Oldest trains on the UK national network are on the Isle of Wight
IN reporting that Caledonian Sleeper trains are now the oldest trains in the UK, you confuse average and absolute figures (“Row as Caledonian Sleeper trains now oldest in the UK”, The Herald, December 28). By far the oldest trains in service on the UK national network are those on the Isle of Wight, which date from 1938. However, they form a very small part of the South West Trains fleet, which includes many much newer trains, so the average age is considerably lower. The reported average 41 years old for the Caledonian Sleeper is open to question, given that the Mark 3 sleeping cars were built between 1980 and 1984. There are other trains older than that, including ScotRail’s class 314 fleet, used on the Cathcart Circle and to Paisley Canal. New trains are on order to replace these and the sleeping cars.
Putting this in context, it is quite usual for trains to have a service life of up to 40 years and possibly longer. They can, and often are, refurbished and refitted internally, so that age may not be apparent to the passengers. It is generally reliability of the traction and control equipment or failure to meet modern accessibility standards that determines service life. Gregory Beecroft, 4 The Shores, Skelmorlie. RECENT trips to Germany and Holland have led to trips in trains no newer than what we have here
A quick search throws up build dates going back, like we have, to the late 1970s and 80s.
Yes our trains are far from perfect, but they are not as bad as some critics would have you believe.
As an eternal optimist I wonder if, in say five years, once a lot of the new rolling stock we are being promised is running, the perception of railway travel in Scotland will change. Or are views too ingrained for that to happen? Douglas Jardine, 20 Buchlyvie Gardens, Bishopbriggs. YOUR article on the Caledonian Sleeper was an interesting read for me, particularly as I have just travelled to Forres via Inverness and back by Virgin East Coast. According to your article this train is now 30 years old.
I had booked in first class mainly to have a hot cooked breakfast on our return but this was cancelled three days before our departure and replaced with a festive menu of cold cake and cold sandwiches but no hot food. Indeed yoghurt and satsumas, which were supposed to be on the menu, were a no-show.
As a paying customer I, and presumably others, wanted a hot breakfast not cold fare, but we were not asked beforehand, just presented with the alternative.
The train itself was a disgrace as the door between two of the first class carriages (J and L) would not close because the sensor does not work, apparently, leaving our carriage cold and noisy and toilets would not flush. Indeed we travelled on exactly the same train on Saturday evening to Inverness and then back home again to Falkirk on Tuesday. Whereas the toilet had been cleaned by Tuesday morning the bowl had not been emptied, and the flush was still not working in two of the first class carriages. I know that these carriages predate Virgin taking over the franchise but this particular train needs to be replaced sooner rather than later. Jim Kelly, 4 Charles Drive, Larbert.