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{{Short description|Overnight sleeper train between London and Cornwall}}
{{Infobox Rail companies |
{{italic title}}
bgcolor=ffffff|
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
image_filename=British Rail Mark 3A SLEP 10590 at Penzane.JPG|
{{Use British English|date=June 2013}}
widthpx=300px|
{{Infobox rail service
franchise=N/A|
|box_width =
logo_filename=|
|name = ''Night Riviera''
nameforarea=route|
|logo = Gwrsleeper.png
regions=[[London]]-[[Penzance]]|
|logo_width = 300px
secregions=|
|image = 57603 Night Riviera Sleeper at London Paddington to Penzance 1C99 %2826721388160%29.jpg
fleet=4 [[British Rail Class 57|Class 57]] locomotives<br>[[British Rail Mark 3|Mark 3]] day coaches<br>[[British Rail Mark 3|Mark 3]] sleeper coaches|
|image_size = 300px
stations=16|
|image_alt = 57603 in Great Western Railway livery with the Night Riviera at Paddington
parent_company=[[First Great Western]]|
|caption = [[British Rail Class 57|57603]] in [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]] livery with the {{nowrap|''Night Riviera''}} at [[London Paddington station|Paddington]]
website=www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk|
|type = Overnight passenger train
websitename=www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk|
|status =
}}
|locale =
The '''Night Riviera''' is a [[sleeping car|sleeper]] train service operated by [[First Great Western]]; it is one of only two remaining sleepers on the railway in Great Britain (the other being the [[Caledonian Sleeper]]). It runs six days a week (Mon-Fri and Sun) from [[London Paddington]] to [[Penzance]].
|predecessor =
== Night Riviera Route ==
|first = 11 July 1983
The route operates (as of 11th June 2006)
|last =
{| style="width: 30%; background: none;"
|successor =
|operator = [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]]
|formeroperator = [[InterCity (British Rail)]]
|ridership =
|start = [[London Paddington railway station|London Paddington]]
|stops =
|end = [[Penzance railway station|Penzance]]
|distance = {{convert|305|mi|km|0}}
|journeytime = 7 hours 30 minutes
|frequency = 6 x weekly
|trainnumber = 1C50 (westbound)<br>1A50 (eastbound)
|line_used = {{ubl|[[Great Western Main Line]]|[[Reading to Taunton Line|Reading to Taunton]]|[[Bristol to Exeter line|Taunton to Exeter]]|[[Exeter to Plymouth Line|Exeter to Plymouth]]|[[Cornish Main Line]]}}
|class =
|access =
|seating =
|catering =
|entertainment =
|baggage =
|otherfacilities =
|stock = {{ubl|4 [[British Rail Class 57|Class 57]] locomotives|10 [[Sleeper Either Class|Mark 3 Sleeping]] carriages|8 [[British Rail Mark 3|Mark 3 Seating]] carriages}}
|gauge =
|speed =
|owners =
|routenumber =
|map = [[File:Night Riviera Train Map.svg|250px]]}}

The '''''Night Riviera''''' is a [[sleeping car|sleeper train]] operated by [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]] (GWR). It is one of only two sleeper services on the railway in the United Kingdom (the other being the
''[[Caledonian Sleeper]]'' services between London and Scotland). The ''Night Riviera'' runs six nights a week (Sunday–Friday) between [[London Paddington station|London Paddington]] and [[Penzance railway station|Penzance]] with one train in each direction.

==Background==
The first [[sleeping car]] train on the [[Great Western Railway]] was introduced at the end of 1877 from [[London Paddington station|London Paddington]] to [[Plymouth Millbay railway station|Plymouth]]. This had {{RailGauge|7ft}} [[broad gauge]] carriages with two dormitories, one with seven gentlemen's berths and the other with four ladies' berths. These were replaced in 1881 by new carriages with six individual compartments.<ref>{{cite book| last = MacDermot| first = E T| title = History of the Great Western Railway |edition= 1|volume= 2 (1863-1921)| publisher = [[Great Western Railway]]| year = 1931| location = London}}</ref>

An additional service was soon added from London to [[Penzance railway station|Penzance]] which eventually became known as the ''Night Riviera''. In 1920, the two trains left London at 22:00 for Penzance and midnight for Plymouth;<ref>{{cite book |title= Time Tables |date= 4 October 1920 |publisher= Great Western Railway |location= London }}</ref> by 1947, they had been brought forward to 21:50 and 23:50.<ref>{{cite book |title= Time Tables |date= 6 October 1947 |publisher= Great Western Railway |location= London }}</ref> Under [[British Rail]] sleeping cars were limited to just the Penzance service<ref>{{cite book |title= Western Region Timetable |date= 14 June 1965 |publisher= British Railways |location= London }}</ref> although sleeping cars were detached at Plymouth from the Penzance service until 2006.

