LAST TIME WAS PAINFUL - THIS TIME ? I give the Caledonian Sleeper seats a second chance.

[@MostlyLoveOfMusic]

Scott doing the sleeper seats so that we don't have to

[@sunflower-xj6pe]

Trust me, I took them from Inverness to London and I am a tank I travel all the time. They are horrible and feel like concrete.

[@christopherhood9241]

@@sunflower-xj6pe made the same journey myself last week - never again. will fly or drive in future.

[@DaveP668]

By now a seat in that cabin should be more akin to an airline business class seat with a decent recline. Noise cancelling headphones are a must have for any long trip where there are other passengers.

[@Bungle2010]

Surely it's ear plugs that you want?

[@Housey1985]

Agree. It’s such a missed opportunity with the new rolling stock that came in

[@johnbowyer6902]

Thankyou Scott for this vlog; you know this train, above everything else, is a SLEEPER train and every seat should be its own little private cubicle with its own pull-down window blind and pull-down sunscreen with an information screen and PA system and reliable WiFi to help assure a more connected, personal and quieter travel experience.

[@racelox]

And then the price would go up to be comparable to a room. The whole point is that the seats are cheap.

[@davidhaslett9777]

@@racelox There are private rooms available at a cost.

[@NerdX151]

It could have been worse. I remember travelling on the "Ostsee Express" sleeper from Copenhagen to Berlin back in the late 80's. I was stupid enough to book a seat in a DR seating car. It was in a compartment, so there was some privacy, but the seats were just benches covered in orange plastic. We were only five people in the carriage. The rest of the compartments were filled up with washing machines and televisions, and we had one East German conductor who got more and more drunk during the night. It was quite an adventure lol.

[@MultiMidden]

Not as bad as Deutsche Reichsbahn (East German railways) talk about damning with faint praise.

[@robmontier3770]

A trip to remember there!

[@Jennyeq]

Another top video - though I must say I have no desire to repeat this particular journey!

[@vicsams4431]

Hi Scott, well done for giving the Caledonian Sleeper a second chance, and I am pleased your view of it improved slightly. Can't help but point out, it is a sleeper train with beds. No need to sleep in a chair. Best way to do it, is in a bed, after consuming haggis, neeps and tatties, and a few wee drams. In a sleeping berth, you get much less disturbance too. I have done Euston to Edinburgh, Euston to Glasgow (regularly), Euston to Fort William, Euston to Inverness, Euston to Aberdeen, and even Euston to Stranraer Harbour when it ran back in the day (I'm an old fart). Nice hot food, would have prevented you from being famished and a wee dram or two might have helped you sleep. But anything is better than a bus !

[@simonjones7727]

That's true but some of us are on a budget and it is all we can afford

[@vicsams4431]

@@simonjones7727 Been there, done that. But now I am an old fart, 17 hours (on the Highland Beds) in a chair no longer appeals.

[@claresherman2278]

It’s also notoriously expensive!

[@vicsams4431]

I agree. Roughly the cost of a train fare plus a hotel overnight.

[@Housey1985]

Don’t agree. With new rolling stock in 2019 they could have made the seats a viable option for those not endowed with your deep pockets!

[@alexmcwhirter6611]

Thanks Scott. Interesting as always. Those CAF bogies are noisy. They're also fitted on the units Northern uses which have replaced the Pacers. They just clatter all the time.

[@michaelbruchas6663]

Thanks!

[@kevinellis8869]

Overnight sleepers in seats are for youngsters, but current room prices on on the CS are horrendous, looked at it for Crewe-Inverness with our dogs and decided to do ECML with stops in Berwick and Edinburgh.

[@symy92]

Thank you for braving the CS again for us. The outtakes made me laugh. It shows the reality of being a YT content creator. Thanks for the great video as usual.

[@phillipecook3227]

I wouldn't do that trip unless I had to. As you say the only thing going for it is that there's more leg room than a bus. Thanks for posting.

[@steve-marsh]

Yep, can finally confirm you're crazy Scott :D Oh and cheers for the tip with the 'Today's Railways' magazine!

[@MidlandRailEnthusiast]

Yet another fantastic review of the Caledonian Sleeper I really enjoyed watching keep the brilliant videos

[@loreneharrell2716]

Love you’re videos, I’m watching from the US (Alabama) keep up the good work!

