Sleeper trains

GwylimT

waterbaby wrote: »

Pixie - yes we'd hire a car whether we did train or plane. I only remember the total price (train + car) from my plane investigations a while ago.

Gwilym - I never knew any coaches had beds! As travelling without a seatbelt in a car is hugely frowned on nowadays, I must admit I am surprised that it's ok to lie in bed unrestrained while travelling by road.

Never been on a public bus?

emerald21

I've travelled from Crewe to Inverness and Inverness to Crewe different times.i didn t sleep very well as was afraid of missing my stop at Crewe but at least I had a cabin and luckily to myself because the heating had broken down.

Also the train stopped at a station can't remember which one now but it was an indoor station with lights and noise . Not much fun .

waterbaby

GwylimT wrote: »

Never been on a public bus?

yes, but never comfortably (meaning mentally!). And overnight travel would presumably be much faster, on motorways, than a local bus tootling around. But then there'd be less traffic.

I avoid taking the children on the bus, as much as possible. I want us all strapped in properly. When I was at uni, a friend of a friend died when the bus was struck by another vehicle and he was knocked flying. It just doesn't sit right with me. I suppose any form of transport has it's risks though.

Anyway, the bus is distinctly un-MSE round here. It costs me twice as much to travel (alone) on the bus to the nearest town than it does to take the car, including parking.

Counting_Pennies_2

Oh dear I think I must be the only one saying yes do it!!!


We had the friends and family rail card and got the cabins very reasonably priced from what I can remember. About £59??


This was two years ago when we travelled from London to Edinburgh.


There is the inevitable excitement so took until the train started moving before the children fell asleep, however they slept like logs all the way there.


The train didn't arrive into London for us to board until very close to the time for departure. I had hoped to get on and settle the children long before it left but I guess platform space is precious. I think it was either half an hour or an hour before departure. Also they like to come around and wake you up while the train is still moving and they are keen for you to get off the train as soon as it arrives at the destination platform! It gets quite brisk!


Also think of ages, we had one age 5 and one 8. I was happy to put the 8 year old on the top bunk but not the 5 year old, so an adult needed the top bunk.


They do inter connecting cabins, you need to book ahead of time to get these, as soon as you know your dates try to book it. So all four of us slept in one area (effectively two bunk rooms with a connecting door). It is cramped and we just about got our two suitcases and a car seat crammed in to the cabin with the only space to get changed on our bunks.


There is a bouncing motion to the beds with the movement of the train. Everyone slept well with it except me, I felt quite sick, I was shattered the next day! I ended up going for a walk in my PJs down the train corridor and met a nice guard who gave me a complimentary hot chocolate and biscuit to try to settle me. I slept fitfully.


If you are a light sleeper you will notice stopping at a few stations, Carlisle was definitely one of them.


For us it was the adventure to start the holiday. It was a cheap way to travel and fun.


Despite me not having the greatest time, I wouldn't rule it out if we planned another trip


hth


PS - with children they don't let strangers share with you, so you are guaranteed to have a private bunk, so you won't be given a chair

cadon

I know this route well - have done it by sleeper several times (seated sleeper, regular berth and first class berth). I've also done it by Megabus, although not Megabus Gold. The regular Megabus is absolute hell for a grown up, presumably worse if you have children in tow - not sure about the Megabus Gold. The worst thing about travelling long-distance on a bus is that you will want to use the toilet at some point, and it will be horrific. With the train, when one toilet invariably gets destroyed, there will be another. Not so with a bus. There's only one.

The seated sleeper is generally bearable for the sort of adults who are quite happy dozing off in the car/on a bus/normal train/etc. If you're unlucky, you'll get a drunk, a snorer and/or a child. The staff are lovely and will check on the seated sleeper carriage from time to time and also on request, so if you do get any maliciously disruptive people, they'll deal with them. The trouble is snorers and children, because they don't mean to ruin your night, they just do.

I rarely see children on the seated sleeper. The ones I've seen can't settle - and really, why would you expect them to? It tends to be cruel on the children and the other travellers. The seats aren't designed for kids, and many hate travelling backwards. Some of the seats at the front and the back are too close together for strangers. I avoid certain numbers from experience.

