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Were there ever sleeper trains in Ireland?

  • 12-08-2012 11:58pm
    #1
    n97 mini
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,295 ✭✭✭


    I see two sleeper services run in the UK, and was wondering did any ever exist here. I realise it's highly unlikely given that even now most of the rail network shuts down ridiculously early.


Comments

  • #2
    Mr Simpson
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,332 ✭✭✭Mr Simpson


    Is there a line long enough in Ireland to have warranted one. The sleeper services in the UK are Scotland to London, thats a long way.


  • #3
    n97 mini
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,295 ✭✭✭n97 mini


    My parents were extensive rail users in the 40s and 50s and going on what they said rail travel was on the slow side.

    I would have thought that (especially prior to partition) a Cork to Belfast sleeper was feasible.


  • #4
    Mr Simpson
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,332 ✭✭✭Mr Simpson


    Google is throwing up nothing on this. I'm intrigued now, lets hope theres someone here with an answer.


  • #5
    Losty Dublin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,258 ✭✭✭✭Losty Dublin


    They were tried a couple of times in the long ago past but they were a flop and quietly retired. To work well, you need a lot of long haul trips, bunk bed carriages and passengers willing to pay for long haul trips in lieu of flights an hotels. And even in the UK and Europe, it's no cash cow.
    n97 mini wrote: »
    I see two sleeper services run in the UK, and was wondering did any ever exist here. I realise it's highly unlikely given that even now most of the rail network shuts down ridiculously early.


  • #6
    Judgement Day
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,549 ✭✭✭✭Judgement Day


    Rosslare to Sligo via the WRC and Burma Road would take long enough to justify a sleeper service. :D


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  • #7
    Partizan
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 629 ✭✭✭Partizan


    Judgement Day wrote: »
    Rosslare to Sligo via the WRC and Burma Road would take long enough to justify a sleeper service. :D

    Sleeper service?? more like suspended animation.


  • #8
    Losty Dublin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,258 ✭✭✭✭Losty Dublin


    Judgement Day wrote: »
    Rosslare to Sligo via the WRC and Burma Road would take long enough to justify a sleeper service. :D

    Four Poster; one poster for each passenger :D


  • #9
    gobnaitolunacy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,073 ✭✭✭gobnaitolunacy


    I think the MGWR had a short-lived one, something like seats that could convert to a bunk or something.


  • #10
    bmaxi
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,859 ✭✭✭bmaxi


    Judgement Day wrote: »
    Rosslare to Sligo via the WRC and Burma Road would take long enough to justify a sleeper service. :D

    Yeh, you could make your Communion is Rosslare and arrive in Sligo in time for your Confirmation. Maybe IE should market that :)


  • #11
    end of the road
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,381 ✭✭✭✭end of the road


    we still have sleeper trains, the western railway TGV and the alan kelly bullit train. oh, ehh, wait, no, now, come to think of it, i'm wrong there, we don't have sleeper trains. ah for god sake dougal, i'm sorry ted, i just thought we had them so i thought i'd mention them.

    I'm very highly educated. I know words, i have the best words, nobody has better words then me.



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  • #12
    zagmund
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,501 ✭✭✭zagmund


    Off topic(ish) . . . the two remaining sleepers are Paddington to Penzance (which isn't really far enough, so they leave really late) and Euston to assorted bits of Scotland. I've been on both with the kids over the years.

    I have a vague recollection of theie being a Holyhead-Euston sleeper back in the day - it would have been the early-mid 80s when I got the boat and train over to London while in school/college. I didn't get the train, but I seem to remember there being a sleeper. Anyone else remember that ?

    z

    [edit] - I forgot to add . . . there's still plenty of sleepers across Europe and I'm pretty sure they are still making money - they are adding new routes, fares are relatively 'ok' given that you are getting transport and accommodation. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EuroNight & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_Night_Line. There are also private/charter sleeper trains - we got one from Schipol to Zell am See a few years back - sure beats passing through Salzburg on a winter Saturday morning.


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