What kind of ticket is this?

[atillathehunn]

Hello,

I'm travelling to Cornwall via the Paddington sleeper. In the end I received my ticket in advance of the departure date rather than collecting them, but on the ticket it says 'SLP ADV SOLO TV'. At a guess, SLP means Sleeper, ADV means Advance and SOLO means... well, solo. However, TV is not entirely obvious in this context. But what does all this mean? Do I get a berth or am I slumming it in a chair all night?

 

[yorkie]

I think TV refers to the fact they now have TVs in the cabins.

Yes it is definitely a cabin and not a seat. The only way you'll be in a chair is if there is a train failure or other major issue causing the Sleeper to be replaced by a HST (or a failure in one of the sleeper coaches causing you to be moved to a seated coach).

 

[LexyBoy]

I think TV refers to the fact they now have TVs in the cabins.

Correct (TV here meaning television, before you get your hopes up). It's a Volo thing, like in coach D of the HSTs, with a selection of recorded programmes, but no live TV.

You get the berth to yourself, the top bunk will be stowed away. For shared cabins (2 people) it's more confusing as you get only one ticket (marked one person, but with DUO in the ticket name), and two reservation coupons!

 

[hairyhandedfool]

'SLP ADV SOLO TV' is a single berth. 'SLP ADV SOL NOTV' is single occupancy of a twin berth and 'SLP TWIN NOTV' is two people in a twin berth. Only the single berths have the Volo TV system.

 

[bnm]

If you are a first time (or long time since) use of the Night Riviera Sleeper service then the Volo TV may be a novel experience. Regular users though will know that the selection of programmes hasn't changed for over a year now (on both the Sleeper and HSTs) so it's not much of USP these days.

Should you wish to use the Volo TV on the Sleeper you will need a set of headphones. Bring your own - the ones available for purchase on board are c**p.

 

[atillathehunn]

Brilliant, thanks one and all. I don't think I actually booked a single room, so this is an added bonus. The ticket was rather cheap so I assumed a chair or a multiple occupancy room.

 

[ainsworth74]

As far as I'm aware FGW have done away with sharing berths (unless you're travelling with someone you want to share with) and the whole train, as a consequence, is classified as standard class. Unlike the Scottish Sleepers where there remains a standard/first divide.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

As far as I'm aware FGW have done away with sharing berths (unless you're travelling with someone you want to share with) and the whole train, as a consequence, is classified as standard class. Unlike the Scottish Sleepers where there remains a standard/first divide.

Indeed, you can't travel in the same berth as someone you have not booked tickets with on FGW sleepers.