Night Riviera - merged posts, ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[PhilWakely]

Time to do a survey that shows.

"most passengers would prefer a faster and more frequent daytime service"
"the sleeper is only used by small numbers of customers"
Or some such.

broadgage, you forgot.....
"most passengers would prefer to sleep at their seat" 

[SandTEngineer]

According to info on the WNXX^▸ (Stored Unserviceable, Mainline Locos HQ All Classes) Forum it was caused by a problem with the lounge car (problem not specified).

[broadgage]

That makes a change from the usual "engine failed" but still contributes to a very poor level of service.
And why could the lounge car not be detached and the train run without it if the fault could not be fixed.

[bobm]

Looking at Realtime Trains it looks like the failed set followed the IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) to Reading then carried on to Bristol as empty stock before continuing to Penzance, again just behind the replacement IET.

[LiskeardRich]

I’m told it’s the same loco that fails each time recently. Now in my head I’m thinking why not pull it fix it proper and use a different one.

[Umberleigh]

IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) from Redruth to Penzance this morning, and lingered at Penzance to see only a handful of passengers emerge from First Class, so maybe most made other plans/took the accommodation on offer Still, the host in Sleeper lounge looked apprehensive.

I’ve not used the Sleeper berths in recent years since being a regular user in 2010-12. Sadly, I could not now trust the Sleeper for anything work-related as the chances of a sleepless night in an IET seat are too high.

 

[Umberleigh]

No doubt the generously upholstered seats will be welcome, and perhaps refreshments from the buffet.

More seriously, this level of service is very poor and hardly an inducement to use the service. A cynic might suspect closure by stealth is the intention.
GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) can not readily cease the sleeper as provision is a franchise requirement. Such requirements can however be negotiated  away. Time to do a survey that shows.

"most passengers would prefer a faster and more frequent daytime service"
"the sleeper is only used by small numbers of customers"
Or some such.

Sadly agree.

And of course user numbers will drop when it become set-down only in Cornwall. Convenient

[Timmer]

The issue of the future of the sleeper service might be a good question to ask at the next Meet the MD when that time next comes around.

[broadgage]

The issue of the future of the sleeper service might be a good question to ask at the next Meet the MD when that time next comes around.

Yes, but I suspect that the reply will be;
"We are committed to the Night Riveria sleeper, provision of which is a franchise requirement for the current franchise. In the longer term in conjunction with our industry partners, we will respond to changes in customer travel needs"

Or some such. A cynic like me would interpret that as meaning "we cant ditch it yet, but will do so as soon as we can"

[JayMac]

Who gets the keys to No. 10 will also have a bearing I suspect.

[Umberleigh]

Down Sleeper has failed to appear at Redruth this morning after being reported 10 mins late at Par

The station staff have no idea what has happened.

The following Cross Country is on time, so it can’t be blocking the line

[Umberleigh]

Correction: just showed up unannounced at 07:45

[eightonedee]

Sadly, I don't see it making much difference.

It needs a Settle-Carlisle like campaign, to encourage use as much as put pressure on politicians. Mind you, I have to confess that the only time I have ever used the Night Riviera was when I commuted in the 1980s and knew that a set-down only stop at Reading meant in reality an extra late train (as evidently did quite a few others!). A friend though who regularly visits the Scillies is a regular.

[TaplowGreen]

Could they not just get some more reliable locos?

[JayMac]

Any further investment in the Night Riviera Sleeper is, I suspect, dependant on what happens with the Greater Western franchise.

There may be a direct award for GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) in the first half of 2020. But if GWR and HMG don't reach agreement then we could be looking at a proper franchise competition, which is long overdue. That's if you (and the powers that be) still believe in the existing franchise model.

Of course the potential spanner in the works is the political landscape. How Parliament looks when we all wake up on December 13th will inform the future for rail transport.

My personal preference, regardless of who runs the railways from 2020 and beyond, is for the Sleeper services to and from the South West to be operated by Mk5 SLEPs from CAF, hauled by Class 68s, which can run on both electric and diesel.

The Mk5 SLEPs are now in service on the Caledonian Sleeper franchise. So the Night Riviera can benefit from avoiding the bugs and foibles of introducing new stock. Class 68s have also been around for a while now, hauling Mk5a day carriages for Transpennine Express.

Better all round, I think, for the Night Riviera to go down the route of Class 68s and Mk5s than further life extend the Class 57s and Mk3s.

Ultimately though money and politics talk. The South West of England, unlike Scotland, doesn't have a devolved administration that can finance (aka subsidise) an overnight train service to and from that London. So, for the South West of England, what the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) (and Treasury) say will hold sway.