THE NEW CALEDONIAN SLEEPER - CAF Mk5 'Club' Room Review (Fort William to London)

[@williamhuang8309]

Hopefully, if they retire the Intercity 125s and the 225s, they should put them is service with Caledonian Sleeper.

[@DylansTravelReports]

Nice video! When the Mk5s were first introduced on the Highlander routes, I did notice there was a lot of features broken. Come the last time I travelled with CS in late February, a lot of the problems seemed to have been fixed (although, I remember the showers being stone cold.)

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Glad to hear they are getting better! :) Thanks for the comment.

[@NonstopEurotrip]

My favourite feature is the new washbasins... 🙄

[@DylansTravelReports]

@@NonstopEurotrip 😅

[@KempSimon]

Good to see you correctly describing them as wash basins rather than as "sinks".

[@NonstopEurotrip]

@@KempSimon I like to get my terminology correct 😅

[@hoof2001]

I’m glad they gave you a decent refund. Serco have had months to sort these problems out and been aware of them from the very start in their test runs. It would be so easy to sort out

[@eddo167]

well I must just say if it was so easy, it would of been sorted prior and not be ongoing

[@hoof2001]

eddo167 It was and is. These toilet and shower breakdowns were known from the moment the stock was delivered from Spain. They ran these trains on the entire route for months.pre service. Serco aren’t fit to run a railway imho but I’m glad I cancelled my trip on it. That was when I found out the entire train flat wheeled and all the passengers were bunged on coaches to complete their journeys for hours trundling along on buses: and the it turned out toilets in their club cabins couldn’t be used if you’d had a shower first.

[@alexmcwhirter6611]

@@eddo167 As hoof2001 said Cal Sleeper had more than ample time to resolve these issues. Note that the original start date for the new stock was delayed and there was a further delay before the Highlander routes acquired the new stock.

[@marks238]

Great video. I would love to do this trip someday.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

You should, it's fun! :)

[@RocketJSykes]

that loco is ooold.. remember when they used freightliners?? The livery on the older coaches reminds of of FGW...

[@RocketJSykes]

context: i dont live in the UK

[@Danse_Macabre_125]

Caledonian Sleeper used to be under FSR - First ScotRail - so that explains the old livery. I believe they used Freightliner locos first, then DB Schenker (who had some Class 90s in FSR colours). Now it's GBRf because they have the most Class 92 locos active, and 92s are the only thing with electric train supply powerful enough for 16x MK5 coaches. 92s are used to Glasgow/Edinburgh, North from there it's a 73/9, sometimes with help from a Class 66 as a 66 is a lot more powerful but has no train supply due to being a freight locomotive

[@susanroblin8959]

Good video. Looks like a lovely train ride.

[@DaveSuperThomas]

Best done during the say so that you can enjoy the amazing views of the West Highlands out of the train windows!

[@bagelcrisp]

Your videos make me happy since i litteraly have nothing else to watch im happy there pre-recorded

[@SuperalbsTravels]

I have plenty more to come, glad you like what you see! :)

[@egpx]

You did it in the wrong direction mate! Enjoying the Full Scottish Breakfast as the sun rose whilst the wonderful scenery of the West Highland Line went by was the best part of my trip on the Caledonian Sleeper. Oh, and a cheeky little upgrade from a Club Single to a Caledonian Double room was good too! The shower wasn’t particularly great though.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Sadly the reverse direction could not match my planned timings very well, and was also prohibitively expensive.

[@egpx]

@@SuperalbsTravels That's a shame but not a bad experience anyway. At least you slept through the trains joining up at Edinburgh which is more than I did!

[@egpx]

@Gerry S.S it was quite cold and the pressure was poor. I think that was a common problem, not sure if they’ve fixed it.

[@andrewbutler6477]

Travelled on the service when it had the MK2/3 coaches was a amazing journey the only.time I have had a shower on a train was on a valleys pacer with a leaky roof 😊

[@DMTrainspotting]

Brilliant video, well made and lots of useful information. may even go on these one day now lol (or a similar one)

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Thanks so much, hopefully one day! :)

[@RocketJSykes]

this might seem like spam, but maybe kids will plug up the sink to fill it up then unplug it to hear the gurgle of the water draining

[@danielboulton98]

I personally wouldn't bother paying extra for the shower as there are showers at many of their lounges in the stations and as you've mentioned the ones on board have been plagued with issues.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

I was lucky, as this was actually £25 LESS than a normal room. Of course in this case, it was worth the 'downgrade'. ;)

[@MomentsInTheSky]

That lounge is certainly nicer than the one I reviewed in Aberdeen earlier this year. Nice video..cheers

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Thanks glad you enjoyed! What's the Aberdeen lounge like?

