The Caledonia Sleeper

[PinataHeeHaw]

Hello, has anyone taken a seated journey on this train rather than a cabin? What's it like throughout the night? Do people play on their mobile phones with the sound on?

No, not in my evidence. People are pretty quiet. And there’s a conductor who comes along regularly too.

Lights can be dimmed. The seats aren’t that comfortable; I recommend bringing a blanket. You can order drinks and snacks from your seat.

Experience, not evidence!

It's quiet of "people" noise but the train itself is rattly. Have heard the odd snore too. Can be cold - bring a blanket.

Recline is very limited, I've never got properly comfortable, going to give in and get a room next time (done it 3 or 4 times). I'm too old for it to be worth the rubbish sleep. But that's probably a me problem to be fair, I've never been good at sleep not in a bed...

Fine if you can sleep sitting mostly upright though, way more space than the daytime train, and decent luggage storage too.

I take the sleeper between London and Inverness about 3 times a year. Seat London to Inverness is better than the other way. Cabin is best.

I booked a cabin when I used it, so can’t comment on the seats, but even with a nice quiet private cabin, it wasn’t the best experience & I barely slept. I didn’t realise the train stopped for a couple of hours (the travel time doesn’t take the whole journey hence the stop) and that just disrupted my efforts to sleep. It was all the creaking & metal scraping when it stopped & started that kept me awake. I was exhausted the next day, the novelty of the experience - the cabin was something I’d always wanted to try - was different and I’m glad I did. But wouldn’t repeat it. I’d rather travel during the daytime & have a sleep
in a bed at night on arrival.

not sure if that helps or not 🤷🏻‍♀️

It's noisy (the train rather than the other passengers)
It's cold (there are supposed to be blankets but they don't hand them out)
Snacks at seats are expensive so I take my own & order coffee.
Good secure small lockers for personal possessions.
The corridor to the loo is impossibly small. I use crutches so can no longer use the sleeper, after a decade of using it 6 times a year.
But it's a cheap and effective way of arriving in London at 7am.

Thank you for posting this, I am considering it for a solo trip in a few months, would only do it one way (the way there) due to timetabling but don't want to arrive shattered. I do fall asleep on planes and trains fairly easily but never attempted a whole night.

If you can sleep in an economy plane seat or a daytime train you'd be fine on the seated sleeper. The seats are slightly plusher than standard UK train first class and have some recline where the seat base shifts forwards so no encroachment on the seat behind. There's a footrest in the under seat zone too. It's a 1+2 arrangement so seat width is much bigger than standard class and loads of luggage storage so no need for bag by feet...

I'd be fine if I could sleep upright, travel pillow helps a bit but I have to be pretty well dead with exhaustion to sleep in a seat despite doing a fair amount of short haul travel with early starts.

As a solo traveller, get one of the single seats unless the train looks super quiet. I'm annoyed I've failed to learn to sleep on it, going to give in and pay for a bed next time!

I once travelled in a sleeper compartment with 2 kittens. Not relevant but interesting!

Yes I do it. How far are you going? I get off at 5am so not so bad.

It is a lot less dark than I expected. They do give you a sleep mask.

You need a blanket and the pillows that go round your neck. Would recommend headphones for an audiobook or other white noise. Maybe a little cushion for your back.

I find I can nod while it's moving. At Edinburgh the different services combine (if heading south) or separate going north.

Coming south the wait can be quite long and they turn off the engines so you hear your fellow passengers a bit more and it can get colder. I quite like watching them connect it all up. Threw me the first time though as to why it had stopped.

My daughter travelled in a seat from London to Edinburgh - next to a large man who snored loudly all the way. Arm yourself with earplugs, blankets and neck pillows

I'd be going London-Edinburgh. I can't sleep in eye masks they annoy me too much but I don't need total darkness in fact I hate blackout and it would be October so not such long hours of daylight. I have one of those sleep headphone bands but take it off in my sleep every single time I use it because of the feel of it. Will give it some thought.

Always try to book a single seat instead of a seat next to someone - you can check the seating plan online.

And it doesn’t get dark. They keep the lights on all night for safety reasons.

That's good about the light, it'd be scary sitting in the dark, you'd feel very vulnerable.

Just trying to book now. I’ve got the seat planner up but can’t figure out which is the front and rear of the train, I much prefer to be forward facing so might have to wait for the chat to open and ask. Only three seats taken at the moment for that date.

Different train but I travelled in the sleeper seats from Chicago to San Francisco once. Wonderful experience. 52 hours or something.

Book.
A.
Cabin.

You
Are
Welcome

Only ever been in a cabin. If you do book a cabin, make sure you spring for a cabin on your own, otherwise you could end up sharing with someone you don't know.

Don't ask me how I know, I just know.

You no longer ever share with strangers on the Cal Sleeper.

Thank heaven for that. When did it stop?

They have changed the rule on this since Covid I think. Cabins are single occupancy.

It's not the most comfortable or good nights sleep it can be chilly and depending on where you are going you can also stand on a platform in Edinburgh when the train splits.
But it is very cheap way to do it!

I have been tempted to book a cabin, but got put off by the negative reviews on tripadvisor.

Is it possible to properly sleep in a cabin (even if not the seat)? I am someone who really needs sleep! But it looks like such an adventure.

This doesn’t happen any more. If you book a cabin, it’s yours alone.

I loved it. Slept like a baby, but then, I could probably sleep standing up.

I used to have to go to Scotland for work meetings and couldn't fly up if I'd been scuba diving over the weekend. I always arrived more rested than those who flew.

Is it cheap? I thought it was about £80?
I regularly take the overnight coach. £20, people are super quiet and well behaved. Pay £2 supplement to sit downstairs on a double.