==Incidents==
On 22 December 1945 at 00:45, the sleeper service from Paddington collided with the back of the 23.00 hours train from Paddington near Sonning. The engine of the sleeper service was derailed and badly damaged. Four parcel vans on the rear of the 23.00 hours service were badly damaged.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=West-bound Train in midnight crash. Hundreds of Holiday Makers escape injury |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000325/19451222/006/0001 |newspaper=Gloucester Citizen |location=England |date=22 December 1945 |access-date=23 May 2017 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

On 5 July 1978 the up train left Penzance at 21:30 but never reached London. Approaching [[Taunton railway station|Taunton]] early the next morning the emergency brake was activated and it came to a stand short of the station with [[Taunton sleeping car fire|one of the carriages on fire]]. This had been caused by dirty linen that had been placed near a heater, which had been a standard and safe practice before the recent change from steam to electric heating. Twelve people died and thirteen were injured.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Sleeping car blaze |magazine=Railway Magazine |issue=929 |date=September 1978 |page=459 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last= Vaughan |first= Adrian |title= Tracks to Disaster |orig-year= 2000 |year= 2003 |publisher= Ian Allan Publishing |location= Hersham |isbn= 0-7110-2985-7 }}</ref>

==Relaunch in 1983==
[[File:British Rail Mark 3A SLEP 10590 at Penzane.JPG|thumb|left|Great Western Trains livery, which continued to be used by [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|First Great Western]] until 2008]]
On 11 July 1983 the Penzance sleeper was relaunched as the ''Night Riviera'', designed to complement the long-established daytime ''[[Cornish Riviera Express|Cornish Riviera]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=30 years of the Night Riviera |magazine=[[Rail (magazine)|Rail]] |issue=728 |date=7 August 2013 |page=21 }}</ref> New [[Sleeper Either Class|Mark 3 air-conditioned sleeping cars]] were introduced with many safety features that had been lacking in the [[British Railways Mark 1 sleeping car|Mark 1 sleeping car]] that had caught fire at Taunton.<ref name=MR420>{{cite magazine |title=Night Riviera cuts sleeper travel costs |magazine=Modern Railways |issue=420|page=454|publisher=Ian Allan Publishing|issn= 0026-8356|year=1983}}</ref> These were the first on the route with controlled emission toilets, so discharge facilities were provided at [[Laira TMD|Plymouth Laira]] and [[Penzance TMD|Penzance Long Rock]] depots where the carriages were serviced, although for a while the carriages were taken from Paddington to [[Willesden TMD|Willesden Depot]] for discharging as [[Old Oak Common TMD|Old Oak Common]] was not initially equipped.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Abbott|first=James|title=Controlled emission toilets |magazine=Modern Railways |issue=421|page=554|publisher=Ian Allan Publishing|issn= 0026-8356|year=1983}}</ref> A new pricing scheme was also introduced. Instead of paying a sleeping berth supplement on top of the fare for the journey, all-inclusive fares were introduced that were set at competitive rates. The seating carriages that formed part of the train were mainly [[British Rail Mark 2|Mark 2]] carriages.<ref name=MR420/> The train by now was again leaving London at midnight, shown in the timetables as 23:59.<ref>{{cite book |title= British Rail Passenger Timetable |date= 29 September 1986 |publisher= British Railways |location= London }}</ref>

On 23 November 1983, the ''Night Riviera'' derailed on approach to London Paddington with locomotive [[British Rail Class 50|50041]] sliding for 100 metres on its side. There were no casualties.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Rude awakening |magazine=[[Rail (magazine)|Rail Enthusiast]] |date=January 1984 |page=6 }}</ref>

[[Privatisation of British Rail|Privatisation]] saw the service become part of the [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Trains]] franchise in February 1996 and the rolling stock was repainted into its green and white livery. Between 29 May 1995 and 26 September 1998 the service was diverted to [[London Waterloo railway station|London Waterloo]] to provide connection with [[Eurostar]] services.<ref>{{cite web |title = Rail Chronology : Sheepcote Lane Curve, London : its passenger services|url = http://www.avoe05.dsl.pipex.com/Sheepcote%20Lane%20curve.htm|access-date=2011-06-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Confirmation of GW sleepers to Waterloo |magazine=[[The Railway Magazine]] |issue=1129 |date=May 1995 |page=7 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Great Western to axe Eurostar Connection |magazine=Rail |issue=334 |date=1 July 1998 |page=17 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Great Western sleeping car trains return to Paddington |magazine=The Railway Magazine |issue=1170 |date=October 1998 |page=15 }}</ref> In December 1998 Great Western Trains was rebranded First Great Western.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=It's First Great Western |magazine=[[Rail Magazine]]|issue=346 |date=16 December 1998 |page=7 }}</ref>