[@standrewpics]

I did the seat on the sleeper train some years ago London to Inverness for £55 return I don’t think you can get a fare that cheap these days . I booked well in advance . Many years ago . Before Serco took over the service . Like yourself I could not sleep too well . Some ferries have sleeping pods . Small enclosed sleeping areas , I think this should be trailed on the sleeper train.

[@robbiephillipstravelsofple4790]

Hi Scott I always enjoy your videos. I have had the opportunity to travel on the Caledonian Sleeper from Inverness to Euston last year in a club sleeper room. So much better than a seat I really enjoyed my time abroad the food was great for a train and the staff were fantastic even had a hot shower in the morning. I hope you get the chance to experience a sleeper room soon. Keep the videos coming take care

[@herschell64]

I'll be going on the Sleeper next May staying in a Club Room solo traveller so have enjoyed your videos and others all about it

[@lummatravel]

I did this London to Edinburgh a couple of years back and the person behind me kept kickong the back of my seat in his sleep, which meant i got absolutely no sleep. Luckily my hotel allowed me to check in at 8.30am, so got to sleep in a real bed shortly after arriving. One thing to say is that these seats are often significantly cheaper than LNER or Avanti day trains,

[@richardjennings3049]

Hi Scott thanks for the update. Still convinced to get a sleeper compartment. Keep up the good work (and outtakes)

[@keithparker1346]

Got to give you credit for trying that route again

[@janetmackinnon3411]

Always worth watching. Thank you.

[@cjg1970]

In my youth I travelled a few times to Scotland on the sleeper and that looked far more civilised. People used to sleep on the floor down the whole length of the aisle which was interesting if you needed the loo.

[@k9psychology87]

Nice to see you on my bus this morning 900 to Edinburgh, hope your journey was pleasant. Keep all the good information coming

[@andysmart2379]

You're a brave man trying the seats a second time!

[@ScotsmaninTenerife]

Nice vlog , not sure I could do those seats ! I am planning to maybe film this later this year .

[@bobbythomas200420032]

A great video and i really enjoyed it so very much and thank you for making it.

[@BibtheBoulder]

Sooner you than me in an overnight seat on the CS.

[@Fent1386]

They have a Leon next to Greggs just outside Manchester Piccadilly and it’s always empty because everyone is going in Greggs

[@robertofraser101]

Scott thanks happy travels

[@chnet968]

Oh, Leon. I wanted to try it as well when I come to London for new year celebration. Too bad the shop near my hotel didn't open during the whole Christmas to New Year period.

[@Jimo1956]

You just mentioned at the beginning that you would do a "toilet tour" and "buy" us/the viewers a "beer." Hope you went for the beer first and then did the "toilet tour." So now I'll view the rest. See what happens. Take care. It's also great fun watching you really enjoying yourself when you're the right honuarable tour guide.

[@2KXMKR]

I think they could make a fortune if they brought back compartment carriages for these sleepers, sort of a middle ground between open and sleeper coaches. A central isle with small compartments either side of the coach with four seats in each, and of course, each with their own window. No more blind battles! Prices would be a bit steep though as you're essentially paying for four seats, plus the premium of privacy. Cheaper than a sleeping cabin though!

[@andrewhall2269]

Video are amazing. Keep yourself warm. Keep safe as well

[@charlo90952]

The Japanese West Express Ginga has seats that convert to beds. That's something that should be considered for the UK sleeper trains.

[@Bungle2010]

What would be the point?

[@Housey1985]

@@Bungle2010any idiot can be uncomfortable…

[@ozmac8695]

Hi Scott. I’m back to the old country in September. (Port Glesga) I saw the last review of the seat you did so I chose a solo cabin. Ridiculous £ price and you don’t even get a bacon butty - you have to buy brekkie. EUS-INV.

[@nigelkthomas9501]

I did the Fort William sleeper northbound in 2015. Absolute disaster! Three hours late and hardly any sleep.

[@majorchaos2006]

I like how you add some outtakes at the end.

