Caledonian Sleeper

[221129]

The only GBR services to penetrate into Scotland will be the services currently operated by AWC, TPE and LNER from South of the Border to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness and Aberdeen. Not sure yet what the situation will be with LUMO....but I'm sure that someone on here will be able to enlighten us!

Unless I've missed something very big XC will also be heading north of the border....

Lumo, Hull Trains and Grand Central will remain separate.

But "England Rail" doesn't sound as impressive. I presume that CS will work very closely with GBR though even though it's not part of it.

Only in the sense that they work with the other TOCs as they do now.

 

[D6130]

Unless I've missed something very big XC will also be heading north of the border....

Ah yes.....sorry about that. It's getting late in the day for an old gimmer like me. (Yorkshire expression - as used by my wife!)

 

[Bletchleyite]

But "England Rail" doesn't sound as impressive. I presume that CS will work very closely with GBR though even though it's not part of it.

It will, for the time being at least, take over Network Rail's role for Scotland and Wales, but not the TOC.

I actually thought "Rail England" sounded good, though not quite as flag waving!

 

[92002]

High winds today? It wasn't windy at all in Dundee. Or was it a result of high winds on Friday night/Saturday morning?

Edit: Seems that they still haven't managed to deal with all the debris on the line. Nice picture from Flickr showing line clearance in progress near Carnoustie today: https://www.flickr.com/photos/tayrail/51711755559/in/dateposted/

Still no trains North of Dundee today.

The only sleeper to run last night were the Lowland to and from Edinburgh only. With an ECS to Fort William this morning from Edinburgh.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Correct. It won't have an impact on ScotRail or Transport for Wales either.

It will, because the whole Railways Act will be rewritten (or most of it), to create GBR.
Extra powers may or may not go to Edinburgh/Cardiff.

 

[Bill57p9]

Still no trains North of Dundee today.

The only sleeper to run last night were the Lowland to and from Edinburgh only. With an ECS to Fort William this morning from Edinburgh.

There was also an ECS move from Polmadie to Wembley last night as 5M16, presumably to allow both northbound Highlander and Lowlander to run tonight.

 

[InOban]

Strictly, no trains North of Arbroath.

There are still tens of thousands without electricity, lack of trains is the least of the problems.

 

[6Z09]

There was also an ECS move from Polmadie to Wembley last night as 5M16, presumably to allow both northbound Highlander and Lowlander to run tonight.

Also 5D25 Edinburgh to Polmadie @0406 ? What was going back to Polmadie ??

 

[92002]

Strictly, no trains North of Arbroath.

There are still tens of thousands without electricity, lack of trains is the least of the problems.

Strictly speaking we are talking sleepers. The line has been opened to Arbroath for Scot-Rail stopping trains. However needs to make Aberdeen for Inverness for the sleeper. There is a sleeper set at Aberdeen if it opens up. Assuming of course there are crews for it. The Fort William set went up empty this morning too. Believe the plan is to start the Inverness portion at Perth later tonight for road connections from North.

However the hangover from the storm is still complex.

 

[31160]

Strictly speaking we are talking sleepers. The line has been opened to Arbroath for Scot-Rail stopping trains. However needs to make Aberdeen for Inverness for the sleeper. There is a sleeper set at Aberdeen if it opens up. Assuming of course there are crews for it. The Fort William set went up empty this morning too. Believe the plan is to start the Inverness portion at Perth later tonight for road connections from North.

However the hangover from the storm is still complex.

Yes the inverness sleeper to start from Perth at 2220 bus connection from Inverness, dunno whats happening to the Aberdeen portion mind

 

[thaitransit]

Do the signals and point motors not have back up power supply normally in the form or a solar/battery set up or auto start diesel genset in a small shed near the track? That way trains can keep operating as soon as the track inspection car has given it the all clear or operating trains eg freighters got through ok.