When the [[Greater Western franchise]] was up for reletting in 2005, consideration was given to withdrawing the service.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Night Riviera under threat but Scottish sleepers are safe |magazine=[[The Railway Magazine]] |issue=1252 |date=August 2005 |page=7 }}</ref> The service was retained, but from December 2006 the carriage detached at [[Plymouth railway station|Plymouth]] was withdrawn as it typically only carried four passengers.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=FGW Ditches Plymouth '08 Turn |magazine=[[Rail Express]] |issue=121 |date=June 2006 |page=32 }}</ref>

The stop at [[Bristol Temple Meads railway station|Bristol Temple Meads]] was also withdrawn, introducing the flexibility to divert the service during overnight engineering works.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Perren|first=Brian|title=First Group's ten-year plans for the Western |magazine=Modern Railways |issue=697|pages=61–66|publisher=Ian Allan Publishing|issn= 0026-8356}}</ref> The Class 47s were replaced in 2004 by four [[British Rail Class 57|Class 57s]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=First Great Western confirms order for at least three ETH Class 57/6s |magazine=Railway Express |issue=84 |date=May 2003 |page=5 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=FGW to hire three 57s for Thunderbird duties |magazine=The Railway Magazine |issue=1227 |date=July 2003 |page=71 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=57602 is first of four Class 57s to be delivered to FGW from Brush |magazine=[[Rail Magazine]]|issue=475 |date=26 November 2003 |page=69 }}</ref>

In 2006 former [[Virgin Trains|Virgin West Coast]] [[British Rail Mark 3|Mark 3 carriages]] replaced the [[British Rail Mark 2|Mark 2 carriages]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Mk3s enter traffic on Cornish sleeper |magazine=Rail |issue=539 |date=10 May 2006 |page=11 }}</ref> They were refurbished by [[Wolverton Works|Railcare, Wolverton]] in 2008 when they were fitted with reclining seats in the first class and repainted in First Great Western's then blue livery.<ref name=MR719>{{cite magazine |last=Marsden|first=Colin|title=Night Riviera refurbished |magazine=Modern Railways |volume=65|issue=719|page=70|publisher=Ian Allan Publishing|year=2008|issn= 0026-8356}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Campaigners applaud FGW sleeper relaunch |magazine=[[Rail Magazine]] |issue=595 |date=2 July 2008 |page=16 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=FGW replaces Mark 2s with Mark 3s on Sleeper |magazine=[[Today's Railways UK]] |issue=55 |date=July 2006 |page=61 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=FGW sleeper gets Mk 3s for Mk 2s |magazine=The Railway Magazine |issue=1263 |date=July 2006 |page=69 }}</ref>

In June 2012, with the Greater Western franchise scheduled for renewal the following year, the [[Secretary of State for Transport]] confirmed the service would continue to be subsidised.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sleeper train from Penzance to capital is saved|url=http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Sleeper-train-Penzance-capital-saved/story-16322181-detail/story.html|access-date=2012-06-09|newspaper=Western Morning News|date=2012-06-09}}{{Dead link|date=April 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

During the course of 2017 and 2018 the entire train was refurbished. This included new standard class seats in the seated coach, and a wheelchair space and toilet. There was a refurbished buffet counter and lounge car. All the sleeper carriages were refurbished, and featured keycard locks, allowing passengers to unlock their own cabins for the first time, new lighting, and a wardrobe, along with underbed storage. There was also a disabled accessible berth and toilet added.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gwr.com/about-us/modernising-gwr/night-riviera |title=New Night Riviera Sleeper Trains |website=Great Western Railway |access-date=1 February 2018 |archive-date=2 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202071544/https://www.gwr.com/about-us/modernising-gwr/night-riviera |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Current operations==
===Route===
{{Night Riviera}}
The westbound service operates with [[headcode]] 1C50, the return 1A50.

