Caledonian Sleeper

[Falcon1200]

According to the Rail Delivery Group Staff Travel website, 'There is no free or discounted travel in the Caledonian Double or the overnight seated accommodation. Rail staff may use either Free or discounted travel on daytime legs between Kingussie – Inverness, Edinburgh – Fort William and Fort William – Edinburgh. Reservations are not required.' ?

 

[MrS99]

According to the Rail Delivery Group Staff Travel website, 'There is no free or discounted travel in the Caledonian Double or the overnight seated accommodation. Rail staff may use either Free or discounted travel on daytime legs between Kingussie – Inverness, Edinburgh – Fort William and Fort William – Edinburgh. Reservations are not required.' ?

I'm not sure what I'm going to walk into then! I was sold a ticket for the journey so I'm not sure where I stand.

 

[najaB]

I was sold a ticket for the journey so I'm not sure where I stand.

Hopefully you won't have to stand at all and can relax in your seat. If you are sold a ticket then you have a contract for carriage and it's up to "the railway" to sort out any issues which mean you shouldn't have been sold it.

 

[O L Leigh]

I recently made a booking for a future journey from London to Fort William and found the process quite confusing. The nice man on the phone was quite happy to take a PRIV booking for me, but matters were complicated by travelling with Her Ladyship who, due to circumstances, is not entitled to PRIV-rate travel (of which more anon). The only restriction I was told about was not being able to book a double or club room, but only a seat or a standard berth. Quite how he would have gone about verifying my eligibility for PRIV-rate travel was never explored as we never got that far down the process.

The booking was complicated by the fact that travelling on a PRIV meant that I would have ended up having to make two separate bookings, one for me and one for her, which would have seen us both in different parts of the trains. I had imagined that it would be a matter of buying tickets at whatever rate was applicable and then securing our accommodation, but this appears not to have been the case. In the end I had no alternative but to book at full rate so that we will be able to travel together and have the en suite facilities that she would consider to be a basic requirement.

 

[Bald Rick]

Quite how he would have gone about verifying my eligibility for PRIV-rate travel was never explored as we never got that far down the process.

when I’ve booked with my PRIV they have made a note of my staff travel card number on the booking.

although when I turned up for the train, the attendant just checked my priv card was valid and that was that.

 

[O L Leigh]

when I’ve booked with my PRIV they have made a note of my staff travel card number on the booking.

although when I turned up for the train, the attendant just checked my priv card was valid and that was that.

Ah, there we are then. Thank you. I had assumed as much, but I didn't want to post what would have been a guess when the question was posed earlier.

 

[Falcon1200]

I'm not sure what I'm going to walk into then! I was sold a ticket for the journey so I'm not sure where I stand.

In that case you should be OK ! Hope you have a great trip.

 

[trainbow]

Anyone know why CS isn't running on Good Friday but is on Easter Sunday? It's not listed on the service alterations.

NRE says WCML is closed between EUS and MKC (listed only under Avanti amendments, not CS) until Easter Monday, but that's fairly normal and it's running up from Euston via ECML on Easter Sunday, with no ECML works happening over that weekend.

 

[najaB]

Anyone know why CS isn't running on Good Friday but is on Easter Sunday? It's not listed on the service alterations.

Maybe because Good Friday is a holiday but Easter Monday isn't?

 

[Falcon1200]

Maybe because Good Friday is a holiday but Easter Monday isn't?

Surely both days are Public Holidays ?

 

[cyclebike]

Surely both days are Public Holidays ?

Not, I think, in Scotland! Only the Friday there

 

[najaB]

Not, I think, in Scotland! Only the Friday there

Indeed. Both are Bank Holidays but only Good Friday is a Public Holiday.

 

[Falcon1200]

Not, I think, in Scotland! Only the Friday there

Indeed. Both are Bank Holidays but only Good Friday is a Public Holiday.

Interesting, because working for the railway (NR) in Scotland we got Easter Monday as a Public Holiday, but not Good Friday ! And not because we adopted the English Holidays, for example we did not get the late August Holiday, but had a Holiday Monday in July.

 

[Cantab26]

Not, I think, in Scotland! Only the Friday there

Indeed. Both are Bank Holidays but only Good Friday is a Public Holiday.

Interesting, because working for the railway (NR) in Scotland we got Easter Monday as a Public Holiday, but not Good Friday ! And not because we adopted the English Holidays, for example we did not get the late August Holiday, but had a Holiday Monday in July.

Good Friday is not a public holiday in Scotland, but it is a bank holiday. Easter Monday is neither.

Parts of Scotland observe one or both as a local holiday, but neither is universal.

 

[najaB]

Good Friday is not a public holiday in Scotland, but it is a bank holiday. Easter Monday is neither.

Parts of Scotland observe one or both as a local holiday, but neither is universal.

