Some of you might know that the Caledonian Sleeper operation was recently put up for bids to various Train Operating Companies. The winner was Serco, who will be buying a new fleet (CAF) and rolling out a lot of various modern travel ammenities. This route is analogous to most of the eastern Long Distance trains operated by Amtrak and provides a lot of insight on what could be.
Interestingly, the operation has historically been a long train of sleeper room cars and coaches, that splits to serve various destinations as well as providing a rural commuting service on the north end.
The winning bids from the procurement do call for a subsidy in the time period of the bid (15 years), but it seems that the new equipment is to be turned over at the end of the bid period, so the whole is close to par.
Its a great operation....rode it last year
My understanding is that the operation is subsidized by Scottland.
daveklepper My understanding is that the operation is subsidized by Scottland.
yes check the link in the OP.
One interesting aspect of this operation is that there are 5 northern destinations for this service, each served by its own 2 sets ( one each direction overnight) of equipment, but all having their home shop in Inverness. The sets leave London (Euston) in 2 trains, one for the two lowland destinations and one for the 3 highland destinations. Each set is rotated amoung the 5 destinations, so each set gets to its home shop only every 10 days. At the station before Inverness an inspector boards and goes through the cars identifying interior work that is required.
On one trip happened to sit next to the Inverness shop superintendent in the club car leaving Euston. We struck up a conversation and the next morning he insisted I visit his shop. Interesting place part of which dated to the 1800s and part of which was new.
Then on to a distillery ( but that's another story).
Buslist daveklepper My understanding is that the operation is subsidized by Scottland. yes check the link in the OP. One interesting aspect of this operation is that there are 5 northern destinations for this service, each served by its own 2 sets ( one each direction overnight) of equipment, but all having their home shop in Inverness. The sets leave London (Euston) in 2 trains, one for the two lowland destinations and one for the 3 highland destinations. Each set is rotated amoung the 5 destinations, so each set gets to its home shop only every 10 days. At the station before Inverness an inspector boards and goes through the cars identifying interior work that is required. On one trip happened to sit next to the Inverness shop superintendent in the club car leaving Euston. We struck up a conversation and the next morning he insisted I visit his shop. Interesting place part of which dated to the 1800s and part of which was new. Then on to a distillery ( but that's another story).
Johnny
V.Payne Some of you might know that the Caledonian Sleeper operation was recently put up for bids to various Train Operating Companies. The winner was Serco, who will be buying a new fleet (CAF) and rolling out a lot of various modern travel ammenities. This route is analogous to most of the eastern Long Distance trains operated by Amtrak and provides a lot of insight on what could be. Interestingly, the operation has historically been a long train of sleeper room cars and coaches, that splits to serve various destinations as well as providing a rural commuting service on the north end. The winning bids from the procurement do call for a subsidy in the time period of the bid (15 years), but it seems that the new equipment is to be turned over at the end of the bid period, so the whole is close to par.
The first level of berths does not provide quite as much as a slumbercoach did, but it is superior to a coach seat; likewise the second level of berths. It seems that having your own shower, as well as toilet facilities, is becoming a standard offering for the top level sleepers. I consider that VIA did the best it could in putting one shower in each of the Budd sleepers (except the observation cars) without an extensive reworking of the cars. VIA's Renaissance sleepers have a shower in each deluxe bedroom, but no shower in the other bedrooms (these cars have bedrooms only).
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