Coach class on the Caledonian sleeper? Avoid it!
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Date: 2024-01-09
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Comments and reviews: 35
-video125com
In my wide railway experience and having had to use the seat coach to Glasgow due to no berths being available, I have to agree. The seating coach looks great but boy it is a very bad design. The seats are shockingly uncomfortable. They DON'T recline, they are SOLID seats. The seat squab does move a couple of inches but that is no help. People on my one and only trip (NEVER AGAIN) were having to lie out ON THE FLOOR because they could not get comfortable. What is just as bad is the ride quality. Shocking. Noisy, clanky, bogie rattle all night long. give me a mk3 or even mk 2 any time. Caledonian, you should get one of your senior managers to try it out. You would then make the decision to REPLACE all the seats with comfortable ones that ACTUALLY RECLINE. If you need to maintain the same number of seats in the coach, then I suggest people would rather have 2 plus 2 (4 abreast) with decent recline rather than 2 plus 1 without recline. These coaches will be around for decades. Do it now for the sake of your passengers.
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In my wide railway experience and having had to use the seat coach to Glasgow due to no berths being available, I have to agree. The seating coach looks great but boy it is a very bad design. The seats are shockingly uncomfortable. They DON'T recline, they are SOLID seats. The seat squab does move a couple of inches but that is no help. People on my one and only trip (NEVER AGAIN) were having to lie out ON THE FLOOR because they could not get comfortable. What is just as bad is the ride quality. Shocking. Noisy, clanky, bogie rattle all night long. give me a mk3 or even mk 2 any time. Caledonian, you should get one of your senior managers to try it out. You would then make the decision to REPLACE all the seats with comfortable ones that ACTUALLY RECLINE. If you need to maintain the same number of seats in the coach, then I suggest people would rather have 2 plus 2 (4 abreast) with decent recline rather than 2 plus 1 without recline. These coaches will be around for decades. Do it now for the sake of your passengers.
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-Ben-xe8ps
Why the Americanisation? 'Coach' class? In the UK?
Why avoid? If you can't afford the sleeping car or want to save money and avoid an overnight in a hotel or both, this is an excellent product. What more do you want in this class of accommodation for this price? 1 X 2 seating arrangement is normal UK Inter City FIRST CLASS seating so for what was presumably a standard class fare very good. Amenity kit, menu with at seat service. Excellent. For an overnight seated journey, this was excellent. If you want to lie flat and sleep, pay for a sleeper! Otherwise take a daytime train. It will be 2 X 2 in standard class, you will have to pay for 1st class to get 1 X 2 like this. You won't get the amenity kit or an at seat catering menu like this either.
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Why the Americanisation? 'Coach' class? In the UK?
Why avoid? If you can't afford the sleeping car or want to save money and avoid an overnight in a hotel or both, this is an excellent product. What more do you want in this class of accommodation for this price? 1 X 2 seating arrangement is normal UK Inter City FIRST CLASS seating so for what was presumably a standard class fare very good. Amenity kit, menu with at seat service. Excellent. For an overnight seated journey, this was excellent. If you want to lie flat and sleep, pay for a sleeper! Otherwise take a daytime train. It will be 2 X 2 in standard class, you will have to pay for 1st class to get 1 X 2 like this. You won't get the amenity kit or an at seat catering menu like this either.
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-travelbuzz1
Great video, Thibault! Sorry you weren't able to sleep much, though.
While I'd never book a seat in an overnight train (since a journey from Inverness to London in non-aircon Mk2s, my sleeper experience wasn't much better. I went from London to Aberdeen in July: booked a Classic room in the middle of the carriage which should have meant a better night's sleep. Got to Euston and was told that my room didn't have any water and I'd be upgraded to a Club Room (ensuite, which was at the end of the carriage. So I got an awful night's sleep and the water wasn't heating up either.
It won't put me off night trains, though. One of the Nightjets is planned next!
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Great video, Thibault! Sorry you weren't able to sleep much, though.
