Train question.

Grimley

Grimley

Grimley

Soldato
Joined
18 Nov 2007
Posts
8,044
Location
Deepest Darkest Essex!!
Anyone here travelled on the Sleeper train up to Scotland or to Cornwall.
Any good?
I might think about doing said journey at some time later in the year, the only thing putting me off is going on the tube late at night with a suitcase.
 
My Mum went on one a while ago from London to Scotland, then a sight seeing train across scotland I think.

She really enjoyed it, said she met some great people on the train
 
I use them once or twice a year. Most of the Scotrail sleeper drivers normally drive freight trains so you can get the occasional one who is a bit over enthusiastic with the brakes but most of the time the train motion sends you straight off.

If you are going from London to Inverness or Fort William in the Summer there is something magical about waking up in the Highlands. Unfortunately it doesn't work in the opposite direction!
 
You could combine your trip on the sleeper with a trip on the Fort William - Mallaig Steam train service.

The Scotrail sleeper driver issue is symptomatic of what is wrong with our railways.

Instead of providing spacious locomotive hauled trains with plenty of coaches, most train operators economise and provide short formation trains with underfloor engines.

The locomotives which haul the sleeper are mixed traffic electric locos, and until recently were used by Virgin to haul express passenger trains.

Now they spend most of their time hauling freight, sleepers and the odd occasional charter.
 
I've used London - Glasgow sleepers frequently when I used to live in Glasgow. Generally very comfortable, providing it's first class. The most memorable week I had on them was when I had to make three return trips to London in one week, and had six nights out of six on a sleeper.

I've also used Crewe to Fort William, and agree with others here that it's just heaven waking up in fantastic scenery.

Also, I've been on a Paddington to Penzance sleeper, but that was when I was only nine, and the trains were steam hauled. Don't remember so much about that one.
 
heh my dad used to get the night train up an down Britain when he was in the country for short periods of time, as it was cheaper than getting a place to stay :p
 
I've been on the Penzance-Paddington one, but I was on me way to Florida so was too excited to sleep. Was all right, bit cramped and not an awful lot of privacy, but still better than driving.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom