Caledonian Sleeper train review: My verdict. Our classic cabin was functional and perfectly adequate; and certainly more comfortable than economy class flying. For other queries, you should find the information on our website, or you can e-mail us . Is it worth upgrading or downgrading from the Classic Room? Thank you for subscribing to updates from Caledonian Sleeper well keep in touch with you via our e-newsletter! The Caledonian Sleeper service is a train service operated by Serco that runs overnight between London and various destinations in Scotland, including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness, and Fort William. This service runs on the West Coast Main railway line from London Euston to 5 Scottish locations on the Northbound services with Southbound services running in the opposite direction.. Complimentary sleep kit (ear plugs, mask). That all depends on where youre going. (This is to be reduced to 2 hours from 1st April 202). Therefore, the Scottish Government chose Serco Transport to procure and develop a modern, market-driven concept developed for both business and private travellers and tourists. You can buy National Rail tickets from ticket machines at stations, which can apply discounts for Disabled Persons Railcard holders. Caledonian Sleeper is the collective name for overnight sleeper train services between London and Scotland, in the United Kingdom.It is one of only two currently operating sleeper services on the railway in the United Kingdom, the other being the Night Riviera which runs between London and Penzance.. A sleeper service has been run along the West Coast Main Line since 24 February 1873. In fact, we arrived at the leisurely time of 9:57 am, so it wasnt really an early start! The Caledonian Sleeper, the night train between London and Scotland, was in 2014 in need of a fresh start. He writes extensively and is a contributor and presenter on CPD conferences in the UK and overseas. NOTE: Northbound travellers between London Euston and Fort William have to change seats at Edinburgh Waverley train station from one train to another. The sleeper service will be the second rail operation to be taken into state hands in Scotland in recent times. On both occasions, I stayed in a Classic Room. These cookies do not store any personal information. Scottish Conservative transport spokesperson Graham Simpson criticised the decision and said: The minister agreed that the sleeper has surpassed any other train company in the UK in its recovery from the pandemic and was thriving and a world class service. We rode the Caledonian Sleeper Train in a Caledonian double bed from London to Glasgow. It has been announced today that the Caledonian Sleeper service will move into public hands. Want to stay informed about the latest developments with Caledonian Sleeper? MINISTERS have confirmed they are to nationalise the key Caledonian Sleeper service which operates overnight . Multiple at seat charging point or socket. If neither of you feel comfortable going on the top berth you should opt for the double. This follows the announcement on 5 October 2022 of the Scottish Government's decision to terminate Serco's Franchise Agreement on 25 . For the same reasons, the Flexible tickets was also not an option. A top tip is to ask the first host you can and ask them to direct you to the correct host who will have your name and booking on a list. Read and find out! This follows the announcement on 5 October 2022 of the Scottish Governments decision to terminate Sercos Franchise Agreement on 25 June 2023. Yes. If you try and book two weeks before you travel, theres a very good chance your ideal accommodation wont be available. It was impossible for two people to be in there wearing backpacks though! If the Caledonian Double is out of reach, the Club Room is also a great choice. Wheelchairs/Scooters. + Free Scotland packing list for ALL SEASONS, + 5-step guide to planning a trip of a lifetime, + Monthly newsletter with helpful travel tips. On our trip we opted for the nachos and sliders. I was looking at the Staff T&Cs for travel on the Sleeper, and the RDG website tells me only to book First Class (single occupancy birth and what not) only if I have the First Class entitlement. I took the overnight Caledonian sleeper service from Edinburgh south to London Euston on 25th February, travelling in a Club Solo Room. Our guide contains our review of the service plus practical tips and advice to make the most of your trip on one of the most popular train journeys in the world. The three sections terminate at Aberdeen, Inverness and Fort William. Caledonian Sleeper Train, London: See 178 reviews, articles, and 116 photos of Caledonian Sleeper Train, ranked No.2,587 on Tripadvisor among 2,587 attractions in London. Our latest 2023 vacation brochure is now available. The routes to Glasgow and Edinburgh are too short to fully enjoy. The Fort William train stops at Helensburgh Upper, Rannoch, Corrour and Crianlarich. 5 Of The Best Cycling Routes In Scotland For Epic Views, Complete Scotland Packing List: What To Wear For Every Season, 9 Best Scotland Small Group Tours You Need To Book (2022), Isle of Skye 2 Day Itinerary: Amazing Things To Do, 12 BEST Day Hikes In Scotland You Need To Experience, The Best Cyprus Itinerary for a Long Weekend (Or More!). On board Host service See below under Boarding the train. