Railway 200 | Caledonian Sleeper |

Railway 200

Today marks the 200-year anniversary of Rail. Caledonian Sleeper is incredibly proud to part of the railway family and to support the yearlong celebration with the launch of Railway 200 which celebrates 200 years of passenger rail travel in the UK.

Caledonian Sleeper at Glasgow Central

The iconic Caledonian Sleeper forms part of the story behind the history of rail and how it evolved and changed over the centuries. With over one hundred and fifty years of history behind it, the first sleeper service between Scotland and London travelled from Glasgow Queen Street Station to London Kings Cross on the 2nd April 1873.

Old poster for The Night Scotsman

For a supplement of 10/- your seat rolled flat to make a bed with a blanket and pillow.  Since then, sleeping car design has developed rapidly, until by the 1920s, night trains had become a stylish and sophisticated way to travel between Scotland and England.  With iconic names such as the Night Scotsman, the Royal Highlander, and the Aberdonian linking the two.

Interior shot of cabin on LNER sleeper from 1920s

Offering teak lined cabins, carpeted corridors, crisp bedlinen, and uniformed stewards these iconic trains of yesteryear soon attracted an aura of luxury and intrigue, even featuring in several detective stories.

Intercity "The Journey of a Nightime" poster from 1980s
After the Second World War new rolling stock was introduced with more sophisticated features such as air-conditioning.

Interior of Caledonian Double En-Suite room

Sleeper train design has continued to evolve through the decades and in 2019 brand new carriages were introduced including an iconic update to the Caledonian Sleeper branding, (first introduced in 1996), as well as en-suite shower facilities, double beds, and a smart club car showcasing the flavours of Scotland.

Bottles of Caledonian Sleeper 150th anniversary whisky

Caledonian Sleeper celebrated 150 years of this service on the 2nd April 2023, releasing an exclusive limited edition single malt whisky with only 200 70cl bottle produced, to mark the occasion and give whisky and rail enthusiasts alike the chance to own a little piece of rail  history to pass on to future generations.

Find out more about Railway 200 here.