Commuting via Caledonia Sleeper

[BanksiaRose]

Hello, does anyone have any experience of semi-regular commuting to London using the Caledonian Sleeper? Is it feasible to do this twice a month, say? Is it possible to have a decent sleep? Are there discounts for regular travellers v one-off tourists?
Thanks very much.

I think you need to try it yourself. If you're one of those people who can literally sleep anywhere standing up then it's probably ok but if you're not it probably isn't the best start to the working day! Also, if you're leaving from work on the return journey you could be hanging around until late at night waiting to head home.

yes what's your previous ability of habituating to a tricky commute? I've learned to fall asleep on planes (despite being scared of flying) and trains when commuting but struggled to get any sleep on the Caledonian on one off journeys. Very hard to say upfront but there may be tips - like lounges for pre travel on the return leg or some such.

Room or seat? Rooms are very expensive compared to a normal ticket, or even flying.

There is a flexi pass that offers some savings compared to single bookings.

Yes @CorrBlimeyGG I saw the flexipass, which claims to offer quite good discount. I haven't tested that yet, but wondered if they put restrictions on when you could use it. I'm so used to airlines making it hard to claim points that I am suspicious of these kinds of deals. as another poster said, I think it would be a good idea to do a test run.
Thanks

I think a test run is required!

Thanks @emmathedilemma I agree it would be good to test it out.

Does it have to be the CS? I have commuted using the old Virgin service (new train provider now) and it only took 5 hours from London to Edinburgh.

Great point, @Ozanj Will check out the current operator and times.

I used to use it reasonably frequently back when meetings were in person... Not twice a month, but maybe once a month/ six weeks. I haven't used the new swanky trains though, so I may be horribly out of date. Also, I only went Scotland to London... I just got the normal train back. The first time I got basically no sleep (which led to an interesting day), but I persisted and it was much better on subsequent trips. I found the wobbling and noise quite soothing in fact. I did have a gin or similar before getting on the train though

It is pricey to get a cabin (and it had to be first class to guarantee not being put in with a random, though I think they have changed that now) but it was comparable ££ to getting the first train of the day down (and allowed you to be in a meeting at 8.30/ 9am rather than after 10) and cheaper than going the day before and getting a hotel. I decided a while ago not to do flights within the UK unless unavoidable, so I just don't compare the cost there! (also, I'd have to factor in time/ cost of getting to the airport, into Central London and back out again, which isn't negligible for me).

The best thing was getting a shower and breakfast in the lounge at Euston. You can rock out of the train along the platform in your jammies and no one bats an eye But it is at about 6am which is somewhat painful. You used to be able to buy a token for the lounge for about a fiver even if you had a seat rather than a cabin, which would definitely be worth it for the shower alone...

Oh that's super helpful. I think the new trains have showers if you get a cabin, but agree they're v expensive. Also, from what I've read, the showers on the train are cold which seems a bit bizarre that they don't have the ability to heat the water. I love the idea of walking through the station in PJs!

I've used the Night Riviera (Cornwall to London) to commute occasionally. It does take some getting used to. The general movement of the train is ok for sleeping but there are often lots of juddery stops and starts along the way (even though there are few station stops and none during the 'middle' of the night, you do seem to get stopped for engineering works or to change tracks etc). The beds are very narrow too which took some adjusting to (I'm a size 12 so not at all 'big').
I find relaxing in the lounge car for the first hour then retiring to my cabin with a nightcap and a book for the next hour relaxes me for bed. Then a decent pillow spray and some ambient white noise sounds help me drift off.
I can't say I have the best nights' sleep ever but it's acceptable.

Omg... Who wants a cold shower at that time in the morning . No, the lounge is definitely the way forward. I think it opens just after the train arrives and I never had to queue for the showers - there always seemed to be more male than female passengers on the train so that probably helped the female shower situation! They are pretty nice, with decent toiletries provided and hairdryers etc (from memory). If you're doing the return trip too I'm not sure about facilities in the stations up here, though that may not be critical if you don't have an office to head to straight away.

I'm getting all reminisce-y now Loved those trips.

