fScotrail sleeper booking - grrr!

[David M]

Andrew Robert Breen wrote in uk.railway
about: fScotrail sleeper booking - grrr!

Just finished an unsatisfactory session of trying to book an out-and-back
on the sleeper. What I want is to pick up the Fort Bill - London sleeper
at Arrochar and jump off at Crewe. fScotrail's PDF timetable, the NatRail
timetable and Hafas all agree that this possible. fScotrail's online
timetable (on the sleepers page) insists that it's not, only allowing
travel on the sleeper as far as Westerton (a bit pointless, that!).

The Westerton stop is to provide a late evening service back from Fort
William, allowing people to spend maximum time out in the countryside
(bearing in mind that in the height of summer, it doesn't start to get
dark until well after 22:00). There is a connecting service to Glasgow
Queen Street. Note that ScotRail's timetables can be a bit quirky, and
it wouldn't surprise me if this was only noted in a footnote, or even
not at all, and you're supposed to "know" to look up the Maryhill line
timetable for the details of that train instead.. ;-(

[Andrew Robert Breen]

Post by David M
Andrew Robert Breen wrote in uk.railway
about: fScotrail sleeper booking - grrr!

Just finished an unsatisfactory session of trying to book an out-and-back
on the sleeper. What I want is to pick up the Fort Bill - London sleeper
at Arrochar and jump off at Crewe. fScotrail's PDF timetable, the NatRail
timetable and Hafas all agree that this possible. fScotrail's online
timetable (on the sleepers page) insists that it's not, only allowing
travel on the sleeper as far as Westerton (a bit pointless, that!).

The Westerton stop is to provide a late evening service back from Fort
William, allowing people to spend maximum time out in the countryside
(bearing in mind that in the height of summer, it doesn't start to get
dark until well after 22:00). There is a connecting service to Glasgow
Queen Street. Note that ScotRail's timetables can be a bit quirky, and
it wouldn't surprise me if this was only noted in a footnote, or even
not at all, and you're supposed to "know" to look up the Maryhill line
timetable for the details of that train instead.. ;-(

It's more that I can't seem to get a booking out of them on the sleeper
from Fort William direct through to Crewe. Their downloadable PDF
timetables say the train is there, that it stops in Arrochar (it can't
bit go through it) and that it stops at Crewe, but there's this insistance
that I've got either change and get an early morning train from Glasgow
or get an earlier train and then catch the Inverness segment of the
sleeper at Stirling. When I suggested that there seemed to be a mis-match
between the sets of information that different bits of the organisation
were putting out and that it might be worth flagging this you'd have
thought I'd suggested something anatomically improbable.

The only thing I can think of is that the sleeper from Fort William might
not be running that particular day, but I couldn't get an answer as to
whether that was the case.

Fufufufu...

[i***@blueyonder.co.uk]

Are you an ABER graduate ?,I am.
I think you will find that the stop at CREWE is a crew stop only,that
is there will be a train crew or loco change but the set is not sure to
stop in the station,but I could be wrong,I am only a railwaymen.

[Paul Mac]

Post by i***@blueyonder.co.uk
Are you an ABER graduate ?,I am.
I think you will find that the stop at CREWE is a crew stop only,that
is there will be a train crew or loco change but the set is not sure to
stop in the station,but I could be wrong,I am only a railwaymen.

The Highland sleeper is an advertised stop at Crewe and also Preston, I have
used it from Westerton to both....

[Andrew Robert Breen]

Post by i***@blueyonder.co.uk
Are you an ABER graduate ?,I am.

Indeed. Class of '86.
The need for the sleeper trip is to get me back to Aber to see this
year's lot graduate, then get me back to my holiday..

Post by i***@blueyonder.co.uk
I think you will find that the stop at CREWE is a crew stop only,that
is there will be a train crew or loco change but the set is not sure to
stop in the station,but I could be wrong,I am only a railwaymen.

The Crewe stop is listed in fScotrail's downloadable timetable:

http://www.firstgroup.com/scotrail/tt/1139320602-WEST%20HIGHLANDS.pdf

and it seems to recognise it for the return journey.

Odd.

[i***@blueyonder.co.uk]

Ok,I am wrong,it did not use to stop at CREWE station,but it seems to
now.
Another question is are they allowed to sell you a ticket to Crewe?

[Yorkie]

Post by i***@blueyonder.co.uk
Ok,I am wrong,it did not use to stop at CREWE station,but it seems to
now.
Another question is are they allowed to sell you a ticket to Crewe?

Why wouldn't they be?

In any case, he doesn't need to buy a ticket off them! He just needs a
berth supplement, the ticket can be bought anywhere.

[Sean]

Post by Andrew Robert Breen

Post by David M
Andrew Robert Breen wrote in uk.railway
about: fScotrail sleeper booking - grrr!

