Caledonian Sleeper

[najaB]

Inverness portion seems to be cancelled on RTT this evening with an ECS running in an earlier slot

I've seen that happen when there is a fault with the locomotive ETS - get the carriages down to Edinburgh for the rest of the run down to London, take the passengers down in a coach.

 

[Bensonby]

I've seen that happen when there is a fault with the locomotive ETS - get the carriages down to Edinburgh for the rest of the run down to London, take the passengers down in a coach.

Is a coach from Edinburgh to London seriously considered an alternative to the sleeper?! Do they provide an alternative of a hotel stay and an early morning train?

 

[Cantab26]

Is a coach from Edinburgh to London seriously considered an alternative to the sleeper?! Do they provide an alternative of a hotel stay and an early morning train?

I think it is referring to a coach from Inverness to Edinburgh, after which passengers return to the train for the leg to London.

 

[Bensonby]

Ah, gotcha.

 

[alistairlees]

Is a coach from Edinburgh to London seriously considered an alternative to the sleeper?! Do they provide an alternative of a hotel stay and an early morning train?

The post was a reference to a coach being provided from Inverness to Edinburgh.

 

[zero]

What compensation is provided when this happens? I think the arrival time would be the same so no delay repay, but I wouldn't be happy at not receiving the full length of experience

 

[185143]

What compensation is provided when this happens? I think the arrival time would be the same so no delay repay, but I wouldn't be happy at not receiving the full length of experience

They offered me 50% when I was booked to do Crewe-Fort William once. The alternative was to go to Dundee and then get a coach from there at 6AM. With only boarding at around midnight, I declined their offer and got a refund. Travelled up on day trains for less than 50% of the sleeper fare anyway, and actually slept!

 

[popeter45]

What compensation is provided when this happens? I think the arrival time would be the same so no delay repay, but I wouldn't be happy at not receiving the full length of experience

per the FAQ's
Compensation when facilities or accommodation are not available
We will also compensate you if certain facilities or your booked accommodation are not available for your journey.

also on service alterations page confirmed a partial refund

 

[najaB]

I think it is referring to a coach from Inverness to Edinburgh, after which passengers return to the train for the leg to London.

Exactly this. If the 73 can't provide the ETS supply then they can't run the carriages in service. So take them down empty to attach to the 92 and let the passengers join at Edinburgh. It can also happen if there's a staff shortage, but I'd be surprised if that was the case here.

 

[BRX]

Presumably a pair of 73s would be more resilient to ETS problems than the current arrangement. However I saw a comment elsewhere that in this case the issue was with the coaches themselves.

 

[43096]

Presumably a pair of 73s would be more resilient to ETS problems than the current arrangement. However I saw a comment elsewhere that in this case the issue was with the coaches themselves.

If the issue was the coaches then it seems strange the stock could work forward from Edinburgh in service.

 

[lachlan]

They offered me 50% when I was booked to do Crewe-Fort William once. The alternative was to go to Dundee and then get a coach from there at 6AM. With only boarding at around midnight, I declined their offer and got a refund. Travelled up on day trains for less than 50% of the sleeper fare anyway, and actually slept!

I think 50% must be standard, that’s what I received when the Aberdeen leg was cancelled. Didn’t really make up for having to wait at Waverley in the cold waiting hall until 1am (the guard had suggested they could get the first class waiting room with refreshments, and that potentially seated passengers could be upgraded. Neither of these happened)

 

[jagardner1984]

I think 50% must be standard, that’s what I received when the Aberdeen leg was cancelled. Didn’t really make up for having to wait at Waverley in the cold waiting hall until 1am (the guard had suggested they could get the first class waiting room with refreshments, and that potentially seated passengers could be upgraded. Neither of these happened)

Always think in these kind of situations a “refund me and get me there” should be the default - either via the late sleeper or via day train/flight in the appropriate class the next day. I’m not sure why, if for example you were travelling with a child, hanging around Waverley until 1am merits only a partial refund.

As their website likes to continually remind us, we are after all “guests”.

 

[185143]

Always think in these kind of situations a “refund me and get me there” should be the default - either via the late sleeper or via day train/flight in the appropriate class the next day. I’m not sure why, if for example you were travelling with a child, hanging around Waverley until 1am merits only a partial refund.

As their website likes to continually remind us, we are after all “guests”.

Exactly.

