It's day and night on my return train journey to London! LNER First and Caledonian Sleeper in a seat

[@alinam7432]

it's so interesting to watch as a German - I know you've been to Germany several times and might already be aware but we are much more direct than you Brits and have absolutely no problem with complaining when a service or a product is faulty :D (sometimes comes across as rude to other cultures, but I can tell you it saves a lot of trouble :D ) I can tell you 99% of Germans would have complained if they had been in your shoes :D Especially because it looks like the train was not that busy - you probably would have been offered a better, less noisy seat :) but you took one for the team, so thanks for another great video and greetings from Germany :)

[@20bluelilies]

Yes, I'm in Australia, but Dutch by birth, and I know I would have been squawking at someone 😆

[@improperrunner]

I follow a lot of transport you tubers, and yours randomly popped up. The Caledonian Sleeper leg must've been pure hell with that noise.

[@steve-marsh]

Cheers Gem! Aye, it was brutal, but made for a more interesting video :D

[@3134-x2v]

Just watched you Edinburgh to London return trip. Intersting and informative video as always. Regarding your comment about the first class seat on the LNER Azuma. For many years I used the East Coast service from Newark to Edinburgh. First class seats and service always good. Then they introduced these new Azumas. Seats nowhere near as comfortable and the trains are actually noisier. I've been informed the Azumas are actually used as commuter trains in some countries as opposed to long distance. There are many complaints about these seats on social media.

[@asensibleyoungman2978]

Amazing to think there are twice as many people in London as there are in Scotland.

[@stephenrushford6867]

I have been watching all your amazing videos and keep it up and I am just waiting for your next video

[@steve-marsh]

Thanks a lot Stephen!

[@jamesdoyle8442]

Love your video 👍👍👍

[@censport]

This reminds me of a trip I took to Hokkaido in 2012. Got on the overnight train at Shin-Aomori Station, saw the bunk beds, dropped my bag, sat down, started taking my shoes off and this train attendant came by and asked to see my ticket. He looked at it and politely told me that I was in the wrong car then showed me to the correct one. It was just rows of seats. I was the only non-Japanese person, and as we rolled through the night, I watched others spread across three seats, use their bags or coats for pillows, etc. I did the best I could with my long legs and such. And I thought that was a rough night's sleep until I saw this video! I bet you slept hard between Edinburgh and Montrose! That overnight train service ended a few years later and was replaced by a shinkansen (bullet train) which gets the passenger between Shin-Aomori Station and Shin-Hakodate Hokuto Station in an hour. But I always flew All Nippon Airlines after that anyway, Tokyo-Sapporo in an hour, then rental car to Yubari.

[@steve-marsh]

A bit jealous reading about your adventures!

[@censport]

@@steve-marsh Wait, if I'm jealous of your adventures and you're jealous of mine... which one of us buys the first round when I'm in Scotland?

[@markhaggitt7731]

absolutely love this channel. very different. 👍

[@steve-marsh]

Cheers Mark, appreciate it!

[@Beth-l5c]

Good, bad, or indifferent your reviews are just terrific.

[@kudzumoose3861]

As always, great fun, for us viewers. I loved the look on your face when you were playing with the seat controls. Like a little boy. Ha!

[@steve-marsh]

Haha so true :D

[@annemaloney8273]

Steve you made me smile. London to Edinburgh and return is one of my favorite train rides. I can't wait to get back.

[@steve-marsh]

Choose wisely! :)

[@roseogrady8785]

Thank You.

[@AlasdairMacCaluim]

When I go on the sleeper I find it helps to have a couple of pints before hand - makes it far easier to get to sleep!

[@steve-marsh]

I wish I'd done just that!

[@catherinemaldon]

I’d have needed a bloody general anaesthetic the last time.

[@simonwhitlock9189]

The journey down would be ok but as soon as you said that you were in a seat for the return and for eight hours ! , well I could feel your pain, do hope that you are now recovered and staying safe, many thanks and cheers.

