Sleeper north from Edinburgh

[mumrar]

Hi everyone, it's been a long time since I've posted and due to family life a long time since e I've really done much exciting UK rail leisure travel.

I hold non-safeguarded staff travel as does my wife and I'm trying to plan a few days away short notice for our 20th anniversary. Prior to getting married we did the sleeper and went to Mallaig and then the lake district on the return.

This time I'm hoping to fly to Edinburgh on the 11th August, then early doors do seated travel on sleeper to Fort William or Inverness and then trying to plan a loop via Kyle, Skye and Mallaig back south. I'm not overly fussed or time constrained on the return from Scotland to home (near Birmingham).

What's the deal with being a "day" seated passenger on the sleepers, both fares and how to book etc as over 20 years ago was my last sleeper experience (and only my third ever).

Many thanks in advance

P.S. as a side note that amuses me, my wife was pregnant with our eldest when we did this trip - and now we reach this point he now has his very own railway career and can look forward to stuff like this himself too!

 

[Haywain]

What's the deal with being a "day" seated passenger on the sleepers,

You can only do that to Fort William.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

ScotRail trains from Edinburgh Waverley to Aberdeen start at 0530. An hour or so later if travelling to Inverness, and a change likely required at Perth, as there are not so many through trains.

 

[VT 390]

What's the deal with being a "day" seated passenger on the sleepers, both fares and how to book etc as over 20 years ago was my last sleeper experience (and only my third ever).

Day seated passengers can only travel Edinburgh to Fort William in both directions and from Kingussie to Inverness northbound only. So from Edinburgh you will only be able to use the Fort William portion.

You must make a seat reservation before travelling.
There should usually be space on the Fort William portion as any passengers travelling to Aberdeen will free up seats on the Fort William service from Edinburgh onwards, however these could get reserved quickly at more popular times.

Most booking sites should be able to sell you the Edinburgh to Fort William tickets with seat reservation.
You can NOT actually book seated day tickets through the Caledonian Sleeper website.

As there are 2 of you if you want to sit next to each other try and get seats on the 2 side of the 2-1 seating layout, this will be seats labelled with the same number and then B and C (A seats are single seats) for example 6B and 6C. If you use a booking site with a seat selector it usually lets you select the exact seats you want.

 

[mumrar]

Day seated passengers can only travel Edinburgh to Fort William in both directions and from Kingussie to Inverness northbound only. So from Edinburgh you will only be able to use the Fort William portion.

You must make a seat reservation before travelling.
There should usually be space on the Fort William portion as any passengers travelling to Aberdeen will free up seats on the Fort William service from Edinburgh onwards, however these could get reserved quickly at more popular times.

Most booking sites should be able to sell you the Edinburgh to Fort William tickets with seat reservation.
You can NOT actually book seated day tickets through the Caledonian Sleeper website.

As there are 2 of you if you want to sit next to each other try and get seats on the 2 side of the 2-1 seating layout, this will be seats labelled with the same number and then B and C (A seats are single seats) for example 6A and 6B. If you use a booking site with a seat selector it usually lets you select the exact seats you want.

Thanks for all the info, you mention booking sites so does this mean that there is no option to use the TOC 75% discount on this journey from Edinburgh to Fort William I presume.

Thanks again for such a detailed reply.

 

[Haywain]

Thanks for all the info, you mention booking sites so does this mean that there is no option to use the TOC 75% discount on this journey from Edinburgh to Fort William I presume.

Thanks again for such a detailed reply.

You should be able to book this on the RSTL site in order to get the Priv discount. If not, you can buy at a station ticket office.

 

[mumrar]

You should be able to book this on the RSTL site in order to get the Priv discount. If not, you can buy at a station ticket office.

Awesome, appreciate that and it must seem odd for someone who works on the railway to be so clueless but as I say, family life with kids growing up meaning I didn't do much leisure travelling far and not working in retail side since 2019 have taken their toll.

Having used the RSTL website this is the result I have for using the Caledonian Sleeper however - it doesn't apply any discount.

 

[Haywain]

Having used the RSTL website this is the result I have for using the Caledonian Sleeper however - it doesn't apply any discount.

What Priv do you have - you say non-safeguarded but is it the Network Rail version? Edit: I don't think this is your problem - see below.


The RSTL 'Where Can I Go?' guide has this to say about sleeper services, with the crucial bit in bold:

There is no discounted travel in the overnight seated accommodation. Rail staff may use discounted travel in seated accommodation on daytime legs between Kingussie – Inverness, Edinburgh – Fort William and Fort William – Edinburgh. Reservations are mandatory but this can only be made up to 7 days before travel. This applies to all travel facilities including 75% discounted tickets, or season tickets.

 

[mumrar]

What Priv do you have - you say non-safeguarded but is it the Network Rail version? Edit: I don't think this is your problem - see below.


The RSTL 'Where Can I Go?' guide has this to say about sleeper services, with the crucial bit in bold:

Thanks very much for this, it is a TOC issued one.