Sleepers to Scotland

NiallGray · Post by **NiallGray** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 11:50 pm

Has anyone been on the Scotrail sleepers from Euston to Scotland?

I'm planning a trip up in a couple of months and in order to give me a few more hours in Glasgow, I'm toying with the idea of the overnight service.

Has anyone experiences of this service (good/bad)? I was thinking about going in the seating coach as can't really afford a berth for one!

allypally · Post by **allypally** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 11:52 pm

If you're in the seated coach, take a lot of beer

NiallGray · Post by **NiallGray** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 12:10 am

allypally wrote:If you're in the seated coach, take a lot of beer

Um, One that doesn't really help me and Two, for medical reasons, I can't drink!

AlistairW · Post by **AlistairW** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 12:28 am

I think you'd find yourself in Glasgow in the very early hours of the morning, maybe around 5am?

You can still get a 4 berth room, you just have to be willing to share with 3 random soles, which shouldn't be too bad considering theres always the onboard cafe/bar if you want your own space as well.

I used it with my Dad last July and it was good, there was almost an atmosphere about the train which was nice too and you arise surrounded the the rolling Scottish Highlands.

I think it really depends how far North you want to go.

Anonymizeruk · Post by **Anonymizeruk** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 8:59 am

I've done the Caledonian Sleeper from Euston to Fort William a couple of times, and Inverness - Preston.

I think a 5am arrival in Glasgow is about right (there are timetables on the scotrail website).

The seated coach is a Mk.2F TGS that has been fitted out with 2+1 reclining seats (no tables though). You can purcahse refreshments from the lounge car, but seated sleeper customers are not permitted to use the loung area itself.

Have you looked at the Bargain Berths? When I first did Euston - Fort William, it only cost me £29

Cheers

Gaz

ajax103 · Post by **ajax103** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 9:39 am

Anonymizeruk wrote:I've done the Caledonian Sleeper from Euston to Fort William a couple of times, and Inverness - Preston.

I think a 5am arrival in Glasgow is about right (there are timetables on the scotrail website).

The seated coach is a Mk.2F TGS that has been fitted out with 2+1 reclining seats (no tables though). You can purcahse refreshments from the lounge car, but seated sleeper customers are not permitted to use the loung area itself.

Have you looked at the Bargain Berths? When I first did Euston - Fort William, it only cost me £29

Cheers

Gaz

I'm thinking of taking a holiday in the West Highlands this year, maybe Mallaig though Fort William.

What's the service like on the train? prices of beer etc.... are the seats comfortable etc...

AlistairW · Post by **AlistairW** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 2:03 pm

I travelled on the Euston -> Fort William train, although this starts off as the Inverness and Aberdeen train as well. It gets split at Edinburgh as far as I'm aware.

Prices weren't unreasonable, less than £2.50 for a can of stella if memory serves me right, the seating coach when I travelled was a Ex.Virgin XC MK2 with 2 + 1 seating. They're REALLY comfy, nice big soft seats. The lounge coach was again Ex. Intercity and had chairs and round tables in I think.

I'll see if I can dig out a few photos.

Berths have 1 attendant for every 2 carriages who will give you a wake up call and bring you your breakfast. I think a light breakfast is included in the price of a berth. They will also give you a wake up call and deal with any other problems you may have.

colinm74 · Post by **colinm74** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 2:13 pm

Hi Niall

I travelled from Edinburgh to Euston at the end of November, on a 'Bargain Berths' £19 ticket.

Whilst I ended up sharing a cabin with another solo traveller, my train was busy, so I guess there's a chance you might get lucky and get a cabin to yourself on a quiet night.

On board, you get a pack of overnight essentials, (toothpaste, brush etc), a morning call and a tea/coffee and danish pastry type thing for brekkie!

The cabin attendants and lounge car staff were friendly and efficient, and as mentioned elsewhere, the prices in the bar weren't too bad.

Overall, whilst I'll always prefer to travel in daylight, if I needed to get from Scotland to London quickly without losing working hours, I'd get the sleeper anyday!!

Colin

NiallGray · Post by **NiallGray** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 4:11 pm

To be honest, I'd be wanting to work if possible so that's another reason why I thought of seating. But if no tables that's a pain as I'd be wanting to use the laptop.

After doing some more research this afternoon (including reading about sleepers on first scotrail), I then looked the trainline.com and saw some good deals on first class tickets as long as I get singles (ie KX-Glasgow on GNER and return Glasgow-Euston on Virgin).

That'll probably be my option now, though with ever-changing work schedule I may just end up trying the sleeper service out. Thanks for all the helpful comments.

southcoasttrains · Post by **southcoasttrains** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 5:27 am

When I took the sleeper a few years ago to Glasgow it arrived at 7am.

I couldn't sleep in the berth, for some reason the rocking didn't send me to sleep, i was on the top bunk and it felt like i was going to fall out. Plus the stranger below was snoring.