Caledonian Sleeper

[Gonzoiku]

Why would it set back? Suggests the track is on a gradient, or the buffers were compressed - either could result in the rearmost carriage moving backwards slightly when the brakes were released.

How close were the train and loco before the train started to moev backwards?

Buffers on Mark 5 stock?

GZ

 

[ajwffc]

Likewise my best wishes to the driver for a full and speedy recovery.

This prompts a quite separate question in my mind, as someone who used to be a regular sleeper passenger: with the Mk5 stock, do the coupling/uncoupling operations at Carstairs (or the Highlander equivalents at Waverley) still require anyone to get down on the track, or can everything be controlled from within the train ? (A separate question because the quote makes it clear that the driver and assessor got down onto the track after the coupling and uncoupling had been completed.)

they need to go trackside for the cables

 

[norbitonflyer]

Buffers on Mark 5 stock?

GZ

All right, couplings. The point is there will always be some "give" between the vehicles, and they will be compressed when coupling up, and release that compression when the brakes are released. The vehicles may not move much, but there are sixteen of them.

 

[styles]

I've not had them but I am on the sleeper later this week and will report back

I actually don't like the Wetherspoons chips. They're McCain oven chips with an odd coating added. I've never been a fan of regular McCain oven chips, yet somehow Wetherspoons have made them worse.

I'm happy to confirm that the CS chips are excellent.

The burger was ok, but nothing to rave about, though it is plant-based so that may be part of the reason.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I actually don't like the Wetherspoons chips. They're McCain oven chips with an odd coating added. I've never been a fan of regular McCain oven chips, yet somehow Wetherspoons have made them worse.

They are McCain Home Fries, you can buy them in Tesco. I don't think they are that nice plus they aren't gluten free because of the coating. In the end you cannot improve on slicing and deep frying potatoes.

What are CS using?

 

[Narrowgauge725]

Well not picked the best night for our first trip. 35 degrees outside and a late train manger arrival means it is very hot inside the bedroom. Apparently TM was stuck on a service that suffered delays. Sat with door wedged open to try and get some cool air in. When we got on there wasn’t even any cooling in the passageway. Fingers crossed we will get Pitlochry without any issues and it will cool down more.

 

[Narrowgauge725]

Interestingly the aircon in the compartment came on around Preston I did finally cool it down. I now understand why people complain about the ride, not done the west coast recently to compare if the track is as bad as it feels. Very noisy there seems to be a call buzzer ringing in the room at various points and whilst we split in Edinburgh it has been none stop presumably the steward isn’t available to answer it.

Would we travel on it again? NO

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 May 2026 ==

‘Excellent’ ride quality in the club carView attachment IMG_2789.mov

 

[FrodshamJnct]

92010 has failed on 1M11. 90013 and 90014 being sent to assist.

 

[styles]

Interestingly the aircon in the compartment came on around Preston I did finally cool it down. I now understand why people complain about the ride, not done the west coast recently to compare if the track is as bad as it feels. Very noisy there seems to be a call buzzer ringing in the room at various points and whilst we split in Edinburgh it has been none stop presumably the steward isn’t available to answer it.

Would we travel on it again? NO

Each to their own.

I use the CS quite a lot and always have a pleasant experience. I sleep like a baby in the beds, maybe similar to taking a baby on a car ride when they won't settle down, the slight rumbling helping calm or something!

‘Excellent’ ride quality in the club carView attachment 204885

That's a bit worse than I've normally had it but equally I suspect that's the real reason they serve everything on plate mats, and why the mugs come on saucers which appear to have been separated here.

 

[Segedunum]

Lowlander is off to Edinburgh in its entirety this morning - loco they've sent has failed by the sounds of it and so they've nabbed the one off the Glasgow portion.

Naturally not a quick process, so we're still all sat at Carstairs.

 

[JamieL]

Lowlander is off to Edinburgh in its entirety this morning - loco they've sent has failed by the sounds of it and so they've nabbed the one off the Glasgow portion.

Naturally not a quick process, so we're still all sat at Carstairs.

Any option for Glasgow bound passengers to alight at Carstairs?

 

[Steve Harris]

Any option for Glasgow bound passengers to alight at Carstairs?

RTT says it called, and as it's a scheduled stop common sense would say the answer to your question should be a yes.

 

[Segedunum]

RTT says it called, and as it's a scheduled stop common sense would say the answer to your question should be a yes.

It wasn't actively given as an option either when the TM spoke us individually or made announcements but it sounded like the couple in the berth next to me were doing that. I could hear the TM telling them to "be quick".

I can't fault the Delay Repay process (approved in about 15 minutes though I had to ring to give payment details as I booked via a third party) but it is a bit naff that wasn't given as an option more openly - even if ticket acceptance with TPE would have addtionally needed arranging for the first available service. My plans were wrecked either way so I just stayed on for Edinburgh.

 

[Falcon1200]

Any option for Glasgow bound passengers to alight at Carstairs?