[@MomentsInTheSky]

It’s very basic, lacking any atmosphere and the showers are long since abandoned. It’s not somewhere I’d return to (the lounge I mean, not Aberdeen itself!)

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Wow, the Fort William lounge is quite the opposite, with it being totally on brand for the new service!

[@RocketJSykes]

@@MomentsInTheSky Abberdeen is awesome

[@ianferguson2125]

The shower problem was probably due to a lack of water discipline buy those on board. The train can only carry so much water

[@JackJackProductions]

The door buttons sound like the ones on the Class 345 Aventra and 710 Aventra

[@SuperalbsTravels]

I see, thank you for telling me.

[@bagelcrisp]

I love your videos you have inspired me when this whole virus is over to do my own travel videos

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed. Look forward to when it's all over. :)

[@rrbrail7284]

Great video very informative :)

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Thanks barbs, glad you enjoyed! :)

[@wilfbm9067]

Great video, I took this trip in late January before the whole covid thing really kicked off and it was perfect, we were meant to be in seated on the northbound journey but due to the coach having issues we were upgraded free of charge to a classic room. We then travelled back down south from fort william in club and the experience is absolutely fantastic. Ps.Have you considered doing a trip on the night Rivera operated by GWR as I have heard nothing but good things about it.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Thanks. Sounds like you had a lovely time. I'll do the GWR sleeper as soon as I am able to. 😁

[@lewis72]

So funny if they put you all on the Class 156 (?) for the overnight journey !

[@SuperalbsTravels]

I think I might cry. :(

[@lewis72]

Superalbs Travels Better than a 101. I hated those things !

[@tomcarr1358]

Your can get apps for showing noise and harshness of ride which you could have used on your recent Hitachi ride to Penzance. Your reviews should include those assessments as they are part of the comfort factor.

[@DanielsUKT]

Great trip report I do hope to try out CAL sleeper wheter that be going London to Scotland or vice versa and also the GWR night riviera too it's good they had an ensuite shower and toilet but that must have been kinda a deal breaker that the toilet didn't work in the morning Anyway I've notice your subs are growing at a fast rate so you would probably be at 2K in a few weeks

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Thanks, growth has been great! Glad you enjoyed - hopefully you'll be able to try it out one day... 🙁

[@DanielsUKT]

@@SuperalbsTravels no probs I hope to try if out in the next few years....

[@TWLB1015]

Great Video!

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed. :)

[@kentcountryside10]

Nice

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed.

[@pxsrrail2558]

Great review! Presumably your departure would have been slightly delayed due to a fault in that mk5 coach still in the sidings - it would have had to be removed. Hope this helps

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Glad you enjoyed. I'm not entirely sure what the delay was for, but that coach was there all day.

[@TGSUK_Productions]

Fantastic review of the Cally sleeper. Reverting to start about the train being late and the solo Mk5 at Fort William, when they first entered service they had so many faults it’s madness where some of the coaching stock wouldn’t work properly so shorter sets would be use and this case that has happened which may have explain why it was late leaving Fort William. Don’t know if that is strictly true or not but it’s been a recurring theme since they did enter service. But anyways a good video nonetheless

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed. :)

[@joelharris1335]

The retro class 86 you saw at Rugby is numbered 86 259 and is called 'Les Ross'. The loco is also based in Rugby!

[@cephalopod7300]

Named after the Birmingham radio presenter?

[@joelharris1335]

Yes indeed! :)

[@Danse_Macabre_125]

Les Ross on one side, Peter Pan on the other if I remember correctly

[@patriciamatthews9390]

👍👍👍

[@Andrewjg_89]

I want to go ride on the new Mk5 Caledonian Sleeper carriages that CAF have manufactured. The Mk5 and Mk5A carriages are very modern, air-conditioned and have lots more features inside them. Including free Wifi.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Fantastic stock when it works. :)

[@ianferguson2125]

There is a sink plug so you can have a shave in the morning

[@broadway254]

Still can't get my head around why they didn't manufacture it in the U.K

[@fetchstixRHD]

CAF (or any other manufacturer except Bombardier) didn’t have a UK factory when these were ordered, and I don’t think Bombardier could (or had the interest to) manufacture sleeper coach stock. That said, the rush to build trains in the UK now is only a political move, and I have no faith that these factories that manufacturers are rushing to build would survive that long. There are only so many new trains you can build which would have an actual need (although that said the Sprinters will need to be replaced soon, so there’s probably an opportunity there...)

