Tag: overnight sleeper

Visit Glasgow during the Film Festival

Posted on by Amy Moore

The Glasgow Film Festival begins on 26 February this year, bringing with it a whole host of exciting activities and great films. And with a packed programme, there’s no better way to get there than with Caledonian Sleeper.

Stay Somewhere Special

For those stepping off the train, the Grand Central Hotel is ideally located within Glasgow Central Station. In a beautiful Victorian style building with sophisticated rooms and suites, as well as two excellent restaurants, this hotel offers quality and convenience.

Malmaison is based in a former Episcopalian church, with boutique rooms and first class wining and dining, this is the perfect choice for those looking to indulge themselves during their visit.

Apex City of Glasgow Hotel has a range of comfortable rooms and suites with a Scandinavian influence. It is located just seconds from the famous Sauchiehall Street, meaning it is surrounded by some of the city’s best bars and restaurants.

For a different experience, Airbnb has a wide variety of properties, spanning from luxury penthouses to peaceful cottages beside the River Kelvin.

What to see

Over the course of the festival hundreds of screenings will be held with themes set to include Local Heroes, Cinemasters and Women Make Film. Visitors should ensure they check out the events programme to find what appeals to them but we have picked out some of the best action for viewers.

For a totally unique cinema experience Glasgow’s iconic Argyle Street Arches will be transformed into ‘Neo-Glasgow,’ and will be screening a host of films between 28 February and 1 March, including Total Recall, Wall-E and Train to Busan.

The opening gala of the festival will be held on 26 February at the Glasgow Film Theatre with the UK premiere of award-winning drama Proxima, from renowned director Alice Winocour.

Other highlights include the multiple award winning Always in Season at the Centre for Contemporary Arts on 29 February and Days of the Bagnold Summer at the Glasgow Film Theatre on 4 March.

Beyond the screen

When not taking in a feature on the big screen there plenty of related activities to keep film buffs happy. The Film Fanatics Walking Tour is a two-hour tour visiting iconic film locations from around the city including Trainspotting and Outlander with some surprises thrown in along the way.

The Glasgow Film Festival Quiz, held on 2 March, offers a chance for experienced quizzers to show off their credentials. Held at Glee Club and hosted by Joe Heenan, this night will be a combination of head-scratching trivia and sidesplitting laughs. Doubletree will be hosting a series of behind the scenes events with well-known industry figures teaching audiences the tricks of the trade.

Where to Eat 

Glasgow is renowned for its fantastic restaurants and for those visiting for a limited time it can be hard to know where to start – so we’ve selected some of our favourites to help those struggling to decide.

The Butterfly and the Pig is situated in the heart of Glasgow’s city centre, just a minute away from the Glasgow Film Theatre, ideal for grabbing a bite after a screening. With a welcoming shabby-chic interior the restaurant serves up generous portions of traditional Scottish cuisine with its own unique style.

Finnieston, one of the coolest areas in Glasgow, has a veritable feast of trendy restaurants to choose from. Alchemilla is one example, serving up delicious Mediterranean inspired small plates and a fantastic selection of wines in a stylish setting.

SushiYa, located in Glasgow’s central hub, offers a selection of Japanese dishes for lunches and dinner. The freshly made sushi platters are a highlight and are perfect for a quick stop off on a busy day.

Make the Most of Scotland’s Aprés-Ski Scene

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Winter has well and truly arrived in Scotland. The country’s mountainous landscapes are enjoying plenty of snow while the villages and towns that lie below have converted their summertime lodges into cosy hideaways.

From boutique hotels and log cabins to bustling winter festivals and inviting restaurants, Londoners can make the most of their winter weekends with a trip to Scotland with overnight rail service Caledonian Sleeper.

Connecting London and Scotland’s ski resorts, the service offers a direct link to Aviemore, Fort William and Aberdeen with the added benefit of free transportation of ski and snowboard gear.

Embracing Scotland’s aprés-ski scene, Caledonian Sleeper has highlighted the country’s top places to enjoy time off the slopes this winter.

Great Glen Holidays, Fort William

For a quiet rural retreat where you can catch up on some well-earned rest, look no further than Great Glen Holidays in Fort William.

Situated close to Nevis Range with mountain views of Ben Nevis, the outlet boasts a new eco lodge that sleeps eight people, an American log house and six self-catering chalets each surrounded by the neighbouring farm and countryside.

The Winking Owl, Aviemore

After a tiring day skiing there’s no better place to warm up than The Winking Owl in Aviemore.

Located in the centre of the picturesque town, the cosy pub is managed by award-winning Cairngorm Brewery and offers a traditional alpine feel. Enjoy a selection of hearty main meals and moreish puddings before sipping on a craft beer or malt distilled in the Cairngorms National Park.

Braemar Mountain Sports, Braemar

Open daily, Braemar Mountain Sports is the perfect place for Glenshee skiers to pick up extra equipment.

Browse the store’s range of clothing items including jackets, salopettes and accessories as well as skis, avalanche gear and books. Equipment can also be hired from the shop for those without their own skis, boots or poles.

To find out more about the Caledonian Sleeper or to make a reservation, visit sleeper.scot

Caledonian Sleeper officially launches £150m new fleet of trains

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Serco Caledonian Sleeper has launched its new £150m fleet – with the first guests travelling on the revitalised overnight rail service.

The new carriages made their debut last night (Sunday 28 April) on the Lowlander route between London and Glasgow/Edinburgh. This will be followed by their introduction on the Highlander route between London and Aberdeen, Inverness and Fort William in the coming weeks.

