Caledonian Sleeper

[Bletchleyite]

The 2112 to Preston seems to have run OK albeit delayed and the 2200 to Manchester was almost on time. Did the Sleeper bring the wires down perhaps? It appears to have been cancelled at Rugeley North Junction - if they had to evacuate it I'm surprised we didn't hear more!

 

[JohnElliott]

I was on it. Didn't get evacuated -- returned to Euston at 5am & we were all turned out by 6am.

Don't know if this has been mentioned earlier in the thread, but the door sill on the shower cubicle does not appear to cope very well with the levels of cant that can be encountered, leading to soggy carpets.

 

[rogercov]

I think the power was off between Colwich and Stafford all day yesterday, but other trains were getting through via the West Midlands or Stoke-on-Trent. It's OK now.
The 21:15 CS from Euston last night made it as far as Rugeley and turned back. I feel a bit sorry for the passengers.

Realtime Trains | 1S25 2115 London Euston to Rugeley North Jn | 02/06/2025

Real-time train running information for 1S25 2115 departure from London Euston to Rugeley North Jn on 02/06/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 1Z25 0230 Rugeley Trent Valley to London Euston | 03/06/2025

Real-time train running information for 1Z25 0230 departure from Rugeley Trent Valley to London Euston on 03/06/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[hexagon789]

The 2112 to Preston seems to have run OK albeit delayed and the 2200 to Manchester was almost on time. Did the Sleeper bring the wires down perhaps? It appears to have been cancelled at Rugeley North Junction - if they had to evacuate it I'm surprised we didn't hear more!

It was sent back to Euston.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I think the power was off between Colwich and Stafford all day yesterday, but other trains were getting through via the West Midlands or Stoke-on-Trent. It's OK now.
The 21:15 CS from Euston last night made it as far as Rugeley and turned back. I feel a bit sorry for the passengers.

Realtime Trains | 1S25 2115 London Euston to Rugeley North Jn | 02/06/2025

Real-time train running information for 1S25 2115 departure from London Euston to Rugeley North Jn on 02/06/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 1Z25 0230 Rugeley Trent Valley to London Euston | 03/06/2025

Real-time train running information for 1Z25 0230 departure from Rugeley Trent Valley to London Euston on 03/06/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Is it not cleared via the diversions, or was an error made and it went the wrong way?

 

[hexagon789]

Looks like all services cancelled last night. Seems to be problem after problem on the WCML at the moment.

Line blocked Lockerbie/Carstairs due to severe OLE damage.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Jun 2025 ==

Is it not cleared via the diversions, or was an error made and it went the wrong way?

It was sent back due to the OLE damage further north. It wouldn't have been able to go further than Carlisle.

 

[bleeder4]

Fallen tree between Lockerbie and Carstairs. Problems with the sleeper got a mention in the BBC article - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn4q3801p1qo

Trains between Glasgow and London have been disrupted by damage to overhead electric lines caused by a fallen tree in southern Scotland.
Avanti West Coast said all lines were blocked between Lockerbie and Carstairs and services would be affected until 14:00. Some services scheduled to start in Glasgow are now starting in Preston, Lancashire, and experiencing delays of several hours.
Ticket holders have been advised that they can travel on alternative services on the east coast rail line, external for no extra cost or get a refund.
Network Rail Scotland said work to repair the lines damaged by the fallen tree near Beattock was "well under way" and they were on target to reopen the line at about 11:30.
Passengers waiting overnight on the Caledonian Sleeper service were told in the early hours of the morning that they had still not left Glasgow Central because a tree had come down on the line.
A statement from Avanti West Coast said: "Due to damage to the overhead electric wires between Lockerbie and Carstairs, all lines are blocked.
"Train services running through these stations may be cancelled or delayed. Please check your journey."
The Aberdeen to Inverness railway line is also closed because of a fallen tree between Dyce and Kintore, as Scotland faced a band of wind rain moved eastward from the Atlantic overnight.
ScotRail said train tickets were being accepted on Stagecoach bus services while services are suspended between Aberdeen and Inverurie.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It was sent back due to the OLE damage further north. It wouldn't have been able to go further than Carlisle.