While I'd never book a seat in an overnight train (since a journey from Inverness to London in non-aircon Mk2s, my sleeper experience wasn't much better. I went from London to Aberdeen in July: booked a Classic room in the middle of the carriage which should have meant a better night's sleep. Got to Euston and was told that my room didn't have any water and I'd be upgraded to a Club Room (ensuite, which was at the end of the carriage. So I got an awful night's sleep and the water wasn't heating up either.
It won't put me off night trains, though. One of the Nightjets is planned next!
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-AnubhabKundu
I think you took a big risk. Now get to your home or hotel and take a good 9-10 hours sleep.
Further I am a railfan from India, and I too have one overnight journey video. The train I was on board is almost 1. 5 centuries old Darjeeling Mail service. The train got late during the last leg of the journey. due to track maintenance work. The coach was a 3 tier AC sleeper coach. India has 16 car Vande Bharat Express trains that can do 160 kmph and are fully AC chair cars, like the ones you travelled in for this trip report.
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I think you took a big risk. Now get to your home or hotel and take a good 9-10 hours sleep.
Further I am a railfan from India, and I too have one overnight journey video. The train I was on board is almost 1. 5 centuries old Darjeeling Mail service. The train got late during the last leg of the journey. due to track maintenance work. The coach was a 3 tier AC sleeper coach. India has 16 car Vande Bharat Express trains that can do 160 kmph and are fully AC chair cars, like the ones you travelled in for this trip report.
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-awaldron1949
C'mon Thibault, what did you expect in an overnight trip. Have you ever flown coach class in an overnight plane trip? If you are not the type who can easily sleep on these types of trips, don't do it.
I just flew back from Seattle to Detroit on a red eye in comfort class and it was excruciating. But I knew that going in. I would have flown first class if there were seats available. If you can't handle the cheap seats, take the bus.
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C'mon Thibault, what did you expect in an overnight trip. Have you ever flown coach class in an overnight plane trip? If you are not the type who can easily sleep on these types of trips, don't do it.
I just flew back from Seattle to Detroit on a red eye in comfort class and it was excruciating. But I knew that going in. I would have flown first class if there were seats available. If you can't handle the cheap seats, take the bus.
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-simonholley4110
I travelled from London Euston to Aviemore in September of last year on the Coach service of the Sleeper. I have used the Caledonian Sleeper service for several trips over about 20 years. I prefer the beds, but have used the seats when the beds were not available. The old style seats were much more comfortable than the new ones, although the train was in need of refurbishing, clean and well maintained and run, but looking worn.
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I travelled from London Euston to Aviemore in September of last year on the Coach service of the Sleeper. I have used the Caledonian Sleeper service for several trips over about 20 years. I prefer the beds, but have used the seats when the beds were not available. The old style seats were much more comfortable than the new ones, although the train was in need of refurbishing, clean and well maintained and run, but looking worn.
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-gordon1545
Unfortunately the cabins in the new Caledonian sleeper are horribly expensive. They're for tourist 'experiences', not regular travel. I used to use them often for work; since the new sleeper it has been cheaper to take an evening train and stay in a hotel. If I had to travel overnight again I might think about the bus, which was better than the seats in the your video when I last took it. 25 years ago.
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Unfortunately the cabins in the new Caledonian sleeper are horribly expensive. They're for tourist 'experiences', not regular travel. I used to use them often for work; since the new sleeper it has been cheaper to take an evening train and stay in a hotel. If I had to travel overnight again I might think about the bus, which was better than the seats in the your video when I last took it. 25 years ago.
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-jonhartley
Trains in the UK are let down by 'ironing board' seats, and a lack of understanding what First Class should mean. The Caledonian trains are in general very good - but could be so much better. They could start by getting rid of rattles, and then strap the seat designer into one of his/her seats for the journey! Bet they'd change them then. This was a good and fair report - thank you.
