Caledonian Sleeper

[lachlan]

You're not even supposed to step inside the lounge car I think - there is a button above the seat to summon service.

I presume this to be the case as saw the staff come through to take drinks orders a couple of times. Didn't see the button myself though. I've only used the buffet car once going out of Euston and it was mostly full.

 

[12LDA28C]

You're not even supposed to step inside the lounge car I think - there is a button above the seat to summon service.

If you attempted this would you be ejected in fairly short order by staff?

I remember doing the sleeper one time in 1996 all the way from Euston to Watford Junction (!) and was in the lounge/bar car because it was the nearest 'seated' coach to the loco. Nobody bothered me at all.

The attraction on that night was the fact that the train was 47-hauled out of Euston via the DC lines and I was determined to be on the train come hell or high water!

 

[_toommm_]

You're not even supposed to step inside the lounge car I think - there is a button above the seat to summon service.

I’ve always just walked up to the galley and ordered from there. Easier for the staff who are already busy, and saves them having to traipse to the seated coach and back.

 

[BRX]

On the mk2/3 trains the lounge car had a kind of counter at the end of the galley, facing the seated coach, and you would order from here, without needing to go through the lounge car seating area itself.

Occasionally the lounge car would be marshalled the wrong way round in which case you would have to walk right through.

I seem to remember getting away with sitting & eating in the lounge, as a seated passenger, on the Fort William portion at least once, but things are/were always a bit more lax on the FW section.

As it happened, the mk5 set I was on the other night had the lounge car the wrong way round. I didn't try walking through to the bar to see what would happen, although I did consider a plan to attempt it in the morning, to see if this would allow me to get a proper coffee. In the event I was in no fit state to do anything in the morning other than gather my stuff together and get off once we got to Euston.

 

[greyman42]

Yes I don't drink but have wondered if it would help!

Apparently It does not, despite common opinion that it does.

 

[185143]

Have you no access to refreshments onboard then ?

You press the call bell above you, which someone will hopefully answer at some point and serve things to your seat. I had to press it 4 times to get some Haggis once!

I popped into the club car for a bottle of water one night on the Fort William portion somewhere on the E&G on the way back from the loo and very much got the impression I shouldn't have been there. That said, I've got on at Crewe a couple of times and asked for the whiskey selection and gladly been shown the contents of the trolley.

Last time I did the seats, I asked for a bacon barm in the morning, and was asked if I'd ordered the previous night. Of course I hadn't, given a) there's nothing in the menu to say that you're supposed to or b) nowhere is it even mentioned that you can pre order. The host who came to me made that point before I could, and said they've passed it on to higher up multiple times after rightly receiving complaints from seated passengers that nothing was left, to no avail. The bacon barm had gone, but I did get a Lorne sausage barm so wasn't all bad.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Jan 2023 ==

On the mk2/3 trains the lounge car had a kind of counter at the end of the galley, facing the seated coach, and you would order from here, without needing to go through the lounge car seating area itself.

Occasionally the lounge car would be marshalled the wrong way round in which case you would have to walk right through.

I seem to remember getting away with sitting & eating in the lounge, as a seated passenger, on the Fort William portion at least once, but things are/were always a bit more lax on the FW section.

As it happened, the mk5 set I was on the other night had the lounge car the wrong way round. I didn't try walking through to the bar to see what would happen, although I did consider a plan to attempt it in the morning, to see if this would allow me to get a proper coffee. In the event I was in no fit state to do anything in the morning other than gather my stuff together and get off once we got to Euston.

I bumped into Geoff Marshall and Vicki Pipe in the lounge on the Fort William Sleeper once whilst in the seats, with the lounge car marshalled the wrong way round.

Ordered food+drink then my mate bumped into them and we got talking. We just stood in the doorway, not taking up lounge car seats at all. All was fine until the staff realised us three were in the seats, then promptly kicked us out! All credit to Geoff though, we'd got engrossed in a conversation about something and he came and joined us in the seats to finish whatever railway topic we were discussing.

 

[BRX]

I can see why they'd want to stop lounge car places being taken up by seated passengers when it's busy. But on quiet nights when it's nowhere near full why not let seated passengers eat in there...surely they are then likely to spend more on food and drinks.

 

[route101]

I thought the policy was seats passengers could buy stuff from the bar, but can't stay in the bar carriage, so need to then go back to their own seats

Was it not changed to an at seat service in the MK5 seated coach?

 

[185143]

Was it not changed to an at seat service in the MK5 seated coach?

Theoretically, but when it's busy the seated Passengers Guests often get left until last, then bye bye goes the first choices.

 

[Norther Monkey]

Theoretically, but when it's busy the seated Passengers Guests often get left until last, then bye bye goes the first choices.

Not a sniff of service in the seats on my last two Highlander trips (well not before midnight anyway).

 

[185143]

Not a sniff of service in the seats on my last two Highlander trips (well not before midnight anyway).

It's on request only, so that might be why? Just a thought.

That said, I've only actually been told food+drink is available and how to order once, and that was by a TM on the Fort William portion. Introduced himself personally, pointed out the menu, told me how to order and what happens at Edinburgh. So I dare say there may well be "guests" onboard wanting refreshments that either don't know how to order them, or even that they're available at all.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Have you no access to refreshments onboard then ?

