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Brucey
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« Reply #15 on: April 24, 2014, 22:04:53 » |
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Completely decided against the idea of sleeping on a seat and investigated a completely different short break down in Cornwall. Have a solo berth booked PAD» -PNZ for the bargain price of ^49.00, plus ^3.95 for the advance fare from Whittlesford to London.
I know the 1st class lounge at Paddington is available prior to departure, but what time is the train ready to board, given it departs at 23:45?
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JayMac
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« Reply #16 on: April 24, 2014, 22:13:48 » |
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The E.C.S. working of the Sleeper stock is usually timed (weekdays) out of of Old Oak Carriage Sidings at 2121, arriving into Platform 1 at Paddington at 2139.
Boarding time is usually from 2230 at Paddington. Kick back in the lounge with a complimentary coffee and nibbles and relax. Staff there usually inform Sleeper passengers when the service is ready to board.
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"A clear conscience laughs at a false accusation."
"Treat everyone the same until you find out they're an idiot."
"Moral indignation is a technique used to endow the idiot with dignity."
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Brucey
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« Reply #17 on: April 24, 2014, 22:17:30 » |
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Boarding time is usually from 2230 at Paddington. Kick back in the lounge with a complimentary coffee and nibbles and relax. Staff there usually inform Sleeper passengers when the service is ready to board.
Wonderful. I suppose the showers are also available to use prior to boarding? I have 4 hours between arriving at Liverpool Street and departing Paddington, so have quite a bit of time to spare. |
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JayMac
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« Reply #18 on: April 24, 2014, 22:43:24 » |
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Showers are now over the other side of the station, by Platform 12. The facilities there should be open 24 hours, and showers should be complimentary for departing or arriving Sleeper passengers. FGW▸ 's website says: Cabin ticket holders departing or arriving at London Paddington can use the Network Rail showers located on platform 12 available 24 hours a day.
Also bear in mind that the complimentary toiletries on board are very limited. A bar of soap and a hand towel is all. So for your morning freshen up it's best to ensure you have all you need, toiletry wise. |
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"A clear conscience laughs at a false accusation."
"Treat everyone the same until you find out they're an idiot."
"Moral indignation is a technique used to endow the idiot with dignity."
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SDS
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« Reply #19 on: April 24, 2014, 23:41:07 » |
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The new showers over by Platform 12 arnt all that bad. The old ones by Platform 1 you would be dirty as soon as you stepped out of the showers. The old saying "wipe your feet on the way out" springs to mind for the showers on Platform 1.
As for the First Class Lounge, there is an internal briefing that restricts when standard class sleeper customers can use it. I think they will only let standard passengers in from 21:00. It seems that some customers were abusing the facilities and sitting in their from lunchtime!
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I do not work for FGW▸ and posts should not be assumed and do not imply they are statements, unless explicitly stated that they are, from any TOC▸ including First Great Western.
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JayMac
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« Reply #20 on: April 24, 2014, 23:55:12 » |
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I think they will only let standard passengers in from 21:00.
That's basically all Sleeper passengers then. The Night Riviera is effectively single class these days. Yes, you can have a flexible 1st Class travel ticket valid for use on the Sleeper, but all berths are sold as Standard Class regardless of the ticket for travel held, and holding a 1st Class travel ticket gives nothing by way of improved facilities. Except of course the right to sit in the 1st Class Lounge all day if you so wish.  |
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"A clear conscience laughs at a false accusation."
"Treat everyone the same until you find out they're an idiot."
"Moral indignation is a technique used to endow the idiot with dignity."
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Brucey
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« Reply #21 on: April 25, 2014, 20:59:31 » |
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As for the First Class Lounge, there is an internal briefing that restricts when standard class sleeper customers can use it. I think they will only let standard passengers in from 21:00. It seems that some customers were abusing the facilities and sitting in their from lunchtime!
Still plenty of time to relax though. I arrive in Liverpool Street at 19:45, so by the time I find Wetherspoons for Tuesday steak club, get the tube and have a shower, it will definitely be after 21:00. |
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SDS
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« Reply #22 on: April 25, 2014, 23:37:55 » |
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I think they will only let standard passengers in from 21:00.
That's basically all Sleeper passengers then. The Night Riviera is effectively single class these days. Yes, you can have a flexible 1st Class travel ticket valid for use on the Sleeper, but all berths are sold as Standard Class regardless of the ticket for travel held, and holding a 1st Class travel ticket gives nothing by way of improved facilities. Except of course the right to sit in the 1st Class Lounge all day if you so wish. Only Standard Sleeper Berth customers. Its where they corral the customers when the sleeper 57 goes belly up. |
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I do not work for FGW▸ and posts should not be assumed and do not imply they are statements, unless explicitly stated that they are, from any TOC▸ including First Great Western.
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trainer
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« Reply #23 on: April 26, 2014, 19:26:35 » |
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The Night Riviera is effectively single class these days. Yes, you can have a flexible 1st Class travel ticket valid for use on the Sleeper, but all berths are sold as Standard Class regardless of the ticket for travel held, and holding a 1st Class travel ticket gives nothing by way of improved facilities.
Does this mean you cannot have single occupancy on the Night Riviera even with a First Class ticket? |
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Brucey
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« Reply #24 on: April 26, 2014, 19:35:08 » |
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The Night Riviera is effectively single class these days. Yes, you can have a flexible 1st Class travel ticket valid for use on the Sleeper, but all berths are sold as Standard Class regardless of the ticket for travel held, and holding a 1st Class travel ticket gives nothing by way of improved facilities.
Does this mean you cannot have single occupancy on the Night Riviera even with a First Class ticket? Holders of 1st and Standard tickets can purchase a solo sleeper supplement for ^50, or share a berth for ^35. The price is the same regardless of the ticket class held. |
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JayMac
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« Reply #25 on: April 26, 2014, 19:42:07 » |
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Single travellers on the Night Riviera get a single berth, regardless of the class of travel on their ticket. That's why there's little point paying for a 1st Class ticket. If a 1st Class travel ticket is already held then it can of course be used on payment of the berth supplement (at the same rate as for Standard Class ticket holders), but there's no improvement in facilities or the complimentary items offered on board.
The only time you can share on the Night Riviera is if you are travelling with someone known to you. No sharing with strangers, unlike on the Caledonian Sleeper where, to guarantee solo occupancy, you have to pay for a 1st Class ticket and 1st Class berth.
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"A clear conscience laughs at a false accusation."
"Treat everyone the same until you find out they're an idiot."
"Moral indignation is a technique used to endow the idiot with dignity."
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trainer
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« Reply #26 on: April 26, 2014, 22:18:32 » |
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Thank you for your info about travelling as a single, Brucey and BNM. I have held back from using it in the past with a 1st Class All Line Rover because of the uncertainty.
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bobm
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« Reply #27 on: April 27, 2014, 07:46:47 » |
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As we have moved away from discussing just the Caledonian Sleeper services, I have renamed the topic just in the interests of ...er.. what's the phrase Chris from Nailsea uses?  I would also draw your attention to a review posted by bignosemac a year ago which gives more details and photos - http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=12330.0 |
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