Book another train if you just want to get from A to B as quickly and cheaply as possible. Comfort Seats on the Caledonian Sleeper are very nice and provide a comfortable ride to your destination. Serco had unsuccessfully attempted to renegotiate its Caledonian Sleeper contract last year. The feedback from other travellers is that the double room (s) get booked up quickly as the demand is always high. Hello. The Scottish Government has moved to nationalise the Caledonian Sleeper service after ending the contract with operator Serco seven years before its scheduled date. View the latest recommended public transport travel guidelines from the UK Government and Scottish Government. Dedicated wheelchair space in each Seated Coach Priority for wheelchair spaces is given to reservations in advance. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. The contrast in scenery can be incredible! Hailed as one of the worlds greatest train journeys by Lonely Planet, the Caledonian Sleeper offers a greener way to travel too. If you try and book two weeks before you travel, theres a very good chance your ideal accommodation wont be available. All cabins now Dont worry, if you book a Classic Room for yourself, you wont have to share it with another solo traveller! All rights reserved. I would again recommend bringing your own breakfast rather than paying for this one. Caledonian Sleeper 2023. "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 . A writer with a passion for travel and the planet, Francesca is on a mission to help you travel well. The class of travel choice is highlighted for each option and our experienced opinion is expressed in Our View for the options we have tried out. The Scottish Government will operate the Caledonian Sleeper service from the end of June. Geoffrey Morrison. Read about our approach to external linking. From 25 June 2023, the service will be run by Scottish Rail Holdings (SRH), an arm's length company owned by the Scottish government. To facilitate a smooth transfer of power, Serco will coordinate with the Scottish Government in the coming months. Review of Caledonian Sleeper. Rooms / seats are available 30-45 minutes before departure. The Caledonian Sleeper is a sleeper train that connects England with Scotland. Multiple at seat charging point or socket. This news item applies only to non-safeguarded staff who entered rail service after 31 March 1996 and hold the Rail Staff Leisure Card. but we made it to Fort William in one piece. All cabins now come with essential amenities to make your trip as comfortable as possible, including a 'sleep kit' with Scottish toiletries. It will be operated by an arms length company owned by the Scottish government from 25 June, transport minister Jenny Gilruth told MSPs in Holyrood on Thursday. 11 Stunning Cyprus Villages You Need to Visit. But rail unions welcomed the transport minister's announcement. "Given all that, there can be no conclusion other than that this is an ideological decision. While the service provides a unique travel experience, it may struggle to generate enough revenue to cover its costs, resulting in a loss for Serco. Until recently, holders of BritRail passes and all-line Rail Rovers had to reserve and pay for sleeper berths by telephone, or in person at a rail station, as the reservations system only sold reservations complete with a travel ticket. Check out these posts! + Free Scotland packing list for ALL SEASONS, + 5-step guide to planning a trip of a lifetime, + Monthly newsletter with helpful travel tips. 5. If the Caledonian Double is out of reach, the Club Room is also a great choice. Required fields are marked *. You will not have to change trains while riding the Caledonian Sleeper. The Caledonian Sleeper route goes from London right up to the Scottish Highlands. However, Lindsay said he was disappointed that the Caledonian Sleeper and ScotRail franchises are not being combined, something Gilruth told MSPs she is in favour of. The RMT said it would give the Scottish government "an opportunity to ensure this sustainable, low carbon route between Scotland and London can be run for passengers' interests, not private profit". A senior union source said . Sleeper trains hearken back to a golden age of rail travel which blossomed in Europe during the 1920s. I would still bring flip-flops or wear shoes if youre getting up in the middle of the night! Much of the reason youll be riding on this train is to experience the train, and this is the longest route which will give you the most time on board. RMT wins public ownership for Caledonian Sleeper Rail union, RMT warmly welcomed today's decision by the Scottish government to take Caledonian Sleeper into Tel: +44 0844 800 0085. The sleeper service provides a Highlander and a Lowlander train service options for passengers to choose from travelling either Northbound from London Euston or Southbound from Scotland. On board Host service