[@steve-marsh]

Cheers Simon, a good long nap when I got home helped with the recovery, I can't imagine being able to function after this one :D

[@yourboynaz298]

As the old saying goes Rather you then me wee laddy 😅 That rail sounds like insane

[@steve-marsh]

The things I do for KZbin :D

[@harryjohnbrown9002]

Another great video Steve always get a silent chuckle whenever it's breakfast time and full Scottish English you love yir food m8 Keep up the excellent work Steve you're awesome superfly guy ❤

[@vivellasmum]

Oh no, that return journey just looks horrendous. Reminds me of the torture of the Stagecoach bus from London to Scotland I did once as a youth, never been so uncomfortable, never again! Trains are so expensive though, I spose travel is now full stop with all the fuel price hikes. As always you make a the journey entertaining & fun! Thanks.

[@irenetissington4868]

Just booked Doncaster to Edinburgh on LNER before seeing this - so glad I opted for 1st class deal on return, and a senior railcard. Enjoying your many videos - thank you.

[@J-Man-2023]

It’s really nice how your train to London was next to a crosscontry

[@BigTubz]

Great comparison video and you've created the polar opposite of ASMR, what a pioneer.

[@steve-marsh]

Haha love it :)

[@rossstewart3977]

I loved the lner train looked very comfortable

[@steve-marsh]

It isn't perfect, but I can never complain at the opportunity to travel in first class, it's wayyyy better than anything I'm used to :)

[@RogEdwardsTV]

Great comparison. I find it difficult to sleep on the sleeper even in a bed berth. The seated car with the lights on and the rattle and hum is genuine torture as you discovered. At Carstairs the “track loop” to Edinburgh is south of the station. So when they’ve divided the trains in the station, the front portion continues in the same direction to Glasgow, but the Edinburgh portion goes in the opposite direction into the loop. 😀

[@sandersson2813]

To be fair, any transport at night is pretty shit if you're wanting 40 winks. It's almost impossible to get any meaningful and quality rest. Only thing which would come close would be a decent cabin on a cruise ship. Even business class on a plane is awful.

[@RogerEdwardsMarketing]

@@sandersson2813 I would agree with that. I’ve done BA Club World a few times and it is hard to nod off - though all the wine they serve you does help! 😂

[@loneiidev]

There was a sleeper bus from Scotland to London that was actually pretty great. It gently cruised down empty motorways and you had a bed. It wasn't really loud or anything and was pretty cheap. You would wake up in the morning and go to a seat then get a complimentary tea/coffee. I'm sad that's gone, the train's crazy expensive and no night buses have bunks now. You could enjoy the whole day there then get a bus back at night, saving on needing hotels.

[@RogEdwardsTV]

@@loneiidev I think that was the Megabus Gold Sleeper service. Never got to try it but I heard good reports! 😀

[@steve-marsh]

That sounds incredible!

[@russmeans]

Great 1st part...sounded like the train back had a square wheel...what torture indeed!

[@steve-marsh]

Haha it so did :D

[@daviddymock4686]

Wow Steve what a beautiful city Salamanca is & the apartment you stayed in was absolutely amazing ( so cheap considering the amazing location) I've been to St.Marks Square in Venice & to be honest it was put in the shade by this stunning Plaza!! Glad you got to return to your favourite food place( 12 Euros what a bargain)!! Thanks again Steve what wonderful video showing us once again how many places are definitely worth visiting 👍

[@roroger2402]

Well done Steve, nice meal on the morning trip.

[@steve-marsh]

Aye, really enjoyed half of this journey! :)

[@PlanesTrainsEverything]

Hi Steve, great video as per usual. The Caley Sleeper seats are classics, aren't they? I've come up with a theory. I think there was an obligation to provide seating, but they deliberately made the carriage seriously unpleasant, so it wouldn't attract business away from their more expensive sleepers. My local MSP (an SNP man, so very interested in all things Scottish), was interested in my video and my less-than-glowing report. It's such a shame the Caledonian Sleeper doesn't put other overnight European trains to shame.