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Trains in the UK are let down by 'ironing board' seats, and a lack of understanding what First Class should mean. The Caledonian trains are in general very good - but could be so much better. They could start by getting rid of rattles, and then strap the seat designer into one of his/her seats for the journey! Bet they'd change them then. This was a good and fair report - thank you.
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-fatwalletboy2
Hell how noisier could they make them. sounds like a dentists drill is constantly whirring.
Dont like the decor or lighting. It could be much more subdued to give a greater chance of some shut eye. the lighting looks extremely bright so no chance of that. I am no designer but i could have put a much more condusive interior spec together to ensure a comfortable seated trip.
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Hell how noisier could they make them. sounds like a dentists drill is constantly whirring.
Dont like the decor or lighting. It could be much more subdued to give a greater chance of some shut eye. the lighting looks extremely bright so no chance of that. I am no designer but i could have put a much more condusive interior spec together to ensure a comfortable seated trip.
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-pikachu8508
Modern trains in UK are awful. Rides are incredibly bumpy, lighting are too bright, seats are hard even in first class. I watched someone's IET review, some seats came off after months into service, and structure integrity were so awful that it looked like it built with cardboards. Yeah, don't forget those infamous ironing board seats on those Thameslink class 700 Desiros.
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Modern trains in UK are awful. Rides are incredibly bumpy, lighting are too bright, seats are hard even in first class. I watched someone's IET review, some seats came off after months into service, and structure integrity were so awful that it looked like it built with cardboards. Yeah, don't forget those infamous ironing board seats on those Thameslink class 700 Desiros.
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-tengsted
On the old sleeper, you still could get a decent kip in any berth, now you have to be picky, and if I can't get the one I want, I'm not going.
The seats don't look an upgrade either. I've done the old sleeper in the seats and never again. Even more so on CAF, (Cheap As F) cars. Nasty rattly things.
Such a shame the pods that were promised never materialised.
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On the old sleeper, you still could get a decent kip in any berth, now you have to be picky, and if I can't get the one I want, I'm not going.
The seats don't look an upgrade either. I've done the old sleeper in the seats and never again. Even more so on CAF, (Cheap As F) cars. Nasty rattly things.
Such a shame the pods that were promised never materialised.
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-LetsMakeaTrip
There-s no way I-d travel in the seats overnight - even to make a video! As a light sleeper anyway, I have enough difficulty sleeping in the cabins tbh. Re: the dining car being closed due to staff shortages, this happened to us when we last used this service and seems quite a common problem. For the price you pay, they should really sort this out.
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There-s no way I-d travel in the seats overnight - even to make a video! As a light sleeper anyway, I have enough difficulty sleeping in the cabins tbh. Re: the dining car being closed due to staff shortages, this happened to us when we last used this service and seems quite a common problem. For the price you pay, they should really sort this out.
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-russellgxy2905
Another win for Amtrak. Even though they use the same types of passenger cars in the Northeast, they understand that the seats shoudl be different. The Amfleet cars used on the Northeast Regionals and other intercity routes have VERY different interiors to the Amfleets used on the overnight trains, and the latter are better off for it.
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Another win for Amtrak. Even though they use the same types of passenger cars in the Northeast, they understand that the seats shoudl be different. The Amfleet cars used on the Northeast Regionals and other intercity routes have VERY different interiors to the Amfleets used on the overnight trains, and the latter are better off for it.
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-ozgirl45
Good video!
It-s amazing that the most fundamental element of a coach, namely comfortable seating, is a such a fail here. What were they thinking? Arriving before 8am would not be much use if you are basically in zombie condition. I assume extremely cheap fare is worth it for some travellers but I would prefer to travel during the day.
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Good video!
It-s amazing that the most fundamental element of a coach, namely comfortable seating, is a such a fail here. What were they thinking? Arriving before 8am would not be much use if you are basically in zombie condition. I assume extremely cheap fare is worth it for some travellers but I would prefer to travel during the day.
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-kevanhubbard9673
Try the Fort William section, seated coaches only go to Inverness and Aberdeen so the FW passengers have to get out in Edinburgh at 0400 and change to a seated carriage shunted on! FW to/from London is beds only guessing it must be something to do with the length of the train?
