want to eat before boarding to be safe, but I’d have a word with your host after you get on, just in case they might be able to bring you a drink or some snacks. It’ll be a Fort William based host tonight, and the Fort William crews are generally very friendly and very good at keeping us passengers happy; they’re a lot less regimented than the other crew bases I find, and a lot better at solving problems on the spot because of this.

Hopefully your berth will be next to the lounge car in the morning, as a new lounge is added at Edinburgh for the Fort William section, so you can ask your host about having breakfast in there.

 

[BRX]

If you’re in the Aberdeen seats, you’ll be able to use the buffet in the Inverness section tonight, but unfortunately there’ll be no refreshments in the morning if the Aberdeen lounge is dead. If you’re going to Fort William in the seats, you’ll use the Inverness section buffet tonight, then a new lounge will be added for your section at Edinburgh so you’ll use that as normal in the morning.

(If that one's working. My last trip both the Fort William and Aberdeen lounge cars were broken.)

 

[Highlandspring]

Presumably this is the lounge car which failed on 1S25 on Tue into Wed night and has run south as part of 1M16 overnight last night.

 

[ashkeba]

I thought the former DB night stock (now with OBB) wasn't that old, but I've not checked who built them and when.

https://www.seat61.com/trains-and-routes/nightjet.htm#Comfortline says some were built by DB themselves 2005-6. I didn't find anything to contradict that, but it really surprises me if DB still owned carriage builders that late. Edit: and as soon as I post, I find a page in German saying those were built by Siemens SGP and older ones were built by SGP, Talbot, Jenbacher Werken AG (now Innio) and Bombardier Dunakeszi.

 

[WesternLancer]

https://www.seat61.com/trains-and-routes/nightjet.htm#Comfortline says some were built by DB themselves 2005-6. I didn't find anything to contradict that, but it really surprises me if DB still owned carriage builders that late. Edit: and as soon as I post, I find a page in German saying those were built by Siemens SGP and older ones were built by SGP, Talbot, Jenbacher Werken AG (now Innio) and Bombardier Dunakeszi.

Cheers, slightly older than I thought then, but not much.

 

[LeylandLen]

I see the WCML will be closed for Engineering work @ Acton Grange near Warrington from July 22 to Aug 4th
https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/our-routes/lnw/wcmlactongrange/

On Friday 19th July The S/B Inverness to Euston is diverted afte Preston via Bolton, Man Picc and Stoke
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/G65068/2019/07/19/advanced

I assume others will be diverted on a similar route or via ECML.

 

[_toommm_]

From Twitter:

'All services are due to return to normal from (and including) Friday 21 June onwards. Our sincere apologies to all guests affected by our recent cancellations.'

https://twitter.com/CalSleeper/status/1141638462518509568?s=09

 

[kingqueen]

That’s not really very good. Admittedly they’d have to carry it a long way (15 coaches) but as it’ll be in a takeaway container I can’t see how that’d be a problem, any more than walking home with your Chinese takeaway. Admittedly you may want to eat before boarding to be safe, but I’d have a word with your host after you get on, just in case they might be able to bring you a drink or some snacks. It’ll be a Fort William based host tonight, and the Fort William crews are generally very friendly and very good at keeping us passengers happy; they’re a lot less regimented than the other crew bases I find, and a lot better at solving problems on the spot because of this.

God bless them; despite the Guest Service Centre warning me in advance that I wouldn't be able to have room service, the first thing the host said to me was that he was very happy indeed to do room service. From the other end of the whole train. By then I had already bought a take-out from "Leon" or whatever it's called, but still. He's very kindly gone for a couple of whiskeis for me, for which I am suitably grateful.
I don't know where I'm supposed to eat the food, mind you. Compare the standard cabin (from Mark Smith's video)

And the accessible cabin:

No table thing over the sink. And nowhere else to put the food either...

 

[MrEd]

God bless them; despite the Guest Service Centre warning me in advance that I wouldn't be able to have room service, the first thing the host said to me was that he was very happy indeed to do room service. From the other end of the whole train. By then I had already bought a take-out from "Leon" or whatever it's called, but still. He's very kindly gone for a couple of whiskeis for me, for which I am suitably grateful.
I don't know where I'm supposed to eat the food, mind you. Compare the standard cabin (from Mark Smith's video)
View attachment 64708
And the accessible cabin:
View attachment 64709
No table thing over the sink. And nowhere else to put the food either...

