Caledonian Sleeper

[Bletchleyite]

On overnight ferries most lights get turned off in the public passenger areas overnight

Not the ones I've been on! Coaches and planes do, but those are under different regulations.

Why isn't this allowed on rail?

I think it just wasn't thought of.

Alternatively, why doesn't the cally sleeper ask for an exemption?

Don't know. You can of course wear an eye mask.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Oct 2022 ==

The temperature is frequently mentioned in comments in various places (“blasting cold air all night”), etc, and it’s one of the reasons I won’t be using the stock as long as that is the case.

You can put a coat on, I can't strip off. The old stock was horribly hot.

 

[Trainbike46]

Not the ones I've been on! Coaches and planes do, but those are under different regulations.

On both the Birkenhead/Liverpool-Belfast and the Portsmouth-Santander E-Flexer class ferries, the lights get dimmed in the living room area, as well as across from the shop and near guest services, because people sleep there. The stairwells, toilets and the restaurant (on the liverpool-belfast ferries) keep the lights bright. What overnight ferries were you thinking of?

Don't know. You can of course wear an eye mask.

And they provide eyemask for free on the Caledonian sleeper, which is really helpful. tbh I don't think it is a massive problem, but it would be nicer if the lights were dimmed a bit after departure, until shortly before arrival

 

[Bletchleyite]

On both the Birkenhead/Liverpool-Belfast and the Portsmouth-Santander E-Flexer class ferries, the lights get dimmed in the living room area, as well as across from the shop and near guest services, because people sleep there. The stairwells, toilets and the restaurant (on the liverpool-belfast ferries) keep the lights bright. What overnight ferries were you thinking of?

The overnight ones I've done are:
- Caen-Portsmouth on both the Duc de Normandie and the Normandie (Brittany)
- Harwich-Hamburg (DFDS)
- Bari-Durres (Ventouris)
- Calais-Dover (P&O) - I recognise this is a bit different as it's only an hour and a half!

Lights weren't dimmed on any of them, so I guess it's a new thing.

Planes are comparable, though, and they always are on those.

And they provide eyemask for free on the Caledonian sleeper, which is really helpful. tbh I don't think it is a massive problem, but it would be nicer if the lights were dimmed a bit after departure, until shortly before arrival

The picture looked like they were - the ceiling lights were off?

 

[Techniquest]

I am absolutely certain the MK2 seated sleeper coaches were always pretty dimly lit, apart from the vestibules and the lavatories, so if the MK5 seated sleeper coaches are bright then that's a backwards step!

I also contest that the MK2s were always hot, my experience was never the same from one night to the next.

I found the new eye masks, compared to those from ScotRail times, are less flexible but they do a good job.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I am absolutely certain the MK2 seated sleeper coaches were always pretty dimly lit, apart from the vestibules and the lavatories, so if the MK5 seated sleeper coaches are bright then that's a backwards step!

They had the standard late Mk2 lighting of two strips, but set to "dim" so alternate tubes were lit. They also had filters added which were in an almost streetlight-yellow colour. They weren't that dim though.

I also contest that the MK2s were always hot, my experience was never the same from one night to the next.

My experience was hot from London but the FW coaches were freezing cold due to having sat unheated for a while and the heating being too puny to warm them up quickly. It was an unusual - perhaps unique - system - blown air through vents under the seats, which seemed to have some sort of manual baffle to make it blow from different vents which you could hear switching from one to another. Not sure why that system was used.

 

[BRX]

The mk2s could alternate between too hot and too cold multiple times during one journey.

I've not yet tried the mk5 seats myself.

The point about the lighting, though, I think is that even if you accept there's some minimum level that's required for safety (presumably for people walking up and down the coach) then putting the lights directly over the windows, so that most of the illumination is on the seats rather than the aisle (and right in the peripheral vision of anyone seated), seems pretty stupid. Why not more strategically placed ceiling lighting, and/or even some low level lighting to make the bit of floor you walk along clearly visible?

Of course eye masks can help, but only after you put them on - many people like to read for a bit until they get sleepy and at least for me, that only works under dim light (or if it's on my phone, with screen-dimming/ colour temperature control active). Bright lights in my surroundings are not going to be helpful.

Why include the personal headrest lights if there's no initention to dim the main lighting?

It wouldn't surprise me much if those lights can in fact be dimmed and it simply isn't done, because none of the staff have been shown to do it, or CS generally can't be bothered.

