Caledonian Sleeper

[paul1609]

Was looking into a Seat from Glasgow to London in August.
Came up sold out, which was surprising as they were still the cheapest rate when I last looked recently.
Tried other days (and indeed months) and every day says Seats sold out.
Any ideas as to why?
(They're obviously not all sold out).

Have you tried the overnight Megabus 23.30 from buchanan street, non stop will most likely arrive in to London up to an hour early?
Versus the sleeper seats at £19.99 its an absolute no brainer, bookable now for every day in August.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Have you tried the overnight Megabus 23.30 from buchanan street, non stop will most likely arrive in to London up to an hour early?
Versus the sleeper seats at £19.99 its an absolute no brainer, bookable now for every day in August.

I'd not say it was at all unless you're short and skinny. Far more space on the Sleeper plus the option of a single seat so not being crushed up against a random person (though obviously OK if you're travelling as a couple). No way would I do that, but I have used the Sleeper seats and would again as long as I get the 1 side.

 

[najaB]

Versus the sleeper seats at £19.99 its an absolute no brainer, bookable now for every day in August.

I'm with @Bletchleyite here. I'll only take the overnight sleeper bus if (a) there's no other option; or (b) I don't have to be awake and alert the next day. I wouldn't say I get zero sleep but what sleep I do get isn't really useful. I've not done the Sleeper seats in the new stock but I can't see how it wouldn't be better than the bus.

 

[alistairlees]

Many thanks.

now fixed

 

[paul1609]

I'm with @Bletchleyite here. I'll only take the overnight sleeper bus if (a) there's no other option; or (b) I don't have to be awake and alert the next day. I wouldn't say I get zero sleep but what sleep I do get isn't really useful. I've not done the Sleeper seats in the new stock but I can't see how it wouldn't be better than the bus.

Elements of seated sleeper worse than Megabus:
1)Overbright Illumination
2)Stops at Crewe, Preston, Warrington, Wigan, Carlisle v one 10 min stop at Lancaster Services for Driver Change
3)Stag/ Hen Parties consuming large amounts of Lidl Lager and Vodka
4) Shunting at Carstairs/ Edinburgh
5)Air Conditioning start/ stopping through neutral sections and loco changes
6)Lower Reliability
7)Lower Punctuality
8) Higher Cost

 

[Bletchleyite]

Elements of seated sleeper worse than Megabus:
1)Overbright Illumination
2)Stops at Crewe, Preston, Warrington, Wigan, Carlisle v one 10 min stop at Lancaster Services for Driver Change
3)Stag/ Hen Parties consuming large amounts of Lidl Lager and Vodka
4) Shunting at Carstairs/ Edinburgh
5)Air Conditioning start/ stopping through neutral sections and loco changes
6)Lower Reliability
7)Lower Punctuality
8) Higher Cost

True, but for me legroom and seat width trump literally everything. Megabus coaches are extremely cramped.

A 2+1 coach service I would choose to use, and I did the Sleeper coach when there was one and thought it was great.

 

[paul1609]

True, but for me legroom and seat width trump literally everything. Megabus coaches are extremely cramped.

A 2+1 coach service I would choose to use, and I did the Sleeper coach when there was one and thought it was great.

Im 1.83m and 97 Kg and find the standard Megabus seats just okay. I did Victoria Coach Station to Manchester overnight a couple of weeks ago and that had airline style extra legroom seats for an extra £4 which had loads of spare legroom for me, like 10 cm + between my Knees and the seat in front.
People sitting next to me isn't an issue get my headphones on and Im in my own little world. Spent the return daytime trip chatting to an interesting student from China.

 

[Bletchleyite]

People sitting next to me isn't an issue get my headphones on and Im in my own little world. Spent the return daytime trip chatting to an interesting student from China.

It's not a person next to me I mind, it's being pushed against them. Coach seats are too narrow, they're about the same width as 3+2 train seats, on which two average males can't sit next to each other without clashing shoulders.

OK, not far off the same as the 16" seats in the Boeing 787, but for most journeys a 787 would be used on air is the only option. Here we have four options - rail, air, coach and car.