[@peternolan5353]

Not a bad Trim Scott, could be shorter and tighter. Keep the videos coming

[@graemejardin5569]

When I last took the Sleeper back in the 2000s, the seats looked a lot more comfortable than they are now. But these days, for that journey, I'd much prefer a seat in an evening plane followed by a night in a Premier Inn.

[@darrenburns16]

I've been on this service once... But in a bed ... Was awful... Noisy, and so much movement... And was expensive. If you need to get to London early doors, I recommend flying... Cheaper, and more comfy, depending where you live will be a twilight start but worth it for me.

[@thelionofluton4940]

Makes me wonder if they are specifically designed to be uncomfortable 🤔

[@phillipecook3227]

Yes. That occurred to me also.

[@lewiss626]

They certainly feel that way. The seats are literally just the ironing boards seats you will find on many commuter train across the UK such as the class 800,375 and 377s. The only difference is there a bit more padding to the seat and a headrest but no way could you sleep the entire journey. I also found the heating is either roasting hot or freezing cold

[@mariedamon5655]

Great video thank you very interesting

[@lincolncityful1]

Think I will pass Scott, great watch though 👍

[@patrickbut-not-a-saint9418]

Thanks for another excellent video Scott. Interesting that inconsiderate fellow travellers were a problem rather than the actual train. Who is having conversations on a night sleeper train, or an overnight bus, at 3am?!

[@chrisneppiras9408]

class 92 loco nice, tried sleeping on a seat on a ferry once, that was a no go also.

[@WaterWorld1]

Scott, you are clearly a masochist! ;-) I don't understand: what the advantage of the sleeper is, over a daytime service that takes 4.5 hours. It's not normally cheaper, I believe.

[@alexmcwhirter6611]

Really depends on whether or not one wants to save on accommodation costs.

[@Housey1985]

Getting out somewhere like Aviemore or Corrour is a really benefit and saves you at least half a day

[@keith800]

I did this journey a couple of years ago its ok if you can find two seats to curl up across , its a pity seated passengers are not allowed to sit in the restaurant coach as that would give you a break from the seated coach , though for the price a normal Avanti day ticket is about the same and only takes four and a half hours to be in London and is half the time spent on the sleeper.

[@thecyberleaderwhufc]

Loved your videos every time mate can you do The Night Riveria or like a Coach from London to Exeter

[@s125ish]

Why Exeter as that’s a very short journey, Penzance it has to be

[@thecyberleaderwhufc]

@@s125ish oh okay

[@leeallen1407]

Try one of the actual rooms ...i want to do this run it;'s on my bucket list

[@dublinbusdude]

Got like your outtakes Scott, any plans for another Irish visit?

[@jg-7780]

I'd be very interested in your take on Amtrak long distance coach seats for overnight journeys over in the US. While the issue of passenger and train noise won't go away, and you'll most likely have a stranger sitting next to you, the seats are very comfortable with generous recline, ample legroom, adjustable leg supports, and footrests. Just be sure to bring your own pillow and blanket.

[@robertpaisley8643]

Vey get the afternoon train 4 hrs 40mins.. cheap price .an a comfortable trip

[@kevanhubbard9673]

Modern rail seats are ironing board like including those on that sleeping train but it is only 8 hours so not so bad from Edinburgh or Glasgow seated but Inverness/Aberdeen/Fort William would be more challenging although I don't think that you can do it direct from Fort William as you have to change in Edinburgh or that's how it went with the old rolling stock at least?

[@davidoliver1169]

Another great video Scott

[@wietzebraem]

hey scott, we did a piece of the train with my parents in indonesia there it was very nice my father and a few wanted to take a picture open the door while the train is running at full speed that window doesn't fly out, 🤣 and then we sat down in the wagon and we felt that yellow noise but up and down and it turned out that one of the wheels was missing again 🤣grtz from wietze braem of Adinkerke , belguim

[@tabathaburden]

Leon is great!

[@simonjones7727]

Further update: The Highlander from Inverness has two sets. One with working loos, and one where the first two or three at the head of the train are always out of use. Has been like that for months and no idea why they do not fix it. It is pot luck which set you get on a given night.

[@kennethhume8628]

Very interesting video .

[@richardstreet7518]

Makes me laugh .. we travel economy / coach class on flights in much tighter seats without much option of stretching legs etc... if they fixed the noise from the wheels /Bogies it would ve great... !!

