Caledonian Sleeper

[Meerkat]

It always surprises me why only VTWC saw fit to allow guards to adjust the temperature on their new post privatisation stock.

To protect staff? “Sorry mate, no can do” avoids them ending up refereeing an argument over temperature control between passengers.

 

[InOban]

Be a different set the set from tuesday night in inverness would of worked back north last night.

Surely the up Highlander on Tue night would have been the down Lowlander on Wednesday night? Aren't they back to rotating the sets as they used to?

 

[Far north 37]

Surely the up Highlander on Tue night would have been the down Lowlander on Wednesday night? Aren't they back to rotating the sets as they used to?

Yeah thats right i misread the op as if the southbound from inverness on tuesday night was the same set causing issues at euston this morning.
My mistake

 

[BRX]

It always surprises me why only VTWC saw fit to allow guards to adjust the temperature on their new post privatisation stock.

It wouldn't necessarily need any adjustments by train staff - adjust it at the depot. Just set it to slightly warmer than it is at current. Or take a management decision on the target temperature, give staff a thermometer and the instruction to adjust as necessary to aim for that target.

 

[BRX]

Another strategy would be to set it a little lower than the 'average' preference, and have a supply of blankets on board to be offered to those who would like them.

 

[JModulo]

Another strategy would be to set it a little lower than the 'average' preference, and have a supply of blankets on board to be offered to those who would like them.

They used to carry blankets on the mk2s, not sure about on the mk5s?

 

[cb a1]

Another strategy would be to set it a little lower than the 'average' preference, and have a supply of blankets on board to be offered to those who would like them.

That would definitely be my preference. It's easier to warm up than cool down. I also find warm air dries out my mouth and throat making me snore and leaves me with a sort throat the next morning.

 

[hwl]

That would definitely be my preference. It's easier to warm up than cool down. I also find warm air dries out my mouth and throat making me snore and leaves me with a sort throat the next morning.

dry air also make it feel less cold so less heating is needed

 

[47271]

The constant knocking of the bogies made it difficult to sleep

This is the number one complaint from Highlander regulars over the past couple of weeks, the rattling and consequent vibration is a major weakness in the design. It could be that CS is in denial about this given the below.

I've been sent a video of a whisky tumbler in a mk5 lounge. It's all of one eighth full and yet the contents are sloshing up and down so much that there's Scotch splashing out onto the table, something that would never have happened in a mk2 however decrepit it was.

The passenger who took it, and a few other around him, engaged the travelling CAF engineer on the subject. First of all the knocking was dismissed as the kitchen door, and then as the train going over points, and then more generally as rough track. This brought some derision since they were on perfectly maintained billiard table plain track between Greenloaning and Dunblane. The engineer disappeared after that I believe...

 

[Bletchleyite]

The same knocking and banging is an issue on Classes 195/331 as well. Seems like possibly a bad design of bogie mounting with too much play.

 

[fgwrich]

Having had a quick hunt about, it seems that at least five are now with rolling stock hire company Eastern Rail Services, who already own a number of air con mark 2s:
http://easternrailservices.co.uk/fleet.htm

Mark 2F Lounge Cars: 6700/6703
Mark 2E Seated Brale Cars: 9800/9807

There's also a Mark 2E BSO in Caledonian Sleeper livery, 9497, which I wasn't previously aware of: What's the deal with this vehicle? Was it used as a stand in on the Fort William seated portion in recent times? They were using an Intercity liveried brake vehicle, 9513 I think, on this working for a while.

A Rake of around 13 Mk3 Sleepers headed up from London to Crewe LSL this evening - Make of that what you want!

As for 9497 - This is one of the Eastern Rail Services Mk2s and one of a batch of Mk2s Purchased from HSBC Rail a few years ago. This along with a few of ERS's Mk2s arrived in faded Intercity Swallow livery - now since adopted by ERS for the rest of their Mk2s. The ERS Mk2s came in around late 2017 early 2018 when the Mk2s were sold off from Porterbrook to ERS, who then swapped in some of their own while the Caley Sleeper Mk2s underwent overhauls at Wolsingham Works. 9497 was previously in IC Swallow but received a fresh coat of Caley Sleeper Midnight Teal upon overhaul - This and BSO 9513 (in IC Swallow) were then used on the Fort William "shuttles" only.

 

[47271]

The same knocking and banging is an issue on Classes 195/331 as well. Seems like possibly a bad design of bogie mounting with too much play.

Jeez, 40 years of development and advance in technology over the mk3 and this is what we get.

 

[Bald Rick]

This is the number one complaint from Highlander regulars over the past couple of weeks, the rattling and consequent vibration is a major weakness in the design. It could be that CS is in denial about this given the below.

I've been sent a video of a whisky tumbler in a mk5 lounge. It's all of one eighth full and yet the contents are sloshing up and down so much that there's Scotch splashing out onto the table, something that would never have happened in a mk2 however decrepit it was.

Anecdotal evidence follows, caveated that it is based on two trips only, both Lowlander.

Not doubting the above... but on my trips there was no rattling or vibration that I noticed. In the lounge, full tumblers of Schiehallion all ended up where they were intended, with no spillage on the table (or elsewhere) despite some slow-fast weaves on the south WCML testing them. Same for the whisky, which may or may not have been purchasedconcurrently due to indecision. (Simple answer, have both). Same for the tea and OJ next morning.

