Caledonian Sleeper

[BRX]

Doesn't seem like a crazy suggestion to me. Reduces number of locos needed and means all CS shunting takes place in edinburgh. It would allow a later departure from edinburgh southbound too.

 

[MrEd]

As a Public Transport service, supported by taxpayers, SERCO need directed to cut the marketing of 'hotel on wheels', the catering and drinks service, provide an inclusive breakfast pack to all, included in the price, and let the staff be focused on advising and attending to passengers free from all this hubris of social class /tourist expectations.

I’m definitely no fan of Serco’s marketing strategy, but I do think that the evening meals and drinks in the lounge car are a nice touch and make the journey enjoyable. There’s no need for this to be extravagant, though, as it’s in danger of becoming at the moment- a return to the menu as was in First Group days would be absolutely fine. This winter (when the well heeled tourists will largely be far away and gone) will prove a stiff test as to whether Serco’s strategy works. If it doesn’t, I sincerely hope that they will reconsider and maybe try to restore (with the new Mk5 stock) some of the more popular elements of the First Group operation (like the Bargain Berths, other special discounted fares, the possibility to share a berth to keep the cost down, with a reasonably priced option for single occupancy of a standard twin berth if sharing not acceptable, a complimentary breakfast box for both first and standard, etc.).

Most of the crews I find are generally very helpful at times of disruption, and do tend to put the needs of passengers with onward connections/whose journeys are otherwise severely disrupted first. When the train is running normally, there’s not actually that much (if anything) to attend to other than breakfast orders and the odd query, so there’s no reason why the lounge car can’t stay as it is, as a way of utilising staff who are there anyway (with perhaps a better value and less touristy menu- though keep the haggis as everyone enjoys that).

 

[TimboM]

Doesn't seem like a crazy suggestion to me. Reduces number of locos needed and means all CS shunting takes place in edinburgh. It would allow a later departure from edinburgh southbound too.

Not sure how it reduces the locos needed?
You'd still need a 92 to take the EDB portion stock to Waverley and back and provide the ETH whilst passengers board and wait for the GLC train to arrive (and vice versa in the morning). Unless you ran it as a Load 16 all the way which would cause a number of challenges.

 

[Put Kettle On]

Doesn't seem like a crazy suggestion to me. Reduces number of locos needed and means all CS shunting takes place in edinburgh. It would allow a later departure from edinburgh southbound too.

Later departure from Edinburgh, but earlier from Glasgow .
Than a later arrival in Glasgow in morning.
Full 16 coach train in Waverley, requiring shunting moves for loco attachment for Glasgow portion & loco run round to take Edinburgh portion to Polmadie, and Glasgow portion now arriving later in Central, when both stations will have more than enough going on .

 

[BRX]

Not sure how it reduces the locos needed?
You'd still need a 92 to take the EDB portion stock to Waverley and back and provide the ETH whilst passengers board and wait for the GLC train to arrive (and vice versa in the morning). Unless you ran it as a Load 16 all the way which would cause a number of challenges.

Yes you're right of course - hadn't thought the ECS moves through.

 

[John Bishop]

Reports of 1B01 failed last night at Dalmuir, had to be rescued by 1Z99 presumably another CS 73.

Left Dalmuir 106 late.

 

[Jocques]

Reports of 1B01 failed last night at Dalmuir, had to be rescued by 1Z99 presumably another CS 73.

Left Dalmuir 106 late.

When you say 106, do you mean 106 minutes? It wasn't that much, definitely.

 

[awsnews]

Recorded as 82l leaving Dalmuir but 104l at Singer which is pretty good going for a journey that is supposed to take 2m.

 

[Highlandspring]

The TRUST autoreporting got confused by the assisting engine. The train arrived in Dalmuir platform 2 right time at 2352. The driver declared a loco a failure due to loss of coolant at 0019. It departed Dalmuir at 0139.

 

[38Cto15E]

What am I missing here, realtraintimes shows 1B01 arriving Edinburgh at 0247 yet also shows 1M16 departing Edinburgh to Euston at 0132.

 

[Chrism20]

What am I missing here, realtraintimes shows 1B01 arriving Edinburgh at 0247 yet also shows 1M16 departing Edinburgh to Euston at 0132.

Looks like the Fort William Southbound (1B01) terminated in Edinburgh with the Aberdeen & Inverness portions going forward without 1B01.

Passengers from 1B01 on twitter mentioning they are on the 0540 LNER from Edinburgh.

 

[ainsworth74]

Passengers from 1B01 on twitter mentioning they are on the 0540 LNER from Edinburgh.

Hopefully they were allowed to remain in their berths until the 0540 was boarding?

 

[Highland37]

I saw the Inverness southbound the other night. 67020 on the front. No sign of a 73.

 

[Far north 37]

I saw the Inverness southbound the other night. 67020 on the front. No sign of a 73.

67028 on the inverness portion now.