[@michaelwhaley73]

Plane seats recline and are cushioned. These seat backs don't recline and are pretty hard. The best you can do is to slouch in your seat.

[@martinb2213]

Noise cancelling headphones are essential for public travel 😊

[@jamesdoyle8442]

Nice one Scott 👍👍

[@garethsmith2250]

Your toilet tour's are becoming more of the norm now :)

[@yyyfffff33333]

Try noise cancelling headphones !

[@tonywinward]

I did the Night Riviera earlier this week and the seats were worse than on here. It was terrible

[@TripsonBudget]

Lovely clip. I really enjoyed. And you are right about thay watching many reviews before can set expectation(mindset). Greetings from Romania.

[@chrismoore4423]

Clue in the name - take a sleeper berth and get peace, privacy, a bed, lounge car access and first class lounge access for a shower..... Latter unless you book an ensuite cabin of course!

[@Raylufc]

I think the worst interruption on trains is people speaking on their mobile phones now they can charge up their phones on board God help us

[@mr8I7]

Found it interesting on the Polish train videos that people would actually move to the privacy of the vestibules to make their calls as opposed to doing it in the main carriage.

[@Raylufc]

@@mr8I7 good manners

[@ScottishT]

Fantastic Scott. I guess the only thing ruining it this time was people 😂

[@luisstransport]

Great video Scott

[@jimdavids6708]

Shocked, I thought the Caledonian sleeper had bedrooms where you could sleep

[@Scotrailboy2]

Nice one Scott you are getting better and better in facet I do videos like yours.i have a KZbin channel

[@kazzicup]

When a guy has a nice breakfast he feels better. 🥪☕

[@DavidHill-hk4rm]

What type of camera 🎥 do you use for your journey is it a go pro

[@andrrwprice7281]

Your description of the noisy carriage matches mine of every hospital ward I've been in. :)

[@marct514]

I'm surprised to see in your video that the guy in the seat behind you put the blinds down. What's the problem with the blinds being up when it's dark outside?! Do many passengers in the seated carriage on the Caledonian Sleeper prefer for the blinds to be down? I could understand if it was blazing strong sunlight shining in making it uncomfortable, but not when it's dark outside! When I'm on a train, even when it's dark outside I like to see out the window and see the passing scenery. I recently did two journeys on the GWR Night Riviera between London and Penzance in both directions in the seated carriage, and was looking out the window pretty much the whole journeys! And really enjoyed those journeys.

[@hanshartfiel6394]

Have you ever considered getting one of those inflatable neck braces? I find them very useful when travelling long distance as long as I don't do the driving.

[@michaelcampin1464]

The overnight coach from Sunderland to London is about 7 hours and that is bad enough

[@Christinemacca]

When you get to London, how long do you stay? Do you have a wee wander around then go back up the road the same day?

[@jimmccann320]

You could not pay me to make that journey without a proper sleeping berth!

[@yourlocaltrainenthusiast]

Great Video, Exept you say it is really bad but you are using the SEATED version, Which ARE Terrible, Maybe TRy getting a room and do a part 3. I have personally Traveled in a room and it was amazing. Great video, Maybe try a room :)

[@imsbvs]

I might give the CS a try ... but I will wait until their change in ownership is complete (and hopefully fares are reduced). If I do, it will be in a cabin, not on a seat. I have slept in a train once before, Santander - Malaga motorail, that was 1992 so about time I gave this mode of travel another look.

[@alexmcwhirter6611]

Serco says CS lost £69 million over the past seven years. Lower fares possible ?

[@s125ish]

Doubt fares will go down

[@christiantheo1]

Good effort 👌

[@Circle_of_pain_666]

travelling next month 1st timer on this but have a seat instead - do you arrive early at London ?

[@Circle_of_pain_666]

guess no 1 knows - wanted to no lso why we have stay in train 0730 if you arrived early - need to get a connection for 0815 eurostar

[@johnmacdonald3282]

Probably the worse transition of seats. The old seats were so comfortable compared to these new seats. I doubt I will ever use CS again for this.

