Night Riviera Questions

[HerodesAtticus]

Hello - planning on going down to Cornwall with a friend in a few weeks time, trying to work out what the most cost-effective way of doing this is:

I'm travelling from Oxford, he's coming from London, both heading ultimately to Looe via Liskeard and planning to take the Night Riviera. We'd then be leaving a few days later, during the day rather on the sleeper and each at different times. I've looked around and as far as I can tell, but would be pleased to get it confirmed by the experts here, that there's no way to book a twin cabin which he gets on from Paddington with his Paddington-Cornwall ticket + sleeper supplement and which I then join at Reading with my Oxford-Cornwall ticket and supplement?

 

[Sleepy]

At ticket office or phone GWR just book twin cabin from Paddington to Liskeard and advise sleeper car attendant on the night that he's joining you at Reading. Not an issue.

 

[Russel]

Got a Night Riviera question myself, rather than starting a new thread, I'll ask here...

How busy does it usually get on Friday nights in January, London - Penzance direction?

Just looking at how soon I need to book.

 

[cactustwirly]

Got a Night Riviera question myself, rather than starting a new thread, I'll ask here...

How busy does it usually get on Friday nights in January, London - Penzance direction?

Just looking at how soon I need to book.

Busy I would have thought, I did a Tuesday in October and the train was full

If you're not flexible on dates I would book asap

 

[Tw99]

Likewise, rather than starting a new thread:

A couple of times this week, the stock seems to have needed turning after arriving at Paddington, and to allow this an STP path was created that goes Paddington -> Didcot -> Newbury -> Reading Depot. When I saw it going past in the week, I thought it seemed like quite a long diversion to achieve that effect.

This morning (Saturday) the same path was created, but the stock actually went Paddington -> Theale platform 3 -> Tilehurst -> Reading depot. This is obviously a lot shorter.

I assume the reason it can't do that it during the week is pathing issues ?

 

[Russel]

Why does it need turning?

 

[styles]

Got a Night Riviera question myself, rather than starting a new thread, I'll ask here...

How busy does it usually get on Friday nights in January, London - Penzance direction?

Just looking at how soon I need to book.

Quite busy. Both the NR and the CS get fairly high utilisation rates, especially nearer weekends.

 

[FGW_DID]

Likewise, rather than starting a new thread:

A couple of times this week, the stock seems to have needed turning after arriving at Paddington, and to allow this an STP path was created that goes Paddington -> Didcot -> Newbury -> Reading Depot. When I saw it going past in the week, I thought it seemed like quite a long diversion to achieve that effect.

This morning (Saturday) the same path was created, but the stock actually went Paddington -> Theale platform 3 -> Tilehurst -> Reading depot. This is obviously a lot shorter.

I assume the reason it can't do that it during the week is pathing issues ?

I think it depends on the Signaller(s) involved and no doubt the agreement from the Train Running Controller but I’ve certainly been on duty during the week when the Sleeper has taken the quicker option when booked to turn via Didcot & Newbury.

Why does it need turning?

To get the stock in the correct orientation. Sometimes, especially during Engineering Diversions, the stock can get turned and end up in the wrong orientation (I think it’s the sleeper cabins that should be at the country end of the formation).

 

[Peter Mugridge]

(I think it’s the sleeper cabins that should be at the country end of the formation).

I think that is the case now, but when did that change?

Was it when they stopped the use of the service for local journeys within Cornwall? When it was still available within Cornwall, I used it a couple of times for a short hop and the seated vehicles were at the Penzance end in both instances.

 

[Russel]

To get the stock in the correct orientation. Sometimes, especially during Engineering Diversions, the stock can get turned and end up in the wrong orientation (I think it’s the sleeper cabins that should be at the country end of the formation).

Given the stock sits at Paddington for two hours before departure, no one has to rush to board, is the orientation really worth the effort of turning it?

 

[FGW_DID]

I think that is the case now, but when did that change?

Was it when they stopped the use of the service for local journeys within Cornwall? When it was still available within Cornwall, I used it a couple of times for a short hop and the seated vehicles were at the Penzance end in both instances.

Given the stock sits at Paddington for two hours before departure, no one has to rush to board, is the orientation really worth the effort of turning it?

To be honest, I don’t really know is the answer to both questions. There might be another reason the stock has to be oriented a certain way.
I don’t pay too much attention to the intricacies of the sleeper, to me it’s just one big unit, as long as there’s a loco at each end of the coaches and it’s ready to go for when the driver arrives for it, then that’s all that really concerns me.

 

[chrisp37]

I’ll ask this here instead of starting a new thread.

I can see the Night Riviera from Penzance last night was cancelled between Penzance and Plymouth due to a “fault on this train”. Two questions: Does anyone know what the fault was and were arrangements made to take passengers from Penzance and intermediate stations to Plymouth?

 

[FGW_DID]

I’ll ask this here instead of starting a new thread.

I can see the Night Riviera from Penzance last night was cancelled between Penzance and Plymouth due to a “fault on this train”. Two questions: Does anyone know what the fault was and were arrangements made to take passengers from Penzance and intermediate stations to Plymouth?

The loco had been failed earlier with wheel flats. 57312 was sent down from Reading to Laira. By the time it arrived and the stock was formed up ready for service, there was insufficient time to get to Penzance.
Decision was made to start from Plymouth.
Passengers were conveyed by normal service train.
Unaware of any special arrangements for anybody, that’s not to say there wasn’t, I just don’t know, not my area.

 

[embers25]

802020 ran the train from Plymouth.

 

[FGW_DID]

I’ll ask this here instead of starting a new thread.