[@penninetrains1398]

Great video....but it's a pity you didn't have dinner in the restaurant car before going go bed. That would have been good to review.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

One of my biggest regrets! -_- I try to always use a restaurant carriage for a video nowadays, otherwise you're missing out such a big part of the experience. I recently used the restaurant carriages in my Polish videos, which are coming soon.

[@stevegardner713]

The Cornish Riviera and 3 other trains each day still served a "Pullman" full breakfast, lunch or dinner until late 2019 - all made fresh on board and it was superb, especially the Fillet steak - hope the evening meal was good on here as I want to take this train next year when its running again. BTW - newer Hitachi trains put onto the train that runs on the same route and times as the Cornish Riviera serves a Trolley if you get what I mean and that's only in one half of the train. I was told that GWR promised that there would still be a Club or Restaurant Car facility on the newer trains as had been offered by Hitachi but GWR didn't want them.

[@stevegardner713]

PS - does the Fort William section have a Club/Restaurant car? I hope they do, but it means that this combined train "Highlander" to Fort William, Inverness and Aberdeen needs 3 Club cars each way each day and there's 2 each way for the Lowlander. That adds up to 10 Club Cars per night (plus a spare?). Anyone know how this works?

[@nikscape2993]

When was this recorded?

[@RocketJSykes]

why isn't there drinking water on a SLEEPER, for goodness sake

[@class56trainsrock62]

Is there ever going to be a mark 6 coach

[@stevegardner713]

This was made in Spain by CAF I think, (and delivered very late). By the time that we need a new Mk6 coach it will probably be made in China....... but on time.

[@vanillasplash6198]

6:15 im guessing thats for washing face / shaving

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Fair enough, makes sense!

[@brayand8022]

Note:The door opening sounds are the ones on the class 345!

[@SuperalbsTravels]

I see, thanks for the information!

[@DanielsUKT]

The 397a have the same sound too on the doors!

[@s125ish]

Nice one , want to do this route in cabin. Did you pay or parents?

[@SuperalbsTravels]

This was paid for by myself.

[@theodraws5887]

Best video so far!

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Thank you, glad you liked it! :D

[@NSE465]

I think mk5s are lovely

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Yes, the night variant of them at least! :)

[@NSE465]

@@SuperalbsTravels indeed. The 5a's are weird. That DVT is not my type and looks like a redesigned voyager. Not clever on CAF's part. Caledonian Sleeper's mk5s are fab.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Indeed.

[@amranium]

6:11 probably for if you wanted to shave and re-rinse the razor during your shave

[@mikewinn1484]

I was hoping for a shower scene.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Sorry pal. ;)

[@rizkyfajarfarhansyah3847]

1.The train departs late but able to fix it, it's a good thing 2.Yes,I agree the card appearance could be added with nice color a bright red would be nice 3.does it have wifi connection? 4.The hallway seems quite narrow and it doesn't nice for fat passengers (no offence for fat passenger) 5.why don't you use the shower in another place? Is it possible?

[@SuperalbsTravels]

1. Yeah it was on-time by the end of the journey. 2. Yep, a special Caledonian Sleeper design would be nice, seems a bit bland at the moment. 3. I believe it does, but I did not use it. 4. Lol. 5. The showers are in the rooms, I don't think the other passengers would appreciate that.

[@rizkyfajarfarhansyah3847]

@@SuperalbsTravels okay

[@rizkyfajarfarhansyah3847]

@@SuperalbsTravels so what's the next trip if I may ask?

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Next video is Wuppertal Schwebebahn in Germany.

[@rizkyfajarfarhansyah3847]

@@SuperalbsTravels ok

[@RocketJSykes]

why is older stock always better?

[@Lexzim9098]

10:51 I thought Mk5 coaches were noisy. I think he said it was quiet because he was wearing ear plugs.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

I didn't find it to be notably noisy. All sleeper trains have some element of noise, because they are trains.

[@Lexzim9098]

@@SuperalbsTravels Hello. You do make a fair point, but I think it depended on what carriage you were in (e.g. the Club car would be the most noisiest; while your ensuite room would be much quieter). Did you have a pleasant ride with Caledonian Sleeper overall with Mk5? Which do you prefer is better: the new Mk5 or the older Mk3 carriages?

[@davidfoster3979]

hi i went from fort william on the old stock fell asleep only to hear banging ans staff shouting on edinburgh platform as they shunted different portions to the train haS THIS STOPPED NOW ?

[@s125ish]

david foster they still divide and sort it in Edinburgh matey

[@davidfoster3979]

​@@s125ish hi seen a couple of clips saying they had full 8 hour kip so is it better now

[@SuperalbsTravels]

I was at the end of my portion, and I slept fine. Maybe that's just me though?