[@legionnairegonk4425]

The overall experience is surely also pegged to the cost of it? But we don't know what that was for Scott on this journey, or a comparison with the cost of a competing overnight coach trip. If it was only slightly better than the coach trip, but say £30 more then cost becomes a big factor for most I would believe.

[@racelox]

Seats are around the £30-40 mark. But they also have the advantage of going overnight so you have the full day next day, rather than needing a hotel.

[@legionnairegonk4425]

@@racelox Yes I can see it's overnight! Seats are NOT £30-40 as standard on the train, they can be £70 standard booked direct on the CT website, but with special offers can be less - we don't know if Scott got a reduced cost deal. But that's not the cost comparison I am making. It is with an overnight coach from London, so hotels are not in the equation either method... Edit: so I can see Flixbus have some seats at £24. So potentially upto a £46 difference in favour of the coach, which brings us back around to the core question: in this maximum cost benefit scenario is this slightly improved train experience enough to offset that saving on the coach?

[@racelox]

@Legionnaire Gonk Scott will have a Railcard no doubt, so gets a third off. However, you can book months in advance. Seats are £50 if you book a few months in advance, rather than last minute. With a Railcard, that'll be around the £35 mark for London - Glasgow. Does it compare to a coach? It depends. With the amenity kit, much more legroom/a comfier seat and access to food and drink on board, I'd say that compares favourably to a Megabus or National Express.

[@legionnairegonk4425]

@@racelox But that's a niche set of circumstances, not applicable to most people who will not have a railcard. So at still double the cost of a discounted train seat v a discounted coach seat (Megabus from £15), that's an opinion that would be nice for Scott to give now he's happier with the train. He did like the coach service quite a lot.

[@racelox]

@@legionnairegonk4425 It's hardly niche; people can book up to a year in advance for the Sleeper and a LOT of people are eligible for a Railcard...a third of the population of the UK. Having used the Megabus, I'd gladly pay three times that for a seat on the train.

[@jedlinnen6528]

Roll must have been good to travel three hundred and fifty miles

[@johnlawrence2757]

Next time I need to arrive in Inverness at 6 am I might be persuaded to book the Caledonian Sleeper. Then again I might not

[@SteveSmithRailways]

Sod that for a game of cricket. I can only imagine the germs circulating around coach H.....nice. Not really! The things people do for entertainment. Well done that man.

[@holidaytripsholidaytrips7254]

8:19 Vegan centric pish

[@simondavey7787]

I think the seats on the old Sleeper were much better.

[@DeltaJazzUK]

The seats on most trains are appalling these days, much worse than they were in the 70s and 80s. The Azuma seats on the East coast main line are terrible.

[@Bungle2010]

Because the DfT don't know what they are doing........

[@mw...]

Euston, we have a problem.............................................................................................

[@ianeyre6687]

Why not take an early train or a National Express bus?

[@alexf7377]

They ruined everything for us who regularly go from London-Highlands over many decades, and I'm one of many who will never use it again. The sleeper births became fancy but unaffordable for most, while the seated carriage is so much less comfortable. The people managing Sleeper Scot, who selected these trains are ******.

[@kenbash6658]

How much did it cost?

[@colin.d]

One of the main problems with all types of public transportation - and that is other people, particularly those with little consideration for their fellow travellers.

[@dgattenb]

i went on the seatiing part of the sleeper years ago .... mid 90s ... we had blue lighting all the way up to glasgow, and at 12pm ish it went to dark blue lighting .. very nice... everyone slept on the floors .. or acroos the seats

[@williamw7847]

Good summary. I've only done seated sleeper a couple of times, but not with the present mob and got on OK with it. Bu my norm is the Classic cabin. And as for Leon's ... my advide would be to leave Euston and head up Eversholt Street to a really good greasy spoon there .. Double Six Cafe and restaurant I think Likewise, at Inverness, I'd recommend Red Pepper along Academy St.

[@fatwalletboy2]

The new sleeper seems like its gone backwards in terms of ride quality and comfort......pity the mk3s didnt get a refurb instead of these terrible mk5s.

[@Bungle2010]

They're life expired.

[@smoothmicra]

If I had to take this journey it would be with a generous flask of whisky to knock me out. I find whisky to be an incredibly effective sleeping pill, 30 minutes and the next thing I know... morning!😁