Caledonian Sleeper

[Peter Sarf]

4 hour minimum bus journey to Edinburgh, poor driving conditions on that A9 as well. Arguably more at risk on a bus in this weather in truth. They should be getting a full refund.

Bus journey ?. Or is it a coach. The impression I get is that the road alternative takes no longer than the train would BUT does mean passengers do not get to see their bed (or train seat) for as long as planned !.

....................

It just gets better, these locos are so poor in the colder weather.

These locos - but it wont be a 73 again.

In a nutshell I think the running costs of the sleeper are so high compared to what people are prepared to pay. Otherwise if, money was no object, I am sure better locomotives could be bought. But, as others have said, reliability is reasonable and with delay repay it will keep the operator focused.

 

[Scotrail84]

Bus journey ?. Or is it a coach. The impression I get is that the road alternative takes no longer than the train would BUT does mean passengers do not get to see their bed (or train seat) for as long as planned !.

These locos - but it wont be a 73 again.

In a nutshell I think the running costs of the sleeper are so high compared to what people are prepared to pay. Otherwise if, money was no object, I am sure better locomotives could be bought. But, as others have said, reliability is reasonable and with delay repay it will keep the operator focused.

Like the delay repay that will be handed out to those on the Southbound Highlander this morning for yet another late arrival.

 

[paninaro]

Like the delay repay that will be handed out to those on the Southbound Highlander this morning for yet another late arrival.

Still waiting to see some data that is not just individual journeys... I have no idea if you're right or wrong but all these posts prove very little (unless you intend to do it everyday and tell us all the times they're ontime too)

 

[Whistler40145]

Was the Inverness to Aberdeen line blocked?

 

[Scotrail84]

Was the Inverness to Aberdeen line blocked?

When?

 

[Whistler40145]

When?

For diversions instead of buses from Inverness to Edinburgh

 

[JamieL]

Like the delay repay that will be handed out to those on the Southbound Highlander this morning for yet another late arrival.

But all credit to the northbound Highlander which made it despite terrible weather.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Nov 2024 ==

Still waiting to see some data that is not just individual journeys... I have no idea if you're right or wrong but all these posts prove very little (unless you intend to do it everyday and tell us all the times they're ontime too)

I am sure he will. But that in itself tells a story. Where only reported delayed arrival per day, that means six others weren't.

 

[Scotrail84]

But all credit to the northbound Highlander which made it despite terrible weather.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Nov 2024 ==


I am sure he will. But that in itself tells a story. Where only reported delayed arrival per day, that means six others weren't.

That was up the road long before the bad weather hit, it was also lucky the timetable was so padded at Huntly or it would likely have been 100% refunds for everyone.

They also "amended' the FTW arrival time to 11am to avoid delay repay should it have ran late. Morally wrong but not illegal.

 

[JamieL]

That was up the road long before the bad weather hit, it was also lucky the timetable was so padded at Huntly or it would likely have been 100% refunds for everyone.

They also "amended' the FTW arrival time to 11am to avoid delay repay should it have ran late. Morally wrong but not illegal.

I reside next the WHL and the train went by in the falling snow. It was terrible weather - freezing slushy ice.

 

[Peter Sarf]

That was up the road long before the bad weather hit, it was also lucky the timetable was so padded at Huntly or it would likely have been 100% refunds for everyone.

They also "amended' the FTW arrival time to 11am to avoid delay repay should it have ran late. Morally wrong but not illegal.

It is a bit off topic but I think delay repay does not work as an incentive for the operator if it is applied to circumstances beyond their control. With storm Bert hitting the UK I suspect changing times to reflect realistic possibilities is prudent not immoral.

 

[BRX]

Still waiting to see some data that is not just individual journeys... I have no idea if you're right or wrong but all these posts prove very little (unless you intend to do it everyday and tell us all the times they're ontime too)

Here's the actual data for the last 6 months of Highlander arrivals:

Search - Recent Train Times

 

[Scotrail84]

More delay repay being handed out today. Irrespective if the delay is the fault of the sleeper or not, in fairness, in this case its not but its still a delay and big one at that.

 

[JamieL]

More delay repay being handed out today. Irrespective if the delay is the fault of the sleeper or not, in fairness, in this case its not but its still a delay and big one at that.

Which of the services?

 

[Scotrail84]

Which of the services?

Northbound Inverness 95 late arriving. The NB Aberdeen was late as well but not enough to incur delay repay.

 

[aaronspence]

Northbound Inverness 95 late arriving. The NB Aberdeen was late as well but not enough to incur delay repay.

Wouldnt say thats the end of the world considering the weather conditions, all the other services were on time or even early.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Here's the actual data for the last 6 months of Highlander arrivals:

Search - Recent Train Times

Which I think shows what we'd expect to see - performance looks quite good based on the KPI (but helped by relatively slack timings), but when it goes wrong it tends to be horrible. Or are we all missing something?