I can see the Night Riviera from Penzance last night was cancelled between Penzance and Plymouth due to a “fault on this train”. Two questions: Does anyone know what the fault was and were arrangements made to take passengers from Penzance and intermediate stations to Plymouth?

The loco had been failed earlier with wheel flats. 57312 was sent down from Reading to Laira. By the time it arrived and the stock was formed up ready for service, there was insufficient time to get to Penzance.
Decision was made to start from Plymouth.
Passengers were conveyed by normal service train.
Unaware of any special arrangements for anybody, that’s not to say there wasn’t, I just don’t know, not my area.

802020 ran the train from Plymouth.

Upon getting into work this morning, i see that after the effort of sending 57312 down to Laira yesterday for the sleeper then that too failed in Plymouth!! Ive not seen anything about what the specific fault was.

 

[Russel]

Another question for those that have been on the Night Riviera, I've booked it for Friday night, what sort of temperature should I expect the cabin to be?

I know there is some kind of temperature control dial but if it's too warm I really struggle to sleep, even this time of year I have the radiator in our bedroom at home turned right down!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Another question for those that have been on the Night Riviera, I've booked it for Friday night, what sort of temperature should I expect the cabin to be?

I know there is some kind of temperature control dial but if it's too warm I really struggle to sleep, even this time of year I have the radiator in our bedroom at home turned right down!

You should be fine if you turn the control right down - I frequently find myself a bit shivery even with it whacked right the way up...

 

[Russel]

You should be fine if you turn the control right down - I frequently find myself a bit shivery even with it whacked right the way up...

Thanks, it was all the way down when I got into the cabin and it was perfect!

I have another question if anyone can advise, the sleeper was 19m late into Penzance this morning, I know I can claim delay repay on the off peak singles, but can I claim it on the cabin supplement too or not?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Watershed]

Thanks, it was all the way down when I got into the cabin and it was perfect!

I have another question if anyone can advise, the sleeper was 19m late into Penzance this morning, I know I can claim delay repay on the off peak singles, but can I claim it on the cabin supplement too or not?

Thanks in advance.

I think they would try to argue that the Cabin Supplement isn't a ticket and is purely for the benefit of the cabin, but I'd certainly give it a try and similarly with your Lichfield-London ticket. Worst case scenario they knock it back and you can decide how far to take it.

 

[Russel]

I think they would try to argue that the Cabin Supplement isn't a ticket and is purely for the benefit of the cabin, but I'd certainly give it a try and similarly with your Lichfield-London ticket. Worst case scenario they knock it back and you can decide how far to take it.

I did think that may be the case, but I'll give it a shot, worse thing they can do is refuse.

 

[MrJeeves]

I would expect the cabin supplement to be included in a delay repay calculation, just like a Seatfrog upgrade would be as well.

 

[Sleepy]

I would expect the cabin supplement to be included in a delay repay calculation, just like a Seatfrog upgrade would be as well.

I disagree, berth supplement isn't the same as upgrade to a 1st class ticket (inc. Seatfrog). This could be one of the reasons GWR scrapped Sleeper Advance tickets to reduce delay repay higher value claims.
Update : I stand corrected by Tom

 

[Tom]

I have had delay repay from GWR which included the sleeper supplement cost recently.

 

[Russel]

I'll give it a go and I'll report back here when I get any news.

 

[Barnsley]

I have had delay repay from GWR which included the sleeper supplement cost recently.

Good to know, I have currently got an appeal in with GWR, as they only refunded 50% of my off peak return, ignoring the supplement for a 67 min late arrival in Penzance

 

[Flying Snail]

The supplement is for the accommodation which (I assume) was provided as advertised.

Is there anywhere that it is explicitly state this is/isn't liable for delay repay?

My view is that it shouldn't, sleepers are already heavily subsidised by the taxpayer and threats to their continued existence are real and likely to reoccur, further reducing the revenue return of the service by paying back berth fees is counter-productive.

 

[MrJeeves]

Delay repay would be provided for Seatfrog upgrades, which are supplements for First Class accomodation and service, and would be provided for Caledonian Sleeper berth supplements where a travel ticket is already held.

I see absolutely no reason why the same should not apply to the Night Riviera.

 

[Russel]

Had an email back today regarding my claim, they've approved it, berth supplement included.

My view is that it shouldn't, sleepers are already heavily subsidised by the taxpayer and threats to their continued existence are real and likely to reoccur, further reducing the revenue return of the service by paying back berth fees is counter-productive.

Many branch lines are heavily subsidised by the tax payer also, where do you draw the line?

 

[WesternLancer]

A friend just asked my advice on booking this - but I've not been on it for > ten years - so had question that I'm sure people here will know

They wish to travel in march but I just looked on RTT at recent patterns and it looks like it's been running with just 3 vehicles if I read it correctly - assuming that at least one is the seated carriage does that mean it only has 2 sleepers - is that the usual make up? or just related to this time of year and it's lengthened in other seasons?

 

[Russel]

A friend just asked my advice on booking this - but I've not been on it for > ten years - so had question that I'm sure people here will know

They wish to travel in march but I just looked on RTT at recent patterns and it looks like it's been running with just 3 vehicles if I read it correctly - assuming that at least one is the seated carriage does that mean it only has 2 sleepers - is that the usual make up? or just related to this time of year and it's lengthened in other seasons?

When I did it Friday, I believe it was 2 x seated cars, the buffet car and 3 sleeper cars.

One thing I'd recommend to anyone booking, is book the sleeper car furthest away from the 57, the noise from the loco did wake me up a fair few times.