[@77smp]

That seems very likely. They've stopped the seats available from Edinburgh to Fort William as well (always sold out). It completely misses the point of a sleeper train and is just a tourist gimmick, luckily it's being taken away from Serco soon...

[@steve-marsh]

A very good theory mate and I bet it has a lot more truth than any reply I'd get from them!

[@barvdw]

@@77smp while I agree that Serco has to go, the train is this way at least partly because of the demands of the Scottish Government on how they wanted the service to look like.

[@robertofraser101]

Hi Scott watched a video Rivera train sleeper although it was a cabin not seating seemed world away from calley sleeper it hurts lack of attention detail lighting no usb plugs working etc etc you and Steve got g8 memories of calley sleeper now 😀 poor Steve his face told it all 2022 eh a 5 year old train I travelled many times azumu not all way too London though if it gets you there trouble free can't be bad it's a shame our scottish sleeper shows up like this disappointing I think that noise go round Steve's head for years yea bad show now I have go back watch your review again Scott thanks too you both I try see if there's a Rivera seating video 2 compare

[@formidable38]

@@77smp Its good they're going but the service will still be very expensive to run and require massive subsidy. Will anything change?!

[@brian-k6b1l]

Excellent steve !!! Putting your videos on is such an excellent escape from the news these days .. crack open a beer sit doon and enjoy !!!

[@steve-marsh]

Cheers Brian! :)

[@davidknowles5519]

A martyr to your art convinced me 1st class the way to go

[@steve-marsh]

Mate, the return in a bed was something like £270, I'll take the rattle over that :D

[@Siwahib]

Great video, Steve!

[@steve-marsh]

Cheers :)

[@robertblechle6365]

Great video as usual. Had a travel overnight from Boston to DC. Similar noise. Little sleep. At least u had legroom

[@steve-marsh]

Cheers Robert!

[@RabLavery]

Yet another great vid Steve , mind you that noise would have tested the patience of a Bishop .... Hope your both keeping well Regards Rab.

[@steve-marsh]

Cheers Rab!

[@pamelamoo5306]

The beginning was wonderful and I would have swapped places with you, delicious breakfast 🍳 and looking out over Berwick upon Tweed a destination for us at least 3 times a year. You can watch the trains crossing the bridge from the caravan. Especially brilliant seeing a steam train crossing. To top it all York Minster another very favourite city. Then poor you downhill all the way back home. The problem with a rattle like that is in the end that’s all you can focus on and your just willing it to end. Perhaps Caledonian sleeper may see this and take note!! Bet you were pleased to get home. All in all a great video. Best wishes P

[@steve-marsh]

It's so true Pamela! It's all you can hear after a while! :D

[@chriswilkes4350]

Very nice video. Thanks!

[@johngallacher8847]

I used to go up to Scotland by rail in the 1970s and nothing has changed.

[@alanyearsley9731]

Did you ever take the sleeper? Back then it would have been in Mark 1 sleepers of 1950s vintage.

[@graemewilliams3212]

Crikey, what a contrast to the 1st journey!!! Hope you complained to Caledonian Sleeper management, I wouldn't have put up with that. At least you now know to take the LNER for the way back, and I imagine you'd get a far better sleep. Also, your face in the reflection when you arrived at Preston, creeped me out! Hahaha. (I know that was due to the lack of sleep) Cheers for another cracking video, Steve. :)

[@steve-marsh]

Haha well spotted mate! :D

[@ColinSlocombe]

No comments just enjoying your video clips 😊

[@romeo9017]

Endured a journey to Durham a few weeks ago after a sad fatality - we were delayed 4 hours in all - the train was rammed even in first class - the staff were superb!

[@romeo9017]

Btw the coffee at Kings Cross lounge was dire - forgive me…

[@judym5822]

Great video Steve. The first class, very posh 😂. Really felt your pain on home journey, I would be putting in a complaint along with your video evidence. X

[@steve-marsh]

I really should Judy! Will be interesting to hear if they care

[@DaveyPalmer1]

Another great vid Steve. Nice to see Durham Cathedral make a fleeting appearance as my wife & I will be in the cathedral this evening to watch a spectacular light show. It should be fun - unlike your trip on the "Sleeper Deprivation" train. What an awful journey you had on that one!

