Caledonian Sleeper

[island]

Nowadays, at London Victoria, I get the impression they shoo everyone out for the wee hours. So I would not rely on it anymore even at stations served by the sleeper.

Yes, they do – it’s easier at the moment as on the Covid timetable there’s nothing between the last southeastern to Gillingham at 0040 and the 0430 Gatwick.

If memory serves, there used to be an hourly Victoria to Brighton train through the night but the station was shut up for 45ish minutes an hour between trains.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Yes, they do – it’s easier at the moment as on the Covid timetable there’s nothing between the last southeastern to Gillingham at 0040 and the 0430 Gatwick.

If memory serves, there used to be an hourly Victoria to Brighton train through the night but the station was shut up for 45ish minutes an hour between trains.

Back when I relied on the overnights to Croydon it seemed to stay open. I used to aim for the 00:42 stopper but hang on for the 01:00 with a loo. But I never encountered problems if I missed the 01:00 etc and was waiting for an hour for the 02:00 or 03:00. The overnight services were withdrawn long before Covid and warning signs stating overnight closure appeared. The withdrawal of services affected many workers in the hotel and other hospitality industries that used to rely on them to get home from the West End. But I think recently further changes might have happened to make this closure more enforced so would affect CS as well.

 

[xotGD]

I've noticed that all three Highlander portions produced 66+73 combos the past couple of nights. Anyone know why this is, when two of them are normally just a single 73?

 

[CW2]

I've noticed that all three Highlander portions produced 66+73 combos the past couple of nights. Anyone know why this is, when two of them are normally just a single 73?

Reported on WNXX that it is a policy decision when 73 availability gets low to add 66s to all portions to reduce the amount of work the 73 has to do - and therefore the risk of any more failures.
If that is the case, then it must be a new policy, as that's the first time I've seen 66 + 73 combos on all 3 portions.

 

[JonathanH]

If that is the case, then it must be a new policy, as that's the first time I've seen 66 + 73 combos on all 3 portions.

Not the first time - also happened for a week in January 2020.

 

[CW2]

Not the first time - also happened for a week in January 2020.

OK thanks. I stand corrected. At that time of year I'd put it down to bad weather precautions, but that can't be the case now. Presumably there have been other occasions between January 2020 and May 2021 when availability of 73/9s has been low that hasn't triggered the 66 pilot policy?

 

[221129]

that can't be the case now.

Have you seen the weather in Scotland for the last few days?!

 

[Jamesrob637]

Have you seen the weather in Scotland for the last few days?!

Yes. Scotland and Southern England have had it pretty bad. Won't deny where I am hasn't had its fair share of the wet stuff, however I think we've been spared the worst!

 

[williamn]

Just had this notification from them which I'm really not happy about having purchased a flexipass. Can't see how it's anything but just a way to make their lives easier.

Thank you so much for your recent Club Solo Occupancy Room booking with us. We are really excited to welcome you aboard here at Caledonian Sleeper. We have missed our guests!


We are contacting you to let you know that there has been a change to our Club Solo Occupancy Rooms. Now, like the name suggests, you are still going to have this room all to yourself but you will notice that the top bunk has been deployed when you board and enter your booked room. This is a big change for both you and us, however, after speaking with our on-board team, guests and the dedicated team who prepare our beloved trains, we know that this is the right decision.


The good news is that if you decide last minute to bring a friend along with you, you absolutely can by just paying the walk-up fare at the station.


I am personally wishing you a lovely journey and stay when the time comes.

 

[Bletchleyite]

We are contacting you to let you know that there has been a change to our Club Solo Occupancy Rooms. Now, like the name suggests, you are still going to have this room all to yourself but you will notice that the top bunk has been deployed when you board and enter your booked room. This is a big change for both you and us, however, after speaking with our on-board team, guests and the dedicated team who prepare our beloved trains, we know that this is the right decision.

What an absolute load of drivel. That annoys me more than something honest, e.g. "We need to cut costs as we have been heavily affected by COVID, so to make train preparation easier..."

 

[trebor79]

What an absolute load of drivel. That annoys me more than something honest, e.g. "We need to cut costs as we have been heavily affected by COVID, so to make train preparation easier..."

TBH that strikes me as better - somewhere to put your bags and cases. I found the cabin somewhat lacking in storage space when I travelled, and I only had 2 holdalls and a laptop bag luggage.

 

[williamn]

Indeed. I'd love to know how many guests have told them that they'd like to have an unused bunk over their bed, having paid perhaps £200+ for a one way ticket...

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 May 2021 ==

TBH that strikes me as better - somewhere to put your bags and cases. I found the cabin somewhat lacking in storage space when I travelled, and I only had 2 holdalls and a laptop bag luggage.

Fair point - be nice to have the option though? I'm only ever going up with a backpack and one case, both of which fit under the bed fine.

 

[Davester50]

TBH that strikes me as better - somewhere to put your bags and cases. I found the cabin somewhat lacking in storage space when I travelled, and I only had 2 holdalls and a laptop bag luggage.

