Caledonian Sleeper

The Deerstalker redirects here. For information on the hat, see Deerstalker

Caledonian Sleeper

Info
Franchise(s):	Part of ScotRail franchise (31 March 1997–16 October 2004, 17 October 2004–8 November 2014)
Main route(s):	London—Scotland
Other route(s):	None
Fleet size:	75 carriages (22 × Mark 2, 53 × Mark 3) allocated to Inverness TMD
Stations called at:	46
Parent company:	First Scotrail
Web site:	Sleeper trains

The Caledonian Sleeper is a sleeper train operated by First ScotRail. It is one of only two on the British railway network, the other being the Night Riviera.

It connects London Euston nightly except Saturday with five Scottish termini—Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Fort William, Glasgow and Inverness, and intermediate stations. The Fort William service is known colloquially as The Deerstalker.

The trains normally operate at a maximum speed of 80 miles per hour (130 km/h), but are authorised to travel at 100 miles per hour (160 km/h) where line speeds permit if the train has been delayed by more than 20 minutes.

Route

Two trains leave Euston six nights per week, Sunday to Friday, from London Euston northbound along the West Coast Main Line.

Highland train - Aberdeen, Fort William and Inverness

This departs between 20.45 and 21.15, calling at Watford Junction, Crewe and Preston to pick up passengers, and arrives at Edinburgh Waverley (to pick up seated passengers to Fort William only) approximately six-and-a-half hours after leaving London. The electric locomotive is uncoupled and replaced by a diesel for each of the three portions, to Aberdeen, Inverness and Fort William, calling at intermediate stations. Travel from Edinburgh is possible in seated accommodation subject to availability. (Passengers for Central Scotland and stations to Perth and Dundee may depart London later on the Lowland train to Edinburgh, and arrive later by connecting train.)

The front two coaches are for Fort William, the middle portion for Aberdeen, and the rear portion for Inverness.

Heading south, the Aberdeen, Fort William and Inverness portions join at Edinburgh (where seated passengers from Fort William can alight) to form one train for Preston, Crewe and Euston (alighting only).

Lowland train - Edinburgh and Glasgow

Between 23.00 and 00.00 the Lowland train leaves Euston, calling at Watford Junction to pick up only. Passengers can alight at Carlisle and at Carstairs (on the Glasgow section only), where the train separates into two trains, one for Edinburgh, the other for Motherwell and Glasgow Central. (Passengers may reach Glasgow earlier by travelling on the Fort William portion of the Highland train and changing at Westerton, in the Glasgow suburbs.)

The front portion is Glasgow, the rear portion for Edinburgh.

Southbound the portions from Glasgow (calling at Motherwell) and Edinburgh join at Carstairs (where passengers can board the Glasgow section), then call at Carlisle to pick up only, setting down at Watford Junction and Euston the following morning.

All four services stop at Preston to pick up breakfast supplies and to change drivers. Other driver changes occur at Warrington Bank Quay and Carlisle.

Formation

Caledonian Sleeper destinations
Legend Inverness Aviemore Kingussie Newtonmore Dalwhinnie Blair Atholl Pitlochry Dunkeld & Birnam Perth Gleneagles Dunblane 718 Stirling 684 Falkirk Grahamston (southbound only) 853 Aberdeen 827 Stonehaven 788 Montrose 766 Arbroath Carnoustie 738 Dundee 725 Leuchars 685 Kirkcaldy Inverkeithing Forth Bridge Fort William Spean Bridge Roy Bridge (by request) Tulloch Corrour (by request) Rannoch Bridge of Orchy Upper Tyndrum Crianlarich Ardlui (by request) Arrochar & Tarbet Garelochhead Helensburgh Upper Dalmuir Westerton 643 Edinburgh Waverley (split/join, service to/from Fort William only) Anglo-Scottish border 336 Preston 254 Crewe  28 Watford Junction (northbound only) 0km London Euston
Legend 646 Glasgow Central 625 Motherwell 646 Edinburgh Waverley 600 Carstairs (split/join)     Anglo-Scottish border 481 Carlisle 28 Watford Junction 0km London Euston

DB Schenker Class 90 in First ScotRail livery specially for hauling the Caledonian Sleeper

The train consists of Mark 3 sleeping cars and Mark 2F lounge car and Mark 2E seated cars, all air conditioned. They are usually hauled by Class 90 locomotives south of Edinburgh and Glasgow, Class 67 north of Edinburgh, all hired from DB Schenker. The portions for all destinations except Fort William have up to six sleepers, a lounge car and seated car.

The Fort William portion consists of two sleeping cars (one set up for First Class, the other for Standard), with the lounge car and seated car north of Edinburgh only. This is because the longest permitted length train for the platforms at Euston is 16 carriages. Passengers in the Fort William portion can use the Aberdeen or Inverness lounge cars south of Edinburgh.

In 2006, First ScotRail and EWS (DB Schenker's predecessor) came to an agreement that a dedicated fleet of Class 90s would be used, and these were painted in First ScotRail livery, with a small EWS logo at the cab. Until June 2006 a Class 37 diesel locomotive hauled the Fort William portion; until 2001 Class 47 diesel locomotives hauled the Aberdeen and Inverness portions.

Amenities

Three types of travel are available: First Class sleeper, Standard Class sleeper, and seated.

Sleeper berths are in a twin-berth cabin. These cabins have interlinking doors, usually locked. First ScotRail policy is to allow them to be unlocked if both cabins are booked as a group.

First Class Sleeper

A cabin set up for Standard Class, with two berths. For First Class use the top bunk is stowed away

First Class cabins are set up for single occupancy, with the upper bunk locked in the stowed position. Room service is also used in first class.

Standard Class Sleeper

Standard Class offers one of the berths in a cabin. Lone travellers may have to share these cabins with another passenger of the same sex. Sole travellers may be also able to book a cabin by themselves upon payment of a supplement.

Second Class Seated

This entitles the user to an airline-style reclining seat in an air conditioned 32-seat carriage. The main lighting remains on through the night, and eye masks have been provided since 2004.

Lounge Car

Seating in the lounge car

A typical pudding, served on the Caledonian Sleeper

Corridor in UK Sleeper coach, departing London Euston December 2011

Sleeper passengers may use the lounge car, but it may be restricted to First Class passengers at busy times. The lounge car is highly unusual amongst British trains in having chairs that are not secured to the floor. Recently, lounge cars have had a complete refurbishment including the installation of leather sofas. There is also a buffet service available for seated passengers.

The lounge car permitted smoking until 9 October 2005, the last place where it was legal to smoke on the British railway network.

Luggage

Large areas are available for luggage. Bicycles are conveyed subject to availability.

Pets

Dogs are allowed for a fee (Assistance Dogs free). Dogs are allowed only in single-berth cabins or where the ticket holder has exclusive use of a twin-berth cabin.

Showers

There are no shower facilities on the trains, but showers are available at Inverness, Edinburgh Waverley, Fort William and Glasgow Central. Shower facilities for First Class passengers are at Aberdeen and London Euston.

Tickets

There is often no differentiation between Caledonian Sleeper services and seated services on the National Rail booking system. First ScotRail offers a booking service which specifically shows its sleeper services, from the syndicated National Rail database.

National Rail tickets are valid in seated parts of the train.

Future

Since the privatisation of British Rail the Caledonian Sleeper has been part of the ScotRail franchise. In 2012 the Scottish Government announced that as part of the reletting of this franchise from November 2014 it would be split, with the sleeper a separate franchise to run for 15 years. A total of £100m will be invested in new and additional rolling stock.

The Scottish Caledonian Sleeper Service was named the Top 40 priority investments on page 37 of the Budget 2013 Red Book.

See also

• Night Riviera
• Nightstar

External links

• First ScotRail - Caledonian Sleeper
• National Rail Journeyplanner
• Detailed Caledonian Sleeper Description, Timetable and Fare Information
• London to Scotland by sleeper