Caledonian Sleeper

[ainsworth74]

Both my trips on the new stock were extremely sociable, and I was travelling solo.

Was that aided by the wide range of whiskeys on offer though?

 

[47271]

Was that aided by the wide range of whiskeys on offer though?

WHISKEY??? No whiskey is served on the train. Only WHISKY.

I have been on when someone asked if they served Jim Beam. That got a frosty response. 'We only serve Scotch sir'.

 

[Bald Rick]

Was that aided by the wide range of whiskeys on offer though?

No whiskeys at all. This is the Caledonian Sleeper. Quite a few whiskies though.

 

[GrimShady]

Have the stopped turning everyone out on arrival at Euston. I had this a few times where the train arrived at 0630 and before. They woke everyone up early and said we had 5 mins before the depot movement, yeah...lies.

This was 2018 and 2017 though.

 

[ld0595]

I've got a small question with regards to access in the seated coach. I know that previously first class had priority access and would board first. How does this work with the new coaches?

I'm thinking about making a booking in May over a long weekend (one way, leaving FTW on Friday) and would quite like to bring my partner for her first trip along the West Highland Line and sit in one of the booths for dinner and drinks. It's difficult to justify paying an extra £100 for a club room for a shower we'll probably not use, but have they reintroduced reservations for tables? Or is it essentially a free for all for those in classic seated accommodation?

 

[ainsworth74]

WHISKEY??? No whiskey is served on the train. Only WHISKY.

No whiskeys at all. This is the Caledonian Sleeper. Quite a few whiskies though.

One is most assuredly severely cowed by ones most foolish mistake!

 

[TimboM]

I've got a small question with regards to access in the seated coach. I know that previously first class had priority access and would board first. How does this work with the new coaches?

I'm thinking about making a booking in May over a long weekend (one way, leaving FTW on Friday) and would quite like to bring my partner for her first trip along the West Highland Line and sit in one of the booths for dinner and drinks. It's difficult to justify paying an extra £100 for a club room for a shower we'll probably not use, but have they reintroduced reservations for tables? Or is it essentially a free for all for those in classic seated accommodation?

There is no access to the Club Car for seated passengers. Club (berth) passengers have priority and Classic (berth) are able to use it too if there's sufficient space.

 

[BRX]

Is the club car what we're supposed to call the lounge car now?

 

[TimboM]

Is the club car what we're supposed to call the lounge car now?

That's the one - Club Car for the Club Class passengers etc...

 

[Grandnat]

Further to my review where I expressed disappointment that I’d booked a solo use Classic room but it was set up with both bunks, I’ve just noticed on the website that the text in says the Classics are “Twin Bunk Beds” whereas for the Club room it says, “Twin bunks or single bed options”.

Perhaps all the Classics are just in twin bunk mode all the time now to save them the time?

(Edit) And reading further here’s confirmation.


“Please note, both beds will be in place even if booked for solo use.”

 

[BRX]

Further to my review where I expressed disappointment that I’d booked a solo use Classic room but it was set up with both bunks, I’ve just noticed on the website that the text in says the Classics are “Twin Bunk Beds” whereas for the Club room it says, “Twin bunks or single bed options”.

Perhaps all the Classics are just in twin bunk mode all the time now to save them the time?

(Edit) And reading further here’s confirmation.


“Please note, both beds will be in place even if booked for solo use.”

So, you're not allowed to opt to share with a stranger to save some money, but having paid for solo use you'll get a cabin set up for twin use.

 

[83G/84D]

Middle of a coach to be as far away from doors, bogies and toilets as you can and preferably in the coach as far away from the lounge car as possible to minimise the amount of bell-ends walking past your cabin yakking away to their pals at 2am.

Agree with you on the dwindling amount of long distance trains that provide an acceptable level of comfort, Pendo 1st class is about the only remaining option for London - Scotland that I would even consider now, those 8xx seats are an insult in both classes.

I tried to book similar on the GWR sleeper only to end up in the front coach right behind the engine. Little sleep that night.

Same in several different brands of hotels over the years with inconsiderate guests walking past your room late at night after a night drinking. They seem to think it is perfectly acceptable to bang doors and speak loudly waking everyone up in the small hours.

 

[Struner]

Have you ever been on a ferry South Shields-IJmuiden with a (one? - you must be joking) hen/stag party?

 

[alangla]

So, you're not allowed to opt to share with a stranger to save some money, but having paid for solo use you'll get a cabin set up for twin use.

Same as any hotel, surely? It’s probably cheaper just to have a standard linen pack set out & just have every room of each type made up the same way. Also allows a bit of flexibility if you were to no-show & they needed to relocate a pair of travellers.

