Caledonian Sleeper

BRX · 19 Feb 2024

If you add a bike to your booking it asks you to confirm you've read the info on this page:

Cycling Holidays in Scotland | Travelling with bikes | Caledonian Sleeper

Cycling holidays in Scotland have never been easier. Our sleeper trains allow you to travel with your bike from London to Scotland at no extra cost.

www.sleeper.scot

RailUK Forums

Christmas · 19 Feb 2024

Free tea and coffee would be a great gesture for all 'guests' staying in the berths. After all, you can find a kettle in every Travelodge or Premier Inn room.
Caledonian Sleeper is competing with these chains and and early morning day train. If they want people to believe that they're staying on a nice product based on hospitality, or a 'hotel on wheels' then they will have to seriously up their game.

TrainBoy98 · 19 Feb 2024

Christmas said:
Free tea and coffee would be a great gesture for all 'guests' staying in the berths. After all, you can find a kettle in every Travelodge or Premier Inn room.
Caledonian Sleeper is competing with these chains and and early morning day train. If they want people to believe that they're staying on a nice product based on hospitality, or a 'hotel on wheels' then they will have to seriously up their game.

Is this an economies of scale issue though? Travelodge/Premier Inn will have large supply chains, and likely a much lower "cost per unit" than would the Sleeper. (Not saying they shouldn't, just helping them with excuses for why they wouldn't :lol:

)

JamieL · 19 Feb 2024

Christmas said:
Free tea and coffee would be a great gesture for all 'guests' staying in the berths. After all, you can find a kettle in every Travelodge or Premier Inn room.
Caledonian Sleeper is competing with these chains and and early morning day train. If they want people to believe that they're staying on a nice product based on hospitality, or a 'hotel on wheels' then they will have to seriously up their game.

Where in the cabin would you put the kettle and accessories just out of interest?

Given there is bottled water and chocolate, plus a host button for teac/coffee and more, I am not convinced they need to "up their game".

Iskra · 19 Feb 2024

TrainBoy98 said:
Is this an economies of scale issue though? Travelodge/Premier Inn will have large supply chains, and likely a much lower "cost per unit" than would the Sleeper. (Not saying they shouldn't, just helping them with excuses for why they wouldn't )

The sleeper also has a finite and unreliable water supply, if you watch the video above.
Making tea and coffee free would not help this already embarrassing situation.

JamieL · 19 Feb 2024

Iskra said:
The sleeper also has a finite and unreliable water supply, if you watch the video above.
Making tea and coffee free would not help this already embarrassing situation.

Yes, trains are not yet plumbed into the water main!

TrainBoy98 · 19 Feb 2024

Iskra said:
The sleeper also has a finite and unreliable water supply, if you watch the video above.
Making tea and coffee free would not help this already embarrassing situation.

Very good point - somehow I hadn't even thought of that! :oops:

Being realistic, whilst it can try to compete with hotels, it isn't one. It just needs to be reliable, and priced to compete with staying in a hotel

JonathanH · 19 Feb 2024

TrainBoy98 said:
Being realistic, whilst it can try to compete with hotels, it isn't one. It just needs to be reliable, and priced to compete with staying in a hotel

It needs to be priced to maximise its yield, regardless of what it is. Given it sells out some nights, the pricing isn't completely wrong. Passengers don't have to choose to use it.

Iskra · 19 Feb 2024

JonathanH said:
It needs to be priced to maximise its yield, regardless of what it is. Given it sells out some nights, the pricing isn't completely wrong. Passengers don't have to choose to use it.

The berths sell out, but do the seats? That’s the area that could be improved in my opinion.

TrainBoy98 · 19 Feb 2024

JonathanH said:
It needs to be priced to maximise its yield, regardless of what it is. Given it sells out some nights, the pricing isn't completely wrong. Passengers don't have to choose to use it.

They don't, but surely in a world where we want more people on trains/off roads (as driving could also be an option), if it sells out (and turns enough profit) then more investment could be made to run more services?

JonathanH · 19 Feb 2024

TrainBoy98 said:
They don't, but surely in a world where we want more people on trains/off roads (as driving could also be an option), if it sells out (and turns enough profit) then more investment could be made to run more services?

It doesn't turn any profit to run more services. The subsidy only stretches to the existing operation and runs to hundreds of pounds per passenger.

Iskra said:
The berths sell out, but do the seats? That’s the area that could be improved in my opinion.

