Night Riviera - merged posts, ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[bobm]

I agree the sleeper is a great way to travel.  I have used it four times since Christmas.

I have not had a problem on any of those trips - apart from on one occasion someone trying to claim my berth, but it turned out they were a day early!

The challenge with the sleeper is it relies on limited resources which need to be at the extreme ends of GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)'s operating area six nights a week.  Therefore it doesn't take much cause a problem.

[Missenden-Mike]

Thank you Grahame, as you say it makes news when it goes wrong, hence my attempt to provide a little balance.

We probably won't use it again though, it was an itch that we wanted to scratch and it well and truly ticked the box for us.

[Surrey 455]

We travelled back on the 09:47 which arrived into Paddington a couple of minutes early, but it's not quite as relaxing as the sleeper 

I hope the 0947 was on a different day. I'd want at least a day to explore the area before I returned.

I have not had a problem on any of those trips - apart from on one occasion someone trying to claim my berth, but it turned out they were a day early!

Earlier this month at Schipol two young ladies were turned away from my flight at the gate because they were a month early. The ticket barriers into airside let them through apparently.

[Missenden-Mike]

I hope the 0947 was on a different day. I'd want at least a day to explore the area before I returned.

Ha! Yes, we came back on Sunday morn 

[TaplowGreen]

Rough weather? 


21:45 Penzance to London Paddington due 05:08


21:45 Penzance to London Paddington due 05:08 will be starting late from Penzance.
This is due to train crew being delayed.

[bobm]

The 15:06 from London Paddington which the TM^‡(resolve) for the sleeper, at least, catches from Exeter to work the train was terminated at Plymouth after being delayed at Newton Abbot for over half an hour and then skipping Totnes due to mechanical problems.

[bobm]

Eventually left 58 minutes late.  Inconvenient for those waiting at stations in Cornwall, but should make up the time by London.

[Umberleigh]

Travelled back from Truro to Exeter on the sleeper last night after a sunny day in Falmouth. Had a seat booked in coach A, which was the original 2 + 1 layout, and although the interior was somewhat jaded, it was a most comfortable 2.5 hours in a wide, reclining seat with some wine and nibbles.

However, I  also checked out the second seating coach, which had been refurbished and can best be described as "high density". Whilst very smart in the green livery, it felt claustrophobic and a retrograde step backwards in terms of comfort and privacy, with barely any tables and rows of airline seats squashed together.

The investment in the sleeper is hugely welcome, but not this new seat layout.

[Adelante_CCT]

(Not a problem but wasn't worth starting a new thread..)

Any reason why the sleeper will be spending some days at Reading depot from October?

5A40
5C99

[grahame]

(Not a problem but wasn't worth starting a new thread..)

Any reason why the sleeper will be spending some days at Reading depot from October?

5A40
5C99

Getting used to its new home when OOC^▸ (Old Oak Common (depot)) closes

New refurbed carriages have systems not supported at OOC and at present can only be emptied at Longrock

[rower40]

(Not a problem but wasn't worth starting a new thread..)

Any reason why the sleeper will be spending some days at Reading depot from October?

5A40
5C99

Getting used to its new home when OOC^▸ (Old Oak Common (depot)) closes

New refurbed carriages have systems not supported at OOC and at present can only be emptied at Longrock

It's also to allow those Cornwall-to-Reading passengers who missed their 0421 wake-up call, and find themselves at Paddington, to remain on board for a civilized 0845 alighting.
This post may contain traces of untruth

[LiskeardRich]

New refurbed carriages have systems not supported at OOC^▸ (Old Oak Common (depot)) and at present can only be emptied at Longrock

Like the toilets which are stinking by the time it returns to Penzance. 36 hours of toilet smells lovely....

[BBM]

Last night I had my first-ever journey on the Night Riviera, travelling from PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) to PNZ behind 57602. There was no problem with timekeeping, it arrived 2 minutes early at PNZ, indeed according to RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) it was 30 minutes early at Taunton. (RTT reports that the previous night's service was 20 minutes early at Taunton but had become 60 late by Exeter).

I enjoyed the new experience and I managed to get a good amount of sleep even though the leading bogie of the coach had a somewhat annoying wheelflat. It was worse at lower speeds and the first part of the journey to RDG^‡(resolve) involved a fairly slow trundle along the DR so I thought it might keep me awake all night. However once the train got up speed the thumping from the wheel became less noticeable and I got some shut-eye.

I was in an unrefurbished coach so the cabin was looking a little tired but it was clean and comfortable and my only gripe was that the wash basin was a little smelly when the top was open. The breakfast was tasty but small, however I discovered a 'fry-up' place close to PNZ station so I filled up there.

Overall a good and very different type of rail journey, hopefully I'll do it again some time!

[Chris from Nailsea]

The breakfast was tasty but small, however I discovered a 'fry-up' place close to PNZ station so I filled up there.

Member 'broadgage' will no doubt be pleased with your news, BBM. 

[old original]

Not so good this morning...

07/09/17 21:45 Penzance to London Paddington due 05:11 will be terminated at Taunton.
It will no longer call at Reading and London Paddington.
It has been previously delayed, is being further delayed at Tiverton Parkway and is now expected to be 300 minutes late.
This is due to a fault on this train.