Whaat. Surely its cheaper and more reliable to procure the refreshments of your choice prior to getting to the railway station ?.

Not a sniff of service in the seats on my last two Highlander trips (well not before midnight anyway).

I rest my case.

 

[Norther Monkey]

It's on request only, so that might be why? Just a thought.

That said, I've only actually been told food+drink is available and how to order once, and that was by a TM on the Fort William portion. Introduced himself personally, pointed out the menu, told me how to order and what happens at Edinburgh. So I dare say there may well be "guests" onboard wanting refreshments that either don't know how to order them, or even that they're available at all.

If I remember rightly I pressed the button (I think there was one), waited 30 minutes. Went to buffet car, was told they'd be round to take an order. Waited until midnight then eyemask on followed by next to no sleep in those apalling new seats.

 

[Bald Rick]

Whaat. Surely it’s cheaper and more reliable to procure the refreshments of your choice prior to getting to the railway station ?.

In the seats, yes. But I was admonished in the lounge car for, ahem, enjoying my self-supplied lager. Note to self for future trips, check menu beforehand and buy that at Sainsbury‘s

 

[LowLevel]

In the seats, yes. But I was admonished in the lounge car for, ahem, enjoying my self-supplied lager. Note to self for future trips, check menu beforehand and buy that at Sainsbury‘s

You are a cunning sort - you'd have fit in well behind the bar with a well stocked holdall on an 80s BR buffet car

 

[Butts]

With the prices they charge for berths you would think the food and drink would be included as it would be on an Aircraft in Club et al !!

Or come to that in 1st Class on AVWC or LNER.

 

[Trainbike46]

With the prices they charge for berths you would think the food and drink would be included as it would be on an Aircraft in Club et al !!

Or come to that in 1st Class on AVWC or LNER.

certain categories of tickets do include food/drink (commonly breakfast)

 

[JamieL]

As per above Club and Club Double tickets come with free breakfast and also give access to the First Class lounges. The evening meals on the CS are more substantial than your typical onboard first class food.

 

[Trainbike46]

As per above Club and Club Double tickets come with free breakfast and also give access to the First Class lounges. The evening meals on the CS are more substantial than your typical onboard first class food.

I looked up lounge access rules, and they differ between stations, though club includes lounge access at all station, there are some where even seated passengers get lounge access

 

[Butts]

As per above Club and Club Double tickets come with free breakfast and also give access to the First Class lounges. The evening meals on the CS are more substantial than your typical onboard first class food.

But the accompanying drinks ? probably a greater portion of your expenditure particularly if you want a decent nightcap ?

 

[BRX]

I'd say there are some significant differences between a first class airline seat, and a sleeper compartment, which might mean you don't really want to positively encourage the limitless consumption of booze.

Plus, much of what's offered on a flight is to counter the potential boredom of being trapped in a small space for many hours with little to do. The sleeper is a bit different, many people will be doing it for the experience of the journey itself.

 

[185143]

I'd say there are some significant differences between a first class airline seat, and a sleeper compartment, which might mean you don't really want to positively encourage the limitless consumption of booze.

Plus, much of what's offered on a flight is to counter the potential boredom of being trapped in a small space for many hours with little to do. The sleeper is a bit different, many people will be doing it for the experience of the journey itself.

But let's not forget (theoretically at least!) It's a criminal offence to be drunk onboard an aircraft.

Then again, in the same argument I do believe there's something in the railway byelaws too.

 

[JamieL]

You do get a couple of free bottles of still water and a few chocolate bars in your cabin.

 

[Butts]

You do get a couple of free bottles of still water and a few chocolate bars in your cabin.

Like a Mars Bar or CDM ?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Jan 2023 ==

I'd say there are some significant differences between a first class airline seat, and a sleeper compartment, which might mean you don't really want to positively encourage the limitless consumption of booze.

Plus, much of what's offered on a flight is to counter the potential boredom of being trapped in a small space for many hours with little to do. The sleeper is a bit different, many people will be doing it for the experience of the journey itself.

A couple included would be nice ?

 

[lachlan]

Like a Mars Bar or CDM ?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Jan 2023 ==



A couple included would be nice ?

We got a couple flapjacks and a free (non alchoholic) drink of choice in the morning.

 

[Grumpy]

You do get ……….. a few chocolate bars in your cabin.

Given the poor CAF ride, Wagon Wheels might be appropriate. (Do they still make these?)

 

[JamieL]

The chocolate offering was Mackies Traditional Milk Chocolate. Don't eat it myself but take it home for the kids!

 

[185143]

Like a Mars Bar or CDM ?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Jan 2023 ==



A couple included would be nice ?

First single malt or Irn Bru on the house would be very good. Promotes Scottish whisky, would probably increase sales as people get a taste for it and want to try a couple of others, or at least be revenue neutral if it encourages people into the lounge who may not have had a meal onboard otherwise. Even if it were just for Club/Double passengers guests, it'd be a start.

Last time I was on LNER First Class, to Inverness funnily enough, they were dishing out the booze like it was going to be confiscated when we arrived!

 

[Bald Rick]

First single malt … on the house would be very good.

But which one? personally I’d hope for the Tomatin or Glen Geary.

 

[BRX]

If you're a non drinker, finding that a couple of whiskies are included in your ticket price might leave you feeling like maybe you're not getting the best value out of what you've paid.