From [[Paddington railway station|London Paddington]], the train stops first at {{stnlnk|Reading}} (to pick up only) then a long run without stops to {{stnlnk|Taunton}}. This allows it to use different routes between Reading and Taunton depending on engineering work or other blockades each night:
* [[Reading to Taunton line|the direct line through Westbury]]
* the [[Great Western Main Line]] and [[South Wales Main Line]] via {{Stnlnk|Bristol Temple Meads}}
* the [[Great Western Main Line]] to {{stnlnk|Chippenham}} then via {{stnlnk|Trowbridge}} to rejoin the direct line at Fairwood Junction, {{stnlnk|Westbury}}.
* diverging at Heywood Road Junction, Westbury, via Trowbridge and Bristol.
In exceptional circumstances it can be diverted between {{stnlnk|Castle Cary}} and {{Stnlnk|Exeter St Davids}} via {{stnlnk|Yeovil Pen Mill}}, {{stnlnk|Yeovil Junction}} and {{stnlink|Honiton}}, not calling at Taunton and reversing at Exeter.

After Taunton it continues to {{stnlnk|Exeter St Davids}}, {{stnlnk|Newton Abbot}} and {{stnlnk|Plymouth}}, crossing into [[Cornwall]] and calling at {{stnlnk|Liskeard}} then most stations down the [[Cornish Main Line]] to {{stnlnk|Penzance}}.

The service from Penzance to London is similar but also calls at {{stnlnk|Totnes}} (and omits {{stnlnk|Lostwithiel}} and {{stnlnk|Hayle}} which are served by the train from London to Penzance) and sets down only at Reading.<ref>{{cite web |title=Night Riviera Sleeper |url=https://www.gwr.com/plan-journey/journey-information/on-board/night-riviera-sleeper |publisher=Great Western Railway |access-date=2019-11-04}}</ref>

Sleeper berth passengers have the use of the First Class Lounge waiting facilities at Paddington that are usually reserved for [[First class travel|First Class]] passengers only.<ref name=FGW>{{cite web|title=Night Riviera Sleeper Service |publisher=First Great Western |url=http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=1555 |access-date=2009-10-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090829214915/http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=1555 |archive-date=29 August 2009 }}</ref> There are sleeper lounges for passengers at Truro and Penzance.

===Rolling stock===
[[File:Inside GWR Mark 3 SLEP 10616 (accessible berth).JPG|thumb|The accessible berth introduced in 2018]]
The train is usually hauled by one of four dedicated {{BRC|57}} locomotives. These are [[Remanufacturing|rebuilt]] and re-engined {{BRC|47|cs}} delivered in 2004.

There are two identical rakes of coaches, one operating each way each night. The seated coaches are usually at the Penzance end of the train. Passengers can board the train from 22:40 at Paddington, or remain on board at Paddington in the morning after arrival until 06:45. The train usually arrives and departs from Platform 1 at Paddington.

It usually consists of seven air-conditioned [[British Rail Mark 3|Mark 3]] carriages,<ref name=MR719/> but is eight from Paddington on a Friday night, and from Penzance on a Sunday night. Coaches A and B are seated coaches, C is the Buffet/Lounge Car and the rest are [[Sleeper Either Class|sleeping cars]]. There are wheelchair spaces in coaches B and D. The sleeping cars are generally made up as six single compartments, and six double in each coach. However this can be altered if demand dictates. Passengers pay standard fares with a supplementary charge for a sleeping berth (a single berth is more expensive per person than twin bunk berths).<ref name=FGW/> Alternatively, they can purchase a berth inclusive fare. The coaches have not often been used on any other services. However, on summer Saturdays from 2015 until 2018 the seating coaches from a ''Night Riviera'' set operated a daytime service from {{stnlnk|St Erth}} to {{stnlnk|Exeter St Davids}} and back to {{stnlnk|Penzance}}.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=New loco-hauled turn on FGW |magazine=Today's Railways UK |issue=151 |date=July 2014 |page=64 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=57605 hauls last GWR summer loco-hauled |magazine=Today's Railways UK |issue=203 |date=November 2018 |page=66 }}</ref> Additionally, a ''Night Riviera'' set operated a service to [[Oxford railway station|Oxford]] in February 2010.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=FGW sleeper stock works to Oxford |magazine=The Railway Magazine |issue=1308 |date=April 2010 |page=74 }}</ref>

After the closure of [[Old Oak Common TMD]] in December 2017, [[Penzance TMD]] became the home depot for maintenance of the rolling stock. At the London end, the stock is serviced at [[Reading TMD]]. A second Class 57 is attached to the rear of the London-bound train at {{Stnlnk|Reading}} which then hauls the empty stock back to the depot, the reverse being done with the train from London.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Night Riviera servicing moves to Reading |magazine=[[Railways Illustrated]] |issue=179 |date=January 2018 |page=12 }}</ref>