 

[jagardner1984]

Obviously lots of personal opinion, and I am sure there will be a whole load of “whataboutery” - but as sold, and most reasonable people would acknowledge both of the services have issues from time to time - the experience of when and where you can board, the number of passengers to board, the seating layout, the ability to move, the proximity of the toilet facilities, the availability of food and drink …… there is really no comparison IMHO.

Genuinely, as someone who has done both, for me there is literally no comparison, and the extra £50 for the sleeper seats is 100% worth it.

 

[Leisurefirst]

Have you tried the overnight Megabus 23.30 from buchanan street, non stop will most likely arrive in to London up to an hour early?
Versus the sleeper seats at £19.99 its an absolute no brainer, bookable now for every day in August.

Thank you for that, much appreciated.
Unfortunately I will have been to a gig beforehand (coming up from London on a day train) and wouldn't inflict myself on anybody else at such close range after that regardless of my excellent hygiene!
I don't really want to do the Sleeper either as I would rather spend the next day in Glasgow too but the hotels are silly money (£201 for a Premier Inn I normally pay less than £50, IIRC less than £30 for before) presumably due to other events in the city.
Might book as a last resort as a least I could have a good freshen-up in the toilet (I presume the GLC showers will be closed at that time of night).

 

[Bletchleyite]

Worth looking at hotels in other places with a late enough train, e.g. Edinburgh or even somewhere out in the suburbs?

 

[Bald Rick]

Worth looking at hotels in other places with a late enough train, e.g. Edinburgh or even somewhere out in the suburbs?

If it’s august, hotels will be silly prices because of the Edinburgh festival, even in Glasgow. In such circumstances Dumbarton travelodge can be a good bet, but it’s a bit of a walk from the station.

 

[paul1609]

If it’s august, hotels will be silly prices because of the Edinburgh festival, even in Glasgow. In such circumstances Dumbarton travelodge can be a good bet, but it’s a bit of a walk from the station.

Dumbarton travelodge is only about a mile from Bowling station or about 2.5 from Dumbarton Central.

 

[Bald Rick]

Dumbarton travelodge is only about a mile from Bowling station or about 2.5 from Dumbarton Central.

yep, as I said, “a bit of a walk”. Especially with luggage. (As I can attest!)

 

[InOban]

Or 1.5m from Dumbarton East

 

[Atlantic loco]

Or 1.5m from Dumbarton East

There is a Premier Inn in Hamilton - not much more than 5 mins walk from Hamilton Central station.

 

[Techniquest]

yep, as I said, “a bit of a walk”. Especially with luggage. (As I can attest!)

It would certainly take some time with luggage! Hopefully the person looking for a hotel after their event can find one OK, and I wouldn't be booking an overnight coach journey through choice. Desperate would not be enough, it would have to be for a very urgent reason to travel to get me on an overnight coach again!

As for the sleeper, is it running on 31st March, does anyone know?

 

[Bald Rick]

As for the sleeper, is it running on 31st March, does anyone know?

Should be, but tbc.

 

[Techniquest]

Should be, but tbc.

Thanks I land at 1525 at Heathrow that day, ideally I'll be on the 1734 to Hereford but I'm not working that weekend and it would be nice to go and do something with it. I'll look at my aviation options, of course, as well which has just given me a cracking idea

 

[paul1609]

yep, as I said, “a bit of a walk”. Especially with luggage. (As I can attest!)

Frankly I'm amazed that a big wig like yourself lowers himself to stay at Travelodges and that if you do, your Chauffeur doesn't drop you off at reception and put your luggage in your room. The walk would be okay for me with my rucksack but fortunately I have a lot of sofas to sleep on in the Glasgow area

 

[Facing Back]

Frankly I'm amazed that a big wig like yourself lowers himself to stay at Travelodges and that if you do, your Chauffeur doesn't drop you off at reception and put your luggage in your room. The walk would be okay for me with my rucksack but fortunately I have a lot of sofas to sleep on in the Glasgow area

Don't be ridiculous

The chauffeur doesn't put the luggage in the room, the porters do that.

