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Caledonian Sleeper

Blindtraveler

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28 Feb 2011
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Nowhere near enough to a Pacer :(
Did this journey go horribly wrong then? As to things like USB chargers not working in the cabin, I would not be particularly happy staying in a hotel with a room full of non-working plug sockets and would complain about it and so although I would on the sleeper still ultimately be getting the journey, I could pay an awful lot less for a daytime train journey with a malfunctioning socket rather than the supposedly luxury hotel on rails which would sort of suggest that working plug sockets were pretty basic.
 
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Bletchleyite

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"Marston Vale mafia"
Did this journey go horribly wrong then? As to things like USB chargers not working in the cabin, I would not be particularly happy staying in a hotel with a room full of non-working plug sockets and would complain about it and so although I would on the sleeper still ultimately be getting the journey, I could pay an awful lot less for a daytime train journey with a malfunctioning socket rather than the supposedly luxury hotel on rails which would sort of suggest that working plug sockets were pretty basic.

If they have a known issue with the USB chargers, carrying a stack of power banks to give to affected passengers would seem an obvious mitigation.
 

Steddenm

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2 Mar 2017
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Clane, Co. Kildare
Does the FTW Highlander no longer set down at Glasgow Queen Street? Tried to book it earlier from Preston and no tickets or showing on their timetable.
 

JonathanH

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29 May 2011
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Does the FTW Highlander no longer set down at Glasgow Queen Street? Tried to book it earlier from Preston and no tickets or showing on their timetable.
You will need to book to Dalmuir or Dumbarton (or Stirling on the Inverness sleeper) and travel from there into Glasgow.
 

Cheshire Scot

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North East Cheshire
Does the FTW Highlander no longer set down at Glasgow Queen Street? Tried to book it earlier from Preston and no tickets or showing on their timetable.

It never did in that direction, only for the seats to/from Fort William itself.

I recall that was a temporary COVID arrangement when there as no Glasgow Central service and Glasgow was served by the FW service.
 

38Cto15E

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1 Nov 2009
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997
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15E
If I booked the Highland from Euston to Inverness this October in Club Class(I know many days sold out), would I be able to purchase a hot meal in the Club Car on leaving Euston such as The Haggis, Neeps and Tatties washed down with a bottle of wine to help me sleep, or is it still a reduced offering?
TIA
 

Bill57p9

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1 Dec 2019
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454
Location
Ayrshire
Has anyone got a trip report to give us for Friday 01OCT21 southbound from Fort William??
I take it you mean the bus to Kingussie?

Friday night wasn't great for CS: Fort William portion cancelled both ways due to adhesion issues and the down lowlander running over an hour late, with knock on delay to the up highlander from Preston.

The stock which has been at Fort William since Friday ran empty to Polmadie on Monday.
 

6Z09

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19 Nov 2009
Messages
499
I take it you mean the bus to Kingussie?

Friday night wasn't great for CS: Fort William portion cancelled both ways due to adhesion issues and the down lowlander running over an hour late, with knock on delay to the up highlander from Preston.

The stock which has been at Fort William since Friday ran empty to Polmadie on Monday.
Wondering what had happened to the passengers, as Friday was meant to be normal procedure, running to Edinburgh to join. I imagine by the time the rail adhesion issues took place a bus to Kingussie was not an option as it would be too late??
Thought some of the regulars on here might have been onboard to give an update.
 

williamn

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22 May 2008
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Lovely smooth journey up to Glasgow last night, second in two weeks. Both early arrivals, good service in lounge car, where china had made a come back for hot drinks which is nice.
 

Berliner

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8 Oct 2020
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399
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Edinburgh
If I booked the Highland from Euston to Inverness this October in Club Class(I know many days sold out), would I be able to purchase a hot meal in the Club Car on leaving Euston such as The Haggis, Neeps and Tatties washed down with a bottle of wine to help me sleep, or is it still a reduced offering?
TIA

They have been operating a full club car service for a few months now, so you'll be fine.

They also do room service.
 