Just finished an unsatisfactory session of trying to book an
out-and-back
on the sleeper. What I want is to pick up the Fort Bill - London sleeper
at Arrochar and jump off at Crewe. fScotrail's PDF timetable, the NatRail
timetable and Hafas all agree that this possible. fScotrail's online
timetable (on the sleepers page) insists that it's not, only allowing
travel on the sleeper as far as Westerton (a bit pointless, that!).

The Westerton stop is to provide a late evening service back from Fort
William, allowing people to spend maximum time out in the countryside
(bearing in mind that in the height of summer, it doesn't start to get
dark until well after 22:00). There is a connecting service to Glasgow
Queen Street. Note that ScotRail's timetables can be a bit quirky, and
it wouldn't surprise me if this was only noted in a footnote, or even
not at all, and you're supposed to "know" to look up the Maryhill line
timetable for the details of that train instead.. ;-(

It's more that I can't seem to get a booking out of them on the sleeper
from Fort William direct through to Crewe. Their downloadable PDF
timetables say the train is there, that it stops in Arrochar (it can't
bit go through it) and that it stops at Crewe, but there's this insistance
that I've got either change and get an early morning train from Glasgow
or get an earlier train and then catch the Inverness segment of the
sleeper at Stirling. When I suggested that there seemed to be a mis-match
between the sets of information that different bits of the organisation
were putting out and that it might be worth flagging this you'd have
thought I'd suggested something anatomically improbable.
The only thing I can think of is that the sleeper from Fort William might
not be running that particular day, but I couldn't get an answer as to
whether that was the case.
Fufufufu...
--
Andy Breen ~ Not speaking on behalf of the University of Wales,
Aberystwyth
"Who dies with the most toys wins" (Gary Barnes)

Are you trying to book sleeper or seated? There is no through seating
accomodation, as the Fort William seated coach does not run beyond Edinburgh
(something to do withtrain length and ETS load). If seated therefore, a
computerised planner would offer the suggestions itappears to be giving you
rather than changing at Edinburgh.

Sean

[DM]

Post by Sean
Are you trying to book sleeper or seated? There is no through seating
accomodation, as the Fort William seated coach does not run beyond
Edinburgh (something to do withtrain length and ETS load). If seated
therefore, a computerised planner would offer the suggestions itappears to
be giving you rather than changing at Edinburgh.

It is possible to book through seats (with the required change in Edinburgh
onto the Aberdeen portion I think) as I've done this on several occasions.
However, the train is reservations only for travel south of Westerton
therefore it may be that the train is fully reserved on the day you wish to
travel hence why the computer says no.

Other possibilities include planned diversions on the day in question?

[Andrew Robert Breen]

Post by DM

Post by Sean
Are you trying to book sleeper or seated? There is no through seating
accomodation, as the Fort William seated coach does not run beyond
Edinburgh (something to do withtrain length and ETS load). If seated
therefore, a computerised planner would offer the suggestions itappears to
be giving you rather than changing at Edinburgh.

Other possibilities include planned diversions on the day in question?

I asked that when the through journey didn't come up. I didn't get an
answer, and was given no hint of where I might be able to get one.
There's nothing listed on their web pages, so far as I can see.

[Andrew Robert Breen]

Post by Sean

Post by Andrew Robert Breen

Post by David M
Andrew Robert Breen wrote in uk.railway
about: fScotrail sleeper booking - grrr!

Just finished an unsatisfactory session of trying to book an out-and-back
on the sleeper. What I want is to pick up the Fort Bill - London sleeper
at Arrochar and jump off at Crewe. fScotrail's PDF timetable, the

It's more that I can't seem to get a booking out of them on the sleeper
from Fort William direct through to Crewe. Their downloadable PDF

Are you trying to book sleeper or seated? There is no through seating
accomodation, as the Fort William seated coach does not run beyond Edinburgh
(something to do withtrain length and ETS load). If seated therefore, a
computerised planner would offer the suggestions itappears to be giving you
rather than changing at Edinburgh.

Sleeper, for certain. I've done seated overnight trains in the distant
past, and that decided me that I was never going to do that again.
What I'm after is a cabin to myself each way. I'd be delighted to
do it on a second class ticket and do the single upgrade. I'd be
quite prepared to do it as a first class return with cabin - if
only they'd let me make the booking!

[Neil Williams]

Post by Sean
Are you trying to book sleeper or seated? There is no through seating
accomodation, as the Fort William seated coach does not run beyond Edinburgh
(something to do withtrain length and ETS load). If seated therefore, a
computerised planner would offer the suggestions itappears to be giving you
rather than changing at Edinburgh.

This might indeed be confusing things, especially if the OP is trying
to book online, as the sleeper stuff is just a bolt-on extension to
Trainline that doesn't always work consistently.

I don't believe any of the online planners would show a journey to Fort
Bill using the sleeper, as you need to change in Edinburgh where the
rest of the train doesn't officially call.

Neil