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Caledonian Sleeper Train

brix_kitty

brix_kitty

minority of one
I has booked tickets for a weekend away in August :cool:

I love sleeper trains, have managed to work them into a number of my holidays over the years.. Germany to Hungary, Thailand, India, Argentina, Australia. There's just something great about going to sleep on a train in one city and waking up in another. ON A TRAIN. They're great.

So thought I would give this one a go.. was going to go all the way to Fort William but the price was a bit :oops: so just going from London to Glasgow. Can only afford (price and time) to do one-way, but looking forward to it - I hear they let you stay in the cabins until 8am at Glasgow even though it gets in at 7.19am. Anyway, just thought I would share. Has anyone else been on it? What did you think? Compared to others?
 
Wanna go too.
Had a stroll through when parked in Euston Station a while back.
Really like the sleeper train thing.
:cool:
 
brix_kitty said:
Has anyone else been on it? What did you think? Compared to others?
Click to expand...

It's a crap service using decrepit rolling stock that would shame a 3rd world country.

Whilst the ECHR banned slopping out for prisoners ages ago yet we can't manage to provide ensuite facilities on a supposedly premium train. It's time for it to be pensioned off.

Why not just fly up to Glasgow and spend the evening there, as opposed to wasting it trying to get comfy on a ruber mattress that was probably last changed when the PM was a wee laddie.

This is the only sleeper train worth a toss:

http://www.rovos.com/train-deluxe.html

Double beds and ensuite facilities.
 
That looks incredible. If money was no object etc :)

Itinerary 2: Cairo to Cape Town 28 day US$44 000 Pullman | US$45 000 Deluxe | US$47 500 Royal
 
Crispy said:
That looks incredible. If money was no object etc :)

Itinerary 2: Cairo to Cape Town 28 day US$44 000 Pullman | US$45 000 Deluxe | US$47 500 Royal
Click to expand...


Cape Town to Victoria Falls is about as long as you can manage without permanent liver damage as it's an all-inclusive trip.

Waiting staff hover at the end of each car so if you want a pot of tea, scones and a bottle or two of SA's finest Pinotage mid-afternoon then all you have to do is raise your hand.

It makes for decent value compared with the Caledonian's "can-of-cheapo-fizzy-lager-that'll-be-4-quid" service.
 
I've used it 3 times now - really like it. If you're good with your ticket booking you can get tickets for as little as £9.99. I've not managed the £9.99 holy grail but did manage the next tier up - £19.99 on a couple of occasions.

Even better though is the one that goes down to Cornwall. The breakfasts on the Caledonian one are crap - shrink wrapped/pretend crap muesli/yoghurt stuff... but the Cornwall line - you get your tea brought in proper teacups and saucers and a much better/fresher breakfast (comparatively).
 
you can get a sleeper from London to Cornwall?

Good to know.

I've taken the sleeper from London to Edinburgh and Preston-of-all-places to Inverness.
 
quimcunx said:
you can get a sleeper from London to Cornwall?

Good to know.

I've taken the sleeper from London to Edinburgh and Preston-of-all-places to Inverness.
Click to expand...

it was under threat of closure for a long while - I'm assuming it still exists - it's a great way to get there - we took it with our bikes and did the whole Eden project/lost gardens thing... glorious..
 
I'd love to do this but have never got around to it. Doing a sleeper between Munich and Berlin this summer. The Cornwall one looks good too I love that end of the country when the weather is nice.
 
Demand is such that the Cornish sleeper is having a 25% increase - from 3 to 4 sleeper cars !!!

there is also a seat option for the hard core :D
 
Cobbles said:
It makes for decent value compared with the Caledonian's "can-of-cheapo-fizzy-lager-that'll-be-4-quid" service.
Click to expand...

Last time I went, I chose the specialist bottled Scottish ales, for nearer £3.

You never struck me as a cheap lager man Cobbles, but this is a broad church, so don't feel too ashamed of your personal choice. :D
 
Serco's Ryan Flaherty said the fleet would provide "a truly magical experience that will transform travel between London and Scotland".
Click to expand...
Looks far from fucking magical if you ask me. More "corporate and charmless".

_106403558_desks.jpg


_106403561_crackers.jpg
 
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Their website is not providing prices right now, but Seat61 has all the details:
Caledonian Sleeper trains London to Scotland | Tickets, timetable, fares

The current trains are sold on a per-berth basis, so you share with a stranger unless you travel 1st class.

upload_2019-4-11_10-59-5.png

The new trains are sold like a hotel, so you pay for the room. Split the cost with a companion, or pay through the nose if you're alone.
Either way, it's more expensive than the current trains. The family deals are good value though (kids <16yo)

upload_2019-4-11_10-59-23.png
 
Crispy said:
Their website is not providing prices right now, but Seat61 has all the details:
Caledonian Sleeper trains London to Scotland | Tickets, timetable, fares

The current trains are sold on a per-berth basis, so you share with a stranger unless you travel 1st class.

View attachment 167302

The new trains are sold like a hotel, so you pay for the room. Split the cost with a companion, or pay through the nose if you're alone.
Either way, it's more expensive than the current trains. The family deals are good value though (kids <16yo)

View attachment 167303
Click to expand...

It is showing prices, October half term for me, Frau Bahn and the two Baby Bahns + dog, in a double plus twin connecting, £1400 round trip to Fort William.

Plus the agg of dragging everyone up to and across London to get to Euston.

We'll fly down to Majorca instead, thanks.
 
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We priced one up for a weekend break in July - looking forward to the new stock with en suites and a double. Admittedly the prime slots of Thurs night up and Sun down, but 940 return for the premium cabin - not even me, as a whopping sleeper service fan - could justify it.

I've done the Cornwall and the Scotland ones...They are both ok, but the rooms are still cramped, and, most importantly, the joy of travelling across the glorious countryside watching the rolling hills...Is entirely last because the thing is travelling at night (obviously!).

They do still appeal to me tho. Just hope I can catch a decent price on a weekend where I'll need or want to be in Scotland or Cornwall.

I've just done Xian to Tibet over 32 hours. Bloody glorious (but a different animal to the UK ones) :cool:
 
Ted Striker said:
most importantly, the joy of travelling across the glorious countryside watching the rolling hills...Is entirely last because the thing is travelling at night (obviously!).
Click to expand...
The one from Fort William leaves early enough that you get to enjoy a few hours of scenery before it gets dark in the summer :cool:
 
Ted Striker said:
We priced one up for a weekend break in July - looking forward to the new stock with en suites and a double. Admittedly the prime slots of Thurs night up and Sun down, but 940 return for the premium cabin - not even me, as a whopping sleeper service fan - could justify it.
Click to expand...

For that kind of price I’d bloody expect a locked room murder to take place during the journey and a famous detective on board to summon us all in the dining car and solve it in the most ingenious manner.
 
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