D6130
Established Member
Yes....and no reports since departing Crianlarich at 22 44. Not looking good at all.
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Caledonian Sleeper
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Highlandspring
Established Member
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It had some issues with the fire alarm but it’s still on the move. Will divert via the E&G.
Davester50
Member
Sit before the Bridge at Dalmeny would solve that, unless the loop isn't for passengers. (Sure I've been looped in the distant past there)
Falcon1200
Established Member
How many simultaneous issues is it reasonable or practical to plan for, because every day those issues do not occur there will be staff and resources sitting around doing nothing, but having to be paid for ?
Exactly.
I would suggest that a devastating global pandemic ongoing for well over a year is a really, really, really exceptional situation !
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
Certainly more than one.
It is yes, but this problem is not only occurring during that.
Fundamentally running a timetabled service on optional overtime is not acceptable. There are two fixes - make it contractual, or get rid of it. In the interests of more people employed, on staff not being unduly fatigued and on good work life balance, not just a quality service for passengers, getting rid of overtime as a thing other than in truly exceptional circumstances is to me the way to go.
Same situation tonight - the Glasgow portion is going to Edinburgh. Sigh!
However - good communication, got a text with full details including the fact we can stay in rooms till 8, ticket acceptance on Scotrail and links for delay repay.
However - good communication, got a text with full details including the fact we can stay in rooms till 8, ticket acceptance on Scotrail and links for delay repay.
Grumpy Git
On Moderation
Well that is a start (and about time).
_toommm_
Established Member
They’re having problems with their phone lines currently:
Grumpy Git
On Moderation
Every operator is furloughed perchance?
adrock1976
Established Member
The former afternoon Fife loco hauled set that did the full loop would normally wait in the southbound loop so as to allow a limited stop (either Inverness, Perth, Dundee, or Aberdeen) to overtake.
Also, when the tunnel at Winchburgh was having the track work replaced in 2016, the Edinburgh - Dunblane via Falkirk Grahamston was diverted via Dalmeny Loop before reversing.
Being as my reply is not directly specific to the Sleeper, I'll leave it at that.
Falcon1200
Established Member
AFAIK remote priv bookings (ie by phone or on line) were withdrawn due to abuse, and they can only be made at a station.
OK I've tried at my local station but they are having difficulty as well. Thanks anyway.
John Bishop
Member
Seems the FW and Aberdeen portions are both empty to Edinburgh tonight and delayed boarding at EUS on the Highlander due to ‘operational reasons’.
Things not getting any better.
Things not getting any better.
Much as I like Oban there isn't really an argument for it v Fort William. The population is half that of Fort William and whilst it does have the ferries to the islands these by and large wouldn't connect well with a sleeper arrival. Its much like the Orkney and Shetlands ferries at Aberdeen which I would suggest doesn't attract any through traffic either.
Blindtraveler
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The Orkney and Shetland ferry at Aberdeen does a track traffic from daytime services and coaches but not to and from the sleeper as you would expect. Sorry off topic post but thought I'd clarify that point
The population of Oban Lorn and the Isles is slightly larger than that of Lochaber. The idea that Oban is half the size of FW is because the figure for FW includes all its outer areas such as Caol whereas that for Oban doesn't include Dunbeg, Connel etc. Outwith the summer season there is far more traffic on Oban trains
RochdalePioneers
Member
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Happy customer on Twitter https://twitter.com/iMeyrick/status/1427279346516045825
Message from CS customer services tells them to board a Scotrail service departing 2 hours ahead of the sleeper to Glasgow Queen Street "and from there you will board the sleeper to London Euston". Nope, 1M11 is starting from Waverley...
Easy if you know which websites to check. Less easy if you are a confused tourist. Or can't / don't get to Fort William 2 hours early for the Scotrail service.
I have difficulty understanding the economics of this service. If the FW portion "is full most nights during the season"
how many passengers is this assuming 4 sleeping carriages? 30-ish?.
Similarly people must be really desperate to use the seated facilities if you're turfed out at Waverley at some unearthly hour in order to switch carriages.
A connecting coach to Dalwhinnie (which is a much shorter journey than Glasgow) would surely give the seated passengers a better product and give CS a simpler operation and reduced costs.
That actually makes some sense - two seated cars to Inverness, with a connecting coach for the Fort William passengers. They still have to change but at least it's at a more sociable hour.
It would mean the loss of a day service either way though.
Killingworth
Established Member
We did on a nice day this June. It's not a good route for a coach!
I have not, no. Is it not suitable for a 14 seater?
Edit: Having had a look on Google Street View it seems like it's not the easiest road in the world to drive, but there are far worse roads used by buses all over the country.
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185143
Established Member
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- 3 Mar 2013
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There were three of us last Monday.
I remember it being much busier a couple of summers ago, both obviously with day passengers but there were probably about 12 or so moving to the Aberdeen seats which were nearly full on departure.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
It really doesn't make sense at all. Anyone who wants to do that can already take the Lowlander to Glasgow and a bus (or day train) to FW. There's also a bus from Inverness to FW, though to my great surprise it's nowhere near as scenic as the one to Glasgow.
If you want to simplify the operation, what would make sense is to ditch the Aberdeen and run it as a simple pair of half-trains, one to Inverness and one to FW. Or if you want to keep it, switch round which one you have to swap coaches for recognising that these days demand to FW is higher.
Also...isn't it the case that the seated coaches contain some sort of important electronics, so you can't run a portion without one? As building independent vehicles as per the RIC standards was presumably too sensible?
185143
Established Member
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The seated coach has the Train Manager's office and the bikes/large luggage space. Certainly on the old stock you couldn't run without the seated coach (and indeed, I've had a cancellation for that reason) but not sure about the Mk5s.
What time does that get you to Fort William though?
As above, I would only run the Aberdeen portion as far as Dundee to tap into what St Andrews traffic there is. The demand is probably going to be higher going south with the late departure letting people get one more round of golf and an evening meal in before heading to London, which suits CS's upmarket intentions.
I know they did on the old stock, but assumed they didn't on the new. There was also a rather large wheel which I assumed was because it was also a brake van.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
I don't think you would save much money by doing that, basically just diesel and track access. It's having a third portion at all that adds a lot of the faff and cost over a simpler two-portion train, as it complicates the shunting considerably and requires another driver and guard.
There's something electronic in either the lounge or the seated car that they can't run without, I forget which it is for certain but think it's the seats.
True. But if they're going for the "hotel on wheels" luxury experience, St Andrews is an important market. Certainly more than Aberdeen is so might as well save the diesel, track access charges and staff hours.