Perhaps it’s an issue with one particular lounge car? Do CS ever remarshall the sets such that some vehicles swap between Lowlander and highlander?

 

[Hipster Dashie]

Is it just the case that these sets need to be broken in a bit? A few thousand miles under the belt and things will start to settle down?

 

[haggishunter]

An observation from changing coach at Edinburgh - was told the Aberdeen seats was right at the front (it wasn’t) but it caused a bit of unease about those unfamiliar with what was going on because all the external coach letter and destination boards were off!

 

[JModulo]

Is it just the case that these sets need to be broken in a bit? A few thousand miles under the belt and things will start to settle down?

Highly doubt it considering some sets have even more than 10s of thousands of miles under their belt and still causing issues...

 

[sprinterguy]

A Rake of around 13 Mk3 Sleepers headed up from London to Crewe LSL this evening - Make of that what you want!

As for 9497 - This is one of the Eastern Rail Services Mk2s and one of a batch of Mk2s Purchased from HSBC Rail a few years ago. This along with a few of ERS's Mk2s arrived in faded Intercity Swallow livery - now since adopted by ERS for the rest of their Mk2s. The ERS Mk2s came in around late 2017 early 2018 when the Mk2s were sold off from Porterbrook to ERS, who then swapped in some of their own while the Caley Sleeper Mk2s underwent overhauls at Wolsingham Works. 9497 was previously in IC Swallow but received a fresh coat of Caley Sleeper Midnight Teal upon overhaul - This and BSO 9513 (in IC Swallow) were then used on the Fort William "shuttles" only.

Thank you for that detailed explanation - that clears a few things up for me. I wonder what Locomotive Services have in mind for those sleeper vehicles (if anything)?

 

[John Bishop]

Jeez, 40 years of development and advance in technology over the mk3 and this is what we get.

It does beggar belief that such a situation re bogie noise can be accepted as fit for use. Surely this could have been flagged up during testing and a fix put in place.

I was also very surprised by the loud noise of the brakes at low speed in the berth. Can’t recall ever hearing MK3 brakes like that. Again seems bizarre that new stock can produce problems like this. Unless of course it’s all being done on the cheap.

 

[PG]

It does beggar belief that such a situation re bogie noise can be accepted as fit for use. Surely this could have been flagged up during testing and a fix put in place.

I was also very surprised by the loud noise of the brakes at low speed in the berth. Can’t recall ever hearing MK3 brakes like that. Again seems bizarre that new stock can produce problems like this. Unless of course it’s all being done on the cheap.

I refer you to this post:

Well you know what they say CAF means in Europe? Cheap As F..k

 

[SuspectUsual]

They used to carry blankets on the mk2s, not sure about on the mk5s?

i dread to think how often they got properly cleaned

 

[Ian Wallbank]

I am afraid some people will accept rubbish if it is cheap enough. Who actually decides the tender conditions? I suspect it is a close-knit community. Who are they answerable to?

 

[6Z09]

i dread to think how often they got properly cleaned

They were in sealed packages and used once or taken away by the passenger as I recall.

 

[6Z09]

An observation from changing coach at Edinburgh - was told the Aberdeen seats was right at the front (it wasn’t) but it caused a bit of unease about those unfamiliar with what was going on because all the external coach letter and destination boards were off!

The formations are different for north and southbound,but any CS staff in the vicinity should have pointed you in the right direction.

 

[Crepello]

Indeed, thanks for the info on the Mk 2s. For the sake of nostalgia, here's 9513 on the rear of 1Y11, morning of June 7th last year - there can't have been many vehicles in regular service then, wearing the 'executive' livery! (And railways aside, stunning weather made for a superb trip...)

 

[Bletchleyite]

Indeed, thanks for the info on the Mk 2s. For the sake of nostalgia, here's 9513 on the rear of 1Y11, morning of June 7th last year - there can't have been many vehicles in regular service then, wearing the 'executive' livery! (And railways aside, stunning weather made for a superb trip...)

View attachment 69806

Possibly the only one?

 

[Crepello]

Possibly the only one?

I did wonder. Slight thread-creep but it was such en elegant, enduring livery that inspired many derivatives - in contrast to the hideous purple hues that survived into the final days.

If only a rake could have been painted/vinyled into the Scotrail version of executive, with the light blue stripe. I know the sleepers never carried it but thinking back to the days of 47/7s and push/pull, I'd say that was one of the finest liveries ever... ahh, nostalgia!

 

[BRX]

In summer 2016, when I travelled there were two IC liveried mk2s on the FW portion.

 

[JModulo]

i dread to think how often they got properly cleaned

After every journey / use. They came in sealed packets.

 

[side effect]

Waiting at Inverness for the 20 45 and noticed the 21 15 is delayed due to earlier trespassing/fatality has put all the operators out. Say if the sleeper is 2 hrs late will that have any effect with the train travelling in the opposite position. Sorry mind as gone.

 

[Far north 37]

Waiting at Inverness for the 20 45 and noticed the 21 15 is delayed due to earlier trespassing/fatality has put all the operators out. Say if the sleeper is 2 hrs late will that have any effect with the train travelling in the opposite position. Sorry mind as gone.

May affect the change of drivers working north who then work the southbound portions back to euston i think.