Night Riviera - merged posts, ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[smokey]

Something to think about.

From my Information Source, the Sleepers now run most Nights with all berths Full, and the Day Cars could really do with another day car.

If First did lose the Next Franchise, or drop the Sleepers from the Next franchise, it would be in the Interest of any other TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) to run the Night Train as an Open Access service!

We could end up with a New operator on the greater Western, & First still running the Sleepers.
"Revenue Sharing"

[Super Guard]

From my Information Source, the Sleepers now run most Nights with all berths Full, and the Day Cars could really do with another day car.

Correct on both counts.

[paul7575]

Just because they are full doesn't mean an open access version could ever be profitable.  For FGW^▸ (First Great Western) it is just part of the overall franchise, where packed commuter trains balance out quiet branch lines.

Even without detailed figures I just cannot believe it would survive as a stand alone service.

Paul

[super tm]

I think the sleeper is safe for the foreseeable future. FGW^▸ (First Great Western) were told to take it out of the current franchise but they came up with an option that kept it going.  Even if the sleeper no longer runs you will still need a service from Penzance to Exeter in the evening and a corresponding service from Exeter to Penzance on the morning.

The crunch for the sleeper will come when the rolling stock is life expired.

[vacman]

Simple answer to the clapped out 57's is to hire in 67's.

[JayMac]

And as for the sleeper coaches themselves, then one would hope that when new stock is required an order will be placed for carriages for both the Caledonian and Night Riviera. Politically, I think it highly unlikely the Caledonian will ever be binned, so that might have repercussions for ensuring the Night Riviera survives as well.

[anthony215]

And as for the sleeper coaches themselves, then one would hope that when new stock is required an order will be placed for carriages for both the Caledonian and Night Riviera. Politically, I think it highly unlikely the Caledonian will ever be binned, so that might have repercussions for ensuring the Night Riviera survives as well.

I agree with what you are saying, hopefully if any new loco hauled crriages are ever ordered maybe some sleeper stock can also be ordered.

does the government still have the designs for those nightstar carriages which we sold to canada?

[bobm]

At that point there might even scope to introduce (or reintroduce) other services - say complete the triangle with services from Plymouth to the North West or Scotland.

[anthony215]

I would certainly use a sleeper service from  the west country to scotland. maybe a penzance to aberdeen service as part of the crosscountry franchise

[standclearplease]

I would certainly use a sleeper service from  the west country to scotland. maybe a penzance to aberdeen service as part of the crosscountry franchise

Consisting of a camping bed on the floor of a Voyager!?

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

hammocks in the vestibules

[super tm]

And as for the sleeper coaches themselves, then one would hope that when new stock is required an order will be placed for carriages for both the Caledonian and Night Riviera. Politically, I think it highly unlikely the Caledonian will ever be binned, so that might have repercussions for ensuring the Night Riviera survives as well.

I think if HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) happens that will be the end of the caledonian sleeper

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

And as for the sleeper coaches themselves, then one would hope that when new stock is required an order will be placed for carriages for both the Caledonian and Night Riviera. Politically, I think it highly unlikely the Caledonian will ever be binned, so that might have repercussions for ensuring the Night Riviera survives as well.

I think if HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) happens that will be the end of the caledonian sleeper

but also a source of spare stock for ours

[JayMac]

I think if HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) happens that will be the end of the caledonian sleeper

HS2 is never going to reach Fort Bill or Inverness. Even with HS2 as far as Edinburgh/Glasgow, the Highlands are still going to be 7 hours plus from London. That would still make an overnight service a viable option.

[Andrew1939 from West Oxon]

I think many of us will be long since gone from this earth by the time HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) gets to anywhere in Scotland - if it ever does!