Night Riviera Sleeper train - between Paddington and Penzance

[whole diary]

[PhilWakely]

Due in to Penzance at around 09:15, 80 minutes late currently.

Arrived at 09:19.  Perfect for a free late breakfast from GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) courtesy of Delay Repay…as well as a free lunch and probably dinner.

I recall a trip on the Caley Sleeper to Fort Bill back in June 2019. Having paid a hefty sum for myself and my daughter for a Club Twin Berth, I received almost 95% refund for the return journey - new stock not yet ready; no substantial food (just crisps and bottled water); 50 minutes late arriving in Fort Bill; No Club Car on the return journey; etc, etc.  Neither of us was particularly bothered, but more than happy for the refund.

[ChrisB]

Friday night from Paddington didn't leave until well after midnight - seemed to terminate in Plymouth too.

[bobm]

According to Real Time Trains it left Paddington just before 3am on Saturday and arrived in Penzance at 09:05 - an hour and 15 minutes late.

[PhilWakely]

I guess that tonight's (Sunday/Monday 10/11 July) sleepers will be diverted off their regular routeing over The Mule given the major problem with axle counters between Yeovil Junction and Exeter?

[bobm]

Problems at Westbury too.

[bobm]

All tonight's Caledonian Sleepers are cancelled due to problems on the West Coast mainline.

Would be passengers can spend the night in a berth on stationary sleeper trains in London Euston, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Inverness, travel on a day train tomorrow AND get a full refund.

[TaplowGreen]

No lie-in for some this morning!

21:45 Penzance to London Paddington due 05:04

19/07/22 21:45 Penzance to London Paddington due 05:04 will be terminated at Reading.

It will no longer call at London Paddington but will call additionally at Bristol Temple Meads.
It has been delayed at Penzance and is now 150 minutes late.
This is due to train crew being delayed by service disruption.

[JayMac]

No lie-in for some this morning!

21:45 Penzance to London Paddington due 05:04

19/07/22 21:45 Penzance to London Paddington due 05:04 will be terminated at Reading.

It will no longer call at London Paddington but will call additionally at Bristol Temple Meads.
It has been delayed at Penzance and is now 150 minutes late.
This is due to train crew being delayed by service disruption.

Actually, a bit of a lie in. Due in to RDG^▸ (Rail Delivery Group, or Reading station, depending on context) at 0603. That's an hour after its booked arrival at PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains).

[TaplowGreen]

Problems tonight by the look of it......

23:50 London Paddington to Penzance due 07:54 will be starting late from London Paddington.

This is due to a broken down train.

Further Information
Customers travelling from unstaffed stations are requested to make use of the Customer Help Point systems available, or contact National Rail Enquiries on 03457 484 950 detailing the total number of passengers travelling, and their intended destinations. This will enable us to get suitable road replacement transport to customers as quickly as possible.

[bobm]

Suspect the staff were delayed travelling up from Cornwall.

[Sleepy]

  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 ? 

[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?