 

[JohnMcL7]

The mk2s could alternate between too hot and too cold multiple times during one journey.

I've not yet tried the mk5 seats myself.

I found the same the last time I was on the mk2's as well. After all this time I've still not been on the new sleeper but it's hard to justify the cost when I don't get a good night's sleep in the cabin, still tempted to perhaps just take a seat down for the weekend when it's not something important I don't need a good night's sleep for.

What is the plan for the 67 at Inverness, will it get hauled back south at some point?

Edit: I see it headed away under its own power

 

[CJSwan]

Two sleeper sets in Aberdeen about 19:10 on Friday evening (28th October). Assume one set made its way back down south as it sounded like one of the 73s was getting fired up.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Two sleeper sets in Aberdeen about 19:10 on Friday evening (28th October). Assume one set made its way back down south as it sounded like one of the 73s was getting fired up.

Are the ends of those coaches really that dirty or is it a trick of the light ?.

 

[BRX]

Are the ends of those coaches really that dirty or is it a trick of the light ?.

have a look at the end of one of the old coaches on this page...

scot-rail.co.uk » Caledonian Sleepers

 

[Peter Sarf]

have a look at the end of one of the old coaches on this page...

scot-rail.co.uk » Caledonian Sleepers

I see same in Mk2+Mk3 days !. Is it only the coach end at the end of a rake of coaches that gets so dirty so next to the locomotive ?. From the photo of Mk5s at Aberdeen it appears to be so judging by the dirt extending half way back along the roof of the coach. No big deal in the grand scheme of things as it is the bit nobody normally sees.

 

[subk2010]

West Highland Line is severely disrupted due to power supply failure near Hyndland and disruption is expected until the end of the day. Just out of curiosity, how long will the Highlander be delayed tonight

 

[Essexman]

West Highland Line is severely disrupted due to power supply failure near Hyndland and disruption is expected until the end of the day. Just out of curiosity, how long will the Highlander be delayed tonight

It’s running on time at the moment

 

[Russel]

I see same in Mk2+Mk3 days !. Is it only the coach end at the end of a rake of coaches that gets so dirty so next to the locomotive ?. From the photo of Mk5s at Aberdeen it appears to be so judging by the dirt extending half way back along the roof of the coach. No big deal in the grand scheme of things as it is the bit nobody normally sees.

For 6 months of the year, they only operate when it's dark so no need to clean them!

 

[Peter Sarf]

For 6 months of the year, they only operate when it's dark so no need to clean them!

Besides. With plenty of sinks everyone can wash their hands after touching the outside .

 

[Techniquest]

Anyone able to inform me what did the 2143 from Aberdeen on 1st November? I saw the 73 but couldn't get close enough to ID it before I had to go elsewhere.

Same question for the Inverness-bound portion, I passed it on the Up Chieftain today (2nd November) but my seat was facing backwards so didn't get the numbers.

Thanks in advance!

 

[_toommm_]

Anyone able to inform me what did the 2143 from Aberdeen on 1st November? I saw the 73 but couldn't get close enough to ID it before I had to go elsewhere.

Same question for the Inverness-bound portion, I passed it on the Up Chieftain today (2nd November) but my seat was facing backwards so didn't get the numbers.

Thanks in advance!

73970 from Aberdeen last night. If you mean the same night from Inverness, it was 66769 with 73966 behind. If you mean the service that arrived Inverness this morning, it was the same.

Having said that, if I got any part wrong, the allocations from last night are still on RTT.

 

[Techniquest]

73970 from Aberdeen last night. If you mean the same night from Inverness, it was 66769 with 73966 behind. If you mean the service that arrived Inverness this morning, it was the same.

Having said that, if I got any part wrong, the allocations from last night are still on RTT.

Thanks! I forgot that they're on RTT. I saw 66769 and 73966 in Inverness before I'd set off for other adventures yesterday, I'd thought it might be the same one taking the portion up this morning. At least I know that they're on RTT now I was surprised on Monday that I needed 92023 for sight!

Cheers for the swift reply!

 

[_toommm_]

Thanks! I forgot that they're on RTT. I saw 66769 and 73966 in Inverness before I'd set off for other adventures yesterday, I'd thought it might be the same one taking the portion up this morning. At least I know that they're on RTT now I was surprised on Monday that I needed 92023 for sight!

Cheers for the swift reply!

No problem at all - just good timing on my part really

 

[haggishunter]

232 minutes late into Fort William this morning afternoon! Impressive, anyone know what happened and whether there was a single thing left in the lounge car!

