Night Riviera

[whole diary]

[a-driver]

I see GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) says Sleeper services cancelled Sunday 31st July, what would be the reason for this be as strike is on Saturday. Think they could make more effort with Friday 29th service too, surely the service could operate from Paddington as far as Plymouth (limit of service on strike days) with coaches provided for Cornwall - after all GWR could be liable to accommodate berth passengers in hotels given NCOT ? 

With regards to Friday nights service. One driver, who books on for duty on Friday, would work the sleeper to Exeter. After that, the next driver potentially books on Saturday morning (strike day). Therefore the sleeper set is stranded at Exeter. Same applies with the up sleeper.
If the sleeper ran into any difficulty during its journey and required assistance, you’d be looking for a driver who would have booked on for duty on the Saturday, potentially leaving the sleeper stranded.

I don’t understand why it’s not able to run Sunday though.

[clivestravelandtrains]

I used the Night Riviera for the first time on 8th June 2022 and really enjoyed the experience. I slept better than expected and the coaches - although older - were quieter and less rattly than the Caledonian. We had a loco attached to the rear, which apparently was detached at Reading.
I travelled with my bike, and it was relatively easy to book it for a space in Coach A.
I made a film about the trip which is on YouTube:-  https://youtu.be/AyVAbBlmvXU 

[broadgage]

Welcome, but by the way it is not the "done thing" to like your own posts.

[grahame]

Welcome too ... glad you enjoyed the trip on the sleeper.   Can't look at the video now - very limited bandwidth on the  train.     Where you say "quieter than the Cally" - is that the old Cally coaches of the new one of a couple of years back?

[Sleepy]

   Sleepers cancelled Friday 12th August, Sunday 14th also following Weds / Thurs / Friday due to strikes by ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about) and RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers). About time Grant Schapps or whatever his name is this week sorted this mess out instead of telling DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) to sit on their hands !!

[grahame]

About time Grant Schapps or whatever his name is this week sorted this mess out instead of telling DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) to sit on their hands !!

But perhaps what they are [doing / not doing] in Horseferry Road is their way forward in sorting out this mess.  What are the various strategic objectives here?

[bobm]

Spotted at London Paddington this week.  The class 57 Tintagel Castle used for the sleeper has been fitted with new nameplates in the same style as the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) Castle power cars.


(although they could have made a better job of covering up where the old plates were)

Meanwhile 57604 Pendennis Castle has kept its heritage GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) plates for the moment at least.

[JayMac]

Excellent review of the Night Riviera by YouTuber Winginit! Paul Lucas.