The mount Isa line in Queensland sufferes from so many weather related track problems and getting power to the lineside was very difficult to begin with. it was cheaper and easier to install "spring loaded preset direction points" that force trains in one direction to run through the loop regardless of a cross or not. Train control is run by radio and satellite phone train orders. thus no line side signals at all.

 

[najaB]

Do the signals and point motors not have back up power supply normally in the form or a solar/battery set up or auto start diesel genset in a small shed near the track? That way trains can keep operating as soon as the track inspection car has given it the all clear or operating trains eg freighters got through ok.

In theory that could work, but then you have more (moving) parts to maintain.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The mount Isa line in Queensland sufferes from so many weather related track problems and getting power to the lineside was very difficult to begin with. it was cheaper and easier to install "spring loaded preset direction points" that force trains in one direction to run through the loop regardless of a cross or not. Train control is run by radio and satellite phone train orders. thus no line side signals at all.

Sprung points are a thing, they are used in RETB* areas which also don't have physical signalling other than in some cases TPWS** grids.

* Radio electronic token block, a means of remote supervision of trains
** Train protection and warning system, a sort of UK version of Germany's Indusi-ish.

 

[thaitransit]

Thats why the solar/battery back up is preferred now lower maintenance costs and instant start.

Sprung points are a thing, they are used in RETB* areas which also don't have physical signalling other than in some cases TPWS** grids.

* Radio electronic token block, a means of remote supervision of trains
** Train protection and warning system, a sort of UK version of Germany's Indusi-ish.

This is fairly reliable system especially in regional areas but it requires trains slow to 25kph at every single loop and on a 1100km long line with over 60 loops it adds hours to journey times. but total outages are far less common unless track is totally washed out!

 

[InOban]

Strictly speaking we are talking sleepers. The line has been opened to Arbroath for Scot-Rail stopping trains. However needs to make Aberdeen for Inverness for the sleeper. There is a sleeper set at Aberdeen if it opens up. Assuming of course there are crews for it. The Fort William set went up empty this morning too. Believe the plan is to start the Inverness portion at Perth later tonight for road connections from North.

However the hangover from the storm is still complex.

Line now open through to Aberdeen.

 

[92002]

Thats why the solar/battery back up is preferred now lower maintenance costs and instant start.



This is fairly reliable system especially in regional areas but it requires trains slow to 25kph at every single loop and on a 1100km long line with over 60 loops it adds hours to journey times. but total outages are far less common unless track is totally washed out!

At one time TPWS was going to be fitted in Australia but it seems to have got lost along the way somewhere.

 

[Tester]

At one time TPWS was going to be fitted in Australia but it seems to have got lost along the way somewhere.

Used extensively in Victoria.

 

[Bill57p9]

Also 5D25 Edinburgh to Polmadie @0406 ? What was going back to Polmadie ??

What should have been 5S25, 0402 Edinburgh to Inverness ECS move.
Both Inverness & Fort William portions came across from Polmadie also as 5S25. Presumably CS thought that the line via Aberdeen might reopen

 

[92002]

What should have been 5S25, 0402 Edinburgh to Inverness ECS move.
Both Inverness & Fort William portions came across from Polmadie also as 5S25. Presumably CS thought that the line via Aberdeen might reopen

Tonights plan is road. Transport to Perth and the Inverness portion starting from there.

 

[Dren Ahmeti]

73970 had issues at Garelochhead and Dumbarton Central last night on 1B01, delaying the whole consist on 1M16 (Up Highland Sleeper).

Also delayed me on 1S25/1Y11 waiting for the crew change to occur at Haymarket, instead of Lockerbie.

 

[6Z09]

73970 had issues at Garelochhead and Dumbarton Central last night on 1B01, delaying the whole consist on 1M16 (Up Highland Sleeper).

Also delayed me on 1S25/1Y11 waiting for the crew change to occur at Haymarket, instead of Lockerbie.