Interesting. Is there a reason it couldn't have gone to Carlisle? That might have been more useful for Glasgow and FW passengers at least, as they could have got on the first train via Kilmarnock in the morning.

Though I suppose as it is they at least would have got a reasonable night's sleep before trying again on Avanti rather than being chucked out at 4am.

 

[hexagon789]

Interesting. Is there a reason it couldn't have gone to Carlisle? That might have been more useful for Glasgow and FW passengers at least, as they could have got on the first train via Kilmarnock in the morning.

Though I suppose as it is they at least would have got a reasonable night's sleep before trying again on Avanti rather than being chucked out at 4am.

Not sure of the reasons but I was told they sent it back when it was evident it wouldn't make it. The northbound Lowlander never departed, neither did the southbounds.

The various southbound Highlander portions made it to Edinburgh but no further.

I can only assume that they want to keep the trainsets balanced for tonight.

 

[glenbogle]

It only got as far as Newcastle on Sunday night/Monday morning (Abd/Inv/Ftw)
We all got this text.

Good morning, I hope you have had a restful night, and please accept my apologies for the delay to your journey today. Due to being delayed by coach and loco issues - we will be finishing our journey at Newcastle. We have arranged for your ticket to be accepted with LNER between 0700-0900 to your destination. If you have a bike please speak to our crew before boarding a train,

Simply show your sleeper ticket on your next train for free travel. If you have any questions, we are in the Club Car, please use your host call button, or contact us on Live Chat at www.sleeper.scot

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Jun 2025 ==

That’s southbound by the way.

 

[JohnElliott]

Though I suppose as it is they at least would have got a reasonable night's sleep before trying again on Avanti rather than being chucked out at 4am.

We were advised to use LNER from Kings Cross rather than Avanti from Euston.

 

[Bletchleyite]

We were advised to use LNER from Kings Cross rather than Avanti from Euston.

Presumably due to the risk of ongoing disruption I guess.

 

[Tormod]

Could they not have rerouted on the ECML?

 

[Peter Sarf]

Could they not have rerouted on the ECML?

Too difficult.

IIRC it requires paths planned.
More imprtantly extra staff - usually the driving crew change at Preston or suchlike which is difficult if they have to get across the Pennines and ends up needing more crew.
It (CS) is just not resilient enough and the extra costs to make it so seem to not be worth it.

 

[dangie]

I was on it. Didn't get evacuated -- returned to Euston at 5am & we were all turned out by 6am.

Was everyone woken up and told of the problem?
If not it would have been hell of a shock thinking ‘Bloody hell, Fort William has changed a lot since I was last here…’

It (CS) is just not resilient enough and the extra costs to make it so seem to not be worth it.

If it’s not possible then that’s a good reason, but as for cost that shouldn’t really come into it. Passengers should come before money.

 

[JohnElliott]

Was everyone woken up and told of the problem?
If not it would have been hell of a shock thinking ‘Bloody hell, Fort William has changed a lot since I was last here…’

First I knew of it was the announcement at 5am when the train arrived at Euston. But I knew something was up because I was in the dining car while it was sitting partly in the platform at Rugeley Trent Valley and overheard a couple of staff discussing whether it would be diverted. At that point they were still confident the time could be made up.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Was everyone woken up and told of the problem?
If not it would have been hell of a shock thinking ‘Bloody hell, Fort William has changed a lot since I was last here…’

Such a big station for Fort William !.
I do wonder how long it would take for it to really sink in for some of the passengers !.
Some might think, 'blast they forgot to wake me up in Fort William and now I am back in London'.

If it’s not possible then that’s a good reason, but as for cost that shouldn’t really come into it. Passengers should come before money.

