Caledonian Sleeper: Passengers stranded in Preston after train breaks down

Passengers using the troubled Caledonian Sleeper connecting Scotland with London have suffered another train breakdown that has left them stranded.

The overnight service from Edinburgh and Glasgow to London Euston came to an abrupt halt at Preston “due to a technical fault” – with travellers told they must spend a further £179.50 to reach the English capital by train.

Caledonian Sleeper said: “Our apologies to guests waiting at Preston for onward travel. Due to rail disruption yesterday and knock on issues today, other rail operators are not able to accept sleeper tickets to London. Guests wishing to purchase tickets to London will be reimbursed.”

The two halves of the southbound Lowlander train departed from both Scottish cities on time, and joined at Carstairs. But the train then spent over an hour at Carlisle.

By the time it reached Preston, at 4.38am, the train was 90 minutes late. It was then cancelled. The operator, part of Serco, tried to source coaches to take the passengers the remaining 200 miles to London, saying: “We are currently working on a road transport option to get guests to London.”

But due to the closure of Euston station on Thursday because of a power failure, and intensive rail replacement bus operations, no coaches were readily available on Friday morning.

Normally Virgin Trains would accept Caledonian Sleeper tickets on its service on the West Coast main line from Preston to London Euston.

But the same Network Rail failure meant many travellers postponed their journeys to Friday, and Virgin Trains declined the usual courtesy.

Caledonian Sleeper told customers: “Due to rail disruption yesterday and knock on issues today, other rail operators are not able to accept sleeper tickets to London.

“Guests wishing to purchase tickets to London will be reimbursed.” The peak-time fare to the capital is £179.50.

One passenger tweeted: “I love train travel but this is unbelievably bad. We’ve been told to buy tickets for trains and be reimbursed but not everyone will manage that – it’s £359 for two.”

The Spanish-built trains that were bought to replace sleeper carriages from the 1980s have encountered a series of problems.

The new rolling stock was due to enter service in spring 2018. The launch was first deferred to October 2018, but then delayed by a further six months.

In late April, the inaugural overnight rail journey from Edinburgh and Glasgow to London Euston arrived in the English capital more than three hours late because of Network Rail problems.

In June, “wheel flats” on the new £150m rolling stock were responsible for a series of train cancellations. The damage was caused when the emergency brakes were inadvertently applied.

One contributor to Twitter suggested: “Surely an empty train should follow the sleeper train for the transfer of passengers. It’s better than waiting for a bus.”

Deployment of the new trains on the Highlander service from Aberdeen, Fort William and Inverness has been repeatedly postponed.

Thousands of other passengers on the West Coast main line face problems later on Friday. Virgin Trains is telling travellers: “Delays expected between Oxenholme and Penrith from 12 noon Friday to 12 noon Saturday due to speed restrictions caused by forecast severe weather and heavy rain.”