Crew changeover just doesn't work!
If one direction is delayed, the whole operation is affected
Last Friday and Monday night's shenanigans proved that.

 

[DiscoGaza]

More issues for Edinburgh to Euston tonight.

We are very sorry to tell you that due unavoidable resource shortage we have had to reduce our offering in our Club Car this evening. Whilst we are not able to offer evening meals, we will be serving our Room Service drinks and snack menu to Caledonian Double and Club guests.

To book a table for the Club Car, please speak to our team when you check in who will advise of availability. We will of course continue to serve room service and there is a dedicated menu in the room.

In the morning for Caledonian Double and Club guests wishing to join us for breakfast in the Club Car, we will be offering our Breakfast Room Service Menu. Please complete the Room Service Card to indicate your preferred location for breakfast. Our Classic guests Will be able to purchase breakfast items from the room service menu which will be served to the room.

 

[FOCTOC]

More issues for Edinburgh to Euston tonight.

Utter unfettered shambles.

As usual.

 

[John Bishop]

Apparently there’s a 73 dumped at Dumbarton sidings which presumably came off the very late southbound FW portion on Monday night which then led to the Highlander arriving almost 2 hours late into EUS on Tuesday morning?

 

[Bill57p9]

Apparently there’s a 73 dumped at Dumbarton sidings which presumably came off the very late southbound FW portion on Sunday night which then led to the Highlander arriving almost 2 hours late into EUS on Monday morning?

I can't confirm that 73970 is still in Dumbarton however it was Monday night / Tuesday morning - the Highlander was cancelled both ways on Sunday night.

To be fair to the southbound Fort William portion on Monday night, whilst it was the last to arrive in Edinburgh and drove the delay, both the southbound Inverness and Aberdeen portions were nearly and hour late into Edinburgh, so it would have been delayed anyway.

 

[John Bishop]

I can't confirm that 73970 is still in Dumbarton however it was Monday night / Tuesday morning - the Highlander was cancelled both ways on Sunday night.

To be fair to the southbound Fort William portion on Monday night, whilst it was the last to arrive in Edinburgh and drove the delay, both the southbound Inverness and Aberdeen portions were nearly and hour late into Edinburgh, so it would have been delayed anyway.

Apologies, keep thinking this is Tuesday! Yes, it was Monday night not Sunday night. I will amend my post.

 

[92002]

I can't confirm that 73970 is still in Dumbarton however it was Monday night / Tuesday morning - the Highlander was cancelled both ways on Sunday night.

To be fair to the southbound Fort William portion on Monday night, whilst it was the last to arrive in Edinburgh and drove the delay, both the southbound Inverness and Aberdeen portions were nearly and hour late into Edinburgh, so it would have been delayed anyway.

According to TOPS early yesterday 73970 was at Edinburgh.

There are a limited number of 73s currently available with 2 at Eastleigh. Indeed yesterday 73968 worked to Fort William alone. It was joined later by 66733 from the Blyth tanks and then went with it to Edinburgh last night. All portions this morning are running well. With the Inverness one currently 31E.

 

[6Z09]

No end in sight for the Industrial Action, RMT Demonstration at Serco's London headquarters today.

 

[John Bishop]

According to TOPS early yesterday 73970 was at Edinburgh.

There are a limited number of 73s currently available with 2 at Eastleigh. Indeed yesterday 73968 worked to Fort William alone. It was joined later by 66733 from the Blyth tanks and then went with it to Edinburgh last night. All portions this morning are running well. With the Inverness one currently 31E.

Whatever 73 was in Dumbarton yard, it’s being moved this morning to Craigentinny. 0Z73 running 85L.

 

[tornado]

I have a question about splitting on the Northbound Lowlander. Does each of the 2 portions have a bike car? Can you tell from the Car Letter whether it will go to Glasgow or Edinburgh?

I have a booking next year, and have visions of my bike sailing off to Edinburgh at Carstairs whilst I am going to Glasgow!