Definitely the case in Classic. Yes, it's a little claustrophobic, it overcomes the basic design flaws of the rooms berths.

 

[John Bishop]

Have you seen the weather in Scotland for the last few days?!

Sorry if I’m missing the obvious, but why does rain require the trains to be headed by a 66? leaf fall season I get but it’s not.

 

[221129]

Sorry if I’m missing the obvious, but why does rain require the trains to be headed by a 66? leaf fall season I get but it’s not.

Because it is slippy as anything out there at the moment.

 

[Essexman]

I’ve had the same email about top bunk being left in place.
I wonder how many guests they asked.
imagine booking a hotel (which they like to pretend it is) and finding you have to sleep under another bed.

 

[InOban]

Unlike the rest of the UK, the west of Scotland had very little rain until the past few days. I'd never seen the hills so brown and the burns so dry. All change now.

 

[Davester50]

imagine booking a hotel (which they like to pretend it is) and finding you have to sleep under another bed.

Conversely, how many hotels have bunks? Not many. Hostels? Plenty.
I'd suggest hotels are not in the practice of taking extra beds from rooms if solo occupied either.

 

[williamn]

Conversely, how many hotels have bunks? Not many. Hostels? Plenty.
I'd suggest hotels are not in the practice of taking extra beds from rooms if solo occupied either.

One isn't exactly paying hostel prices for a ensuite room on the Sleeper though so I don't think its unreasonable to expect an unused bed to be folded away when paying possibly quite far northwards of £200. If its was a bargain berth I wouldn't mind.

 

[John Bishop]

Because it is slippy as anything out there at the moment.

Really? Not the routes I’ve been driving. Not heard of anyone else having problems either.

 

[trebor79]

One isn't exactly paying hostel prices for a ensuite room on the Sleeper though so I don't think its unreasonable to expect an unused bed to be folded away when paying possibly quite far northwards of £200. If its was a bargain berth I wouldn't mind.

A hostel doesn't transport you several hundred miles either.
I couldn't care less whether the top bunk is down or not, why is it a big deal? In fact I might prefer to sleep on the top bunk. As noted, a spare bunk is somewhere to stash your stuff too.

 

[Bald Rick]

I couldn't care less whether the top bunk is down or not, why is it a big deal? In fact I might prefer to sleep on the top bunk. As noted, a spare bunk is somewhere to stash your stuff too.

+1. Given that almost the entire time I will be in the room I am intending to sleep (hope rather than expectation), the presence or not of the top bunk is irrelevant.

 

[Bletchleyite]

A hostel doesn't transport you several hundred miles either.
I couldn't care less whether the top bunk is down or not, why is it a big deal? In fact I might prefer to sleep on the top bunk. As noted, a spare bunk is somewhere to stash your stuff too.

The only thing I care about is the utter drivel they have put out about it, which shows dishonesty, obfuscation and a lack of customer care.

Do companies actually think people are taken in by that sort of tripe?

 

[Steve Harris]

The only thing I care about is the utter drivel they have put out about it, which shows dishonesty, obfuscation and a lack of customer care.

Do companies actually think people are taken in by that sort of tripe?

I think the answer is... Obviously yes (otherwise they wouldn't write such tripe)!

 

[trebor79]

The only thing I care about is the utter drivel they have put out about it, which shows dishonesty, obfuscation and a lack of customer care.

Do companies actually think people are taken in by that sort of tripe?

Oh I agree with you there. If it was my company I just wouldn't have said anything. I bet 95% of passengers don't even realise the top bunk can be stowed. In the unlikely event someone asked I'd just say it's operationally more convenient, and means you have a choice of bunk and can stash your stuff on the unused one.

 

[BRX]

What an absolute load of drivel. That annoys me more than something honest, e.g. "We need to cut costs as we have been heavily affected by COVID, so to make train preparation easier..."

I wonder if something honest might be "we have decided to cut costs" or "due to design failures it's too difficult to fold the bunk up and down regularly" or "we have to re-allocate cabins so frequently it's become impossible".

It was already the case last week, when I saw someone off in a solo cabin to Fort William, that the top bunk was down (we were wondering whether it would be).

I can see that it might be a handy place to put baggage, but it also makes the room more claustrophobic if you want to sit rather than sleep in the morning/evening.

 

[221129]

I don't understand why people are getting upset over this... this has been the norm for the last year or so at least....

 

[Bletchleyite]

I don't understand why people are getting upset over this... this has been the norm for the last year or so at least....

I'm not bothered about it, I'm bothered about the tone of the email about it. They'd have been better saying nothing if they didn't have anything sensible to say rather than a load of utter nonsensical waffle.

 

[35B]

A hostel doesn't transport you several hundred miles either.
I couldn't care less whether the top bunk is down or not, why is it a big deal? In fact I might prefer to sleep on the top bunk. As noted, a spare bunk is somewhere to stash your stuff too.

I quite like to be able to sit upright. A bunk bed generally makes that impossible.

Then there’s the guff justifying it.

 

[williamn]

I don't understand why people are getting upset over this... this has been the norm for the last year or so at least....

When I travelled up last month it was stowed.