Which it isn't.As a luxury hotel on wheels that offers a magical journey...
Which it isn't.As a luxury hotel on wheels that offers a magical journey...
I'd imagine that 1 or 2 a year is more likely. If it was up to me I'd run the whole lowlander to Edinburgh and detach a portion for Glasgow there, Edinburgh has by far the majority of the traffic. I'd imagine during the festivals you could easily sell the whole train to Edinburgh.How often does someone travel there on the Sleeper to do that? Once every couple of years?
I wonder what the usage to Carstairs is? Must be very low. If it's one or two a day if that, as I would suspect it is, then putting people in a taxi from either Carlisle or Edinburgh (depending if they prefer losing sleep or arriving later) would deal with it fine.
Almost no-one goes to Carstairs.I'd imagine that 1 or 2 a year is more likely. If it was up to me I'd run the whole lowlander to Edinburgh and detach a portion for Glasgow there, Edinburgh has by far the majority of the traffic. I'd imagine during the festivals you could easily sell the whole train to Edinburgh.
This problem seems to come and go. Possibly book by phone and they should be able to fix it for you as the price is no different
It should be back again soon. Possibly this week but, if not, next week.I've postponed making bookings for a couple of trips due to the current reliability issues but have been looking this afternoon at booking for mid September. All services seem to be fairly busy and I won't go if I can't get a berth towards the middle of the coach. The option to change berths doesn't seem to be offered. Does anyone know if this is a temporary issue with CS website?
I too doubt there are many passengers wanting to get off at Carstairs at 0614. Dropping the stop and giving them a free ticket on (eg) the 0742 EDB - CRS 0810 would probably inconvenience next to nobody, and is certainly what I’d do anyway if I wanted Carstairs.I'd imagine that 1 or 2 a year is more likely. If it was up to me I'd run the whole lowlander to Edinburgh and detach a portion for Glasgow there, Edinburgh has by far the majority of the traffic. I'd imagine during the festivals you could easily sell the whole train to Edinburgh.
I too doubt there are many passengers wanting to get off at Carstairs at 0614. Dropping the stop and giving them a free ticket on (eg) the 0742 EDB - CRS 0810 would probably inconvenience next to nobody, and is certainly what I’d do anyway if I wanted Carstairs.
They only have one crew anyway, they travel between sites.One would think there'd be an efficency to be had in employing only one set of shunting crew at Edinburgh, rather than at both Edinburgh and Carstairs.
Edinburgh has by far the majority of the traffic
One would think there'd be an efficency to be had in employing only one set of shunting crew at Edinburgh, rather than at both Edinburgh and Carstairs.
I've never used the lowlander southbound but Northbound the Glasgow portion is busy on Thursdays and Friday nights but has space the rest of the week. It's been like that since the WCML modernisation was complete when in my experience the Glasgow loadings declined. The Edinburgh section is often full because of the much higher number of tourists.That surprises me somewhat, because on the regular occasions I have been at Glasgow Central when 1S26 arrives, quite a few folk alight from it ! If Edinburgh was so much busier than Glasgow, would the train not run say 12 coaches to the former and 4 to the latter from Carstairs, instead of 8 and 8 as at present ?
Im looking at booking a trip to Fort William in October, is the connection fairly reliable for the Jacobite?
thats a shame, theres no afternoon trains when we're traveling, I'll just plan to do it on a regular service, and if we make it in time pay cash if theres spacesIn short...not really! I'd take the afternoon one if I were you.
I would not rely on it at all I’m afraid. If you definitely want to catch the morning Jacobite, and this is an essential part of your trip, you’re better off travelling up the previous day and staying overnight in Fort William.Im looking at booking a trip to Fort William in October, is the connection fairly reliable for the Jacobite?
I am using the sleeper tonight between Falkirk Grahamston and Crewe.
I already know what is on the section between Inverness and Edinburgh (66789+73968), but does anybody know what the 92 is south of Edinburgh please?
This is in case if I am still asleep and forget to check the front when arriving at Crewe.
RTT will update with the loco allocation when the 92 is put into the system.
But that wasn't the franchise specification was it? All very well - and very easy - being wise after the event, but the franchise was awarded in May 2014, so bidding documents would have gone out in 2013. Was the Aberdeen in "terminal decline" back then? I suspect not.If they had thought it through and ordered the coaches as haulable EMUs with hotel power generators and full auto couplers on the locos they could have had none, of course.
Would have meant a 2 portion Highlander, but Aberdeen was already in seemingly terminal decline when they were ordered, wasn't it?
Is it not the case that 8 coaches and two locomotives ( 66+73) are currently forming the Fort William portion?But that wasn't the franchise specification was it? All very well - and very easy - being wise after the event, but the franchise was awarded in May 2014, so bidding documents would have gone out in 2013. Was the Aberdeen in "terminal decline" back then? I suspect not.
You're also assuming you can get an 8-car set up the West Highland - I think it would be too long for the loops. So you either need to shorten all the sets or you have sub-fleets of different lengths. The flexibility to alter train lengths is also then permanently gone. That leads to the conclusion that locomotive haulage was the right option.
WHL platforms are limited to 6x23m (with some shorter, notably Corrour). The overall train length can be a little longer and still fit in the loop. The current 2+6 sleeper arrangement must fit in the loops just fine as the northbound passes the Alcan tanks at Tulloch and they are definitely too long for the loop.Is it not the case that 8 coaches and two locomotives ( 66+73) are currently forming the Fort William portion?
The loops must be coping with that.
I am using the sleeper tonight between Falkirk Grahamston and Crewe.
I already know what is on the section between Inverness and Edinburgh (66789+73968), but does anybody know what the 92 is south of Edinburgh please?
This is in case if I am still asleep and forget to check the front when arriving at Crewe.
RTT will update with the loco allocation when the 92 is put into the system.
How do the shunting crew travel from Carstairs to Edinburgh and back? Does the loco that takes the Edinburgh portions to and from Carstairs run light engine back to Edinburgh in between, and if so do the shunting crew ride with it?They only have one crew anyway, they travel between sites.
Generally I think it’s 7 diagrams:How do the shunting crew travel from Carstairs to Edinburgh and back? Does the loco that takes the Edinburgh portions to and from Carstairs run light engine back to Edinburgh in between, and if so do the shunting crew ride with it?
Actually (more complicated question) how many class 92s are actually used every night? As far as I can see, it could be done with six,
1. ECS Highlander stock Wembley to Euston, then Lowlander Euston to Glasgow
2. Lowlander Glasgow to Euston, then ECS Highlander stock Euston to Wembley
3. ECS Polmadie to Edinburgh, Edinburgh to Carstairs, light to Edinburgh, Highlander Edinburgh to Euston
4. Highlander Euston to Edinburgh, light to Carstairs, Carstairs to Edinburgh, ECS Edinburgh to Polmadie
5. ECS Polmadie to Glasgow, and back in the morning
6. ECS Lowlander stock Wembley to Euston, and back in the morning
but I'm fairly sure there are more - for example in my experience both Highlander and Lowlander ECS runs to/from Wembley have a loco on each end, rather than using the loco from the first arrival, after release from the stops, to take the second departure. Also, if one loco works both Edinburgh Carstairs and return, that has to be additional to the two working the Highlander.