Bit of a wait at Carstairs though; 1S26 arrived there at 0556, the next Glasgow service booked to call is 1S30 0457 ex Manchester Piccadilly at 0746! Unless something stopped specially of course.

 

[Segedunum]

Bit of a wait at Carstairs though; 1S26 arrived there at 0556, the next Glasgow service booked to call is 1S30 0457 ex Manchester Piccadilly at 0746! Unless something stopped specially of course.

We weren't openly told anything about the issue until well past 7 so everybody will have been in their berths until at least then. I gather they separated the two portions, fumbled about, smacked them back together then had to get the Glasgow loco to run around.

 

[JamieL]

Disruption for the southbound Highlander this morning. Woke at 0500 to find we were still at Preston and a text shortly after confirmed a 120+ minute delay. It has subsequently increased. Kudos to CS for keeping all informed though and a very helpful train manager Thankfully we were held at Preston Station so I was able to jump onto one of the Avanti day trains (albeit buying a new ticket).

 

[Statto1965]

Disruption for the southbound Highlander this morning. Woke at 0500 to find we were still at Preston and a text shortly after confirmed a 120+ minute delay. It has subsequently increased. Kudos to CS for keeping all informed though and a very helpful train manager Thankfully we were held at Preston Station so I was able to jump onto one of the Avanti day trains (albeit buying a new ticket).

I also baled at Preston and caught the 0600 to Euston. Seems 92014 is a bit of a trouble maker: I was in the seats and awake all journey so could tell it was in trouble shortly after leaving Edinburgh - we came to a shuddering stop at Curriehill and sat there for a good 6 minutes and did it a few other times too. it took the Lowland on Sunday night and was roaring away on Plat 1 at Euston for about an hour, before the train was backed out to Wembley; there looked like a fitter tampering with something behind the cab as the train manager kept walking to the buffer stops to enquire about the engine.

 

[enginedin]

(albeit buying a new ticket)

presumably the delay repay for the Sleeper will cover this. It's a shame that there isn't automatic ticket acceptance when a train is 120 mins late. Maybe this is the kind of thing that GBR will fix...

 

[styles]

It's a shame that there isn't automatic ticket acceptance when a train is 120 mins late. Maybe this is the kind of thing that GBR will fix...

Thanks, spat out my coffee at this

 

[Floydlover25]

Seems to have ground to a halt at Portobello Jcn. Been there since 07.50

 

[cockneyviking]

Seems to have ground to a halt at Portobello Jcn. Been there since 07.50

Not a good night for the sleepers, 1S26 only made it as far as Watford Junction. It went back to Euston around 04:00

 

[Tetragon213]

Disruption for the southbound Highlander this morning. Woke at 0500 to find we were still at Preston and a text shortly after confirmed a 120+ minute delay. It has subsequently increased. Kudos to CS for keeping all informed though and a very helpful train manager Thankfully we were held at Preston Station so I was able to jump onto one of the Avanti day trains (albeit buying a new ticket).

There really need to be better contingencies available than "cough up for a new ticket will ya?" for disruption like this. Especially when people are paying upwards of £300 a head for the room.

Seems to have ground to a halt at Portobello Jcn. Been there since 07.50

I pity any business travellers who intended to travel down to Birmingham or London for a morning meeting from the Highlands...

 

[styles]

I pity any business travellers who intended to travel down to Birmingham or London for a morning meeting from the Highlands...

I take the service to London for meetings and I don't even apologise to be honest. If the meeting's delayed, the meeting's delayed. If it's so critical we're all there for a particular time then I plan to arrive well beforehand, so maybe the night before for example.

 

[penguin8967]

Last night's sleeper appears to now be broken down at Lea Hall, blocking the line from Birmingham towards London

 

[Wiganlad]

Has this train failed at Lea Hall?

 

[VT 390]

Does anyone know why the service (1M16) was still sent via the West Midlands today given it was already nearly 2 hours late at Crewe and there is a known fault with the locomotive?
On previous occasions (with much less of a delay) the service has operated via the Trent Valley.
I am not even thinking of this regarding making up time but that the Trent Valley route is (almost) entirely 4 tracked throughout where as the West Midlands route is mostly only double track so less options for other services to overtake should the locomotive fail again, which appears to be an issue right now around Lea Hall with the service blocking the up line towards Birmingham International.

 

[Krokodil]

On previous occasions (with much less of a delay) the service has operated via the Trent Valley

Has this happened since the addition of a Birmingham International call?

 

[VT 390]

Has this happened since the addition of a Birmingham International call?

Yes, I think it even happened during the first week of the Birmingham International call being introduced.

 

[Deepgreen]

Thanks, spat out my coffee at this

Well, GBR SHOULD mean that, with an integrated network, tickets are interchangeable/accepted on any service run by GBR - fares integration is a fundamental part of a sensible network and a topic which has been high on the list of demands for overall railway improvements by disgruntled passengers.

 

[SuspectUsual]

1M16 on the move again....for now. Surely they'll terminate it at International?