 

[BRX]

Which I think shows what we'd expect to see - performance looks quite good based on the KPI (but helped by relatively slack timings), but when it goes wrong it tends to be horrible. Or are we all missing something?

Out of approximately 150 days I count about 8 occasions where it was delayed by more than an hour, and two cancellations. Whether a >1hr delay counts as "horrible" I guess depends on your plans. But 94% of the time there is no significant problem. Or 90% of the time, arrival is within 5 minutes of schedule. This is slightly better than (but pretty similar to) the numbers for Fort William arrivals. @Scotrail84 tells us that there are particular services where things are significantly worse than this, but which ones they are, remains a mystery.


I thought it would be interesting to see how often an equivalent flight gets delayed. I looked at the easyjet flight that leaves Inverness in the morning and gets to Gatwick at 08.20. I'm no expert on aviation data but found this site:

https://www.airportia.com/flights/u2846/inverness/london/

That suggests it was delayed twice in the past week, on one occasion by 27 minutes and on the other by over two hours.
It states that this flight is delayed 40% of the time and that the average delay is 44 minutes.

 

[CW2]

I was on the southbound Inverness last night/this morning, specifically to do the diversion via Aberdeen. Happily I scored 66711 but the 73 was only used for heating, not traction, so it doesn't count.

Of note, we ran non stop all the way from Inverness to Dundee, including running through Aberdeen. After a prolonged halt at Dundee we then ran non stop to Edinburgh.

Despite a late departure from Edinburgh, we were on time into Euston.

Happy with that.

 

[Scotrail84]

I was on the southbound Inverness last night/this morning, specifically to do the diversion via Aberdeen. Happily I scored 66711 but the 73 was only used for heating, not traction, so it doesn't count.

Of note, we ran non stop all the way from Inverness to Dundee, including running through Aberdeen. After a prolonged halt at Dundee we then ran non stop to Edinburgh.

Despite a late departure from Edinburgh, we were on time into Euston.

Happy with that.

The 73s normally have an umbilical cord attached them to allow them to work in conjunction with the 66 but it may have been knackered and only able to supply train heat only.

Thats normal if the driver signs all the way from Inverness to Dundee.

During diversions the Inverness service picks up passengers at Dundee then the next official passenger stop is Preston.

The only reason that made up the time is because of generous slack in the timetable on a Sunday night/Monday morning between Carstairs and Carlisle to allow for for single line working which is very rarely in operation.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Nov 2024 ==

How come every Scotrail service in/out of Inverness has been cancelled since last night due to a chemical spillage (according to twitter) resulting in the closure of Inverness signal box but the sleeper mysteriously runs? If it's not safe for one company how is it safe for another? Genuine question.

 

[SuspectUsual]

How come every Scotrail service in/out of Inverness has been cancelled since last night due to a chemical spillage (according to twitter) resulting in the closure of Inverness signal box but the sleeper mysteriously runs? If it's not safe for one company how is it safe for another? Genuine question.

The Up Chieftain set off on time this morning.

 

[Scotrail84]

The Up Chieftain set off on time this morning.

Ok, didn't know that. Question still stands though.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Did the issue definitely cause the closure of the signal box, or just cause some (but not all - presumably just the depot side of the station) lines to be closed?

 

[Scotrail84]

Did the issue definitely cause the closure of the signal box, or just cause some (but not all - presumably just the depot side of the station) lines to be closed?

Yes it did. Nothing moved in/out of Inverness last night apart from the sleeper. Same this morning plus the chieftain as someone mentioned.

2 chemical spills in as many days, questions should be asked about that as well.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Nov 2024 ==

** more delay repay today on the down Inverness +52L

 

[LowLevel]

It was apparently a diesel fuel leak (presumably from a generator) in the boiler room of the signalbox that was making those present feel sick, and the first clean up was unsuccessful.

 

[Scotrail84]

1S26 34L this morning, more delay repay?

 

[156421]

1S26 34L this morning, more delay repay?

Has recovered the time

 

[Mike395]

Can we please stop the fixation with talking about DR every time there's a delay over 30 minutes please - by all means discuss significant delays and their causes, but I think most people reading this thread know the Sleeper DR thresholds and don't need reminding on a regular basis

 

[Scotrail84]

1S25 currently 97 late

1A25 cancelled

1Y11 currently 43 late

Coach issues at Edinburgh the reason for the issues. Computer says no.

 

[Norther Monkey]

1S25 currently 97 late

1A25 cancelled

1Y11 currently 43 late

Don't know the reason, anyone know?

Don't know why, but 1S25 has missed its 'slot' between Aberdeen and Inverness so is losing more time.

 

[Scotrail84]

Don't know why, but 1S25 has missed its 'slot' between Aberdeen and Inverness so is losing more time.

It might claw back 40 minutes or so at Huntly providing it doesn't need to cross with another service there.