Sleeper Stirling to London

cazziebo

I'm planning a trip to London and thought about getting the sleeper. I really don't like the idea of sharing with a stranger but reluctant to pay for first class.

As I would be getting on the Inverness - King's Cross service at Stirling I wondered if I would be given my own cabin anyway rather than disturb anyone else? Anyone got inside info on how cabins are allocated? It would be a Wednesday night so I was thinking it would be quieter than usual.

Bongedone

Do you mean the Caledonian Sleeper to Euston?

http://www.seat61.com/CaledonianSleepers.htm

cazziebo

That's the one. Leaves Stirling at 7 past midnight.

Armengar

Takes a long time though. Ive done the sleep from glasgow and my other journeys were much better on the faster virgin train.

ticketcollector

I used to do the sleeper often. There are two trains that go into euston.
Inverness INV
Ft William FTW
Aberdeen ABD
These all join at Edinburgh to go thru to Euston

Glasgow GLA
Edinburgh EDB
These two sections join at carstairs.

It may be worth you catching a 'day' train to Edinburgh and using the later sleeper from EDB to EUS directly, If you cant get a berth on the earlier train.
I believe they would book you a separate cabin in order not to disturb another passenger.

Cabins now can be allocated on a first come first served basis, as certain ticket issuing systems you can now choose which carriage and which berth you want, including upper/lower.

Have you tried looking on the bargain berth first class fares?

robt_2

Armengar wrote: »

Takes a long time though. Ive done the sleep from glasgow and my other journeys were much better on the faster virgin train.

It doesn't really matter that it takes a long time... the clue is in the name

cazziebo

Thanks ticketcollector that's really useful.

The first class fare is £161 and the standard £35 so quite a difference. I would have loved first class because of the shower at the other end but 130 quid for a shower is excessive.

I'll book the standard and hope I get my own cabin. When I was younger I thought nothing of sharing in the six berth continental sleepers but getting more inhibited and intolerant as I've got older!

Thanks again

omelette451

cazziebo wrote: »

I wondered if I would be given my own cabin anyway rather than disturb anyone else? Anyone got inside info on how cabins are allocated?

It's got little to do with disturbing anyone else - there's bound to be someone else getting on at the same station as you and there would be no disturbance if the two of you boarded together!

Anyway, the policy for allocating cabins is quite simple. The attendants give people a cabin to themselves as much as possible, but obivously if the train is more than half full they'll start doubling up and some people will have to share. There's no distinction made between those who've paid the full standard class fare and those who get the 'bargain berths'. Your logic about Wednesday being less busy in general is true, so you may well find yourself lucky, but if you really don't want to share you're best off going in first class. Not that there's anything wrong with sharing, of course!

omelette451

cazziebo wrote: »

The first class fare is £161 and the standard £35 so quite a difference.

Are you sure the £35 is for a berth? Don't forget that there is a carriage of reclining seats too, and unless it specifically says you get a bed this is where you'll be.

beaker141

If the sleeper is £35 - buy 2 tickets and say your invisible friend is with you in the double berth !

ticketcollector

SPA Sleeper 1st Single
£161.00

B49 - BARGAINBERTH 49
£49.00

Those are the only fares I can find which will allow you a berth.

The other one you quoted seems to be seated section ONLY.
You can however pay £38 supplement to get a bed on a normal ticket.

There are also cheaper bargin berths on the route at http://www.travelpass.buytickets.scotrail.co.uk/BargainBerths/Default.aspx