Avoid the Caledonian Sleeper at all costs

[Thoroughlypissedoff123]

Seriously. Get the plane or daytime train.

Any particular reason?

I used to love getting the sleeper train. Haven't done it for years but keep meaning to do it with the DC.

I've been on it a few times, before they got the new rolling stock, and I loved it. What have they done with it? What's gone wrong?

I’ve been on it a couple of times and loved it. Especially if you stay on to Fort William or Inverness (so you don’t get kicked off at 7am and have hours until you can check into your hotel). I love lying in bed with a cup of tea in the morning, watching the scenery go past.

It’s not s four star hotel but it isn’t trying to be, it’s a train with beds. No worse than any other sleeper I’ve been on (and quite a lot better than the Trans Siberian, in terms of creature comforts).

It seems very expensive to me, compared to flying.

I enjoyed the experience of travelling on it, only problem was arriving at Edinburgh so early in the morning, and having hours to kill before we could check in to the hotel and dump suitcases.
We didn’t sleep that well on the train, so was a bit zombified, wandering around Edinburgh for ages, spending hours in coffee shops until about 2 pm check in!

It seems very expensive to me, compared to flying

Probably not once you factor in travel to and from the airport and the night’s hotel accommodation you are saving.

You can’t sleep?

I love the sleeper, as does my 5yo, he sleeps brilliantly. A glass of wine before getting on it really helps on the sleep side...

A plane might be cheaper, but train is just so much nicer. No endless faffing at the airport

@Tadpole that's exactly why I've decided not to book it! Have considered it for this year but dd (7) without sleep in a city I don't know until check in....no thanks!

We still don't know why the OP is thoroughly pissed off?

I'm interested because I've never done this but have it on my list of things to try.

Is it because the accommodation is no longer single sex? How many people are there to a room, could you get round this by booking with a group?

I loved it. Recently refurbished so I assumed would be even more lovely.

I know there’s been problems with the lowland one the past couple of weeks and have been offering people overnight coaches instead? Perhaps it’s that.

I went on it a few years ago and loved it. I understand there has a refurbishment since I went on it - what happened OP, why did you have a bad experience?

Looks like there have been lots of problems recently eg https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/caledonian-sleeper-cancels-service-in-middle-of-night-as-problems-with-new-trains-continue-a4165261.html%3Famp
We caught a virgin train to London at the weekend that was overcrowded due to the sleeper having been cancelled again and passengers moved to our train

We've been on before and it was great. We've booked for this August but due due to problems with the new carriages, we've had an email to say we'll be on one of the old carriages. A shame but probably for the best. I've heard of people not being able to board until 1am recently because of the new rolling stock.

Maybe the op seen the price?!?