sleeper train platform at reading

[whole diary]

[johngreg]

Is there a regular platform that the sleeper train goes from at reading? Planning getting it on Friday night.

Any other sleeper tips to tricks?

[Pb_devon]

According to RealTimeTrains it's platform 12 (Assuming you mean Saturday morning!). Arriving at 0031 and departing at 0048

[grahame]

I would guess this could be just about one of the most variable platform allocations, bearing in mind improvement work line closures that often reduce lines to the east and / or west of Reading to one pair of tracks.  Added to which there are those nights where the sleeper goes via Newbury and those where it goes via Didcot.

[bobm]

Any other sleeper tips to tricks?

As a fairly regular user of the sleeper here are my tips

1) When booking try to get a berth between 5 and 17 - that ensures you are not over a wheel, which if it has a flat, will disturb your sleep.

2) If you can afford it, and have the time, get a return from Reading to Paddington.  You can board the train from 22:30 and get your head down before the train leaves at 23:45 - worth paying the extra for up to two hours more sleep. Your existing ticket, if you have already bought one, will be valid as the train calls at Reading. You can also use the 1st Class Lounge at Paddington and the lounge car on the train once you board.

3) First thing to check in your berth is the heating control by the light switches.  Push it round to cold - sometimes it is left in the mid position and the cabin soon heats up.

[Billhere]

A train of many routes, some of which seem to change as it goes along.

Expect the Down Sleepers about 0100 in Newbury, only to find it got diverted via Didcot for some reason.

Enjoying the peace of night and suddenly up pops 1A40 having been diverted  from via Swindon to via Bristol, Bath, Westbury and up the B and H, again no particular rhyme or reason. A real mystery tour on that one.

[bobm]

A few years back I was on the Sunday night sleeper and it was sent via Honiton and Yeovil after a reverse at Exeter.

Shortly after Ealing Broadway the train came to a shuddering halt.  After investigation it seems someone had woken up and realised they were travelling in the opposite direction to when they fell asleep and on seeing Ealing Broadway thought they had missed Paddington and were on their way to a depot.

[rower40]

On the computer that supplies timetables to the Automatic Routesetting System at TVSC^» (Thames Valley Signalling Centre - about), there are, as I write, 61 schedules for 1C99, the down sleeper, for different dates stretching off into the future.  (Some schedules will be for one day only, some for a few consecutive days, and the LTP^▸ (Local Transport Plan) - Long Term Plan - ones cover the entire timetable period, but get over-ridden if an STP - Short Term Plan - schedule exists for that date.)

Platform 7: 16 schedules
Platform 8: 5 schedules
Platform 9: 3 schedules
Platform 12: 23 schedules
Platform 13: 14 schedules

The schedule for tonight agrees with RealTimeTrains; platform 12, then Feeder Relief to reach the B&H^▸ (Berks and Hants - railway line from Reading to Taunton via Westbury) at Oxford Road Junction.  (It switches from Down Main to Down Relief at Southall West.)

[eightf48544]

Which way is it going after Westbury?

[rower40]

Which way is it going after Westbury?

Sorry for two reasons...
1) I didn't see this post till this morning - by which time you'll have already found out!
2) The Reading TTP (Timetable processor) doesn't know or care about locations west of Westbury, so the schedules I can see don't have this information.

[johngreg]

 - It was platform 12.
-  Had accidentally booked berths not over wheels.
 - Think will have to get use to them before being able to sleep at lot.

I booked 2 joining comparment for 2 people.

Is it much cheaper with 1 comparment with the bunks?