In January 2022, FirstGroup called for tenders for [[electro-diesel locomotive]]s to replace the Class 57s.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20220126045113/https://www.railjournal.com/fleet/firstgroup-issues-tender-for-bi-mode-locomotives/ FirstGroup issues tender for bi-mode locomotives] ''[[International Railway Journal]]'' 24 January 2022</ref>

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|- style="background:#f9f9f9;"
! rowspan="2" | Class
! rowspan="2" | Image
! rowspan="2" | Type
! colspan="2" | Top speed
! rowspan="2" | Number
|- style="background:#f9f9f;"
! mph
! km/h
|-
|-
| {{brc|57||6}}
| style="background:#153135;" | &nbsp; || [[Paddington railway station|London Paddington]]
| [[File:St Philip's Marsh - GWR 57603.JPG|150px]]
|(2350)
| [[Diesel locomotive]]
| 95
| 152
| 4
|-
|-
| [[British Rail Mark 3|Mark 3]]
| style="background:#153135;" | &nbsp; || [[Reading railway station|Reading]]
| [[File:Long Rock Sidings - GWR Mk3 RFB 10219.JPG|150px]]<br>[[File:Long Rock Sidings - GWR TSO 12142.JPG|150px]]
|(0035 Tu-Fr/0039 Mo)
| [[Passenger car (rail)|Passenger coach]]
| 110
| 177
| 8
|-
|-
|[[Sleeper Either Class|Mark 3 Sleeper]]
| style="background:#153135;" | &nbsp; || [[Taunton railway station|Taunton]]
|[[File:Long Rock Sidings - GWR SLEP 10612.JPG|150px]]
|(''weekdays only'' 0330)
|[[Sleeping car]]
| 110
| 177
| 10
|-
|-
| style="background:#153135;" | &nbsp; || [[Exeter St Davids railway station|Exeter St Davids]]
|(0404 Tu-Fr/0443 Mo)
|-
| style="background:#153135;" | &nbsp; || [[Newton Abbot railway station|Newton Abbot]]
|(0425 Tu-Fr/0506 Mo)
|-
| style="background:#153135;" | &nbsp; || [[Plymouth railway station|Plymouth]]
|(0605)
|-
| style="background:#153135;" | &nbsp; || [[Liskeard railway station|Liskeard]]
|(0631)
|-
| style="background:#153135;" | &nbsp; || [[Bodmin Parkway railway station|Bodmin Parkway]]
|(0645)
|-
| style="background:#153135;" | &nbsp; || [[Lostwithiel railway station|Lostwithel]]
|(0651)
|-
| style="background:#153135;" | &nbsp; || [[Par railway station|Par]]
|(0659)
|-
| style="background:#153135;" | &nbsp; || [[St Austell railway station|St Austell]]
|(0708)
|-
| style="background:#153135;" | &nbsp; || [[Truro railway station|Truro]]
|(0727)
|-
| style="background:#153135;" | &nbsp; || [[Redruth railway station|Redruth]]
|(0741)
|-
| style="background:#153135;" | &nbsp; || [[Camborne railway station|Camborne]]
|(0748)
|-
| style="background:#153135;" | &nbsp; || [[Hayle railway station|Hayle]]
|(0757)
|-
| style="background:#153135;" | &nbsp; || [[St Erth railway station|St Erth]]
|(0802)
|-
| style="background:#153135;" | &nbsp; || [[Penzance railway station|Penzance]]
|(0828)
|}
|}
The service is pulled by four dedicated [[British Rail Class 57|Class 57]] locomotives. The locomotives and rolling stock still bear the original [[First Great Western]] green and gold, and did not receive First's new corporate colours of blue and pink in [[2000]]. In 2006 the Mark 2 day coaches were replaced with newer Mark 3 day coaches formerly operated by [[Virgin Trains]], with the green and gold colours applied to match the rest of the train.


==Amenities==
==See also==
{{Portal|Cornwall}}
The Night Riviera operates First Class and Standard Class. Passengers pay standard fares, with extra charges for sleeping berths (a single berth is more expensive than a double berth); passengers with First Class tickets pay extra for their sleeping berth, but receive complimentary breakfast and newspaper. In addition, sleeper passengers receive the following amenities:
*[[Caledonian Sleeper]]
*Dedicated Service Leader to provide an at-seat food and beverage service

*Air-conditioned sleeper berths
==References==
*A complimentary toiletry pack
{{Reflist}}
*Morning wake up call
*Complimentary newspaper and breakfast for First Class passengers
*Use of First Class Lounge on arrival in Paddington, including complimentary refreshments for all sleeper berth passengers
*Use of showers for sleeper berth passengers upon arrival at Paddington.
*Free taxi transfer from Paddington to [[London Waterloo|Waterloo International]] for Eurostar passengers