[@steve-marsh]

Cheers mate, how was the light show?

[@DaveyPalmer1]

@@steve-marsh it was canny but not as good as the Lumiere light festival they have around Durham City every two years. I think I would have enjoyed it better if I hadn't frozen my nuts off queuing outside 😅

[@steve-marsh]

@@DaveyPalmer1 Haha I can imagine! I'll need to add one of these to the list - not sure how easy to film though!

[@smarthome9707]

Hi Steve, The reason why it was reversed at Carstairs is because it splits there. One portion goes to Glasgow Central and the other portion goes to Edinburgh. The southbound service combines at Carstairs with portions from Edinburgh and Glasgow to make one train.

[@steve-marsh]

Cheers for this! :)

[@cindi7955]

Wow......I've been on noisy trains but this one took the cake! How you endured that all night is beyond me. 🙂

[@grahamd3712]

Another brilliant video Steve - I love watching these. The morning LNER journey looked superb. I used to do that from Motherwell to London and always loved the journey and service.

[@newworldgirl]

I’m from Newfoundland and I’m normally happy taking the train anywhere in Canada but the more I see of Scotland the more I want to go there …. very impressive and thanks for posting on taking us along on your journeys

[@steve-marsh]

Thanks so much :)

[@Thermuda]

Steve the train splits at Cairstairs - one portion continuing up to Glasgow and the section you was on going up to Edinburgh.

[@steve-marsh]

Ahh cheers for this!

[@TonySMotorcyclePassion]

Thankyou. So very informative. Loved this.

[@kayaker9912]

I felt your pain on the return train, at about hour 4 on a long haul flight from the US, I am wanting to jump out, so my daughter & I take selfies of how we are feeling instead...and most of those photos look good enough to be in some horror movies. Thank you for taking us on the trip!

[@steve-marsh]

Haha cheers :)

[@jzakary1]

Sad to see the Caledonian Sleeper is not aging well, and they looked so nice when they first came out. ☹

[@steve-marsh]

Yeah, a bit of a flawed service these days and nothing like what their fancy website promises...

[@vidcrit1187]

It's going that badly that the Scottish Government are taking the franchise away from Serco early next year. Thereafter it will probably be run by an arms-length government-owned company.

[@happyhermit2022]

Dear oh dear ....that noise 😠.....you have experienced the trains in Spain👍...great upload thank you, on balance I'd choose National Express

[@steve-marsh]

A wise choice mate!

[@michaelstaunton1632]

Just to say well done on the 40k subscribers on your channel a great achievement so congrats 👏 hard work has paid off so well done again, onwards & upwards to the channel going forward 👌👌👌👌

[@steve-marsh]

Sorry Michael I just saw this comment, thanks so much!!!

[@arronblack67]

Always love the train videos mate! A wee bonus that u found that first class ticket, makes the journey a bit better! Nice to see Rentons “famous stairs” at the end of the video 😂🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@steve-marsh]

Haha well spotted mate :)

[@catherinemaldon]

First Class on that line was wonderful when it was East Coast, and after a bit of a hiatus while Virgin ran the trains (all ‘style’, mostly lousy style, and poor service) it seems to have gone back to excellence under LNER. Even second class is pretty comfortable, though you have to bring or buy your food… The price of any ticket, especially a first-class one, could be made less eyewatering by booking well in advance and a bit of canny split-ticketing. None of that is so easy post-Covid, though, because advance reservations are less available.

