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Author Topic: Problems with the Night Riviera sleeper - December 2014 onwards  (Read 314942 times)
IndustryInsider
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« Reply #900 on: March 31, 2023, 00:07:09 »

Forget the portion, just run it later so it arrives at Plymouth at a reasonable time and market it as an option for business travel to the Southwest.

I take the point about the Scillonian but it only runs for 8 months a year and I'd be interested in the details of numbers of customers who use the sleeper specifically for that purpose.

As well as the Scillonian, there's a few potential issues that might cause problems if you did that:

1)  AIUI (as I understand it) the three customer hosts who work the sleeper service do so throughout from Paddington to Penzance.  That's already a long shift and it probably wouldn't be possible to extend those shifts by two or more hours.  So there might be extra costs providing two sets of customer host crews.
2)  Not sure what the TM(resolve)'s and Drivers do, except that they change over at Exeter, but again 2-3 hours later into Penzance might mean more crew are required overall depending on what trains they work next.
3)  Passenger trains leave Plymouth for Penzance at 07:12, 07:43, 08:08, 08:47 and 09:15.  Given the signalling headways on the route there is no room for another one, so one would have to go and I doubt that would be popular amongst the good folk of Cornwall.  You'd be looking at a Penzance arrival of around 10:00-10:30, with the first day time train from Paddington arriving not too long after at 11:40!

At the moment the sleeper is run largely on whimsy and subsidy at a time when the railway needs to save money and/or look to increase revenue. This would seem an opportunity worth investigating.

I have no idea whether Plymouth MPs (Member of Parliament) are lobbying for it. I suspect that it's been so hopelessly impractical for so long that people/business just gave up and drove/travelled elsewhere and it's not talked about much.

Sounds like the sort of thing one of the local MP's would love to crow about achieving, and if the extra stumbling blocks above can be overcome, perhaps it's worth you (or a friend who still lives in one of the constituencies) from writing to them to suggest?

This may be a way to get more people on the trains which I thought the majority of those on this forum were keen on?

I'd be delighted if the DfT» (Department for Transport - about) funded the extra costs that would result from either a long layover at Plymouth or a second portion being detached.  However, that needs to be balanced with the clear intention of the DfT to reduce costs, not increase them, as evidenced by the quite severe cut backs in rolling stock that GWR (Great Western Railway) are permitted to use.  Costs seem much more important than any revenue growth at the moment.

For that reason I personally think it's a bit of a non starter sadly.
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« Reply #901 on: March 31, 2023, 01:06:31 »

I agree. I really dont see why the sleeper cant stay on the platform until 7.30. It always used to when there was a separate Plymouth portion.

I asked a host about this on one sleeper trip a few years ago. From memory if passengers are on the train then there has to be a driver in the cab should the Loco be attached and (at least one) member of staff in the carriages. 
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bobm
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« Reply #902 on: July 10, 2023, 19:49:40 »

Could be awkward….

Quote
23:45 London Paddington to Penzance due 07:54 will now run as scheduled.
Will be formed of 7 coaches instead of 8.

Additional Information
We regret to inform you that Coach 'G' on our 23:45 London Paddington to Penzance Night Riveria Sleeper service will not be available for customer use owing to a fault on this carriage which could not be rectified.

We apologise for the obvious inconvenience this will cause to customers booked to be accommodated in coach 'G' tonight.

Customers who are booked to be accommodated in coach 'G' on this service who have not been contacted by our Customer Services Team already, please contact our Customer Services Team on 03457000125.
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #903 on: July 10, 2023, 21:38:00 »

Could be awkward….

Quote
23:45 London Paddington to Penzance due 07:54 will now run as scheduled.
Will be formed of 7 coaches instead of 8.

Additional Information
We regret to inform you that Coach 'G' on our 23:45 London Paddington to Penzance Night Riveria Sleeper service will not be available for customer use owing to a fault on this carriage which could not be rectified.

We apologise for the obvious inconvenience this will cause to customers booked to be accommodated in coach 'G' tonight.

Customers who are booked to be accommodated in coach 'G' on this service who have not been contacted by our Customer Services Team already, please contact our Customer Services Team on 03457000125.

Those in "G" Hotbunking with those in carriages F & H then?

Make new friends and get cosy!  Smiley
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Mark A
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« Reply #904 on: July 10, 2023, 22:15:04 »

Puts me in mind of the tale from someone at work - on the Bristol to Edinburgh West Country Angloscottish sleeper in the eighties. Unexpected halt and rather delayed at Cheltenham, it emerged that her carriage had an issue and needed to be removed (and from the middle of the train for good measure...) to allow the rest to proceed.

I *think* there was enough room aboard that she was able to transfer to alternative cabin.

Mark
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Kernow Otter
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« Reply #905 on: July 14, 2023, 06:42:25 »

Lovely write up for the sleeper here.

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/night-train-sleeper-london-cornwall-penzance

edited to fix URL
« Last Edit: July 14, 2023, 08:01:44 by Timmer » Logged
GBM
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« Reply #906 on: July 14, 2023, 10:49:51 »

Apart from the HST (High Speed Train) in the opening picture, a lovely article  Shocked
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« Reply #907 on: July 14, 2023, 11:43:43 »

Apart from the HST (High Speed Train) in the opening picture, a lovely article  Shocked

Never mind the HST, just look at the lovely Sn'erth semaphores
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GBM
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« Reply #908 on: July 14, 2023, 12:13:55 »

Apart from the HST (High Speed Train) in the opening picture, a lovely article  Shocked

Never mind the HST, just look at the lovely Sn'erth semaphores
Oops, never spotted them!
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« Reply #909 on: July 14, 2023, 14:26:41 »

Apart from the HST (High Speed Train) in the opening picture, a lovely article  Shocked

Never mind the HST, just look at the lovely Sn'erth semaphores
Oops, never spotted them!

It's a good job that the drivers do, though  Wink
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« Reply #910 on: July 14, 2023, 16:13:41 »

But you can just make out the ZZ carriage stop sign for the sleeper in front of the signals.
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« Reply #911 on: July 14, 2023, 20:38:59 »

Apart from the HST (High Speed Train) in the opening picture, a lovely article  Shocked

Also
Quote
Instead of a shower on the train, I opted for a dip in the Jubilee Pool © Tom Hall/Lonely Planet

Shower on the train, have I missed something?
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Timmer
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« Reply #912 on: July 14, 2023, 22:26:14 »

Shower on the train, have I missed something?
You weren’t the only one thinking that.
Confusing it with the Caledonian Sleeper perhaps?
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GBM
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« Reply #913 on: July 15, 2023, 06:54:26 »

Note to self.
Read properly. Don't skim read.
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Mark A
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« Reply #914 on: August 14, 2023, 15:02:05 »

It appears that last night's sleeper was an IET (Intercity Express Train). Via Swindon and then Yeovil for good measure.

Mark

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L51037/2023-08-13/detailed
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