Sleeper train

[SynthD]

Oh of course, that's a given!

It’s an expensive given, once you include things like securing a long platform at Edinburgh and bringing up French border control, and not permitting stops before a night-time staffed St Pancras or Ebbsfleet.

On a sleeper (which is not so time critical), provided the authorities were in agreement and the timings permitted it, there could be a prolonged stop in the secure area at Coquelles at around 22.00 while all UK immigration checks were done on board- with undesirables removed there. Don’t think Schengen has tge same hang-ups that we do so checks could be done on the southbound in the same way as was traditionally done on international sleepers. Collect passports from sleeper passengers in advance andxreturn them in the morning. Wake everyone else up!

I don’t think we will see staff present passports of sleeping passengers ever again in this non-EU country. It’ll be a Lille-style shuffle. At that point you might as well send the sleeper to Kings Cross to meet the regular Eurostar. Or that old forum favourite, an assisted journey from Euston.

 

[styles]

It’s an expensive given, once you include things like securing a long platform at Edinburgh and bringing up French border control, and not permitting stops before a night-time staffed St Pancras or Ebbsfleet.

I mean I think it's clear nothing in this post is actually going to happen - it's people dreaming.

 

[The exile]

It’s an expensive given, once you include things like securing a long platform at Edinburgh and bringing up French border control, and not permitting stops before a night-time staffed St Pancras or Ebbsfleet.

I don’t think we will see staff present passports of sleeping passengers ever again in this non-EU country. It’ll be a Lille-style shuffle. At that point you might as well send the sleeper to Kings Cross to meet the regular Eurostar. Or that old forum favourite, an assisted journey from Euston.

It would never happen inbound - but I don’t think there’s anything stopping it happening outbound (other than “tit for tat”)

 

[AlastairFraser]

On a sleeper (which is not so time critical), provided the authorities were in agreement and the timings permitted it, there could be a prolonged stop in the secure area at Coquelles at around 22.00 while all UK immigration checks were done on board- with undesirables removed there. Don’t think Schengen has tge same hang-ups that we do so checks could be done on the southbound in the same way as was traditionally done on international sleepers. Collect passports from sleeper passengers in advance andxreturn them in the morning. Wake everyone else up!

I don't think the UK border force/Home Office would agree to that sadly.

 

[The exile]

I don't think the UK border force/Home Office would agree to that sadly.

Not sure they’re usually that worried about who’s leaving the country!

 

[AlastairFraser]

Not sure they’re usually that worried about who’s leaving the country!

If they weren't, there wouldn't be a need for all the infrastructure at St Pancras (and Ebbsfleet/Ashford would be open!)

 

[65477]

In the early 1970's I used the Glasgow - Inverness service a couple of times on a All Lines Rail Rover. iT allowed you to get the early morning trains to Kyle and Wick while having an an evening in Glasgow. Today the trips north of Inverness can only be done by using a hotel in Inverness.

I guess that a major barrier to new services is the capital cost of new rolling stock.