By Meike Burgess, Marketing Manager
Published: May 16, 2023More by Meike
By Meike Burgess, Marketing Manager
Published: May 16, 2023More by Meike
Looking for a convenient and low-carbon way to travel between the south of England and the North of Scotland for your upcoming Wilderness Scotland adventure? The Caledonian Sleeper is a popular choice amongst our travellers. It is a unique and enjoyable way to travel between London and Scotland. With comfortable rooms, convenient amenities, and stunning views along the way, it’s no wonder that this train service has been a popular choice for over a century and a half.
On April 2nd, 1873, North British Railway introduced the first regular sleeper on the Glasgow-Edinburgh-Kings Cross route via the East Coast Mainline, and for a supplement of 10 shillings, your seat rolled flat to make a bed with a blanket and pillow.
One hundred fifty years on, the Caledonian Sleeper continued this legacy with their current fleet. It runs in a combined formation of sixteen coaches equipped with modern facilities, including en-suite shower rooms, double beds and a stylish Club Car.
However, if you’ve never taken an overnight train, you may have questions about what to expect. Fortunately, this blog is here to help! We’ve compiled a list of the most commonly asked questions about travelling on the Caledonian Sleeper to make your journey as smooth and enjoyable as possible.
The iconic Caledonian Sleeper provides guests with a unique and sustainable way of travelling, linking over 40 stations between London and Scotland. Departing from Aberdeen, Fort William, Inverness, Glasgow and Edinburgh, Caledonian Sleeper whisks guests through the night in their own private room to the heart of their final destinations. With no long security or luggage queues and no need for expensive transfers from the airport to the city, guests arrived refreshed and ready to make the most of the day.
Compared to domestic flights, travelling on the Caledonian Sleeper results in a significantly lower carbon footprint, with a reduction of nearly 90%. This comparison considers a journey from Inverness to London, which includes a one-night hotel stay. The total carbon footprint from a domestic flight and hotel is estimated to be around 278.9 kgCO2/ep, while the Caledonian Sleeper produces as little as 33 kgCO2/ep.
The Caledonian Sleeper offers services between London and Scotland, with trains departing from London Euston and arriving at various destinations in Scotland, including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Inverness and Fort William.
The cost of the Caledonian Sleeper varies depending on what level of comfort you pick, the time of year, the distance of travel and how far in advance you book your tickets. The basic fares for a seat start at around £50, while the price for a private room can range from £175 to £450 depending on the room type and whether you are travelling solo or with others.
The Caledonian Sleeper features three main room types.
The standard Classic room with twin bunk beds.
Next is the Club room, which includes the same features but with an ensuite shower and toilet, full breakfast, station lounge access (where available), Arran Sense of Scotland toiletries and Mackie’s of Scotland chocolate.
The final choice of accommodation is the Caledonian Double. It features everything the Club room offers but has a double bed and a complimentary Arran Sense of Scotland souvenir toiletry bag.
The Caledonian Sleeper offers a range of amenities to make your journey comfortable and enjoyable.
All rooms feature Glencraft mattresses and come with bedding and towels, an in-room washbasin, charging points, dimmable lights, temperature control, a keycard entry system, WI-FI, room service, a complimentary sleep kit and bottled water.
In addition, the Caledonian Double and Club rooms offer priority Club Car access, full breakfast onboard and Station Lounge access (where available).
No, the modern-day Caledonian Sleeper does not offer this service. Each room can be booked for up to two adults travelling together. If you are travelling in a group or as a larger family, you can book a room for double occupancy, and there is even an option for interconnecting Classic rooms if required.
The Caledonian Sleeper runs every night except Saturday night from London Euston. Please access the Caledonian timetables for further information on departure and arrival times.
Caledonian Sleeper Guest Service Centre Ambassadors operate throughout the evening and are on hand to help with any enquiries about your booking, including any alterations. If there are any significant alterations to the running of the service, the Guest Services team will typically contact guests by text to let them know if their journey is impacted. If there are any disruptions whilst guests are travelling onboard, the train operator will usually make announcements and keep passengers informed of the estimated arrival time at the destination.
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