My idea for Class 43's on cornish sleepers

[jopsuk]

I'd wondered about whether the Night Riviera could have a cab car too. Caledonian Sleeper can't because of all the splitting and joining and limited platform lengths- much less an issue for going to the west country

 

[co-tr-paul]

Observation coach in the dark.......... ?

 

[Bletchleyite]

I'd wondered about whether the Night Riviera could have a cab car too. Caledonian Sleeper can't because of all the splitting and joining and limited platform lengths- much less an issue for going to the west country

If they sorted the wires out it could easily be an EMU. (Not so much a DMU, nobody would be able to sleep with that racket).

 

[jimm]

Yes I see the Scottish service is really hiking its prices up soon to appeal only to overseas tourists I suspect. I'm sure most people would prefer mk3s on the night riviera if it keeps the price of a berth down....

Ah yes, why bother with all this new-fangled modern stuff?

Unless 'most people' are actually asked what on-board facilities the might like and what they might be prepared to pay, how is anyone supposed to know what they think?

Most people might prefer a new high-speed line to be built from Paddington to Penzance, which would put the Night Riviera out of business once and for all, but as the odds of that happening are slim other methods may be needed to encourage people to keep travelling on it than keeping ageing sleeping cars running forever with nothing more than a washbasin in the compartment.

I travelled on a sleeper service in Sweden 20 years ago which had an en suite shower and toilet in each first class compartment and a shower in each standard class coach. Maybe it's time we caught up.

 

[HSTEd]

What is the point of having a shower on a train when it spends most of it's time static or deliberately going slow, so as not to arrive too early at the destination?
If the sleeper actually ran at a reasonable speed it would arrive so early most people could use showers at the terminus if they wanted.

 

[jimm]

How about so passengers can get a shower while still on the move, get dressed, then step off the train and get on with their day.

Passengers don't just use the Night Riviera between Paddington and Penzance. There aren't any showers at Reading and the intermediate stations in Cornwall.

 

[co-tr-paul]

There soon will be at Truro and Penzance. The option of on-train showers and en suite toilets were considered during refurb planning but the mk3 shell/pipework was not really suitable then there was h&s matters which were so large it was deemed undoable. It takes one person to slip in a moving shower......get my drift... .

 

[43096]

There soon will be at Truro and Penzance. The option of on-train showers and en suite toilets were considered during refurb planning but the mk3 shell/pipework was not really suitable then there was h&s matters which were so large it was deemed undoable. It takes one person to slip in a moving shower......get my drift... .

So how can Caledonian Sleeper do it then? And DB have/had them?

 

[HSTEd]

How about so passengers can get a shower while still on the move, get dressed, then step off the train and get on with their day.

Passengers don't just use the Night Riviera between Paddington and Penzance. There aren't any showers at Reading and the intermediate stations in Cornwall.

Installing showers at every intermediate station would be far cheaper than putting them on the train.
The Caledonian sleeper is going to cease to be an actual method of transport and become a tourist attraction with the new pricing schedules being suggested.

Its like the Seven Stars in Kyushu train in Japan.

At which point.... why should the public continue to subsidise it?

So how can Caledonian Sleeper do it then? And DB have/had them?

Does DB even run significant overnight services any more?

 

[co-tr-paul]

And the area served by the Cornish/Devon Riviera is far less than Scotland !
Again, going ot nothing to do with 43s..... .

 

[43096]

Does DB even run significant overnight services any more?

DB pulled out of sleeper operation getting on for 18 months ago, with some routes taken up by ÖBB - hence my use of the word “had”.

 

[59CosG95]

If I may - coaches on the continent can take advantage of the more generous loading gauge, so can fit a shower with not much bother. A Mk3 has a smaller cross-section, and the design doesn't lend itself to adding a shower.

I'll let you draw your own conclusions.

 

[jimm]

And yet the Mk5s have showers. No idea why you think loading gauge has anything to do with it. I said back up the thread that trying to retrofit them in Mk3s was probably a non-starter, now confirmed by co-tr-paul.

The Caledonian sleeper is going to cease to be an actual method of transport and become a tourist attraction with the new pricing schedules being suggested.

Well if you don't want an on-board shower, you won't have to pay for one - there will be 'classic' compartments with a washbasin just like the ones on the Mk3s.

 

[Bletchleyite]

There soon will be at Truro and Penzance. The option of on-train showers and en suite toilets were considered during refurb planning but the mk3 shell/pipework was not really suitable then there was h&s matters which were so large it was deemed undoable. It takes one person to slip in a moving shower......get my drift... .

That's very bizarre given that CS are introducing exactly that.

 

[xotGD]

Rather than showers, couldn't the on-train host offer everyone a bed bath?

On topic: Class 43s on the sleeper? Yes if we are talking Warships, no if we are talking HST Power Cars.

 

[nat67]

Or you could just put all the money that lot would cost towards buying some new Mk5 sleepers from CAF....

Thank you its the most sensible option.

 

[nat67]

Hi Paul,

What is happening with the slam doors though on the Night Riviera stock... as at Paddington a few weeks ago I seem to recall the refurbished coaches (very smart!) still having slam
doors (I could be wrong!) - why weren’t plug doors or whatever fitted during refurb... is there a loop hole or dispensation or is this still to be addressed along with other requirements?

Cheers

Tim

There was no intention of them having plug doors, just retention tanks.

 

[43096]

That's very bizarre given that CS are introducing exactly that.

I'd put it down to FirstGroup H&S paranoia / being afraid of their own shadow; where it is easier not to do something than find a solution.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I'd put it down to FirstGroup H&S paranoia / being afraid of their own shadow; where it is easier not to do something than find a solution.

Yes, even with new senior management First do seem to have that “can’t do” mindset in places.