How far out from the time of travel would you like the seats to sell out? They already do quite often.

Peter Sarf · 20 Feb 2024

JamieL said:
This is what it says when you book:
View attachment 152706

First time I looked I completely ignored that bit shaded in green !. That was even though I was looking for it. It was only when I tried again that I read it.

Perhaps using the same colour as parts of the picture and being green makes the note lost. Would it be clearer in red. Me thinks this is designed more to be attractive than functional.

trainophile · 20 Feb 2024

Does anyone know which, if any, mobile operators have any signal at all in the wilds of the Fort William route? Three was rubbish last time I was there. I also have SIMS on O2 and EE (cheap deals on Giffgaff and RWG so not as excessive as it sounds), and am wondering if it's worth taking all three phones. I don't intend to spend much time online when there's scenery to enjoy, but there's always something you need to look up or check. It's very isolating these days not having access to the net :lol:

.

Trainbike46 · 20 Feb 2024

Iskra said:
The berths sell out, but do the seats? That’s the area that could be improved in my opinion.

Some nights, yes

Whenever I've travelled (to/from glasgow), the seats where either full or nearly full. On occasion I've been unable to get a seat on the night I wanted to as they were fully reseved

Carntyne · 20 Feb 2024

The trains are full pretty much every night, why would fares be cut or on board catering prices reduced?

route101 · 20 Feb 2024

Come across seats full quite often but looking at short notice. The seats was something you could book short notice at somewhat cheap cost.

Bald Rick · 20 Feb 2024

trainophile said:
Does anyone know which, if any, mobile operators have any signal at all in the wilds of the Fort William route? Three was rubbish last time I was there. I also have SIMS on O2 and EE (cheap deals on Giffgaff and RWG so not as excessive as it sounds), and am wondering if it's worth taking all three phones. I don't intend to spend much time online when there's scenery to enjoy, but there's always something you need to look up or check. It's very isolating these days not having access to the net .

Depends what you mean by ‘Wilds’. But where the line is close to the A82, there is signal (I have O2).

Arrochar - Bridge of Orchy, and Tulloch to Ft Bill.

trainophile · 20 Feb 2024

Bald Rick said:
Depends what you mean by ‘Wilds’. But where the line is close to the A82, there is signal (I have O2).

Arrochar - Bridge of Orchy, and Tulloch to Ft Bill.

I'm not too sure really, but last trip I was awake in the small hours and trying to have a text conversation with someone, but the signal was so intermittent it was virtually impossible. I'll take my O2 phone as well as my main Three one then, and hope for the best. Thanks for the reply.

Iskra · 20 Feb 2024

Travel in the seated sleeper car wasn’t too bad last night, I slept relatively well, temperature was fine, it was busier than I expected and the carriage-switch at Edinburgh didn’t seem to upset too many people. From a rail enthusiasts perspective it was actually quite good to help understand the shunt movements a bit better and get some photos. One very minor quibble would be that only one tiny pack of butter was provided with the cheeseboard, which was inadequate for the task but I struggled through

While I won’t rush back to do the seats again, it’s something I would consider again occasionally in the future away from peak times.

JamieL · 20 Feb 2024

trainophile said:
I'm not too sure really, but last trip I was awake in the small hours and trying to have a text conversation with someone, but the signal was so intermittent it was virtually impossible. I'll take my O2 phone as well as my main Three one then, and hope for the best. Thanks for the reply.

The train is still in England or Southern Scotland in the early hours. It passes Craigendoran, where the West Highland line starts, about 0625. I have found the WCML north of Carlisle to be a bit intermittent in places (Vodafone) but it generally supports normal browsing etc.

ABB125 · 20 Feb 2024

trainophile said:
I'm not too sure really, but last trip I was awake in the small hours and trying to have a text conversation with someone, but the signal was so intermittent it was virtually impossible. I'll take my O2 phone as well as my main Three one then, and hope for the best. Thanks for the reply.

There is signal along much of the route, although there are a few sections where it disappears/is intermittent. I'm generally pleasantly surprised with the signal availability whenever I'm up that way.

Bald Rick · 20 Feb 2024

trainophile said:
I'm not too sure really, but last trip I was awake in the small hours and trying to have a text conversation with someone, but the signal was so intermittent it was virtually impossible. I'll take my O2 phone as well as my main Three one then, and hope for the best. Thanks for the reply.