==External links==
The Night Riviera was also responsible for pulling the last [[Motorail]] service on British railways; the Friday Night Riviera had special carriages capable of accommodating a number of cars which are pulled as part of the train. This service was only available in the summer from May to September, but was permanently withdrawn after [[2005]].
{{commons category-inline}}
*{{official website|https://www.gwr.com/plan-journey/journey-information/on-board/night-riviera-sleeper}}


[[Category:Named passenger trains of British Rail]]
{{British TOCs}}
[[category:Named passenger trains of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Night trains of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Railway services introduced in 1983]]
[[Category:1983 establishments in England]]

Latest revision as of 21:18, 28 January 2024

Night Riviera
57603 in Great Western Railway livery with the Night Riviera at Paddington
57603 in Great Western Railway livery with the Night Riviera at Paddington
Overview
Service typeOvernight passenger train
First service11 July 1983
Current operator(s)Great Western Railway
Former operator(s)InterCity (British Rail)
Route
TerminiLondon Paddington
Penzance
Distance travelled305 miles (491 km)
Average journey time7 hours 30 minutes
Service frequency6 x weekly
Train number(s)1C50 (westbound)
1A50 (eastbound)
Line(s) used
Technical
Rolling stock
Route map

The Night Riviera is a sleeper train operated by Great Western Railway (GWR). It is one of only two sleeper services on the railway in the United Kingdom (the other being the Caledonian Sleeper services between London and Scotland). The Night Riviera runs six nights a week (Sunday–Friday) between London Paddington and Penzance with one train in each direction.

Background[edit]

The first sleeping car train on the Great Western Railway was introduced at the end of 1877 from London Paddington to Plymouth. This had 7 ft (2,134 mm) broad gauge carriages with two dormitories, one with seven gentlemen's berths and the other with four ladies' berths. These were replaced in 1881 by new carriages with six individual compartments.[1]

An additional service was soon added from London to Penzance which eventually became known as the Night Riviera. In 1920, the two trains left London at 22:00 for Penzance and midnight for Plymouth;[2] by 1947, they had been brought forward to 21:50 and 23:50.[3] Under British Rail sleeping cars were limited to just the Penzance service[4] although sleeping cars were detached at Plymouth from the Penzance service until 2006.

Incidents[edit]

On 22 December 1945 at 00:45, the sleeper service from Paddington collided with the back of the 23.00 hours train from Paddington near Sonning. The engine of the sleeper service was derailed and badly damaged. Four parcel vans on the rear of the 23.00 hours service were badly damaged.[5]

On 5 July 1978 the up train left Penzance at 21:30 but never reached London. Approaching Taunton early the next morning the emergency brake was activated and it came to a stand short of the station with one of the carriages on fire. This had been caused by dirty linen that had been placed near a heater, which had been a standard and safe practice before the recent change from steam to electric heating. Twelve people died and thirteen were injured.[6][7]

Relaunch in 1983[edit]

Great Western Trains livery, which continued to be used by First Great Western until 2008

On 11 July 1983 the Penzance sleeper was relaunched as the Night Riviera, designed to complement the long-established daytime Cornish Riviera.[8] New Mark 3 air-conditioned sleeping cars were introduced with many safety features that had been lacking in the Mark 1 sleeping car that had caught fire at Taunton.[9] These were the first on the route with controlled emission toilets, so discharge facilities were provided at Plymouth Laira and Penzance Long Rock depots where the carriages were serviced, although for a while the carriages were taken from Paddington to Willesden Depot for discharging as Old Oak Common was not initially equipped.[10] A new pricing scheme was also introduced. Instead of paying a sleeping berth supplement on top of the fare for the journey, all-inclusive fares were introduced that were set at competitive rates. The seating carriages that formed part of the train were mainly Mark 2 carriages.[9] The train by now was again leaving London at midnight, shown in the timetables as 23:59.[11]

On 23 November 1983, the Night Riviera derailed on approach to London Paddington with locomotive 50041 sliding for 100 metres on its side. There were no casualties.[12]

Privatisation saw the service become part of the Great Western Trains franchise in February 1996 and the rolling stock was repainted into its green and white livery. Between 29 May 1995 and 26 September 1998 the service was diverted to London Waterloo to provide connection with Eurostar services.[13][14][15][16] In December 1998 Great Western Trains was rebranded First Great Western.[17]

When the Greater Western franchise was up for reletting in 2005, consideration was given to withdrawing the service.[18] The service was retained, but from December 2006 the carriage detached at Plymouth was withdrawn as it typically only carried four passengers.[19]