While Good Friday isn't a Bank Holiday the majority of banks will be shut, just to confuse things.

 

[alistairlees]

Anyone know why CS isn't running on Good Friday but is on Easter Sunday? It's not listed on the service alterations.

NRE says WCML is closed between EUS and MKC (listed only under Avanti amendments, not CS) until Easter Monday, but that's fairly normal and it's running up from Euston via ECML on Easter Sunday, with no ECML works happening over that weekend.

The Euston to Inverness train was deleted by Network Rail a few weeks ago. I assume in error; it is planned to run. There's a few other errors in the Network Rail data. Hopefully it will be fixed in a day or two.

 

[Class800]

Guest reservations that are split and are in "A" and "C", because "B" was blocked out during Covid, are being moved so they are in "B" and "C", i.e. seated together, where possible. You don't need to do anything for this. Your ticket will still have the wrong details on it, but hopefully other systems will be updated shortly.

Yes, it is "thousands".

Here's a tweet from a couple of years ago showing the layout: https://twitter.com/calsleeper/status/1122948332157120514?lang=es

Understand why they might keep B free if not 2 people booking together, but using A and C for people who book together is just nuts. Often same household or bubble, and if not, well who cares it's their responsibility surely if book together.

 

[najaB]

Understand why they might keep B free if not 2 people booking together, but using A and C for people who book together is just nuts. Often same household or bubble, and if not, well who cares it's their responsibility surely if book together.

Keeping the "middle" seat free is simpler.

 

[alistairlees]

Understand why they might keep B free if not 2 people booking together, but using A and C for people who book together is just nuts. Often same household or bubble, and if not, well who cares it's their responsibility surely if book together.

This was a system constraint at the time.

 

[InOban]

According to the Dundee Courier, the ban on e-bikes is being lifted although the website has not yet been updated. You will have to switch off the battery, but you needn't remove it.

 

[38Cto15E]

Am I correct in saying that the price of cabins on the CS have increased in the past 6 months? With a Railcard I am sure a cabin was available for around £100 on the Highland, now they seem to be £150++

 

[Bald Rick]

Am I correct in saying that the price of cabins on the CS have increased in the past 6 months? With a Railcard I am sure a cabin was available for around £100 on the Highland, now they seem to be £150++

depends when you are looking to go. I’m hearing that forward bookings for spring and summer are very healthy. And thus prices will be up.

 

[route101]

Am I correct in saying that the price of cabins on the CS have increased in the past 6 months? With a Railcard I am sure a cabin was available for around £100 on the Highland, now they seem to be £150++

I got a cabin on the lowlander for about £80, I thought that was good going compared to recently.

 

[Bletchleyite]

depends when you are looking to go. I’m hearing that forward bookings for spring and summer are very healthy. And thus prices will be up.

To be fair it is the only mode of transport other than car where you can be near-sure of not catching COVID off anyone (yet not have to wear a mask). So not surprising it is doing well.

 

[Bald Rick]

To be fair it is the only mode of transport other than car where you can be near-sure of not catching COVID off anyone (yet not have to wear a mask). So not surprising it is doing well.

Don’t think it’s that. The tourists are back.

 

[najaB]

Don’t think it’s that. The tourists are back.

I can confirm that. My friend who runs a hostel normally has a maximum of one or two guests for Christmas day and is lucky to have double-digit numbers through Jan/Feb. This year they had about 15 people in on Xmas day and they've had about 15-20 people right the way through January. And bookings are super healthy from March onwards.

 

[alistairlees]

Am I correct in saying that the price of cabins on the CS have increased in the past 6 months? With a Railcard I am sure a cabin was available for around £100 on the Highland, now they seem to be £150++

This is because the train is busy - demand is high because of suppressed demand for holidays. Many nights are sold out already. You'll need to plan to travel on Mondays and Tuesdays northbound (and not in the holidays or just after a bank holidat weekend), for example, to get the best fares. And you'll need to book now. I's good news for UK holidays generally though. And this is without much effect from customers from outside the UK, yet.

 

[Siemens Trains]

To be fair it is the only mode of transport other than car where you can be near-sure of not catching COVID off anyone (yet not have to wear a mask). So not surprising it is doing well.

Only a detailed passenger questionnaire would reveal the true reasons for choosing to travel in this way. But I can't imagine fear of otherwise catching Covid through mingling is, or ever was, a strong demand driver. For one thing nearly all passengers (or guests) need to somehow travel to and from the stations, plus fill in the time between going and coming back. The dwindling number of worriers are more likely to just stay at home.

 

[Richard P]

All services all cancelled Wednesday night due to incoming storm

 

[PG]

You forgot that their only method of payment was Scottish £100 notes and 1p and 2p coins

Sometimes catching up on the CS thread is like a trip in the club car - no idea who you'll meet but the banter will be top notch!