As others have said, unless something has gone drastically wrong in terms of delay (southbound) or time travel (northbound) you wouldn’t be on the West Highland Line in the small hours. Between 0100-0500 (approx) you’d be between Preston and Edinburgh in either direction. Signal can be patchy over the Cumbrian fells and up through Annandale / Clydesdale.

In any event there is wifi available throughout the Caledonian Sleeper coaches, although I can’t vouch for how good it is.

scotraildriver · 20 Feb 2024

trainophile said:
Does anyone know which, if any, mobile operators have any signal at all in the wilds of the Fort William route? Three was rubbish last time I was there. I also have SIMS on O2 and EE (cheap deals on Giffgaff and RWG so not as excessive as it sounds), and am wondering if it's worth taking all three phones. I don't intend to spend much time online when there's scenery to enjoy, but there's always something you need to look up or check. It's very isolating these days not having access to the net .

EE is definitely the best over the route. I'm only without a signal Garelochead to Arrochar and Rannoch to Corrour. It's fine everywhere else. Vodafone is rubbish.

Bill57p9 · 20 Feb 2024

scotraildriver said:
EE is definitely the best over the route. I'm only without a signal Garelochead to Arrochar and Rannoch to Corrour. It's fine everywhere else. Vodafone is rubbish.

Interesting as until a few years ago Vodafone 2G was the only show in town around the Rannoch Moor / Ben Alder area. I was up hillwalking from Corrour last month and noticed that the EE has suddenly made an appearance, 4G at that.
vodafone was still working but might still be limited to 2G.
(My personal SIM is EE and my work one Vodafone, hence I have get to compare them).

In terms of the WCML, my experience is that both give a signal but EE is far more likely to have a decent data service (I.e. 4G or 5G) than Vodafone.

In general Three coverage tends to be relatively absent in remote areas, which is apparent from their coverage maps. They are the youngest network and never had 2G infrastructure of their own.

I read somewhere that ScotRail use EE and possibly one other for their WiFi, but not sure about CS.

InOban · 21 Feb 2024

I believe that EE provide the network for the emergency services, hence the coverage

trainophile · 21 Feb 2024

Well we’re away. got booted from F4 into F2 as there’s “an issue with that room“, to my disappointment as I chose 4 and 5 having heard that those aren’t over the wheels. Our friends are in F5.

The rooms are certainly compact, and the washbasin is smaller than I remember, not sure if a strip wash including hair will be feasible so might have to try the shower after all.

I don’t like the lounge car layout as much as it used to be. Seems fewer seats and if you’re not quick you wouldn’t get a table.

The new lounge at Euston is nice, had to ask for the hot water and the milk jugs to be refilled to make a cuppa, and the coffee machine is very slow. Could do with more seats too.

Journey going well so far 8-)

.

alastair · 12 Mar 2024

I used the Seatfrog upgrade option a few days ago. I had booked Glasgow/Euston for 10 March in classic solo (£125 with railcard) a few weeks ago and then bid the minimum (£12) for an upgrade to club. Rather to my surprise this was accepted when the bidding closed 72 hrs before travel and I was sent a new ticket straight away so that is a pretty fair deal. This was my first trip on the new stock and everything in my cabin worked fine. Like many others, I was surprised how rough-riding the train is but surprisingly I slept well. The fixed ladder is a really stupid idea but the bed itself, although narrow, I found really comfortable.

Gonzoiku · 12 Mar 2024

alastair said:
The fixed ladder is a really stupid idea....

Quite stupid, yes. But not actually fixed!

G Z

Brissle Girl · 12 Mar 2024

ajrm said:
Couldn't agree more. I was extremely disappointed with the bacon roll I had in my cabin the other week. Very unimpressive.

And yet, it’s not impossible to serve a quality product. GWR installed combi ovens in their HST buffet cars around 2010, and served very crispy bacon baguettes for a sensible price. Sadly of course those only lasted as long as the HSTs.

Bletchleyite · 12 Mar 2024

Brissle Girl said:
And yet, it’s not impossible to serve a quality product. GWR installed combi ovens in their HST buffet cars around 2010, and served very crispy bacon baguettes for a sensible price. Sadly of course those only lasted as long as the HSTs.

Kind of surprised they do bacon rather than sausage. People tend to have preferences about how bacon is cooked, but with sausages provided they're not raw you just stick them in the oven. And sausages are usually cheaper than bacon, even premium ones.

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