Interiors of new Sleeper coaches begin to take shape
Interiors are being fitted to Caledonian Sleeper Mk 5s at Polmadie, ahead of their introduction into traffic this October on the Lowlander service.
Twenty-one coaches have been delivered to the Scottish depot, and are being used for a variety of tests.
The Seated Cars (SCs) have been fitted out, and are awaiting flip-tables. There are 31 seats in these cars (15001-15012), which also feature fittings such as USB, power sockets, LED main lighting, lockable storage and personal reading lights.
There will be increased luggage space aboard the vehicles, and space for six bicycles as well as extra space for cycles in carriers. An accessible toilet is also located in this coach.
CS told RAIL that the need for seated coaches to comply with more stringent Sleeper safety requirements than day coaches dictates the nature of the interior fittings.
The number of rooms in a Sleeper Car (SLC) is ten - two less than a Mk 3 SLEP vehicle, but which takes into account the improved facilities. Six rooms in each Sleeper coach have en suite facilities.
There are also USB and power sockets in each room, and a keycard system for access to the rooms is being introduced.
Each rake will feature an Accessible Sleeper Car complying with the technical specification for Persons with Reduced Mobility - these will feature fully accessible rooms and toilets.
Pod seats were also planned for Mk 5s, but these were removed from the final design owing to problems in achieving crashworthiness compliance. Additional Sleeper coaches were ordered instead.
A rake of five coaches (15001/002, 15301/302/311) began 110mph testing on the West Coast Main Line as far as Lancaster overnight on April 24/25. This will continue as manufacturer CAF needs to complete various slow and highspeed tests before moving on to the next phase of the work. They will also continue running on test to Arrochar & Tarbet on the West Highland Line.
The other 16 coaches are being used for static tests, while their interiors are being assessed and fitted out.
CAF built the stock in northern Spain, and it was shipped to Teesport for movement north. Seventy-five coaches are on order.
A rake of 16 coaches features two units, each of eight carriages that are joined to form a rake. Four rakes per night will be used to serve the London EustonEdinburgh Waverley/Glasgow Central and London EustonAberdeen/Fort William/Inverness routes.