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Try the Fort William section, seated coaches only go to Inverness and Aberdeen so the FW passengers have to get out in Edinburgh at 0400 and change to a seated carriage shunted on! FW to/from London is beds only guessing it must be something to do with the length of the train?
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train
To be honest, I think the clue is in the name - Caledonian 'Sleeper'. It is primarily a sleeper train and is marketed as such. If you need to travel overnight to/from London, and choose a seat over a berth, then this train certainly beats the only other alternative. a bus! -
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To be honest, I think the clue is in the name - Caledonian 'Sleeper'. It is primarily a sleeper train and is marketed as such. If you need to travel overnight to/from London, and choose a seat over a berth, then this train certainly beats the only other alternative. a bus! -
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-lorijohnston4311
I've journeyed on the Caledonian from Edinburgh to London but in a sleeper car. Cannot imagine doing it in a coach seat.
Thank you for taking the hit for the rest of us. It's a beautiful train but 10 hours overnight is too much for coach.
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I've journeyed on the Caledonian from Edinburgh to London but in a sleeper car. Cannot imagine doing it in a coach seat.
Thank you for taking the hit for the rest of us. It's a beautiful train but 10 hours overnight is too much for coach.
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-Sayitlikitiz101
The -mall-ification- of historical buildings is exactly the type of vulgar mercantilism you would expect from the UK. Next, they'll open a Ladbrokes store amongst the dolmens in Stonehenge. I already see the punchline: Lucky Rocks! It's sad.
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The -mall-ification- of historical buildings is exactly the type of vulgar mercantilism you would expect from the UK. Next, they'll open a Ladbrokes store amongst the dolmens in Stonehenge. I already see the punchline: Lucky Rocks! It's sad.
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-gharwood1356
So, they need to fix the rattles and noises and acquire some seats with better padding and a good amount of recline. Not rocket science, is it. Or, maybe, fit double bunks with curtains instead of the seats and call it couchette class?
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So, they need to fix the rattles and noises and acquire some seats with better padding and a good amount of recline. Not rocket science, is it. Or, maybe, fit double bunks with curtains instead of the seats and call it couchette class?
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-SteamboatWilley
I took the seated coach on the sleeper to London from Glasgow back in 2013 or thereabouts because my employers were paying for it, so naturally got the cheapest tickets. Never again! Getting a proper bed is highly recommended.
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I took the seated coach on the sleeper to London from Glasgow back in 2013 or thereabouts because my employers were paying for it, so naturally got the cheapest tickets. Never again! Getting a proper bed is highly recommended.
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-mitchellheard8981
Honestly, I have no idea why they still offer coach seats on a sleeper train.
Why not go down the Amtrak route and offer roomettes with seats that fold into beds and bunks? Or couchette rooms for those on short journeys?
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Honestly, I have no idea why they still offer coach seats on a sleeper train.
Why not go down the Amtrak route and offer roomettes with seats that fold into beds and bunks? Or couchette rooms for those on short journeys?
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-railfangig6699
Considering that we live in modern times and the trains look all nice and shiny, I think I would have preferred to travel in an old Mk 1 carriage stretched out in a compartment with the lights on dim and the heating on full.
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Considering that we live in modern times and the trains look all nice and shiny, I think I would have preferred to travel in an old Mk 1 carriage stretched out in a compartment with the lights on dim and the heating on full.
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-parigino48
6: 22 The haggis with neeps (-swedes- or -rutabagas-) and tatties (potatoes) in a whisky cream sauce sound very appetizing! Good on Caledonian Sleeper for including traditional Scots dishes on their menu!
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6: 22 The haggis with neeps (-swedes- or -rutabagas-) and tatties (potatoes) in a whisky cream sauce sound very appetizing! Good on Caledonian Sleeper for including traditional Scots dishes on their menu!