If I checked into a hotel and was told I'd have to wait in the lobby until 1AM, I might get a drink, I might not. I'd be expecting a refund.

In my case, had I been travelling from London I'd have probably considered taking the 50% refund. Particularly given I'd already had something like 20% back as goodwill for the train now being Mk3s, as it was expected to be a Mk5 when I booked it.

Especially given I was travelling from Crewe, in my particular circumstances I'd have still had to have thought about taking a full refund and effectively losing the first day of my holiday by virtue of being knackered, compared to a leisurely trip up the West Highland Line on day 1 of my Highland rover anyway. I'd booked the Sleeper for one reason: convenience.

 

[lachlan]

Always think in these kind of situations a “refund me and get me there” should be the default - either via the late sleeper or via day train/flight in the appropriate class the next day. I’m not sure why, if for example you were travelling with a child, hanging around Waverley until 1am merits only a partial refund.

As their website likes to continually remind us, we are after all “guests”.

It isn’t great. On another trip, the train didn’t show up with no communication from CS. Waited at the station for a while and only received a call from them on the way home to say it was cancelled and that I would be refunded. I told them I still had to travel and would like them to cover my trains the following day and they said they couldn’t guarantee that!

Am pleased to say though after writing to customer services they did refund me the day train tickets plus my morning London-Bristol ticket that I was unable to use.

 

[PG]

As their website likes to continually remind us, we are after all “guests”.

Perhaps they view it akin to being a guest in someone else's home - you should graciously accept whatever is offered without complaint!

 

[jagardner1984]

Very unusual sleeper working just gone past me

Realtime Trains | 5D75 0946 Polmadie Car M.D. to Shields T.M.D. (E) | 26/04/2023

Real-time train running information for 5D75 0946 departure from Polmadie Car M.D. to Shields T.M.D. (E) on 26/04/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

A single Mk5 behind the 92 - would this be going to a wheel lathe at Shields ?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

A single Mk5 behind the 92 - would this be going to a wheel lathe at Shields ?

Very likely, yes.

 

[popeter45]

intersting today getting a email from cally about my upcomming trip next month, booked at the time knowing early departure from Glasgow due to going via east coast but email today acting like they only just decided to do this

 

[Tezza1978]

Left on time from Edinburgh this evening, enjoying the special edition whisky....!

 

[zero]

intersting today getting a email from cally about my upcomming trip next month, booked at the time knowing early departure from Glasgow due to going via east coast but email today acting like they only just decided to do this

Lowlander has been arriving Glasgow 0830 most days but still get emails saying disembark by 0730... Followed by a correction later. And breakfast cards not updated so they still say latest time is 0645

It's not like the altered schedules are a one off, they have been going on for months so I would have thought they should adapt

 

[Tormod]

Interesting route for Lowland into Central today. Seemed to go on Shotts line and turned right to go via Whifflets...

 

[43 302]

Interesting route for Lowland into Central today. Seemed to go on Shotts line and turned right to go via Whifflets...

Interesting route Sunday night too, from Edinburgh to Aberdeen... and interesting traction!

 

[najaB]

Interesting route Sunday night too, from Edinburgh to Aberdeen... and interesting traction!

Sunday night? Do you mean Monday morning?

 

[43 302]

Sunday night? Do you mean Monday morning?

Potato/potato. Sunday night allows for clarification of departure date.

 

[JonathanH]

Interesting route Sunday night too, from Edinburgh to Aberdeen... and interesting traction!

It isn't that interesting. It just seems to go via the Sub, and gets looped at Dalmeny, unless I am missing something

 

[43 302]

It isn't that interesting. It just seems to go via the Sub, and gets looped at Dalmeny, unless I am missing something

Thats interesting to me and I'm sure many others on a railway forum. And it isn't just the route that is interesting.

 

[scotrail170407]

Thats interesting to me and I'm sure many others on a railway forum. And it isn't just the route that is interesting.

I’m surprised about how little this has been publicised. Not that that’s a bad thing of course!

 

[zero]

Interesting route for Lowland into Central today. Seemed to go on Shotts line and turned right to go via Whifflets...

It's happened a few times, including the morning I booked it specially to travel via Coatbridge and Langloan Jct which was extremely annoying.

 

[JonathanH]

I’m surprised about how little this has been publicised!

I don't think it has gone any further than allusions on forums, let alone being publicised. Do you want to go further?