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Caledonian Sleeper train times, fares & booking

London - Scotland by Sleeper

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Taking the Caledonian Sleeper train to Scotland...

It's the most civilised, romantic, time-effective and environmentally-friendly way from central London to the heart of Scotland.  For the English, the sleeper is the ideal travel option for a stress-free weekend in the Highlands or business meeting in Scotland, avoiding a short-haul flight and its disproportionate contribution to global warming...  Every night except Saturday night, Caledonian Sleeper trains leave central London for Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Aberdeen, Fort William, Perth, Dundee, Stirling, Gleneagles, Aviemore and many other places all over Scotland.

Taking the Caledonian Sleeper train to London...

If you live in Scotland, the Caledonian Sleeper is the most practical, time-effective and environmentally-friendly solution for an early morning meeting or short break in London...  Every night except Saturday night, 'Caledonian Sleeper' trains depart from towns and cities all over Scotland, direct to central London arriving in time for breakfast.  A little piece of Scotland that will take you right down to the Big Smoke...

On this page:   Caledonian Sleeper timetable    Caledonian Sleeper fares    How to buy Sleeper tickets     The most wonderful train in Britain?

What 's the sleeper like..?

It's nothing like your commuter train to work!  The sleeper is like a miniature travelling hotel, with private rooms and a lounge.

		Above, centre:  2-berth sleeper (2nd class) Above, right:  1-berth sleeper (1st class) Left:  The lounge car - pull up a chair and enjoy a light supper of 'haggis, tatties and neeps' (£3.50), a half bottle of Nottage Hill red (£6.55) and a night cap of Glenfiddich whisky (£3.30) before retiring to your sleeper compartment... A light breakfast is included in the fare, served in your compartment.  Soap and towels and a complimentary toiletries pack are provided.

The Caledonian Sleepers have compact air-conditioned 1 & 2-berth sleeping compartments with proper beds and washbasin, and a plush lounge car with steward service of wine, beer, spirits, soft drinks and snacks.  There are also economy reclining seats.  The Caledonian Sleepers are the only regular trains in Britain to feature full-size leather sofas, complete with coffee table and table lamps!  The sleepers provide almost 'cruise train' facilities (albeit no showers on board), yet prices start at just £19 one way including sleeping berth and light breakfast - look for the 'Bargain Berths' promotion at www.firstscotrail.com and book online.  Regular fares start at £66 one way sharing a 2-berth compartment.  The Caledonian Sleepers are run by ScotRail, the Scottish train company, and are crewed by Scottish staff.  A little bit of Scotland that visits London six nights a week...

Sleeper train times

Here is a summary of sleeper train times to/from main cities, although many smaller Scottish towns are also served.  Please double-check train times at either http://www.firstgroup.com/scotrail/gf/sleeper%20times.pdf or www.nationalrail.co.uk.

* in Glasgow you have until 08:00 to vacate your sleeper, in Edinburgh you have until 07:55.

Sunday departure times often vary, so please double-check when you book.

Note that the lowland sleeper has two separate portions, one for Edinburgh & one for Glasgow.  The highland sleeper has three portions, one for Fort William, one for Dundee & Aberdeen, and one for Perth and Inverness.  They are shown here in one column to save space.

Apex =  Book at least 2 days in advance, numbers limited at these prices so book early (up to 90 days in advance).

Open = Full fare, travel any time, buy ticket any time.

Sleeper supplement = the extra you pay for a bed if you already have a valid ticket, rail rover or BritRail pass. 

Sleeper Solo supplement:  For £51 on top of a standard class Saver ticket, you can have sole occupancy of a 2-bed sleeper.

Railcard holders:  There's a 10% discount on Open fares if you have a senior, young persons, family, forces or disables railcard.  No discount on apex or first class fares.

Children under 5:  Under 5s go free, though they don't get their own berth and cots cannot be provided as there's no room for them. 

Children 5-15:  Children under 16 travel at 50% of the Open fare.  There is no child discount on either apex or 1st class fares.

You can check fares at www.nationalrail.co.uk or www.thetrainline.com.  These fares are valid from January 2008.

How to buy sleeper tickets if you're in the UK:

• Bookings open 9-12 weeks before departure.

• To book online, either use www.thetrainline.com (see the form opposite, a £1.50 debit card or £3.50 credit card booking fee applies) or www.firstscotrail.com (no booking fee, same fares).  Make sure you book a sleeper, not a reclining seat, by checking that the fare you choose has a 'bed' symbol against it.

• To book by phone, call ScotRail on 08457 55 00 33, lines open 08:00-22:00 daily.

• The very cheap 'Bargain Berths' can only be booked online, only on the special 'bargain berths' page at www.firstscotrail.com.  Ticket numbers are very limited.

How to buy sleeper tickets if you're overseas:  +44 1752 675 670

• Many overseas travellers find the Caledonian Sleepers an ideal option for a trip covering both London and Scotland.  However, you need to book by phone, because the websites that sell sleeper tickets online won't accept non-UK credit cards, and the one online retailer who will accept non-UK credit cards doesn't yet offer sleeper booking, only tickets for daytime trains (though this should change soon!). 

• To book a sleeper journey, simply make an international phone call to ScotRail telesales on +44 1752 675 670.  Phone lines are open 08:00-22:00 daily, UK time.  All major credit cards are accepted and you should ask to collect tickets at the station before departure or whenever you get to the UK.  Remember that bookings only open 9-12 weeks before departure.

Dogs, pets, luggage & bikes...

You can take bikes on the Caledonian Sleeper trains free of charge, placed in the racks in the guard's van.  A bike reservation must be made as the number of bike spaces is limited.  You can take dogs or other pets on the sleeper, but your party must occupy all the berths in the compartment and a £40 dog charge (to cover special berth cleaning afterwards) is made for each journey.  If you're travelling north for the grouse season, shotguns can be carried by special arrangement as long as you have the necessary licence and comply with the licence requirements for transporting shotguns.  There is limited space in the compartments for very very large suitcases, these can be placed in the guards van.  There's room for smaller bags and cases in the compartment, on the floor if necessary.

The most wonderful train in Britain..?

Easily the most amazing train ride in Britain is the Caledonian Sleeper from London to Fort William, sometimes known as 'The Deerstalker'...

Why?  Imagine the convenience of a train that leaves rainy central London after work at 21:00 and arrives at Fort William in the glorious Scottish West Highlands at the foot of Ben Nevis (the highest mountain in Britain) at 09:43 next morning.  Imagine a trip where you go to bed as the train speeds through familiar London suburbs at 80mph, then wake up in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by mountains, streams and woods, sunlight streaming through the window, deer bounding away from the train, a diesel locomotive struggling to haul the two sleeping-cars and lounge car up the gradients and around the sharp curves of the scenic West Highland Line at 40mph.  Imagine a train that has almost 'cruise train' facilities - private sleeping compartments and a plush lounge - yet on which 'Bargain berth' fares start at only £19 one way.

Regular fares start at £107 return sharing a 2-berth room or £199 return with a room to yourself (passengers travelling alone can opt to book a berth in a 2-berth room and share with another passenger of the same sex, if they don't want to pay the 1st class single berth fare).  Anyone who lives in London or the South of England but who loves the Scottish West Highlands should know about this train.  If you fancy a weekend away in the heart of the Highlands, this train makes it possible..!  Book online at www.firstscotrail.com.

To complete the experience, take the connecting train from Fort William to the end of the line at Mallaig, a small fishing port and ferry terminal for Skye.  This is one of the most scenic sections of line anywhere in the UK.  Or you could climb Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Britain - the main track up 'the Ben' starts just 15 minutes walk from Fort William station.