Sleeper check-in times

[atillathehunn]

Hello all,

I'm booked on the Paddington to Penzance sleeper in a few weeks (optimistically from what I have read on here about the tendency for this not to run) and I am booked to pick my tickets up from somewhere in Paddington station. Do I need to check-in and pick the tickets up by a certain time? The last sleeper I took (admittedly in Russia...) did not have such a requirement, I wondered if this was different.
I'm due to arrive in St Pancras on the Eurostar at 21.00

Thanks

 

[Hyphen]

According to First Great Western's website, they allow boarding from 22:30, though I imagine you'd want to be at the station and onboard before 23:30 (15 minutes before departure) to be on the safe side.

If you've booked the tickets online you should be able to collect them from any National Rail ticket machine (using the code given) even in advance, so for peace of mind you could collect them on arrival at St Pancras. If you decide not to pick them up until you arrive at Paddington, there are plenty of machines available on the concourse.
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In addition, I've never heard about a tendency for the sleeper to not run - with the notable exception of it being cancelled throughout whilst the Dawlish Sea Wall was being rebuilt. https://www.networkrail.co.uk/timetables-and-travel/storm-damage/dawlish/ has more information on this.

If it was cancelled for any reason, you would be conveyed either on alternative transport or a later service, and you would most likely be eligible for a refund on part or all of your ticket.

 

[ainsworth74]

There's no check-in time. Just show up before departure board the appropriate coach and either find or await the attendant to find you and check which station you're alighting, to take you breakfast order and confirm when they'll wake you up.

Also in my experience the Night Riviera is very reliable.

 

[Floydlover25]

Sleeper passengers can also use the FGW First Class lounge on Platform 1 until boarding commences around 22.30 so if you arrive at Paddington earlier than that you have a nice place to wait

 

[atillathehunn]

Thanks.

Looks like I will have plenty of time assuming all runs well from the continent.

I have heard that the 57s have certain reliability issues.