[@Zuuu40]

What your end music called

[@omegamezle]

Classy: ah yes Me: *sees orange juice and a plastic cup* yes

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Orange juice is a drink of the gods! 🙌

[@journeysofjames1116]

Cool video. When was this recorded may I ask?

[@dsintel6652]

It was recorded on the 11th of April, and yes he was breaching lockdown rules.

[@journeysofjames1116]

@@dsintel6652 Okay. 😐😐😐

[@alexmcwhirter6611]

@@dsintel6652 April 11 ? Strange as Cal Sleeper said it was suspending the route towards the end of March. www.scotsman.com/health/coronavirus/coronavirus-scotrail-services-be-halved-monday-2502866

[@alexmcwhirter6611]

@@journeysofjames1116 Was April 11 correct ? Services were changed at the time of lockdown. www.sleeper.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/

[@shaun5436]

You would have thought that if it was during lockdown there wouldn't be so many people at 14:48 😉

[@LowBudgetKiwi]

Think you mean currently not in service, not is no longer in service...

[@NonstopEurotrip]

First 😚

[@SuperalbsTravels]

😲

[@Wakeful]

Shall I make you an intro?

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Thanks for the offer, but I am fine. :)

[@4tonyg4]

Why

[@Sierraomega1991]

The cars get shuffled about at Edinburgh so the restaurant car will move

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Yep, that confused me lol. 😁

[@Collected1]

So am I right in saying the three Scotland services all have their own restaurant car which then becomes one car once the services join up at Edinburgh? And vice versa going North? I've been wondering how that works.

[@lamborghinihexagons5502]

13:15 my profile pic! :D

[@KempSimon]

It still seems strange to see that most quintessentially Southern Region locomotive - the Class 73 Electro-Diesel - so far away from its natural home "south of the river" where the unprotected, top-contact Conductor Rail supplying 3,200 Amps @ 750 +/_ 700 Volts DC still reigns supreme! I'm sure that there's room within the body shell of a Class 73 to fit a Pantograph and a Transformer, which would give these powerful and versatile little Bo-Bo's the ability to go literally anywhere on the national rail network. Albeit at a sedate 90mph!

[@SuperalbsTravels]

It's a nice novelty! :)

[@peterdeutscher1442]

Such poor service for one of a freight train at the front, no backwards create of freight. Where are they happen on this at the back, hm?? See 1:24sec. Must be two freight train at the front and the back as well, it will be kept to run on time, NOT one of a freight train. Why is only one of freight train all the time?

[@RWL2012]

if by "freight train" you mean *locomotive*, one locomotive is of sufficient power for this train. any delays are not due to the train being underpowered.

[@peterdeutscher1442]

@@RWL2012 Is front got it locomotive train. But where other one missing last at the back? Looks like single train, no way return back down? Is one of locomotive train is cause very poor condition on service. It's not good to aim to improvement line isn't.

[@Reddsoldier]

@@peterdeutscher1442 There's only 2 services a day each way and they're all separate trains so there's no need for this service to be turned around quickly. When the train gets to the other end, it is taken out of service to be cleaned before going out the other way that evening from what I understand. Rather than an efficient way to get from one end of the country to the other, this is intended primarily as a luxury option aimed at tourists primarily.

[@Danse_Macabre_125]

If I take the guess that this absolute word salad is you asking why there is no locomotive on the other end, then it's because one is plenty powerful enough and this thing doesn't need to be turned around quickly at termini. Remember, for a loco on either end of a rake to be powered, you'll need to through-wire the coaches, like on an InterCity 125. You could stick a DT/DVT on the back, like on an LNER IC225, Chiltern silver set or a TPX Nova 3, but - again - no need as there's no quick turn around times.

[@simonlippitt5595]

you said the shower was great, so why the hell did you get half your money back..... your conning the train company to get money back off them.. disgusting

[@Lexzim9098]

10:27 From other reviews, many said the shower was absolutely freezing! 😳

[@shaun5436]

I also had a cold shower on my sleeper experience, which we politely informed them of in an email. Didn't ask for any compensation, just wanted to notify them of the issue. They gave us a half refund anyway, which is presumably what happened here. How is that conning?

[@euroguy393]

Nothing disgusting at all about him receiving some money back. He said that in the morning the shower (and also most of the toilets) were not working. For me, being able to have a shower once out of bed is a pretty essential start to the day. If the shower provided is not working, receiving some money back is perfectly fair

[@rrbrail7284]

Not really tho is it, you pay for a product you get to use it as many times as you want not rocket science.

[@rabd9881]

oh no what is the poor helpless train company going to do now