miss direct
misfungled
I am going to Glasgow next year and have this romantic idea about going by night train. Has anyone done it? I can get a bed for £70 or a reclining seat for £35. The day trains are £100+
Sleeper train from London to Scotland
- Thread starter miss direct
- Start date
miss direct
misfungled
Yes...and if you pay for a bed, you can use the lounge as well, where I imagine all sorts of interesting things happen. Maybe I've read too many books! I just have a thing about sleeper trains...only been on one once, from Istanbul to Ankara, loved it. That was with a friend though so we shared a compartment. On this I'd have to share with a stranger. What if they snore all night?!
Miss-Shelf
I'll meet you further on up the road
Sometimes there are better deals on the day train
And there's always megabus gold
And there's always megabus gold
miss direct
misfungled
I looked on the trainline website and every single day train was starting at £120ish 
Is there somewhere else I could be looking?
Not doing the bus.
Is there somewhere else I could be looking?Not doing the bus.
If your idea of romantic is sharing a compartment with a stranger, having no washing facilities other than a poxy hand basin, and possibly getting robbed in your sleep, then go for it. The sleeper to Scotland is NOT the Orient Express.
If you want value for money, Ryanair fly from Stansted to Glasgow from £30 return.
If you want value for money, Ryanair fly from Stansted to Glasgow from £30 return.
And spend the 210 quid you saved on a night in a 5 star hotel, where the bed will be super comfy.
miss direct
misfungled
I am no particularly looking for value for money. I don't like flying, especially not with ryanair and I'll have to pay extra for baggage, get to airports etc. I've already flown 20+ times this year and the fun has long gone. I do however, love train journeys. I wouldn't be planning on having a shower on the train anyway so a hand basin would be fine. But thanks for the replies!
BoatieBird
Well-Known Member
Brainaddict
slight system overdrive
I got the sleeper to Glasgow with an individual cabin (paid by work). This would be about 8 years ago. It was the most pleasing train experience I've had in the UK, so I'd say go for it if your budget can cover it.
miss direct
misfungled
Just looking into the megabus gold, never heard of it before. My last megabus experience was not a fun one, on a double deck from London to Brum, stuck in traffic, desperate for a wee.
Brainaddict
slight system overdrive
I've taken luxury buses in other countries (3 seats across and food service type of thing) and I'd still rather take a shit train than a luxury bus. I broke the rule recently but the bus was about 3 hours and the train about 8 hours.
Ryanair's no worse than any other airline nowadays, that's certainly so for an hour-odd hop up to Glasgow. If however, you have some weird fantasy about the sleeper, are desperate to share a khazi with 100 people who have shat in it before you, and want to burn money; no amount of common sense posted on here will stop you!
miss direct
misfungled
I have used long distance buses all across Turkey, anything up to 12 hours. So London to Scotland isn't a big deal. I remember when I lived in the UK I used to think Birmingham to London was a long journey, now that's basically a day trip for me...
miss direct
misfungled
I'd have to disagree. I fly a lot and there is a big difference...
The megabus gold thingy looks like a good option actually. Maybe I'll go one way on the train and one way on the bus.
Sure, but there's absolutely no benefit, is there? Unless you're on a budget, which you don't seem to be, there's absolutely nothing to recommend a bus over a train even. They're totally uncomfortable, far more dangerous, unreliable, and you may end up sitting with Orang Utan
miss direct
misfungled
There are a few benefits. I found out the sleeper doesn't run on Saturday nights and I need to be in Glasgow on a Sunday - so I'd have to go a day early and pay an extra night in a hotel. Plus a huge financial saving. I have got funding to attend the conference but anything I don't spend, I get to keep - and as I have just quit my job I should be careful with money.
What's wrong with orang utan?!
What's wrong with orang utan?!
No, it's now an outdated stereotype. Here we take well over 200 flights a year throughout Europe between us and general consensus is that with notice and a bit of travel sense, Ryanair are fine. We used to have a ban on them but that was lifted about 2 years ago. Your point about getting to and from Stansted is valid though, but at £30 return on the S-Express and even if you pay for 2 suitcases, you're still doing the round trip for less than a £100.
The bus though? No, no, no.
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He's a lovely man, but he snores and farts a lot.
danny la rouge
More like *fanny* la rouge!
Expensive, isn't it? We're a family of four and can get to Italy cheaper than one of us can get to London on the train. Italy wins every time.I looked on the trainline website and every single day train was starting at £120ish
Not doing the bus.
If you buy a family railcard and don't have a particular day/week/month/time of year you need to travel, you can get cheaper deals. But it's still not cheap.
I've got no experience of sleeper trains, but like you I imagine it's exactly like a Hitchcock film. There will be white linen table cloths, foreign dignitaries and a mysterious woman who is convinced someone has vanished. You can observe all this while drinking a martini or something called a "side car". People will offer you cigarettes and a cross eyed waiter will surreptitiously put something from his waistcoat pocket under your saucer .
miss direct
misfungled
Exactly danny!
I realised that the cheap tickets on the train are only released three months before travel, which is why I can only see £120 tickets. If I look later I should be able to get cheaper tickets.
I realised that the cheap tickets on the train are only released three months before travel, which is why I can only see £120 tickets. If I look later I should be able to get cheaper tickets.
danny la rouge
More like *fanny* la rouge!
I think that's right.
miss direct
misfungled
Well I'd hope I wouldn't be sleeping in the toilet!
TruXta
tired
Dunno about the Scottish sleeper, but when I got the one from Cornwall to London I was greeted on the platform by name and shown to my compartment by a lovely fella, didn't have to share with anyone either. Also there was a bacon baguette and coffee waiting for me when I woke up in Paddington after a good night's sleep.
As always, ignore anything Spymaster says.
As always, ignore anything Spymaster says.
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2hats
Dust.
Sadly this. I once got the London-Edinburgh sleeper to go to an interview. Shared compartment with bloke above me snoring very loudly. Crap night's sleep.
In contrast I've had great overnight journeys abroad (Europe/Asia) sharing 4-berths with friends and strangers. Cheaper than UK trains too (of course).
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