[@lindashoemaker8940]

Good morning Steve, thx for showing us Lner and sleeper comparison 😱ugh now we know how Not to travel! Take care see you soon 😘

[@steve-marsh]

Thanks Linda! Sure made for an interesting video though :D

[@lindashoemaker8940]

I say always learn something from your channel 👍

[@justinr7542]

One of my mates had this happen on the sleeper, he complained to the staff and they gave him a room to sleep in instead for no extra cost

[@steve-marsh]

Wow, I wish I'd tried that! :D

[@trueriver1950]

@Justin R - was that under the old Caledonian Sleeper, or since it changed hands? My impression is that the new staff are less helpful (no doubt it's not their fault, I'm assuming it's company policy) than under the previous arrangements. The cabins are certainly improved, but the costs are higher and my impression is less staff discretion in cases like this. I used to be a fan of the Caledonian Sleeper, but no longer

[@squiddyfan1165]

Great Idea. It's amazing how we don't complain but how some people would rather split hairs in the comments. Rather than just say good idea I'll do just that ,cheers mate .

[@G4RY1159]

@@steve-marsh If you don't ask

[@seancoleman8528]

Torture

[@cameronmurray3039]

Great vid Steve. At Carstairs the lowlander sleeper (Glasgow and Edinburgh) splits and heads to Glasgow and Edinburgh separately.

[@steve-marsh]

Ahh thanks for this Cameron!

[@billyaitken7461]

Definitely catch that left seat heading down…I love that view around Berwick 🚂. Nice to see train travel from Waverley has got a whole lot prettier since the last time I did it (30-35 yrs ago) 😎👍. That rattle & lack of power on the table was complaint-worthy 😬. 🤔🧐 I’m sure they stopped at Carstairs because that rattle had driven you mental and they were going to offload you at the funny farm!!

[@steve-marsh]

Haha this made me laugh out loud (from my cell)

[@SuperRobertwillis]

Enjoyed that Steve and I hope you complain about that noise 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂❤

[@donaldhiltz3391]

I don't know how you keep trekking around at early starts. You have more motivation than me., great motivation!

[@steve-marsh]

Oh it's always a challenge to get up mate!

[@craigharbauer389]

took that train a couple of weeks ago, and enjoyed it. A great end to my visit to Scotland

[@johnallan4826]

The train splits in half at carstairs, and front goes to glasgow.. my only memory of first class was the morning of 7/7 and I had to get off at watford and wait, oh the nightmare of a night seat and left luggage at Euston memories. Great video

[@steve-marsh]

Haha thankfully the true memory of this return has faded with a good sleep all day after it :)

[@hopisen]

Is there a better run of views from a train in the UK than along the coast, past Berwick and Newcastle and then on to Durham? on a sunny morning like the one you had, is simply a pleasure to watch the world go by!

[@steve-marsh]

Totally agree!

[@trueriver1950]

I'm not going to argue about which is best of the two, but in my view the joint best first place is shared between this run and the classic coast side run to Penzance on the GWR.

[@robertgodfrey2867]

Morning Steve agrees with your comments seat even on Virgin train never that comfy . I used to do that trip once a month for 5 years got to know all the train crew very well and had some interesting chat with some characters.

[@peterjhillier7659]

Excellent, Thanks Steve.

[@RedStickLouisiana]

I understand your pain, I've had a few nights like that in my life. While in the Navy, my ship was tossed about in a typhoon for a week and I got almost no sleep the whole week. It is hard to function like that.

[@steve-marsh]

No torture like it!

[@jamessmith6402]

Thanks Steve excellent video the trip down to London looked lovely pity about the trip back 🙁

[@steve-marsh]

Cheers James!

[@alandeans1150]

the bogie is under where you were sitting you would feel every rail join, plus it sounded like a wheel wasnt round (flat tyre), i would have seen if there was any other seats

[@steve-marsh]

Aye, decided to suffer the true 1A experience for the video :)

[@carolineanderson3341]

At Carstairs the train splits up. Part will go off to Glasgow and the other part Edinburgh.

[@steve-marsh]

Cheers Caroline!

[@legionnairegonk4425]

Yeah agreed, the first class seats on the new Azuma trains are a downgrade on the old 225 coach stock. They had the nice grey leather seating. Now first class just feels like standard class. If you don't get the full meal service on your journey then LNER 1st class is going to be a big let down on a long haul trip. Have to say the KGX 1st lounge (in Virgin days) was also a big disappointment. Not been in a lounge since LNER took over, but looking at what you saw in Edinburgh Steve the catering is no better (for which read non-existent).