 

[TimboM]

I saw the Inverness southbound the other night. 67020 on the front. No sign of a 73.

It's been a hired-in in DB 67 for approx. 99% of the time since GB took over.

Whilst 73/9s are tied up with Mk5 testing (in effect until the Mk5s roll-out) it'll remain a 67 - operationally it makes loads of sense as the one hired-in 67 (to back-fill the test 73/9) takes the place of 2x 73/9s.

Hopefully they were allowed to remain in their berths until the 0540 was boarding?

90043 took the ECS away to Polmadie at 04:50, so that would suggest guests were allowed to stay in their berths for a period of time, but not all the time.

The (working!) loco, lounge and seats/brake - were needed to form 1Y11 due to depart at 0450 (departed 42 Late at 0532). Hence the 1B01 guests would need to be turfed out at some point to allow for this shunting - and the fact the remaining stock would not have a brake coach.

 

[185143]

Any news on why 0S25 doesn't seem to have left Wembley yet?

I'm sat in the Signal Box pub at Euston and my Northern head is struggling to accept a pint costing more than five pounds!

 

[TimboM]

Any news on why 0S25 doesn't seem to have left Wembley yet?

I'm sat in the Signal Box pub at Euston and my Northern head is struggling to accept a pint costing more than five pounds!

It won’t be leaving at all - the 1S25 loco (90047) went in on the rear of the empty stock (5S95) as is the normal approach 99% of the time these days.

Been like that pretty much since the loco maintenance moved from Willesden to Wembley last year - the 1S25 engine can be dropped on the rear of 5S95 just after it leaves the sheds and saves taking it in separately.

 

[Bald Rick]

I'm sat in the Signal Box pub at Euston and my Northern head is struggling to accept a pint costing more than five pounds!

You’re in the wrong place for that! (London). Some pubs are nudging £7 a pint now.

 

[185143]

It won’t be leaving at all - the 1S25 loco (90047) went in on the rear of the empty stock (5S95) as is the normal approach 99% of the time these days.

Been like that pretty much since the loco maintenance moved from Willesden to Wembley last year - the 1S25 engine can be dropped on the rear of 5S95 just after it leaves the sheds and saves taking it in separately.

Ahh, fair enough. Can tell I don't regularly follow this thread!

 

[185143]

You’re in the wrong place for that! (London). Some pubs are nudging £7 a pint now.

You WHAAAAAT??!!

 

[haggishunter]

Given the problems on the A82 between Tarbet and Bridge of Orchy where torrential rain has persisted for hours on end this evening, wouldn't be a huge surprise of there are issues on the WHL in the morning (no SouthBound sleeper on the line tonight due planned diversion).

 

[Chrism20]

Given the problems on the A82 between Tarbet and Bridge of Orchy where torrential rain has persisted for hours on end this evening, wouldn't be a huge surprise of there are issues on the WHL in the morning (no SouthBound sleeper on the line tonight due planned diversion).

Looks like it’s terminated at Arrochar & Tarbet due to flooding this morning

 

[PaxVobiscum]

https://twitter.com/calsleeper/status/1158290086905225216

Service Update: We have been advised by @NetworkRailSCOT that our Euston to Fort William service cannot proceed past Ardlui. Arrangements are being made to source alternate transport for onward travel. More updates to follow and we thank everyone for their patience at this time.

Imagine the phone calls (if they can get a signal) “Meet me in Ardlui, Hughie, everything’s gone pear-...”

 

[hwl]

https://twitter.com/calsleeper/status/1158290086905225216



Imagine the phone calls (if they can get a signal) “Meet me in Ardlui, Hughie, everything’s gone pear-...”

Nice place to get turfed off though

 

[InOban]

The road was closed north of Ardlui last night, not sure if it's open yet. Also difficult between Tyndrum and Bridge of Orchy.

 

[Highlandspring]

Multiple track washouts between Ardlui and Crianlarich. The line is still being proved on foot but as it stands just now it's expected to be shut for a number of days...

 

[EE Andy b1]

It never rains, but it pours for Caledonian Sleepers!!

I'm sure they will have some good fortune eventually.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Multiple track washouts between Ardlui and Crianlarich. The line is still being proved on foot but as it stands just now it's expected to be shut for a number of days...

Screenshots from NetworkRailScotland Twitter:

Due to part of the railway being ‘washed away’ by severe flooding in the area, the line between #Crianlarich & #Tyndrum is closed.

Our teams are on site assessing damage and will update in due course. Please contact your train operator for service updates.

 

[Jocques]

Due to travel to Fort William next Monday. I'm sensing that won't be repaired within a week

 

[EE Andy b1]

Screenshots from NetworkRailScotland Twitter:


View attachment 66739

View attachment 66740

Yes who was that idiot on twitter who said it was a bridge and could be driven across! That's why i don't do twitter.

Another bad state of affairs caused by Mother Nature and happening all too often now. Global warming! Anybody. Or is it Climate Change!