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. There is a Lowlander route between London and Glasgow and Edinburgh, and a Highlander route to Aberdeen, Inverness and Fort William. The food was delicious, but it was expensive and the portions were a little on the small side. Call button for at seat service food and drink (menu provided at the seat). The Scottish government has announced . I justify it by seeing it as one nights accommodation and transport rolled into one. He added: "Most importantly, this would have allowed the Scottish government to compare the price of such an award with that of their arm's length operator of last resort company.". Scottish Conservative transport spokesperson Graham Simpson said Caledonian Sleeper had offered a world class service under Serco. You are using an out of date browser. The Caledonian Sleeper services will be provided by the Scottish government from the expiry of the current Caledonian Sleeper franchise on June 25, 2023. . Theres secure storage space for up to six bikes in the Seated Carriage. Then three individual trains then travel onwards to Fort William, Aberdeen and Inverness. I would recommend getting there in good time to guarantee a seat as its not huge. Transport Scotland. Did I sleep? We started off with a sandwich platter (four sandwich quarters), mac n cheese and a vegetable soup with crusty bread. It was a bit of a scramble making sure we had packed everything up hint, dont unpack all your belongings in the tiny room! Caledonian Sleeper 2023. The current fleet of trains, launched in the Eighties to transport people between London and Scotland overnight, has undergone a . The line technically has two routes the Highlander and the Lowlander with the train splitting into sections depending on where its going. The decision to end Serco's contract came after the company tried to renegotiate the deal through a "rebase clause", to put the loss-making service on "a more sustainable financial footing". However, arriving in London at seven in the morning was not the one. The Rail, Maritime and Transport union, which represents many Sleeper staff, renewed its call for nationalisation on Friday after the impending statement was announced. Prize winners will receive a welcome bottle of champagne upon arrival and enjoy a return trip in either a Caledonian Double or Club room [], Caledonian Sleeper has entered into a partnership with North Coast 500, voted one of the worlds top coastal touring routes. If youre wondering about WIFI, yes there was but it wasnt particularly fast when we tried to watch a film. Serco had unsuccessfully attempted to renegotiate its Caledonian Sleeper contract last year. JavaScript is disabled. You are using an out of date browser. There are 2 types or categories of purchased sleeper tickets available for all services for general ticket sales, the Flexipass is for a collective purchase: (information from the Caledonian Sleeper Homepage 13/12/2021). If that were the case, I would skip the Club Room and go for the Caledonian Double upgrade from a bunk to a double bed! The fastest the Caledonian Sleeper can get to its destination is the route to Glasgow which takes 7.5 hours and the longest route, to Fort William, is almost 13 hours. Caledonian Sleeper rail service to be nationalised. Train lovers like ourselves always prefer rail travel to any other form of travel, not just for the considerable advantages over other modes of transport but also for the environmental benefits. dram of malt whisky in the Club Car. The Scottish Government has announced it will take over providing Caledonian Sleeper services following the expiry of the current franchise on 25 June this year. In a statement to MSPs, Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth said an arm's length company of the government would take over the franchise on 25 June. Caledonian Sleeper - Staff Travel Tickets. Cheapest option available for passengers by buying a valid train ticket through any regular ticket outline/outline. Single journey ticket purchases, you buy 2 tickets for a return journey. Strictly speaking, it is two services. Guest Service Centre All travel information, regarding planning, booking tickets, berths and all questions regarding accessibility can be provided to help guests to make their own choices. For more information, read our privacy policy. Sleeper trains run between London Euston and Scotland in both directions ( The Caledonian Sleeper ), and between London Paddington and Cornwall in both directions ( Great Western Railway's Night Riviera Sleeper ). For the Caledonian Sleeper, its not necessarily because of the price rather availability. We were surprised to know that we could board the Caledonian Sleeper quite early before our train departed. The Caledonian Sleeper is to be taken into public ownership later this summer, the transport secretary has announced. I had arranged my travel through Byway Travel who handled all the bookings for me. Boston Spa, The Scottish Government will provide the services from June 25, 2023 after it decided to axe the current operator Serco's . With Caledonian Sleeper, you get to say goodnight to queuing, and wake up to something different while you travel between Scotland and London. Northbound from London Euston, the Lowlander Route takes the Caledonian Sleeper to Carstairs where it splits off and travels to Edinburgh Waverly and Glasgow Central. So, did the sleeper train live up to my expectations? It wasnt an issue with the facilities. Includes 2 adjacent berths which sleep 4 in total, Accessible twin or double from 140 (London Edinburgh or Glasgow) or from 170 (London north of Edinburgh or Glasgow). The train starts boarding around 8:30. The one big downside is that although you get a slight discount on the room overall, the cost is still much higher than if you were splitting it with someone else. "Soft" sleeper on the Beijing-Lhasa train.. Sleeper trains combine travelling with a place to sleep.Before the breakthrough of air travel, sleeper trains were the preferred way of travelling long distances overland.A few trains, including the "Orient Express" which used to run from Paris to Istanbul, became famous through film and literature.The rise of aviation (now cheaper than many long . If you want to experience an upgraded luxury feel to your sleeper car accommodations, the Caledonian Sleeper is not to be missed on your next trip to Scotland. I booked it today after 3 members of staff at a booking office persevered! Yes well, some. Caledonian Double and Club car rooms come with a private shower on the Caledonian Sleeper.