[@steve-marsh]

So true mate!

[@craig.bryant]

LNER are all in all great in my experience. Trains in the UK are too expensive overall but comparatively they provide a great service. Having Lumo on the East Coast will hopefully encourage fares to come down if that old capitalism and competition really is a thing! Great video, sorry about the ‘sleeper’! 😅

[@steve-marsh]

Good point mate!

[@johnmainwaring6556]

Sleeper...what a misnomer in the seating area.

[@_Ben4810]

The LNER Azuma trains are awful...a truly miserable, uncomfortable & even painful experience. The seats are butt-numbing, I could barely manage Leeds to Peterborough, let alone going the full distance to London. Steve also mentions LNER appear to have also downgraded the comfort of the First Class seats also....They're not winning any friends with these penny-pinching measures.

[@stevemichael8458]

@@_Ben4810 I completely agree. I've stopped using LNER on my regular London/Edinburgh trips because I can't walk by the time I get to the end. The LUMO all electric Azumas are a much better experience for standard class - and cheaper too.

[@frazerimlach1581]

Nice video as always Steve in terms of the train at carstairs this is where they split the Caledonian sleeper half goes to Edinburgh other half goes to Glasgow

[@steve-marsh]

Ahh cheers for that!

[@henkdeblouw4169]

Thanks for this video Steve. What a difference a train makes. Hope you did get your sleep eventually 😀 Keep up the good work. Greetings from the Netherlands.

[@steve-marsh]

Cheers mate! It was a long nap after getting home from that one! :)

[@henkdeblouw4169]

@@steve-marsh hahahaha

[@katesterly547]

And that just reaffirms what I say. Thank you for the "work" that you do to bring these videos to us. I thoroughly enjoyed the first class part of the trip but the return... Had they been wanting to know something I would have spilled my guts within the first 5 minutes. Horrible. Say hi to Alicja for me. Be well, stay safe, hope you travel quieter the next time, love from Texas.

[@steve-marsh]

Lucky Alicja not on this return Kate :)

[@prawnenpointe2579]

Thx. Pre warned is pre prepared. The overnight sleeper from Berlin to Amsterdam is equally noisy in the cabins.

[@SWR112]

Always think Waverley one of the coldest stations. I drove this year to London from Glasgow and I enjoy driving but the train looks so relaxing. The Car cost me £130 return but I was going to other places I got down and up and gave me freedom.

[@steve-marsh]

It’s getting to be a trickier decision though as the costs of fuel and running costs all go up

[@catherinemaldon]

@@steve-marsh yes- it’s a shame. I can’t help feeling that if we ever had a British government which gave a damn about saving energy and reducing pollution, train travel would be made easier. Call me naïve…

[@Steve-Duh-Rino]

The morning train looked nice! Appeared nicer than pics/videos I’ve seen over here.

[@steve-marsh]

Aye, quite impressed with it, although I don't know if my review is critical because it's a very rare treat :)

[@g0737]

12:17 Carstairs is where the Edinburgh and Glasgow portions of the train split, a loco attaches to the Edinburgh set and hauls it back the other way off the WCML

[@steve-marsh]

Thanks Gabriel!

[@theoutspokenhumanist]

I once did Birmingham to Inverness, for work, without a cabin. It was hell. I booked a cabin for the return and still couldn't sleep. I had to do the same trip two weeks later and I flew. To heck with the expense. 😁

[@Joe90V]

As someone who has frequent insomnia I feel for you Steve. My tip is Podcasts, it helps pass the time. Enjoyed seeing the journey and thanks for the info, cheers Joe.

[@steve-marsh]

Great tip!

[@exileinderby51]

As you say, day and night between the two trips! That noise was evil, If the carriage wasn't busy, I'd have tried another seat, great video though Steve.

[@steve-marsh]

Cheers, it was a proper test, but good for the video I guess :)

[@cathywest8776]

So sorry for the terrible return trip , but thank you for the video!