 

[Bald Rick]

Frankly I'm amazed that a big wig like yourself lowers himself to stay at Travelodges and that if you do, your Chauffeur doesn't drop you off at reception and put your luggage in your room. The walk would be okay for me with my rucksack but fortunately I have a lot of sofas to sleep on in the Glasgow area

Well with a rucksack, and two big shopping bags full of breakfast and lunch for the next day‘s exertions for everyone (10 of us), it was a ‘bit of a walk’ for me.

Bringing us back on topic, given the choice between the 1630 off Euston (which at that point was Preston and Glasgow only) and a third share of a cheap travelodge, or the sleeper; the 1630+travelodge option wins comfortably - in every sense of the word.

As it happens the northbound Ft Bill beds went past the travelodge (it backs on to the line) as we were getting into the car to leave for the hills. By the time it arrived Ft Bill, we were almost at the top of Càrn Mòr Dearg and the first whisky of the day

 

[paul1609]

Well with a rucksack, and two big shopping bags full of breakfast and lunch for the next day‘s exertions for everyone (10 of us), it was a ‘bit of a walk’ for me.

Bringing us back on topic, given the choice between the 1630 off Euston (which at that point was Preston and Glasgow only) and a third share of a cheap travelodge, or the sleeper; the 1630+travelodge option wins comfortably - in every sense of the word.

As it happens the northbound Ft Bill beds went past the travelodge (it backs on to the line) as we were getting into the car to leave for the hills. By the time it arrived Ft Bill, we were almost at the top of Càrn Mòr Dearg and the first whisky of the day

The arete is impressive but probably beyond me these days and I cant afford the pop star rail fares anymore. Last years trip was by motorbike via Barra and Harris.

 

[12LDA28C]

Have you tried the overnight Megabus 23.30 from buchanan street, non stop will most likely arrive in to London up to an hour early?
Versus the sleeper seats at £19.99 its an absolute no brainer, bookable now for every day in August.

Are you serious? I wouldn't take an overnight bus for a journey that long if you paid me. The two modes of transport are barely comparable, regardless of the cost difference.

 

[paul1609]

Are you serious? I wouldn't take an overnight bus for a journey that long if you paid me. The two modes of transport are barely comparable, regardless of the cost difference.

Have you actually tried it? Megabus v Mark 5 stock seated sleepers?
I think you may be surprised.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Have you actually tried it? Megabus v Mark 5 stock seated sleepers?
I think you may be surprised.

The one thing I'd say would be better about a coach would be that they actually turn the lights off. I can't see any other reason I'd prefer one for a journey of that length - narrower seat, less legroom, worse ride, typically hot, stuffy and smelly, and much slower to boot. No, thanks.

 

[BRX]

The one thing I'd say would be better about a coach would be that they actually turn the lights off.

Which is why CS should sort out this issue in the seats - it ought to be a no-brainer!

 

[paul1609]

The one thing I'd say would be better about a coach would be that they actually turn the lights off. I can't see any other reason I'd prefer one for a journey of that length - narrower seat, less legroom, worse ride, typically hot, stuffy and smelly, and much slower to boot. No, thanks.

This is my last post on the topic but when did you last experience the overnight Megabus and the Sleeper seats?
The Megabus departs Buchanan St bus station next door to Queen St at 23.30 every night of the week.
Mon to Fri the Sleeper departs 10 mins later from central, Sundays it departs 90 mins earlier and there is no Saturday service at all.
The Megabus is scheduled to arrive at Victoria at 7.30am but this allows for a 45 min driver break at Lancaster services wheras in practise its a 10 min changeover and also for overnight motorway closures. In practise Ive never arrived late and the normal is a pre 0700 arrival. The sleeper arrives in Euston at 07.07 again will be earlier especially on Monday morning. Sameish in the Northbound service. "Much slower to boot", I dont think so.

 

[route101]

Flixbus could be an option and book the seat next to you. I am thinking of trying the Sleeper seats again, I always opt for the solo seat.

 

[XAM2175]

Which is why CS should sort out this issue in the seats - it ought to be a no-brainer!

Has anybody actually complained to them about it? Their response would be interesting to see, if nothing else.