The berths are a completely different story. They're much more expensive, but far more comfortable. If you want an experience, this is what you go for. The seated sleeper is for when you're broke, because there is a huge differential in price, and you don't get cheap tickets in advance like you do with normal train journeys.

With a standard class berth, you need to book in multiples of two, or you may end up sharing with a stranger, and that can be plain weird. They do make you share with the same gender and if they can avoid people sharing, they will, but it's a possibility. You need to be aware that's what you're paying for.

First class gives you a berth per person, better food, "room service" and access to the first class lounge at both legs. It's worth it if you want to go somewhere on arrival, e.g. if you have a business meeting, but if you're just going to see family/friends and can shower/nap at their place when you get in, you can go without. Really, it's the lounge (and its shower facilities) you're paying for.

The berths are comfortable for short people. Anyone above, say, 5 ft 7 will not enjoy the journey very much. Children will be fine as they're short enough, and provided they're rooming with someone they know, they may well find it a fun experience rather than just a journey.

Getting the sleeper may or may not be cheaper than flying, but the advantage is that it takes you in/out of the town centre and for some people, getting to/from the airport is a hassle. Yes, it takes longer because the train travels slower at night (it's about 4/5 hours slower than normal, the day train is much quicker) but you're asleep for most of it (unless you choose to spend the night drinking in the buffet car) and you don't have to get there massively early and queue for security and put things in plastic bags.

3G/4G/cell coverage on the sleeper network is patchy, but the train is always bang on time (unlike other routes) so if you tell people in advance when you're leaving/arriving, you generally won't need to contact them about any problems.

If you have children and the prices/logistics work out, the standard class berths would be quite fun. First class is even better, but it's not exactly MSE. I absolutely do not recommend the seated car for kids. I also don't recommend any part of the sleeper for tall people.

I do love the Caledonian Sleeper staff. They're helpful, they read situations well, and they look after the people who need a bit of extra help without being prompted.

waterbaby

Some really useful info there, thanks.

I wouldn't have the children in the seated sleeper, wouldn't consider it. I slept in a seat on a ferry though, and I was pleasantly surprised how much sleep I got.

And I am 6ft tall, as is OH - I tend to curl up in bed, but he doesn't, and is a light sleeper! I can forsee a tired grumpy OH on the sleeper.

happyc84

I did the old British Rail sleeper from Glasgow to London, was attending a civil service interview when all you had to do was turn up at the BR ticket office with a chit.

As I was traveling on my own I had to share a cabin with a complete stranger. At least we had a drink before lights out.

Have also done the overnight buses from Glasgow to London and back; when younger it was easier.

Last year did the USA rail trip - 3 days, 2 nights in the sleeper.
So to the OP I would take the family by train, and try and relax.

Owain_Moneysaver

cadon wrote: »

the train is always bang on time

Unfortunately this isn't true. Although it's generally fairly reliable, it can on rare occasions be drastically late (2 hours plus).

hardpressed

Bear in mind that if you fly you may need passports, if you haven't got them it will bump up the price of the flight.

Mr_Toad

Have you considered driving with overnight stops?

I live in the East Midlands and have friends on the Isle of Skye. We've flown to Inverness the rented a car, my girlfriend didn't fancy the drive. It was fine with no drama.

We have also been up there for New Year and as I have a 4x4, necessary for Skye and a lot of remote Highlands in winter she decided that driving would be better on that occasion.

To make it as easy as possible we had two overnight stops on the way up. She was so pleasantly surprised at how easy the journey was and how comfortable the Jeep is we now always drive. We came home with just a single overnight stop, longer days but not too bad.

In terms of overall cost driving and hotels/guest houses was cheaper than flying and renting a car.

Not relevant but on the way up our second night was spent in a big old Highland country house hotel. They'd been shut for three days over Xmas and we arrived on the night they reopened. They couldn't get the boilers to light so there was no heating or hot water.

They lit the huge fires, including one in the bedroom, and carried hot water to the rooms for bathing. There were several other couples staying and we all sat round the fire drinking and talking and had one of the best nights ever!

They set up a makeshift dining room in a room with another fireplace and served us all a lovely meal. There was a foot of snow outside and the whole thing was magical.