Caledonian Sleeper supplement query

[BRX]

If I have an off-peak return from London-Inverness, and a single from Edinburgh-Fort William valid on the following day's early morning service (ie the one conveying the sleeper coaches) can I just call up Scotrail, pay the sleeper supplement and then use this ticket combination to travel on the London-Fort William Sleeper?

Or is it not as simple as that....

 

[First class]

The sleeper train does not pick up at Edinburgh so split tickets there cannot be used.

It picks up at London, Watford, Crewe, Preston and then doesn't "pick up" until it's in the Highlands.

The Stagecoach bus is £10 return from Inverness-Fort William and runs fairly frequently.

 

[yorkie]

If I have an off-peak return from London-Inverness

You already have such a ticket? That's a very expensive ticket to have (£239) to use on the sleeper. Assuming this is the return portion I'd be interested to know what your outward journey is to require such an expensive ticket, as I am sure we can find a cheaper way (or is it too late?)

and a single from Edinburgh-Fort William valid on the following day's early morning service (ie the one conveying the sleeper coaches)

Single? You're not coming back? Or do you live in Inverness and are getting the bus back?

can I just call up Scotrail, pay the sleeper supplement and then use this ticket combination to travel on the London-Fort William Sleeper?

Or is it not as simple as that....

By 'sleeper supplement' I am assuming you mean a berth? Seated sleeper doesn't require a supplement.

I don't see why not, but somepeople may argue it's not valid because:
- It could be claimed the train does not 'call' at Edinburgh (Yes, it does call to pick up only, see previous topics where we have debated split ticketing on pick up/set down only services)
- It could be claimed the EDB-FTW ticket isn't valid in a berth because you can't book a berth for that section.
(I don't agree with those claims)

Counter arguments to that would be:
- Actually a London to Inverness ticket is quite possibly valid to Westerton anyway (consult the Routeing Guide to check)
- In which case you'd only need a Westerton-Fort William ticket
- You have paid so much money that they would accept it (probably)
- Berth attendants are not exactly ticket experts and would accept it anyway (probably)

 

[rail-britain]

The sleeper train does not pick up at Edinburgh so split tickets there cannot be used

The Inverness / Fort William sleeper northbound is the same train
However, the Fort William portion does allow seated passengers from Edinburgh onwards

What you could do is contact ScotRail and advise you want to merge tickets, with a reservation in the Fort William sleeper, throughout
If they decline this, then on boarding (the Inverness sleeper) point out you actually want to travel to Fort William
Common sense should prevail, if there are no spare berths (to Fort William), you would then stay in your berth until just before Edinburgh, be woken and then be in the seated portion

 

[BRX]

You already have such a ticket? That's a very expensive ticket to have (£239) to use on the sleeper. Assuming this is the return portion I'd be interested to know what your outward journey is to require such an expensive ticket, as I am sure we can find a cheaper way (or is it too late?)

Single? You're not coming back? Or do you live in Inverness and are getting the bus back?

By 'sleeper supplement' I am assuming you mean a berth? Seated sleeper doesn't require a supplement.

I don't see why not, but somepeople may argue it's not valid because:
- It could be claimed the train does not 'call' at Edinburgh (Yes, it does call to pick up only, see previous topics where we have debated split ticketing on pick up/set down only services)
- It could be claimed the EDB-FTW ticket isn't valid in a berth because you can't book a berth for that section.
(I don't agree with those claims)

Counter arguments to that would be:
- Actually a London to Inverness ticket is quite possibly valid to Westerton anyway (consult the Routeing Guide to check)
- In which case you'd only need a Westerton-Fort William ticket
- You have paid so much money that they would accept it (probably)
- Berth attendants are not exactly ticket experts and would accept it anyway (probably)

Sorry - I meant a super off peak return - the one that costs about £130.

Basically I want to go London-FTW on the sleeper, then return from Inverness with a break of journey at Glasgow.

I could get a return to FTW, then a single Inverness-Glasgow, but I think a return to Inverness and a single Glasgow to FTW would be cheaper.

And yes I want a berth, not a seat and I don't want to have to get up at half four in the morning to switch to the seated coach!

 

[EltonRoad]

Have you tried doing it by advance singles for each leg. Sleeper singles start at £60. Could also try bargain berths but they usually sell out on the Fort William leg. Then do singles for the return legs.

 

[BRX]

Have you tried doing it by advance singles for each leg. Sleeper singles start at £60. Could also try bargain berths but they usually sell out on the Fort William leg. Then do singles for the return legs.

No advance singes available to Ft W on the date I want to travel unfortunately.

 

[rail-britain]

No advance singes available to Ft W on the date I want to travel unfortunately

What date?
What about trying an obscure destination along the route?
After that point you can then travel in the seats

 

[EltonRoad]

£110 Euston to Ftw sleeper standard single
£10.30 advance single Inv to Glasgow QS
£18.50 single Glasgow C to Euston (I looked at 11th May)

= £138.80

still cheaper than £130 SOR plus £38 sleeper supp plus Edinburgh - Ftw single. And avoids questions of validity.

 

[BRX]

£110 Euston to Ftw sleeper standard single

This is not offered on the date I want to travel (16th June) when I look on the Scotrail website. The cheapest is an off-peak single at £136.30.

When you say "standard single" do you mean "advance single"?

 

[EltonRoad]

No, standard single. Sleeper standard - buy up to close of reservations, can get refund (minus admin fee); sleeper advance - buy not later than two days ahead, no refund.

There are two tiers of sleeper standard single, both of which include a berth, priced at £110 and £163.90. Once the £110 tickets have sold out it goes up to £163.90. The £136.30 ticket is a normal off peak single from London to Fort William, not a sleeper ticket. Check for the bed symbol next to the ticket.

I had a look on the date you quote and it largely seems to be sold out, as is often the case on Thursdays and Fridays from London.