[@steve-marsh]

Very welcome Cathy!

[@t3mpomusic]

12:13 That look, thinking shall I just get off at Preston lol

[@ZLDSmogless]

At Carstairs Junction, they uncouple the 2 trains. One heading for Edinburgh, one for Glasgow. On the way down, that's where they couple the 2 trains and you can feel a bump when they do

[@trippingontravel]

Was pleasantly surprised by how nice LNER was when we rode them between Kings Cross and Waverly over the summer - food was good, service was good, staff constantly coming through the first class carriage offering hot and cold beverages. Caledonian Sleeper wasn't an option on the dates we traveled... and I'm kind of ok with that based on your experience and some other reviews I've seen recently!

[@steve-marsh]

Yeah it’s a real shame, but their contract will be up soon so here’s hoping we get a nice upgraded service before too long!

[@daviddewar5836]

I travelled west coast line to Wolverhamton in the 80's a few times the train stop at Carstairs it then split one half going to edinburgh the other half to glasgow with it being a sleeper it might have gone further like aberdeen and inverness hope that might help you Steve

[@spangles365]

Great vlog Steve as usual. Years ago when i lived in Edinburgh and my future wife lived in Glasgow we travelled south to visit my uncle. The trains met up and joined at Carstairs then.

[@steve-marsh]

Perfect! :)

[@richardhutchinson5546]

At the Carstairs the train divides, the front goes forwards to Glasgow and the rear portion goes to Edinburgh

[@steve-marsh]

Cheers for this Richard!

[@BarneyLeith]

The LNER first class looks lovely -- a good start for your day's work. But I'm so sorry you suffered so badly on the Caledonian Sleeper on the way back to Edinburgh. That noise is really appalling!

[@steve-marsh]

Cheers Barney! A good long nap after that one! :D

[@eddyjcreative100]

LOve your work Steve..

[@steve-marsh]

Cheers :)

[@waterside13]

Hi Steve, I think that I would have complained and at least moved to another seat in the carriage. The morning train looked awesome plus the breakfast and views. Great video, thanks.

[@soavemusica]

A decent company would either take care of the cars, or move you to a suite, do a refund, or something. Nice to see an honest review. Nuff said.

[@stasekszejko5318]

Thanks a lot Steve for the wonderful trip. Lovely scenery as usual. You have all my sympathy for your trip back on the Caledonian sleepless coach 😩 Anyway I appreciate your informative trip/ views etc. Keep it up 👍😇

[@steve-marsh]

Cheers Stasek!

[@tom201090]

Carstairs is where the sleeper splits. One portion heads off to Glasgow, the other Edinburgh.

[@steve-marsh]

Cheers for this Tom!

[@MrAllwrighty67]

That noise on the sleeper was annoying on the video, can't imagine what it was like all the way from London to Edinburgh , great video Steve !

[@tranmere292]

That rattle is reminiscent of our XPT train in New South Wales, although at 40 years old it possibly has an excuse. It's being replaced soon (I hope) with a new long-distance train (seven hours from Sydney to our station) but if the British experience is anything to go by, that might be even worse. Thanks for a great report. Love Edinburgh!

[@steve-marsh]

Cheers David!

[@G4RY1159]

You never see Michael Portillo in the annoying seat area, Id have moved myself fella, no messing! I've always loved trains and my Dad send me a few old pics via email a few moths back of me sitting in the drivers seat in Blackpool when I was just a kid - 1974 ish, probably wouldn't even be allowed now, I might still ask lol. What a real let down that was with the socket points, really poor is that. Massive Thanks again Steve. Cheers.

