Caledonian sleeper routing during Hanslope engineering works December 2025

[EuxtonNeutral]

I've struck gold and managed to get a priv booking for the Cally sleeper for the New Year.

I'm intrigued as to what route the train will be taking from Euston to Inverness during the Hanslope Junction possession. As far as I know it is still departing from Euston (perhaps it would have been easier to run it out of KX...)

Without shunting the only option seems to be to come off at Bletchley and get onto the MML via the Marston Vale, thence to the ECML somehow or other...?
With shunting I guess you could play around at Willesden and get to the ECML via the North London and GOBLIN...

Anyone have any information?

 

[Mike395]

The Sleepers - both Highland and Lowland consists - reverse at Wembley Reception to get onto the North London Line e.g. https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L11883/2026-01-06/detailed

 

[gordonthemoron]

The Sleepers - both Highland and Lowland consists - reverse at Wembley Reception to get onto the North London Line e.g. https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L11883/2026-01-06/detailed

Surely this particular day, the rerouting is due to engineering works in Cumbria, as Hanslope should have reopened? I’m travelling MKC to Preston on 6/1/26

 

[Mike395]

Sorry yes - I chose a random day as an example. In any case it’s taking the same route to get to the ECML for both blocks.

 

[EuxtonNeutral]

The Sleepers - both Highland and Lowland consists - reverse at Wembley Reception to get onto the North London Line e.g. https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L11883/2026-01-06/detailed

Thank you!

 

[DarloRich]

Without shunting the only option seems to be to come off at Bletchley and get onto the MML via the Marston Vale, thence to the ECML somehow or other...?

if only! They reverse at Wembley

it would have to be Euston > Bletchley > Leicester > Peterborough ( Reverse) > York surely

 

[merry]

if only! They reverse at Wembley

it would have to be Euston > Bletchley > Leicester > Peterborough ( Reverse) > York surely

Well, could be simpler: Euston -> Bletchley -> Leicester -> Chesterfield -> Doncaster -> Edinbugh; no reversals that way.
But probably not got Mk5 stock clearance for some of those routes.

 

[The Planner]

Well, could be simpler: Euston -> Bletchley -> Leicester -> Chesterfield -> Doncaster -> Edinbugh; no reversals that way.
But probably not got Mk5 stock clearance for some of those routes.

Nor wires..

 

[xotGD]

Nor wires..

We need the Class 99/4s asap!

 

[hwl]

We need the Class 99/4s asap!

Given the ETS load of 16 mk5 coaches how fast do you think that 99/4 would be going on diesel?

[Hint think of Class 20 traction performance]

 

[Bill57p9]

Well, could be simpler: Euston -> Bletchley -> Leicester -> Chesterfield -> Doncaster -> Edinbugh; no reversals that way.
But probably not got Mk5 stock clearance for some of those routes.

The Highlander needs a reversal at or south of Edinburgh (in both directions) to keep the stock the right way around to:

• support the split of the Aberdeen/Fort William portion
• Ensure that the southbound Highlander has the Aberdeen/Fort William portion at the north end on arrival into Euston as that (with the slightly reduced berth capacity due to having 2 accessible berths/rooms) forms the Glasgow Lowlander northbound the next night, leaving the higher capacity portion to operate the Lowlander to Edinburgh