Night Riviera Sleeper train - between Paddington and Penzance

[whole diary]

[a-driver]

Having lots of locos standing idle at depots is obviously an expensive and bad thing But one or two Thunderbird locos strategically located would be very useful.

I suppose with most passenger trains now being powered by more than a single power unit, the general thought is that even the failure of a couple of its engines would not mean a train cannot limp on

For failures in Cornwall, is there a way to seek assistant locos from the remaining loco pool for the clay traffic?

You’d think they’d be a case for funding from the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) of additional 57s based at Laira purely for rescuing IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)) at Dawlish

[UstiImmigrunt]

Having lots of locos standing idle at depots is obviously an expensive and bad thing But one or two Thunderbird locos strategically located would be very useful.

I suppose with most passenger trains now being powered by more than a single power unit, the general thought is that even the failure of a couple of its engines would not mean a train cannot limp on

For failures in Cornwall, is there a way to seek assistant locos from the remaining loco pool for the clay traffic?

You’d think they’d be a case for funding from the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) of additional 57s based at Laira purely for rescuing IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)) at Dawlish

But we were assured that Super Hitachi Intercity Trains would be Dawlish proofed...

Oh maybe not.

[UstiImmigrunt]

On a serious note though...

The drawbar on a HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) is supposed to be for emergency use only but GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) continually use them willy nilly.

My suggestion, permanent 105 tonne tail light, 57 each end? Performance will drop a bit but the timings are deliberately slack anyway.

[alexross42]

Apparently 57305 and 57311 are being hired in for a year to cover 602 and 604 which are both due heavy maintenance exams.
Hopefully that will improve reliability, however time will tell!

[TaplowGreen]

Apparently 57305 and 57311 are being hired in for a year to cover 602 and 604 which are both due heavy maintenance exams.
Hopefully that will improve reliability, however time will tell!

Trigger's broom.

[TaplowGreen]

Sun, 30 March 21:15 Penzance to London Paddington due 05:04

Facilities on the 30/03/25 21:15 Penzance to London Paddington due 05:04.

This is due to a shortage of train crew.

There are no reservations on this service throughout.

Additional Information
Due to a resourcing issue we are unable to operate Sunday evening's Sleeper service between Penzance and London Paddington.

We have arranged for this service to be operated by one of our regular Intercity Express Trains which will offer a Standard and First Class seating service only. There will be no accommodation facilities.

[UstiImmigrunt]

And cancelled throughout from Paddington to Penzance tomorrow night.

[TaplowGreen]

And cancelled throughout from Paddington to Penzance tomorrow night.

Not quite, but apparently it's going to be "started from Exeter St Davids" at 0436, so no-one will be getting much sleep!

[TaplowGreen]

And cancelled throughout from Paddington to Penzance tomorrow night.

Not quite, but apparently it's going to be "started from Exeter St Davids" at 0436, so no-one will be getting much sleep!

Update.......now cancelled throughout.

[BBM]

Frequent flyer website Head For Points which sometimes covers other modes of transport has today posted a review of a journey on the Night Riviera:

https://www.headforpoints.com/2025/04/12/review-gwr-night-riviera-sleeper-from-paddington-to-devon-cornwall/

[Mark A]

It's useful to read reviews from people who for the most part would not be reviewing rail services. They've also tackled the Caledonian Sleeper: https://www.headforpoints.com/2024/01/29/review-caledonan-sleeper-train-club-room/

I've travelled on neither since they've been renewed, but at least from the photos, in terms of restful ambience and design quality, GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) wins this hands down.

(The Caledonian sleeper, travelling in 2015 and 2018, treated us to an unpowered lounge car on a winter run to Fort William, and then in 2018 to Inverness, the cabin blind was permanently jammed shut. The previous trip was some time earlier on the Anglo-Scottish West Country sleeper - both directions - and that was just fine... must have slept well as we left Waverley and climbed Arthurs Seat then came down for breakfast...)

Mark

[ChrisB]

....and GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) are far cheaper - even given the additional distance the Cally sleeper gives you. GWR simply charge you a berth fee on top of your travel ticket

[JayMac]

Caley Sleeper also have berth only fees if a valid travel ticket is already held. But, yes, they are more expensive than GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)'s.

[Mark A]

CS^» (Caledonian Sleeper - about) marketed the new trains as an 'Experience', GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) continued to market theirs as travel. Now thinking of the winter conversation in a cafe in West Cornwall, young person of limited means booking a Sunday night seat on a short horizon and then managed to land a cabin, which was going to help considerably with the Monday morning arrival at work.

The review makes things sound as though the sleeper is habitually run with a provision that leaves it capacity-constrained.

Mark

[TaplowGreen]

21:15 Penzance to London Paddington due 05:04

27/04/25 21:15 Penzance to London Paddington due 05:04 will be terminated at Reading.

It will no longer call at London Paddington.

It is being delayed between Castle Cary and Bedwyn and is now expected to be 123 minutes late.
This is due to a fault on this train.