LLG Travels: The Caledonian Sleeper train from London to Scotland – and back
When I posted my teaser from the Caledonian Sleeper, I was quite surprised at the interest shown: I do like a good train journey, but I wasn’t expecting quite so many of you to be fascinated by it too.
Then again – a bed on a train! That’s pretty cool. I’ve just got in from a four and half hour daytime journey from Glasgow and, after waking up in London hunched over my table, drooling into my hair and with no circulation left in my hands, I appreciate even more how wonderful it is to be able to get into a bed, with ironed sheets and proper pillows, stretch out full length, and arrive refreshed, drool and dead-limb free at your ultimate destination.
For those travelling north, the Caledonian Sleeper service from London Euston stops at points in North West England and over 40 locations in Scotland. The main routes are London Euston to, respectively, Aberdeen, Inverness, Fort William, Glasgow and Edinburgh, and it operates six nights a week (Sunday to Friday).
For those wishing to travel to Glasgow or Edinburgh, the train leaves London at 2350hrs from London Euston, although you can board from 2300hrs, and have a late supper before you depart, or simply go to bed early. Somewhere around 5am the train splits in two, with half heading up towards Glasgow to arrive there at 0718hrs, and the other towards Edinburgh’s Waverley station, arriving there at 0722hrs. (I know it’s 5am, because I was woken up by my handbag falling on my head when the train lurched through its de-coupling.)
On the way back, it leaves Edinburgh Waverley at 1140hrs, and arrives back in London at 0650hrs – although you don’t need to get off the train until 0800hrs, should you so wish.
I was in Edinburgh a few weeks back for the 1436 Erdos fashion show, which opened the Edinburgh International Fashion Festival, and needed to be in London first thing on Saturday morning so, after a studio shoot in the morning, I flew up from Heathrow mid-afternoon on the Friday, went to the show and dinner with the designer Graeme Black after, and then headed to the station for my overnight train home.
SUCH an efficient use of travelling time…
I hadn’t realised that the carriages would be identical to the First Great Western’s Night Riviera sleeper train, which I often take to and from Cornwall, so old LLG readers will be familiar with the layout.
The train is a proper old fashion slam door – no shiny electrics here, and there are no power points or wifi connection, so make sure all your devices are charged before you leave, and invest in a wifi modem if you need to get online.
I find the entire setup enchanting - from the pressed linen and tartan travel rug, to the space-saving details – coat hangers instead of pegs, room to slide a case under the bed, and the way that the counter stretches over the foot of the bed. There is another berth that folds out of the wall above, which is used if you buy a Standard Class ticket – you may be lucky and get the berth to yourself, but there is a risk that you will be sharing with someone of the same gender. A First Class ticket guarantees solo occupancy.
You can also take an assistance dog for free. Domestic pet dogs can travel for a deep cleaning fee of £92 – but only if you are travelling either First Class or the person sharing your cabin is known to you.
In Standard you get a toothbrush kit, and in First there is a little washkit and a little hand towel for the journey too.
In First breakfast is delivered in the morning: out of curiosity more than hope I asked for the vegetarian cooked option. Suffice to say I won’t be doing so again.
Because the train from Edinburgh joins with the train from Glasgow it’s like a giant caterpillar by the time it arrives in London, so do allow plenty of time for the long walk down the platform to the barrier and thence to the station. If you have mobility issues, I would definitely consider booking a wheelchair to meet you beforehand.
Plenty of clear information here at www.scotrail.co.uk/sleeper/about-the-sleeper
