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{{Short description|Overnight sleeper train between London and Cornwall}}
{{italic title}}
{{italic title}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2013}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox rail service
{{Infobox rail service
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|image = 57603 Night Riviera Sleeper at London Paddington to Penzance 1C99 %2826721388160%29.jpg
|image = 57603 Night Riviera Sleeper at London Paddington to Penzance 1C99 %2826721388160%29.jpg
|image_size = 300px
|image_size = 300px
|caption = [[British Rail Class 57|57603]] at [[London Paddington station|Paddington]] in [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]] colours.
|image_alt = 57603 in Great Western Railway livery with the Night Riviera at Paddington
|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]]
|type = Overnight passenger train
|type = Overnight passenger train
|status =
|status =
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|stops =
|stops =
|end = [[Penzance railway station|Penzance]]
|end = [[Penzance railway station|Penzance]]
|distance = 305 miles
|distance = {{convert|305|mi|km|0}}
|journeytime = 7 hours 30 minutes
|journeytime = 7 hours 30 minutes
|frequency = 6 x weekly
|frequency = 6 x weekly
|trainnumber = 1C50 (westbound)<br>1A50 (eastbound)
|trainnumber = 1C50 (westbound)<br>1A50 (eastbound)
|line_used = [[Great Western Main Line|Great Western]]<br>[[Reading to Taunton Line|Reading to Taunton]]<br>[[Bristol to Exeter line|Taunton to Exeter]]<br>[[Exeter to Plymouth Line|Exeter to Plymouth]]<br>[[Cornish Main Line|Cornish]]
|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 =
|class =
|access =
|access =
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|baggage =
|baggage =
|otherfacilities =
|otherfacilities =
|stock = 4 [[British Rail Class 57|Class 57]] locomotives<br>10 [[British Rail Mark 3|Mark 3 Sleeping]] carriages<br>8 [[British Rail Mark 3|Mark 3 Seating]] carriages
|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 =
|gauge =
|speed =
|speed =
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|map = [[File:Night Riviera Train Map.svg|250px]]}}
|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 three sleeper services on the railway in the United Kingdom (the others being the two ''[[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.
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==
==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>
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.
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 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>


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==Relaunch in 1983==
==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]]
[[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 [[British Rail Mark 3|Mark 3]] air-conditioned sleeping cars were introduced with many safety features that had been lacking in the [[British Rail Mark 1|Mark 1]] carriages 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 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>
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 |issue=346 |date=16 December 1998 |page=7 }}</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>
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 |issue=475 |date=26 November 2003 |page=69 }}</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 |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 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>
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 2017/8 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 }}</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==
==Current operations==
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===Rolling stock===
===Rolling stock===
[[File:Inside GWR Mark 3 SLEP 10616 (accessible berth).JPG|thumb|The accessible berth introduced in 2018]]
[[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. They follow the tradition of [[Great Western Railway]] [[GWR 4073 Class|Castle Class]] steam locomotives that once worked the route by carrying the names of castles in Devon and Cornwall:
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.
*57602 ''[[Restormel Castle]]''
*57603 ''[[Tintagel Castle]]''
*57604 ''[[Pendennis Castle]]''
*57605 ''[[Totnes Castle]]''


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.
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]]<ref name=MR719/> carriages, but is 8 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 carriages. There are wheelchair spaces in coaches B and D. The sleeper coaches are generally made up as 6 single compartments, and 6 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/> Or can purchase a berth inclusive fare. They have not often been used on any other services. 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> 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>
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>
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"
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
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|-
|-
| [[British Rail Mark 3|Mark 3]]
| [[British Rail Mark 3|Mark 3]]
| [[File:Long Rock Sidings - GWR SLEP 10612.JPG|150px]]<br>[[File:Long Rock Sidings - GWR Mk3 RFB 10219.JPG|150px]]<br>[[File:Long Rock Sidings - GWR TSO 12142.JPG|150px]]
| [[File:Long Rock Sidings - GWR Mk3 RFB 10219.JPG|150px]]<br>[[File:Long Rock Sidings - GWR TSO 12142.JPG|150px]]
| [[Passenger car (rail)|Passenger coach]]
| [[Passenger car (rail)|Passenger coach]]
| 110
| 110
| 177
| 177
| 18
| 8
|-
|[[Sleeper Either Class|Mark 3 Sleeper]]
|[[File:Long Rock Sidings - GWR SLEP 10612.JPG|150px]]
|[[Sleeping car]]
| 110
| 177
| 10
|-
|-
|}
|}

==See also==
⚫
{{Portal|Cornwall}}
*[[Caledonian Sleeper]]


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
⚫
{{Portal|Cornwall}}
{{commons category-inline}}
{{commons category-inline}}
*{{official website|https://www.gwr.com/plan-journey/journey-information/on-board/night-riviera-sleeper}}
*{{official website|https://www.gwr.com/plan-journey/journey-information/on-board/night-riviera-sleeper}}

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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