LONDON — The Caledonian Sleeper train which will offer service between Scotland and London has made its first trial run to London, preparing for service set to launch in May.
The train features the first new sleeping car equipment in the United Kingdom in 35 years [see “New Scotland Sleepers debut,” “Passenger,” December 2018 Trains]. Sixteen cars made the test trip from Scotland to London Euston station.
“Caledonian Sleeper will undergo a huge transformation in 2019 and we are now entering the final stages of our testing and approvals program,” Ryan Flaherty, managing director at Caladonian Sleeper for Scottish franchise operator Serco, said in a press release. “Bringing our new carriages into London Euston for the first time is an exciting landmark for the team, and we cannot wait until they are arriving and departing from the station six nights a week.”
The fleet, built at a cost of over 100 million British pounds (approximately $130 million, including $100 in government grants), will feature standard and accessible cars with a variety of sleeping accommodations
— Updated Jan. 22 at 2:55 p.m. to clarify test run was the first to London.