There are some absolutely great guys who work the Fort William route, sounds just like the guys I know and love and who make the Fort William trip so special every time I do it. So pleased they’ve been accommodating for you. It’s great to hear praise for the fantastic staff who work the Fort William section, they all do a brilliant job (as do the Inverness team) and show some good old-fashioned Highland hospitality. Some of the other crews could learn a lot from them in terms of customer service, I feel.

 

[MrEd]

With food in the accessible room, you may just have to eat it on your knee. There should be a shelf which folds down from the wall (covered in fabric padding) which you can put a drink on, I think all Mk3 berths have this.

 

[tago]

Lowland sleeper to Edinburgh cancelled tonight. Serco claiming they contacted all passengers (who booked direct) 12 hours ago, which is a lie.

Passengers are supposed to get on the 06:15 from KX (no offer of accommodation) or apparently there may or may not be a bus.

Passengers unsurprisingly less than happy.

 

[Clayton]

Lowland sleeper to Edinburgh cancelled tonight. Serco claiming they contacted all passengers (who booked direct) 12 hours ago, which is a lie.

Passengers are supposed to get on the 06:15 from KX (no offer of accommodation) or apparently there may or may not be a bus.

Passengers unsurprisingly less than happy.

I’ve started taking a ghoulish pleasure in this thread! Those poor people! That should be a full refund plus a ticket on the six fifteen

 

[Highlandspring]

1C11 standing in platform 4 at Haymarket for nearly an hour now with alarms sounding/jumper problems....

 

[swapmeetpete]

Inverness Highlander southbound, no lounge staff so no food or drink.

 

[WesternLancer]

God bless them; despite the Guest Service Centre warning me in advance that I wouldn't be able to have room service, the first thing the host said to me was that he was very happy indeed to do room service. From the other end of the whole train. By then I had already bought a take-out from "Leon" or whatever it's called, but still. He's very kindly gone for a couple of whiskeis for me, for which I am suitably grateful.
I don't know where I'm supposed to eat the food, mind you. Compare the standard cabin (from Mark Smith's video)
View attachment 64708
And the accessible cabin:
View attachment 64709
No table thing over the sink. And nowhere else to put the food either...

Is that lower picture the air-con unit in the new Mk5s then?
At least it looks like you can turn it off if it gets too noisy!

 

[_toommm_]

1C11 standing in platform 4 at Haymarket for nearly an hour now with alarms sounding/jumper problems....

Just set off now, currently 67 down.

 

[side effect]

Maybe that's why 1m11 is waiting just outside Carstairs

 

[Bletchleyite]

I’ve started taking a ghoulish pleasure in this thread! Those poor people! That should be a full refund plus a ticket on the six fifteen

There is, apparently. What there should be is a hotel, a refund AND a ticket on the morning service of their choice.

 

[Highlandspring]

Maybe that's why 1m11 is waiting just outside Carstairs

That's exactly why it's waiting on the Up Main, the portions have to couple as booked to form the train in the correct order (i.e. coaches ex Edinburgh at the north end).

 

[side effect]

I'm waiting for the coupling then going to sleep.

 

[Highlandspring]

I'm waiting for the coupling then going to sleep.

It has run into further bother at Carstairs as I'm sure you're aware. You would be better just going to bed.

 

[kingqueen]

There were repeated alarms on the Mk 3 Highlander lead coach earlier this evening. Sleeper staff stated this was due to fumes under the carriage.

 

[Osprey17]

I do hope we get moving from Carstairs soon. I have job interview in London at 0900 and this delay is not good for the nerves!

 

[side effect]

Just woke up to see it is just approaching the Ox. Hope you make your interview and all the best. Now going back for more sleep.

 

[nlogax]

Arrived in Glasgow this morning a little early. A drama-free run and everything seemed to work, including the bacon roll and coffee in my room. Add to that I managed to get a fair amount of sleep en route..Laphroaig prices onboard are VERY reasonable! May post a couple of pics later.

 

[swapmeetpete]

Another fine run on the Pandemonium Sleeper. Due to impending power failure in the southbound Inverness seated coach, everyone moved to shared berths at Edinburgh.

 

[_toommm_]

Another fine run on the Pandemonium Sleeper. Due to impending power failure in the southbound Inverness seated coach, everyone moved to shared berths at Edinburgh.

You were forced to share? I thought they did away with that...

 

[Mainliner]

Another fine run on the Pandemonium Sleeper. Due to impending power failure in the southbound Inverness seated coach, everyone moved to shared berths at Edinburgh.

I wouldn’t normally book a seat, but with the increased price differential, and more than a little chance of an upgrade, the bargain berth option seems to have returned, in a different way.