Caledonian Sleeper, your views!

[SWT_USER]

I booked the first class ticket in the end, nice little 4 day trip taking in the West Highland Line and coming back along the Kyle Line in to Inverness with the chieftain back to London in 1st class using some EC Reward points.

 

[Hadders]

The 'Skye circular' is one of my favourite rail trips. I've always done it anti-clockwise - train to Kyle of Lochalsh, bus to Armadale, ferry to Mallaig then train to Fort William and onto the sleeper back south.

Most spectacular scenery. You won't be disappointed!

 

[carriageline]

I have always wondered, how busy do the Caledonian sleepers get? We shunt them around at work, and every time it rumbles past I have always wondered!!


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[shx]

Cheaper fares?

But I guess they charge what the market will stand - and why not.

British sleepers are already the cheapest ones europe has.
Single for less than 60€? Wtf.
Zurich-Vienna sells at 165€ (single, 1st required, included breakfast virtually useless), other continental sleepers range around 100€/single.

 

[Yew]

Dont think there is much that hasnt been said before here.

1) smartening up of the interior, its really getting ready.
2) inter carriage doors would be good, hopefully make it quieter
3) better sound/light proofing in carriages
4) breakfast service in the lounge car
5) Plug sockets in the berths
6) take out the sofas and have more, useful, seating
7) more noise isolation from bogies, compressors, and corridor connections.

Edit; Wifi wouldnt go amiss, and maybe negotiating lounge access (being kicked out at edinburgh at 8am is far too early, nowhere is open, and unfortunately I dont think waverly has enough space for the sleeper to sit there until a reasonable hour for leisure travellers.

 

[Oscar]

British sleepers are already the cheapest ones europe has.
Single for less than 60€? Wtf.
Zurich-Vienna sells at 165€ (single, 1st required, included breakfast virtually useless), other continental sleepers range around 100€/single.

However, continental night trains almost always include couchette accommodation which is significantly cheaper (French Intercités de nuit or Thello Paris - Italy from 35 €, German CityNightLine from 59 €).

 

[shx]

French Intercités de nuit or Thello Paris - Italy from 35 €

These fares are as rare as bargain berths.

almost always include couchette accommodation which is significantly cheaper

Some (like almost all french) even scrapped sleepers. Couchettes are largely a matter of route and who's travelling in your compartment (up to five additional people) - sometime you're lucky, and sometimes you'll receive drunken people in the mood to party - not to sleep (usually staff isn't going to care about).

 

[Oscar]

These fares are as rare as bargain berths.

Are they? Looking three to four months ahead, Thello 35 € fares are normally available on most departures.

 

[shx]

Are they? Looking three to four months ahead, Thello 35 € fares are normally available on most departures.

They get rapidly more expensive as someone books them on that specific journey. Their contingents in absolute numbers are usually on par with the Bargain Berths (as for the cheap CNL fares: they're actually two fares: 20€/30€ for a 4/6 person couchette compartment and a appropiate Sparpreis or Europa-Spezial - the former from 29€, the latter from 39€ - the extremely cheap ones tend to be sold out after a few persons).


Btw: Unlike British advanced fares, almost all of the fixed service fees the continent offers are to be booked at least three days in advance.

 

[Mainliner]

Did you find it comfortable and relaxing or were you up all night?

See my earlier report:

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showpost.php?p=1589536&postcount=1