Problems with the Night Riviera sleeper - December 2014 onwards

[whole diary]

[Incider]

Down service terminating at Plymouth this morning

Seems to have continued later to Penzance ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock). Wonder what arrangements were made for the passengers?
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O49307/2018/10/19/advanced

Loco lost train supply at Exeter, sleeper coaches have to be taken out of service within 3 hours of that happening, as no air con and batteries will only supply lighting and essential systems for that long.

[1st fan]

Was at Paddington last night heading out on to the Cotswolds. As I passed the sleeper on platform one there were two people looking in at a berth through a window where the blind was up. One of the two was explaining that you now had the option to convert between a bed and a sofa. The second said what's the point of that given the boarding time? The first said it's useful when some idiot brings down the power lines and there's big delays. 

[TaplowGreen]

23:50 London Paddington to Penzance due 08:59
11/11/18 23:50 London Paddington to Penzance due 08:59 has been delayed at London Paddington and is now 180 minutes late.
This is due to a broken down train.
Last Updated:12/11/2018 03:05

[grahame]

23:50 London Paddington to Penzance due 08:59
11/11/18 23:50 London Paddington to Penzance due 08:59 has been delayed at London Paddington and is now 180 minutes late.
This is due to a broken down train.
Last Updated:12/11/2018 03:05

Left Paddington 191 minute late.

Scheduled arrival at Penzance 08:59 (public timetable), 08:55 Working Timetable.
Journey Check suggest arrival will be at 11:59
Real Time Trains suggests arrival will be at 08:54

[LiskeardRich]

23:50 London Paddington to Penzance due 08:59
11/11/18 23:50 London Paddington to Penzance due 08:59 has been delayed at London Paddington and is now 180 minutes late.
This is due to a broken down train.
Last Updated:12/11/2018 03:05

Left Paddington 191 minute late.

Scheduled arrival at Penzance 08:59 (public timetable), 08:55 Working Timetable.
Journey Check suggest arrival will be at 11:59
Real Time Trains suggests arrival will be at 08:54

A failing with journey check is it doesn’t update to reflect recovery time. Once someone tells it, the train is 3 hours late it treats it as 3 hours late throughout.
I notice it lost a further 15 mins between Plymouth and saltash, and appears to have gone a different route to programmed on real-time. It disappeared between reading and Taunton!

[Worcester_Passenger]

Looking at JourneyCheck in the early hours of the morning, it looked as if it had left Paddington on time, got stuck behind the failed train, and then decided to go back to Paddington.

[TaplowGreen]

Bit of a lie-in!

21:45 Penzance to London Paddington due 05:19
12/11/18 21:45 Penzance to London Paddington due 05:19 will no longer call at Totnes and Newton Abbot.
It has been previously delayed, has been further delayed at Plymouth and is now 195 minutes late.
This is due to slippery rails.

[bradshaw]

According to RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) it lost 157 minutes between Lostwithiel and Largin and a further 20 before leaving Liskeard.

[martyjon]

According to RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) it lost 157 minutes between Lostwithiel and Largin and a further 20 before leaving Liskeard.

Ahh, the folly of not providing diesel traction with sanding equipment.

[bobm]

They did apply sand but still couldn't get sufficient grip.  The train was eventually helped through to Liskeard by the Rail Head Treatment Train which had been following it.

[bradshaw]

RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) showing the same times for 1A40 and RHTT^▸ (Rail Head Treatment Train)  at Largin,

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced/LRGN/2018/11/13/0146

[martyjon]

They did apply sand but still couldn't get sufficient grip.  The train was eventually helped through to Liskeard by the Rail Head Treatment Train which had been following it.

Sand applied by hand to assist a stationary train is not much use but sand applied onto a slippery rail under a moving train does give it a fighting chance of getting where it has to go.

[bobm]

21:45 Penzance to London Paddington due 05:01


21:45 Penzance to London Paddington due 05:01 will be terminated at Reading.

It will no longer call at London Paddington.

It will be starting late from Penzance and is expected to be 120 minutes late.

This is due to a fault on this train.

Additional Information
GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) apologies for the delay and alteration to this evenings Night Riveria sleeper service from Penzance to London Paddington.

The service will be subject to a late start from Penzance and is expected to depart 120 minutes late at 23:45 and will terminate at Reading.

On arrival at Reading, customers are advised to board the next available service towards London Paddington to complete their journey.

23:45 London Paddington to Penzance due 07:55


23:45 London Paddington to Penzance due 07:55 will be started from Reading.

It will no longer call at London Paddington.

This is due to a fault on this train.

Additional Information
We apolgise for the alteration to this evenings Night Riveria sleeper service from London Paddington to Penzance. The service will now START at Reading.

Customers are advised to board the 23:30 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads service which will be held at London Paddington and depart at 23:45 to connect with the Night Riveria sleeper service starting at Reading.

There is a light loco leaving Reading at 17:05 to run to Penzance - so obviously a problem with the Class 57 at Long Rock.

[Kernow Otter]

Lovely run for someone !

Seriously, the catalogue of incidents with the Night Riviera is a shame.  The investment in the service has been well done, and is much appreciated, but the reliability must be of some concern to everyone.

[bobm]

For some reason the light loco didn’t leave Reading until just before 19:00 and isn’t due into Penzance until midnight.