The stop at Bristol Temple Meads was also withdrawn, introducing the flexibility to divert the service during overnight engineering works.[20] The Class 47s were replaced in 2004 by four Class 57s.[21][22][23]

In 2006 former Virgin West Coast Mark 3 carriages replaced the Mark 2 carriages.[24] They were refurbished by Railcare, Wolverton in 2008 when they were fitted with reclining seats in the first class and repainted in First Great Western's then blue livery.[25][26][27][28]

In June 2012, with the Greater Western franchise scheduled for renewal the following year, the Secretary of State for Transport confirmed the service would continue to be subsidised.[29]

During the course of 2017 and 2018 the entire train was refurbished. This included new standard class seats in the seated coach, and a wheelchair space and toilet. There was a refurbished buffet counter and lounge car. All the sleeper carriages were refurbished, and featured keycard locks, allowing passengers to unlock their own cabins for the first time, new lighting, and a wardrobe, along with underbed storage. There was also a disabled accessible berth and toilet added.[30]

Current operations[edit]

Route[edit]

Night Riviera route map
Legend
 London Paddington
Reading
pick up only westbound, set down only eastbound
 Taunton
no service on Sundays
 Exeter St Davids
Newton Abbot
Totnes
eastbound only
 Plymouth
Liskeard
Bodmin Parkway
Lostwithiel
westbound only
 Par
St Austell
Truro
Redruth
Camborne
Hayle
westbound only
 St Erth
Penzance

The westbound service operates with headcode 1C50, the return 1A50.

From London Paddington, the train stops first at Reading (to pick up only) then a long run without stops to Taunton. This allows it to use different routes between Reading and Taunton depending on engineering work or other blockades each night:

In exceptional circumstances it can be diverted between Castle Cary and Exeter St Davids via Yeovil Pen Mill, Yeovil Junction and Honiton, not calling at Taunton and reversing at Exeter.

After Taunton it continues to Exeter St Davids, Newton Abbot and Plymouth, crossing into Cornwall and calling at Liskeard then most stations down the Cornish Main Line to Penzance.

The service from Penzance to London is similar but also calls at Totnes (and omits Lostwithiel and Hayle which are served by the train from London to Penzance) and sets down only at Reading.[31]

Sleeper berth passengers have the use of the First Class Lounge waiting facilities at Paddington that are usually reserved for First Class passengers only.[32] There are sleeper lounges for passengers at Truro and Penzance.

Rolling stock[edit]

The accessible berth introduced in 2018

The train is usually hauled by one of four dedicated Class 57 locomotives. These are rebuilt and re-engined Class 47s delivered in 2004.

There are two identical rakes of coaches, one operating each way each night. The seated coaches are usually at the Penzance end of the train. Passengers can board the train from 22:40 at Paddington, or remain on board at Paddington in the morning after arrival until 06:45. The train usually arrives and departs from Platform 1 at Paddington.

It usually consists of seven air-conditioned Mark 3 carriages,[25] but is eight from Paddington on a Friday night, and from Penzance on a Sunday night. Coaches A and B are seated coaches, C is the Buffet/Lounge Car and the rest are sleeping cars. There are wheelchair spaces in coaches B and D. The sleeping cars are generally made up as six single compartments, and six double in each coach. However this can be altered if demand dictates. Passengers pay standard fares with a supplementary charge for a sleeping berth (a single berth is more expensive per person than twin bunk berths).[32] Alternatively, they can purchase a berth inclusive fare. The coaches have not often been used on any other services. However, on summer Saturdays from 2015 until 2018 the seating coaches from a Night Riviera set operated a daytime service from St Erth to Exeter St Davids and back to Penzance.[33][34] Additionally, a Night Riviera set operated a service to Oxford in February 2010.[35]

After the closure of Old Oak Common TMD in December 2017, Penzance TMD became the home depot for maintenance of the rolling stock. At the London end, the stock is serviced at Reading TMD. A second Class 57 is attached to the rear of the London-bound train at Reading which then hauls the empty stock back to the depot, the reverse being done with the train from London.[36]

In January 2022, FirstGroup called for tenders for electro-diesel locomotives to replace the Class 57s.[37]

Class Image Type Top speed Number
mph km/h
Class 57/6 Diesel locomotive 95 152 4
Mark 3
Passenger coach 110 177 8
Mark 3 Sleeper Sleeping car 110 177 10