[@steve-marsh]

Cheers Gary! Thankfully they've offered me another crack at it, but this time with a bed. Planning to give them another chance sometime in January with my sidekick in tow :) Superb to get the old photos - I'm a '73 kid, so defo in my time :)

[@G4RY1159]

@@steve-marsh I love looking on ebay for old style railway signs, pal of mine has a cracking old light he got in a charity shop, it's massive and Red & Green really old, some1 converted it so it plugs in and lights up both colours. Thanks again fella ✌

[@danielanderson2331]

LNER first class is always an excellent experience, travelled 1st class late from Edinburgh to London on the older though nicer Intercity 225’s (big plush leather seats) so appreciated considering I arrived early hours 😝 The seats on the Caledonia Sleeper kind of remind me of on a plane

[@johnmainwaring6556]

Except seats on a plane are reasonably comfortable and recline just enough so you can doze a little. Try thinking of Soviet style bus and you're just starting your journey to the awfulness of Caledonain sleeper seating compartment.

[@schwarzalben88]

Edinburgh Waverley Station was originally equipped with a certain number of Bathrooms for the use of passengers on the then more numerous overnight sleeping car trains. The passengers who used them could then after morning ablutions go via an internal passages to The North British Hotel and have breakfast in the Hotel Restaurant, and then charge their breakfast to the Bathroom, and of course pay at Reception on leaving the Hotel. Sorry you had such a bad trip on the Caledonian Sleeper, I think the problem is due to very soft suspension in these new coaches. Even in Mark 3 and 4 Coaches there was always a certain amount of noise near the vestibules but that was bad.. The fact the at seat power supply wasnt working is inexcusable.

[@mstrdiver]

Steve - Please say that you alerted the conductor to this annoyance and seat short-comings? He / she could have at a minimum authorized you to move to another seat and I would lean a bit on them to alert them to your KZbin following as a travel blogger. That may spur a thorough maintenance inspection to have the issues resolved for the next traveler too. Surely, they also have an on-line capability for notification of such issues too? I know, I know, I'm preaching to the choir, but this is certainly not the level of service you've come to expect as a paying customer.

[@steve-marsh]

I decided just to stay in the seat to give a true review of seat 1A, hopefully helpful for anyone booking (or not booking!) this seat in future. Truth is though I didn't see a staff member all night, but I could have gone looking for one

[@LoyalUK]

i love lner its always a pleasure when i travel to gleneagles. Their prices are ok if you plan in advance

[@pnwlion9337]

Really enjoyable for us, not so for you Steve. Watching in from the Pacific North West you’ve reaffirmed conclusively why the Caledonian Sleeper coach car is ridiculous. I’ve seen other vloggers struggle to get any sleep. Showing my age but I remember the old Nightrider service which as I recall as fit for purpose. LNER looked wonderful as expected. Safe travels

[@steve-marsh]

Those days were much better!

[@billyshearer117]

I did seated sleeper from London to Inverness on 6 January. It was OK, highlight was the food!

[@paulseoighemcgee5772]

Oh Steve - trip north's agony ...argggh ! Trip down though - v nice .

[@steve-marsh]

It really was night and day!

[@lunis471]

Could you have moved the carriage? I think I would have tried to find a quieter spot that would have driven me to drink and I don't even drink!! Thanks so much for all your great videos, I admire your ongoing energy in all you do 😊

[@steve-marsh]

Haha thanks Liz! I decided to stay true to the review of seat 1A, and hopefully off the back of it others can make a better choice :)

[@southerncomfortuk]

Sorry to hear of your overnight journey problems. I’m afraid trains in the U.K. seem to have gone down and down in terms of comfort, despite being replaced with new ones (with the exception of the FGW Exeter / Torbay and Barnstaple local trains which I believe may be antique underground trains? 🤔🤭). They take the term ‘basic’ to a whole new level and score 2 out of ten for comfort. On the other hand, South West Trains (last time I travelled from Waterloo) were using very old trains for Exeter journeys, but despite this, the first class seats were as springy and comfy as my grandmas armchair. I once heard that FGW buy trains which are being decommissioned from other parts of the country where upgrades are happening, not sure, but it’s possible. And can’t find anyone who’s a fan of the Paddington to Penzance Hitachi trains which have suffered multiple technical issues since their arrival; get on via the wrong carriage at your peril - there’s no way to walk from one end of the train on the other.