Caledonian Sleeper is introducing a special timetable from Sunday 22 March due to the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19.

The decision to reduce services has been taken in full cooperation with Transport Scotland and will allow Caledonian Sleeper to protect the service and staff while ensuring vital links remain in place.

Under the temporary timetable, the overnight rail operator will run an eight-carriage train from Glasgow Central and an eight-carriage train from Inverness. The two sections will join up at Edinburgh Waverley before making the journey southbound to London Euston.

Similarly, one 16-carriage train will leave London before splitting at Edinburgh to carry on the journey to Glasgow and Inverness respectively.

Services will not run between Fort William and London or Aberdeen and London while the special timetable is in place. Caledonian Sleeper’s refund policy is also being amended to reflect the special timetable.

Ryan Flaherty, Serco’s Managing Director for Caledonian Sleeper, said: “We are absolutely determined that we continue to provide vital services during this difficult period, while taking into account the welfare of guests, staff and industry partners.

“The reduced timetable will see trains run on both our Highland and Lowland lines, providing crucial links to London for those who need to travel. The decision, taken alongside Transport Scotland, will increase the resilience of Caledonian Sleeper and we look forward to returning to a full timetable in due course.”

Under the new timetable, trains will depart Inverness at 20:45 and Glasgow Central at 23:40 before joining at Edinburgh Waverley. Guests in Edinburgh can join the Glasgow portion of the train at 00:40.

Services from London Euston will depart at 21:15. Guests can disembark at Edinburgh Waverley prior to 06:00 before the trains carry on to Glasgow and Inverness.

All existing reservations with Caledonian Sleeper from 22 March until 30 May 2020 will be cancelled and refunded except for the Inverness route. Those due to travel to/from Inverness will be able to receive a refund should they choose not to travel.

Guests who still wish to travel on operating services from Glasgow and Edinburgh should re-book via sleeper.scot where fares have been lowered to ensure that those requiring essential travel can access services.

Earlier this week, Caledonian Sleeper took the decision to close its Club Car on all trains. No catering services are currently being offered in the evening and the breakfast service is simply a standard in-room offering.

Station Lounges at Dundee, Fort Williams, Inverness, Perth and Stirling have also been closed.

Cleaning arrangements have been extensively reviewed, with Caledonian Sleeper implementing a more robust anti-bacterial treatment of hard surfaces and key touch points, including hand rails and door buttons.

Due to expected demand on the Guest Service Centre, guests are requested to email gsc@sleeper.scot with enquiries to be processed as quickly as possible.