I think it is the ongoing costs of being prepared for unlikely (he says) eventualities that mount up. So recruiting, training and retaining extra staff that are not normally needed. Not the costs incurred on the day of disruption.

 

[Tormod]

Too difficult.

IIRC it requires paths planned.
More imprtantly extra staff - usually the driving crew change at Preston or suchlike which is difficult if they have to get across the Pennines and ends up needing more crew.
It (CS) is just not resilient enough and the extra costs to make it so seem to not be worth it.

Ah, I get the staffing problem, but given that for quite a few weekends recently they've rerouted, it's not like they haven't had practice

 

[Peter Sarf]

Ah, I get the staffing problem, but given that for quite a few weekends recently they've rerouted, it's not like they haven't had practice

It takes planning. I suppose relying on staff not having holidays authorised on the required days.

 

[Bald Rick]

Ah, I get the staffing problem, but given that for quite a few weekends recently they've rerouted, it's not like they haven't had practice

They have the practice, but are also the divesions are planned well in advance, and certain staff are drafted in specially. Unlikely they are abaialbe at a couple of hours’ notice.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Was everyone woken up and told of the problem?

That would depend on if they requested to be woken up and told of any delays immediately or not ( that's an option on the breakfast and other details card the berth passengers all have to fill in on boarding ).

Personally, I always opt not to be woken up immediately should a serious delay develop in the middle of the night.

 

[Peter Sarf]

That would depend on if they requested to be woken up and told of any delays immediately or not ( that's an option on the breakfast and other details card the berth passengers all have to fill in on boarding ).

Personally, I always opt not to be woken up immediately should a serious delay develop in the middle of the night.

I can imagine that, especially for the light sleepers, that could result in a better nights sleep.
Only reason to be told in the middle of the night is if the passenger would rather abandon their trip and head back home etc.

 

[bleeder4]

I see the BBC's political editor Chris Mason was on the disrupted sleeper last night as well. https://twitter.com/ChrisMasonBBC
I'm not on Twitter so can't see a lot of it, but one that feeds into the BBC post says "Well that was the plan…but having gone to bed on the sleeper in Glasgow, we woke up…in Glasgow! Tree down on the line, we were told".

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Only reason to be told in the middle of the night is if the passenger would rather abandon their trip and head back home etc.

In the vast majority of instances with a major delay to the Sleeper, how would people be able to bail out and return home? In most cases, they'll be somewhere along their journey with nothing else running.

It's likely more value for planning and re-scheduling meetings / pick ups with as much notice as possible?

 

[norbitonflyer]

Depends. I'm going to Scotland tomorrow night. If the sleepers cancelled I stay at home and get a train next morning.
But if the train back is cancelled, I'll either have to find a hotel or sleep in the station (whether on the train or the platform)

 

[airantraigh]

Was fairly busy on the 5.40 LNER out of Edinburgh this morning with affected passengers

 

[styles]

I'm thankful to not have had any issues with the CS, even using it regularly for work.

I think if I was a seated passenger (rare these days), I'd rather they chuck me on a coach, and maybe even offer this option to room passengers with a decent compensation payout.

May not be so useful for Aberdeen passengers, but those headed for the central belt should get there in reasonable time.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Curiously, the CS website is showing the London to Edinburgh service as both running and cancelled, (with passengers advised to use LNER services tonight or tomorrow). The specific mention of LNER suggests only the Edinburgh portion is affected, but even that portion is shown elsewhere on the site as expected to run. So a bit like Schrodinger's Cat, we won't know whether it exists or not until it gets to Edinburgh, (or doesn't).

 

[HS2isgood]

If there's disruption what happens to passengers from Crewe? I have a Crewe - Inverness ticket (seat) in July.

 

[styles]

If there's disruption what happens to passengers from Crewe? I have a Crewe - Inverness ticket (seat) in July.

Most likely a hotel in Crewe for the night.