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-cherylsemrau4375
They allow pets on the train? We have a Carstairs in Alberta, Canada. When on a plane I lean forward and use the tray to -lie- on. That's how I sleep. I would love to go on this sleeper train.
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They allow pets on the train? We have a Carstairs in Alberta, Canada. When on a plane I lean forward and use the tray to -lie- on. That's how I sleep. I would love to go on this sleeper train.
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-tcraigh1
Sorry to hear that the seated accommodation is bad. A few years back I had seated accommodation in one of the old mk2s between Carlisle and Euston, it was very nice and I got a great nights sleep!
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Sorry to hear that the seated accommodation is bad. A few years back I had seated accommodation in one of the old mk2s between Carlisle and Euston, it was very nice and I got a great nights sleep!
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-Meela234
I knew when I laid eyes on those seats it wasn't going to be a comfortable sleep. The seat pitch is not enough for long distance and the cushions are very thin. Thanks for a great video tho.
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I knew when I laid eyes on those seats it wasn't going to be a comfortable sleep. The seat pitch is not enough for long distance and the cushions are very thin. Thanks for a great video tho.
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-nickmorgan1690
Are you going to try Amtrak's long distance coach class? I did it when I went around the US. it wasn't terrible. More often I ended up sleeping in the lounge car on one of the couches
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Are you going to try Amtrak's long distance coach class? I did it when I went around the US. it wasn't terrible. More often I ended up sleeping in the lounge car on one of the couches
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train
I always knew the emblem had to do with the Highland deer. but thanks to you, I only just noticed that 1 antler had 3 prongs, and the other antler, 2 prongs ( and the reason for it! )
Thanks
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I always knew the emblem had to do with the Highland deer. but thanks to you, I only just noticed that 1 antler had 3 prongs, and the other antler, 2 prongs ( and the reason for it! )
Thanks
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-ametrinemoon
Hope you enjoyed my local city! No no no was better sleeping on the HSTs south. I have done the full journey from london to aberdeen during the day. Not been on the new hitachi's yet.
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Hope you enjoyed my local city! No no no was better sleeping on the HSTs south. I have done the full journey from london to aberdeen during the day. Not been on the new hitachi's yet.
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-PakaBubi
Took a trip between Aberdeen and London on the sleeper car. It was a fun experience, but didn't get much sleep. I loved the dining car. I had a 3 course dinner wine and everything.
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Took a trip between Aberdeen and London on the sleeper car. It was a fun experience, but didn't get much sleep. I loved the dining car. I had a 3 course dinner wine and everything.
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-grahamlavers8128
I have travelled on the sleeper from London to Inverness, but in the old stock and in a bed, I had a good nights sleep as well. Didn-t know anything about any stops we made
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I have travelled on the sleeper from London to Inverness, but in the old stock and in a bed, I had a good nights sleep as well. Didn-t know anything about any stops we made
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train
I tried the seat service in sept, which was cold and the lights where far too bright not to mention the ironing board seats.
My bike by contast had a darker and warmer experience.
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I tried the seat service in sept, which was cold and the lights where far too bright not to mention the ironing board seats.
My bike by contast had a darker and warmer experience.
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-TPWSProductions
Staff are still needed inbetween the coaches to couple/uncouple the electrical connections, all the scharfenburg does is stops the nasty lurching of a buckeye coupler.
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Staff are still needed inbetween the coaches to couple/uncouple the electrical connections, all the scharfenburg does is stops the nasty lurching of a buckeye coupler.
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-amtrakharry
That was and interesting trip although like you said lights, rattles, and seats = Fail. -
Thank you for sharing this video with us.
Stay safe out there. -
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That was and interesting trip although like you said lights, rattles, and seats = Fail. -
Thank you for sharing this video with us.
Stay safe out there. -
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-awdrifter3394
The seat pitch and almost no reclining is rough for a 10 hr journey. Are the UK train bodies narrower than US? It feels so narrow from the video.
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The seat pitch and almost no reclining is rough for a 10 hr journey. Are the UK train bodies narrower than US? It feels so narrow from the video.
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