See below under Boarding the train. For other queries, you should find the information on our website, or you can e-mail us . In terms of the Caledonian Sleeper timetable, most trains depart at around 21:00 or 23:00 and terminate at the above stations between 07:00 and 10:00 just in time for breakfast! The Silver City with the Golden Sands, also known as the Granite City, Aberdeen has established itself as a dining and entertainment destination. However, they may travel in the seated accommodation on the legs of the journey between Fort William and Edinburgh and vice versa, and Kingussie and Inverness where the sleeper train forms a day service (reservations are not required). However, Gilruth added that the decision to bring the service into public hands would not be a permanent one, saying she and officials would continue to monitor market conditions. Like most trains, smoking is not permitted on the Caledonian Sleeper in any area. Read more: Get My Complete Scotland Travel Guide. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. This is our favourite route we prefer to travel on when possible for various reasons read on to find out what these are! This London to Scotland sleeper train is more about the experience than the destination. Want to stay informed about the latest developments with Caledonian Sleeper? Certainly haven't seen any news articles on the RDG website to the best of my knowledge. The Caledonian Sleeper is a sleeper train that connects England with Scotland. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Priority access to the Club Cars is given to Club and Double Room guests. Can you book a room on the sleeper train as a solo traveller? In 2019, Serco put an improvement plan in place after the service was hit by strike action, technical faults and the late delivery of new trains. If you were delayed by 30 or more minutes, you may be entitled to compensation, Find out the latest Caledonian Sleeper timetable alterations. Although it was nice to have hot food, it was expensive and a little on the basic side. Today is has been announced that the Scottish Government have decided to appoint a public body to manage and operate Caledonian Sleeper, known as Scottish Rail Holdings (SRH). . Castles, dungeons, ghosts and tunnels give Scotlands capital an air of mystique, but theres more to Edinburgh than history and creepy tales. Whether it is for business or leisure, Caledonian Sleeper will take you to some of the UKs most wonderful destinations. 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). Southbound, the train starts in thirds from Aberdeen, Inverness and Fort William and heads down towards Edinburgh. London to Scotland sleeper service tipped for renationalisation, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. In a statement to Parliament, Scotland Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth said: Having stated in October that the existing Caledonian Sleeper franchise would come to an end in June 2023, I want to give rail staff and passengers as much certainty as I can about the future. While space isnt one of its strongest points, the trains beds are comfy and have cosy Glencraft mattresses. Sadly my 26-30 railcard didnt make the cut :(. On our trip we opted for the nachos and sliders. The train starts boarding around 8:30. Boston House, Can you take dogs on the Caledonian Sleeper? Whether you are travelling to London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Aberdeen or Fort William, travel in comfort and enjoy a friendly and relaxed . The Caledonian Sleeper rail service is to be nationalised later this year, the Scottish government has announced. OUR VIEW We have not taken any journeys on the Comfort Seats on the new improved services, but I did quite a few years ago on the older trains. 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. Today is has been announced that the Scottish Government have decided to appoint a public body to manage and operate Caledonian Sleeper, known as Scottish Rail Holdings (SRH). This is good news but I wouldn't get your hopes up for ticket prices to reduce much from where they are now. These ticket types should be used for making reservations for Scotrail staff and Gold Status pass holders. We were surprised to know that we could board the Caledonian Sleeper quite early before our train departed. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? Image: Andrew Smith. Alternatively, you can use a valid National Rail ticket provided you also have a reservation to travel on the Caledonian Sleeper. Unlike some countries, they do not expect a financial tip at the end of the service. To what extent will state-ownership under Scottish Rail Holdings bring about a change in business objectives and pricing? OUR VIEW This is the type of room we prefer and generally settle on, it seems to tick the boxes for us in facilities, availability, as well as the cost value for money.