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ MacDermot, E T (1931). History of the Great Western Railway. Vol. 2 (1863-1921) (1 ed.). London: Great Western Railway.
  2. ^ Time Tables. London: Great Western Railway. 4 October 1920.
  3. ^ Time Tables. London: Great Western Railway. 6 October 1947.
  4. ^ Western Region Timetable. London: British Railways. 14 June 1965.
  5. ^ "West-bound Train in midnight crash. Hundreds of Holiday Makers escape injury". Gloucester Citizen. England. 22 December 1945. Retrieved 23 May 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ^ "Sleeping car blaze". Railway Magazine. No. 929. September 1978. p. 459.
  7. ^ Vaughan, Adrian (2003) [2000]. Tracks to Disaster. Hersham: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 0-7110-2985-7.
  8. ^ "30 years of the Night Riviera". Rail. No. 728. 7 August 2013. p. 21.
  9. ^ a b "Night Riviera cuts sleeper travel costs". Modern Railways. No. 420. Ian Allan Publishing. 1983. p. 454. ISSN 0026-8356.
  10. ^ Abbott, James (1983). "Controlled emission toilets". Modern Railways. No. 421. Ian Allan Publishing. p. 554. ISSN 0026-8356.
  11. ^ British Rail Passenger Timetable. London: British Railways. 29 September 1986.
  12. ^ "Rude awakening". Rail Enthusiast. January 1984. p. 6.
  13. ^ "Rail Chronology : Sheepcote Lane Curve, London : its passenger services". Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  14. ^ "Confirmation of GW sleepers to Waterloo". The Railway Magazine. No. 1129. May 1995. p. 7.
  15. ^ "Great Western to axe Eurostar Connection". Rail. No. 334. 1 July 1998. p. 17.
  16. ^ "Great Western sleeping car trains return to Paddington". The Railway Magazine. No. 1170. October 1998. p. 15.
  17. ^ "It's First Great Western". Rail Magazine. No. 346. 16 December 1998. p. 7.
  18. ^ "Night Riviera under threat but Scottish sleepers are safe". The Railway Magazine. No. 1252. August 2005. p. 7.
  19. ^ "FGW Ditches Plymouth '08 Turn". Rail Express. No. 121. June 2006. p. 32.
  20. ^ Perren, Brian. "First Group's ten-year plans for the Western". Modern Railways. No. 697. Ian Allan Publishing. pp. 61–66. ISSN 0026-8356.
  21. ^ "First Great Western confirms order for at least three ETH Class 57/6s". Railway Express. No. 84. May 2003. p. 5.
  22. ^ "FGW to hire three 57s for Thunderbird duties". The Railway Magazine. No. 1227. July 2003. p. 71.
  23. ^ "57602 is first of four Class 57s to be delivered to FGW from Brush". Rail Magazine. No. 475. 26 November 2003. p. 69.
  24. ^ "Mk3s enter traffic on Cornish sleeper". Rail. No. 539. 10 May 2006. p. 11.
  25. ^ a b Marsden, Colin (2008). "Night Riviera refurbished". Modern Railways. Vol. 65, no. 719. Ian Allan Publishing. p. 70. ISSN 0026-8356.
  26. ^ "Campaigners applaud FGW sleeper relaunch". Rail Magazine. No. 595. 2 July 2008. p. 16.
  27. ^ "FGW replaces Mark 2s with Mark 3s on Sleeper". Today's Railways UK. No. 55. July 2006. p. 61.
  28. ^ "FGW sleeper gets Mk 3s for Mk 2s". The Railway Magazine. No. 1263. July 2006. p. 69.
  29. ^ "Sleeper train from Penzance to capital is saved". Western Morning News. 9 June 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2012.[permanent dead link]
  30. ^ "New Night Riviera Sleeper Trains". Great Western Railway. Archived from the original on 2 February 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  31. ^ "Night Riviera Sleeper". Great Western Railway. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  32. ^ a b "Night Riviera Sleeper Service". First Great Western. Archived from the original on 29 August 2009. Retrieved 16 October 2009.
  33. ^ "New loco-hauled turn on FGW". Today's Railways UK. No. 151. July 2014. p. 64.
  34. ^ "57605 hauls last GWR summer loco-hauled". Today's Railways UK. No. 203. November 2018. p. 66.
  35. ^ "FGW sleeper stock works to Oxford". The Railway Magazine. No. 1308. April 2010. p. 74.
  36. ^ "Night Riviera servicing moves to Reading". Railways Illustrated. No. 179. January 2018. p. 12.
  37. ^ FirstGroup issues tender for bi-mode locomotives International Railway Journal 24 January 2022

External links[edit]

Media related to Night Riviera at Wikimedia Commons

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