 

[Struner]

But surely staff will fold it away when asked?

 

[GarethC]

But surely staff will fold it away when asked?

I was under the impression that, as with the MK3 the mattress has to be removed to fold up the top bunk? Another reason to leave them down all the time. You could end up with a situation at say Fort William (as it's not a main depot) where they were short of mattresses!

Gareth

 

[JModulo]

I was under the impression that, as with the MK3 the mattress has to be removed to fold up the top bunk? Another reason to leave them down all the time. You could end up with a situation at say Fort William (as it's not a main depot) where they were short of mattresses!

Gareth

The beds on the Mk5s are designed so that they can stowed with the mattress in place (not made up).

 

[BRX]

The beds on the Mk5s are designed so that they can stowed with the mattress in place (not made up).

Yes, that's what I'd understood.

 

[BRX]

Same as any hotel, surely? It’s probably cheaper just to have a standard linen pack set out & just have every room of each type made up the same way. Also allows a bit of flexibility if you were to no-show & they needed to relocate a pair of travellers.

Why bother to make it foldable-away at all then!

 

[Grandnat]

Why bother to make it foldable-away at all then!

I’m pretty sure in pre-launch versions of the website there were photos of Classics set up as solos, plus the wording reflected this. Maybe there’s a cached version somewhere.

This feels like a recent cost cutting exercise...

 

[greaterwest]

I was under the impression that, as with the MK3 the mattress has to be removed to fold up the top bunk?

This is no longer the case on the refurbished GWR MK3's.

 

[Richard P]

All too predictably there's nothing on the CS website or Twitter feed but anyone travelling to or from Fort William tonight should be aware the West Highland line is closed between Crianlarich and Helensburgh Upper at the moment due to flooding at Garelochhead with buses replacing trains with an update that the line will remain disrupted until the end of the day. I'd suggest keeping in touch with RTT as this will be the most reliable source of information in terms of is the Sleeper is running or not later on

 

[JonathanH]

...and anyone on the northbound Glasgow portion tomorrow night may also find themselves short of a berth as well depending how busy it is.

 

[SuspectUsual]

All too predictably there's nothing on the CS website or Twitter feed but anyone travelling to or from Fort William tonight should be aware the West Highland line is closed between Crianlarich and Helensburgh Upper at the moment due to flooding at Garelochhead with buses replacing trains with an update that the line will remain disrupted until the end of the day. I'd suggest keeping in touch with RTT as this will be the most reliable source of information in terms of is the Sleeper is running or not later on

well it’s left Fort Bill, currently south of Rannoch. I assume they must be confident of the line reopening

 

[cf111]

I sent an email to CS after my journey last week. It wasn't really a complaint, I made positive comments about the crew and many aspects of the new stock but did say I was disappointed with the lack of hot water and no running water at all in the morning. They have processed a refund of half the ticket price (just over £100) which I was not expecting or looking for but I do consider a (very) fair resolution to any issues I had. I was just hoping that they would take my comments both positive and negative on board.

 

[Grandnat]

I did a Vlog of my trip on the Sleeper as written above [only about the Club Room portion) - here’s a link if interested (if I’m breaking rules posting a YouTube link, apologies, and delete]

 

[jamesst]

I must admit I find it a bit odd that for a sleeper service the twitter feed closes down at night

 

[TimboM]

I must admit I find it a bit odd that for a sleeper service the twitter feed closes down at night

It's the "Guest Experience Team" who sign-off for the night at 0100 (when those travelling should are all on board). The Service Delivery team are still able to post during the night if they feel they need (and do on occasion) - although worth bearing in mind the on-board crew can update those passengers affected, if indeed they've selected the option to be disturbed in such circumstances.

 

[cb a1]

First time in Club last night. Flawless journey on Lowlander from Edinburgh.
I'm now on Euston concourse waiting for the Avanti lounge to open.
Was middle of carriage and slept pretty much as well as I do in my own bed.
Light from buttons didn't affect me, light levels low enough to be no different once eyes shut.
Don't know what difference in size from classic room, but they did feel much more spacious.

 

[al78]

I tried to book similar on the GWR sleeper only to end up in the front coach right behind the engine. Little sleep that night.

Same in several different brands of hotels over the years with inconsiderate guests walking past your room late at night after a night drinking. They seem to think it is perfectly acceptable to bang doors and speak loudly waking everyone up in the small hours.

They don't think, full stop, like many other situations where people act with lack of consideration for no good reason, other than they can't be bothered to think, because it requires a small amount of mental effort.