38Cto15E

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Thank you Berliner, this time i may go on the Highland Chieftain and use the CS Club Class in a few weeks.
 

sciisfun

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28 Aug 2015
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205
Location
south west
Trying to keep up with it all, booked to fort William Friday night, is there any nasties that I’ve missed? Don’t think the missus would be pleased to be turfed out onto a bus! Just know with our luck with trains (Gerald failed mins before leaving depot, and multiple failed attempts to do the Pullman dining on gwr) that somethings bound to go wrong
 

John Bishop

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15 Nov 2018
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Perth
Trying to keep up with it all, booked to fort William Friday night, is there any nasties that I’ve missed? Don’t think the missus would be pleased to be turfed out onto a bus! Just know with our luck with trains (Gerald failed mins before leaving depot, and multiple failed attempts to do the Pullman dining on gwr) that somethings bound to go wrong
Well anything’s possible on the sleeper!

good luck.
 

Blindtraveler

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Nowhere near enough to a Pacer :(
Well I tried the club twin cabin on Thursday night northbound. Late boarding and when we did it became obvious to me that whoever designed the interior of this room must have been a size 8 at the largest.

They also weren't a microphone specialist as when ringing for room service the hosts could not here and had to come to the cabin


Slept well on a comfortable mattress and enjoyed having a quick freshen up in the shower in the morning but again there really isn't a lot of space in that or bathroom



Delicious breakfast in the lounge caavo. And very nice to be able to sit in the sleeper lounge for a couple of hours in Inverness drinking fresh bean-to-cup coffee and using really decent wifi
 

Kite159

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27 Jan 2014
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West of Andover
Well I tried the club twin cabin on Thursday night northbound. Late boarding and when we did it became obvious to me that whoever designed the interior of this room must have been a size 8 at the largest.

They also weren't a microphone specialist as when ringing for room service the hosts could not here and had to come to the cabin


Slept well on a comfortable mattress and enjoyed having a quick freshen up in the shower in the morning but again there really isn't a lot of space in that or bathroom



Delicious breakfast in the lounge caavo. And very nice to be able to sit in the sleeper lounge for a couple of hours in Inverness drinking fresh bean-to-cup coffee and using really decent wifi

Nor a lot of space to put luggage.

I agree with what others have said about the little light around the light switch.
 

HST274

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3 Mar 2020
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710
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Worcestershire
Trying to keep up with it all, booked to fort William Friday night, is there any nasties that I’ve missed? Don’t think the missus would be pleased to be turfed out onto a bus! Just know with our luck with trains (Gerald failed mins before leaving depot, and multiple failed attempts to do the Pullman dining on gwr) that somethings bound to go wrong
I survived! Seriously though I think it is one of the more reliable ones. Scenery incredible, nice bed etc. Unless something goes terribly wrong you should enjoy yourselves.
 

AberdeenBill

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21 Feb 2021
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77
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Poole
Nor a lot of space to put luggage.
I think its manageable if you are travelling solo. Last week i had a decent sized suitcase which i squeezed under the lower bunk having removed the ladder. The top bunk is useful for putting other luggage such as rucksack, toiletries for morning etc. However it did cross my mind that if there was two people there would be nowhere suitable for 2 suitcases without blocking the sink or ir being somewhere else in the way.
 

Berliner

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Joined
8 Oct 2020
Messages
399
Location
Edinburgh
Nor a lot of space to put luggage.

I agree with what others have said about the little light around the light switch.

Is additional Luggage storage not available in the seated coaches, by the guards van if someone has big or numerous bags? If you are traveling with a lot then keep the basics in the room and use the storage areas for the other stuff. That's what I'd do anyway if I was in a small room. That said I didn't have any storage issues last time I used CS, but I travel light.
 

Kite159

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West of Andover
Is additional Luggage storage not available in the seated coaches, by the guards van if someone has big or numerous bags? If you are traveling with a lot then keep the basics in the room and use the storage areas for the other stuff. That's what I'd do anyway if I was in a small room. That said I didn't have any storage issues last time I used CS, but I travel light.

I guess that won't be an option if two people were traveling to Fort William.
 

BRX

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20 Oct 2008
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3,602
As a matter of interest how does the luggage space on the new stock compare with the space on the previous type?
There's less.

The high level shelf on the old stock was very useful - missing completely on the new. Likewise the fold-down shelf over the sink.

If there's two people, with a large rucksack each, it's not possible to stow everything away - inevitably something has to live on the floor.
 

najaB

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Scotland
If there's two people, with a large rucksack each, it's not possible to stow everything away - inevitably something has to live on the floor.
As pointed out before though, there's plenty of space available elsewhere if you can manage without accessing the rucksack overnight.
 

BRX

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As pointed out before though, there's plenty of space available elsewhere if you can manage without accessing the rucksack overnight.
Not if you're going to Fort William. Or is it different from bikes and they will move it for you?
 

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