 

[Gonzoiku]

232 minutes late into Fort William this morning afternoon! Impressive, anyone know what happened and whether there was a single thing left in the lounge car!

And 190 late into Inverness after significant delays in Lockerbie area. Up (southbound) trains appear to have had no problems.

GZ

 

[subk2010]

I’m currently on 1M16 to London now. Seems it gonna get a very early arrival than advertised to London Euston today. I believe nearly no allowances were used after it joined WCML, possibly due to the strike cancellation?
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:M43372/2022-11-04/detailed#allox_id=1

 

[Christmas]

I’m currently on 1M16 to London now. Seems it gonna get a very early arrival than advertised to London Euston today. I believe nearly no allowances were used after it joined WCML, possibly due to the strike cancellation?
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:M43372/2022-11-04/detailed#allox_id=1

There's nothing worse than arriving early into Euston. The staff make it very clear that they want you off that train as soon as possible upon arrival.
Caledonian Sleeper was supposed to be clamping down on this but on my experience they kick you off to roam the streets until somewhere opens for breakfast.

 

[JonathanH]

I’m currently on 1M16 to London now. Seems it gonna get a very early arrival than advertised to London Euston today. I believe nearly no allowances were used after it joined WCML, possibly due to the strike cancellation?

There's nothing worse than arriving early into Euston. The staff make it very clear that they want you off that train as soon as possible upon arrival.

0743 is just roughly the normal arrival time. The schedules appear to have been extended this morning.

 

[Unstoppable]

Last nights Lowlander from London to Glasgow left the big smoke just under 15 late, ended up 40 early by Preston, left on time and got to Glasgow well over an hour early. It was my first time using seated and I can confirm the lights were blinding throughout the journey, however, the temperature was lovely and warm and the seats were very comfortable for a tall guy. It was nice to also have a driver who didn't use ridiculous braking and acceleration techniques. I did note the boards at Euston showed the train as going to Glasgow Central & Carstairs which definitely lead to some confusion of people bound for the Capital

 

[CHAPS2034]

From the Rail User Express Monthly eNewsletter - Nov 2022

Sorry - unable to post a link, but here's a quote relevant to this thread

Kathryn Darbandi, MD of Caledonian Sleeper, says that its Inverness service could be sold twice over on some nights. They are looking at increasing its frequency or adding more carriages, but that could
involve reducing the number on other routes. A Saturday service is under consideration, as is a new service to Oban. This is an obvious course of action that would be an instant success both for the town, and for customers of the islands.

 

[Blindtraveler]

I only hope they get the chance to introduce some of these new ideas before SNP rail takes over in June and ruins it beyond fixing point

 

[AVK17]

From the Rail User Express Monthly eNewsletter - Nov 2022

Sorry - unable to post a link, but here's a quote relevant to this thread

Until the early 90s Inverness used to have two services in each direction. Times varied a bit over the years but in 1989 they were 1S25 21:20 from Euston (07:50 arr.), 1S07 22:15 from Euston (09:25 arr.) and 1M15 20:35 to Euston and 1M16 21:15 to Euston. Both loaded up to 8 sleeping cars depending on season, plus seated accomodation, a BG for luggage and motorail vans. They also ran on Saturday nights.

How many spare coach sets does CS have? Would it be possible to run an extra Inverness service without cutting one of the other trains?

 

[Trainbike46]

From the Rail User Express Monthly eNewsletter - Nov 2022

Sorry - unable to post a link, but here's a quote relevant to this thread

do they have sufficient spare rolling stock to run a third service from london?

So like a combined Edinburgh/glasgow service (current lowlander), an Inverness service and an Aberdeen/Fort William/Oban service, for example, with the option of switching some of the parts around?

or if more than eight coaches in a train to Inverness isn't possible an Edinburgh/Glasgow, and Inverness/Aberdeen and an Inverness/Fort William/Oban?

Alternatively, would it require much work to extend services beyond the current 16 carriages each?

 

[godfreycomplex]

do they have sufficient spare rolling stock to run a third service from london?

No, but some could be ordered

So like a combined Edinburgh/glasgow service (current lowlander), an Inverness service and an Aberdeen/Fort William/Oban service, for example, with the option of switching some of the parts around?

Very possibly

Alternatively, would it require much work to extend services beyond the current 16 carriages each

Yes. Far too much to be practical in fact