Friend uses it weekly. Mostly it does what it says. They look nice and are comfortable. But the new carriages / rooms have regular problems. Showers frequently don’t work. Frequently no breakfast, sometimes late. Often the buffet car shut. Think a lot of this is covid. Sleeping is an efficient way to travel. Good if you can make use of the time before 11pm when it leaves e.g dinner with a colleague.

I can sleep on it so the commute is pretty good. It’s expensive, the old flexipass was not bad which also offered an upgrade to club. The new one is £2050 for 10 tickets in club. A single club ticket is £260. Classic room (no shower or toilet) is £210.

Flexibility is pretty rubbish you need to cancel two days before travel do always a danger that you’re wasting money.

@BanksiaRose

Oh that's super helpful. I think the new trains have showers if you get a cabin, but agree they're v expensive. Also, from what I've read, the showers on the train are cold which seems a bit bizarre that they don't have the ability to heat the water. I love the idea of walking through the station in PJs!

The showers on the new trains are REALLY WEIRD. It’s like a cupboard with a toilet and shower above . I prefer the ones in the first class lounge at Euston, there’s plenty of space, two towels and hairdryers.

You don’t have to get off the train when it arrives at Euston unless you want to. And you can get on from about 1030pm.

The Sleeper is great if you are able to sleep on it ( kinda obvious I know). And you won’t know until you try. A late night drink can help as a Pp said. Personally I take mine with me rather than sit in the train bar.

Tips for the older trains - put your towel on the pillow as its got a nasty sweaty plastic cover. And pull your mattress out from the wall by a couple of inches - the beds are v narrow and it gives you more space. Turn the heating down before you go to sleep , it often gets hot in the night ( don’t know why ).

I've been pondering this exact scenario! Stupid question probably, but if you buy a Flexipass, and you need to travel at short notice, do you 'use up' more of your Flexipass value because the tickets are more expensive? Or do you really get 10 single tickets for whatever class you've bought, whenever you want them (subject to availability)?

I did it for 6 months on weekly basis on old train
Usually sleeper down and evening train back. It was fine and I'd have a shower when I got to the office. Would happily do it again.

I tried it once and didn't sleep out of excitement but I think I would get used to it. The pillow spray is Amazing and I wish they would sell it.

Used to commute weekly to London. Can’t sleep on the sleeper - and I can sleep anywhere! Too much stopping and starting and shunting around. I haven’t tried the “new” sleeper but can’t imagine it makes a big difference.

I would either get the early train on the Monday morning or Sunday afternoon if I’d an early meeting. Would book well in advance to get cheap First or use Leapfrog. Well worth it for return journey as it’s much quieter to start at Edinburgh or Glasgow. (No fighting to sit on your booked seat!)

I did once get the reclining seats for an overnight- that was hell.

I haven't tried to commute but we did use it this summer to go on holiday to Inverness
I thought it would be a lovely restful experience and I afraid it wasn't at all.
I hated it and didn't get any sleep. It was really noisy, uncomfortable and the movement was irregular and disturbing
I would not have liked to try to do a days work after that night.

There are some traveller reviews of the Caledonian Sleeper on YouTube.

Oh thanks, I'll check them out.

@OllyBJolly

Used to commute weekly to London. Can’t sleep on the sleeper - and I can sleep anywhere! Too much stopping and starting and shunting around. I haven’t tried the “new” sleeper but can’t imagine it makes a big difference.

I would either get the early train on the Monday morning or Sunday afternoon if I’d an early meeting. Would book well in advance to get cheap First or use Leapfrog. Well worth it for return journey as it’s much quieter to start at Edinburgh or Glasgow. (No fighting to sit on your booked seat!)

I did once get the reclining seats for an overnight- that was hell.

@OllyBJolly Thanks for that. Can I be nosey and ask whether you stayed in hotels during your week stays in London or did you have some sort of flat share /second home arrangement? I'm just trying to work out how it might work and I'm thinking perhaps a cheap London hotel might work out better than renting somewhere that I'm not going to use on weekends. So hard.

@Grumpycatsmum

I did it for 6 months on weekly basis on old train Usually sleeper down and evening train back. It was fine and I'd have a shower when I got to the office. Would happily do it again.

Good to hear, @Grumpycatsmum

I’m a good sleeper and wouldn’t say you get a great night’s sleep on night trains. We use them going into London - home so it doesn’t matter so much.