Designed to accommodate the modern-day traveller, the new trains offer accommodation ranging from completely new comfort seats for the budget traveller to rooms with double beds and en-suites – for the first time in the history of Caledonian Sleeper. Accommodation includes:

  • Completely new redesigned comfort seats with personal locker, reading light and charging point
  • Classic Rooms (solo or shared use with an option of interconnecting rooms, toiletries included)
  • Club Rooms (solo or shared use with en-suite, station lounge access, breakfast, luxury toiletries included)
  • Caledonian Double (double bed with en-suite, station lounge access, breakfast, luxury toiletries included)
  • Accessible Rooms (double or twin, toiletries included and directly adjacent to accessible toilet)

Combining travel to and from the heart of London with comfortable overnight accommodation, prices for Comfort Seats start from £45, Classic Rooms from £140 for Solo or £170 for two people sharing (equating to £85 per person), Club Rooms from £205 for Solo and £250 for Shared and Caledonian Doubles from £335 for Solo and £400 for Shared.

All Accessible Rooms are priced at the same level as Classic Rooms – including those with double beds. Caledonian Sleeper has engaged extensively with experts from The Shaw Trust to ensure the best possible experience for guests with access needs, including placing accessible toilets adjacent to accessible rooms. In addition, Caledonian Sleeper’s Guest Lounges in Dundee, Fort William, Leuchars, Perth, Stirling and Inverness all offer accessible shower facilities.

Other new features are included on the new trains, such as a hotel-style keycard entry system, charging panels and WiFi throughout the train.

In addition to introducing its new fleet, Caledonian Sleeper has also launched a new marketing campaign which will inspire potential guests to ‘Dream Big’. Debuting across digital, social and outdoor advertising platforms, it is designed to encourage a new audience to discover Caledonian Sleeper and the world of possibilities it unlocks.

Ryan Flaherty, Serco’s Managing Director for Caledonian Sleeper, said: “Our new trains have been years in the making and to see them make their debut is a huge moment for everyone involved in making this dream a reality.

“The overriding ambition has been to deliver on our vision of a Caledonian Sleeper service fit for today’s traveller, one that combines the modern facilities people expect with that feeling of nostalgia that comes from long-distance railway travel. We want guests to have a magical journey with us, whether they are travelling for business or for pleasure.”

Rupert Soames, Chief Executive of Serco, said: “This is a proud and exciting moment for everyone who has been involved in bringing these new trains into service. It has been an incredibly complex project and this is the culmination of a huge effort and investment by all parties. We are very grateful to everyone who has contributed and we can now look forward to the new service and all that it offers to travellers between Scotland and London.”

The fleet, built at a cost of £150m, has been part funded by capital grants from Scottish Ministers and from the UK Government.

Michael Matheson MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, said: “The Scottish Government is proud to have played its part in the launch of this new Caledonian Sleeper service. In subsidy over the 15 years of this Franchise, in support for this fleet of new trains, and in funding for stations and passenger lounges – this is clear evidence of our genuine commitment to both rail and tourism in Scotland.

“The scale of change is remarkable, and a credit to everyone who has worked on this project. I know those involved have been driven by an ethos of transforming the passenger experience and putting guests first. This is demonstrated by the on-board staff, the real stars of this service.

“Caledonian Sleeper shows the best of railways, and the best of Scotland. It’s time for this franchise to shine, and to be a real source of pride for the people of Scotland.”

Rt Hon David Mundell MP, Secretary of State for Scotland, said: “It is fantastic to see the launch of the new Caledonian Sleeper service. The UK Government has invested £50 million in the new fleet, improving vital connectivity between Scotland and England, and improving the service for the thousands of passengers. I was pleased to travel on their debut journey and look forward to using this service for years to come.”

To book a journey on the new Caledonian Sleeper, visit sleeper.scot.

Caledonian Sleeper gives first look inside new trains on revamped website

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Caledonian Sleeper has unveiled the first images from inside its new fleet of trains on a revamped website launched to mark the final countdown.

As well as showcasing the revitalised Caledonian Sleeper, the website – sleeper.scot –makes it easier than ever for people to book their magical journey and explore the destinations the trains reach.

The overnight rail service between London and Scotland will be transformed by the introduction of the £150m fleet, with a total of 75 new carriages set to make their debut.

Caledonian Sleeper’s new trains will begin operating by the end of May, initially on the Lowlander route between London and Glasgow / Edinburgh. They will subsequently debut on the Highlander route between London and Aberdeen, Inverness and Fort William.

Designed to accommodate the modern-day traveller, bookings can already be made for travel on the new trains from 2 June. Once the official introduction date is confirmed, the booking system will be updated.

Guests on the new services will be able to enjoy a range of accommodation types, including rooms with double beds and en-suites – for the first time in the history of Caledonian Sleeper.

Compared to the current fleet, the new trains will provide significantly different and improved accommodation:
• Comfort Seats
• Classic Rooms (solo or shared use with an option of interconnecting rooms, toiletries included)
• Club Rooms (solo or shared use with en-suite and shower, station lounge access, breakfast, luxury toiletries included)
• Caledonian Double (double bed with en-suite and shower, station lounge access, breakfast, luxury toiletries included)
• Accessible Rooms (double or twin, toiletries included)

Ryan Flaherty, Serco’s Managing Director for Caledonian Sleeper, said: “The launch of the new Caledonian Sleeper is fast approaching and travelling on our service will be a truly magical experience that will transform travel between London and Scotland.

“I would encourage anyone interested in being one of the first to experience the new trains to book their travel on our new website, which has been completely revamped to reflect the monumental and exciting changes to our service.

“Caledonian Sleeper is competitively priced and means guests can avoid the hassle or additional costs of getting to and from the airport. It is the only way to be at your destination in plenty of time for early morning meetings or a full day’s sightseeing without the cost of a hotel.”

Combining travel to and from the heart of London with comfortable overnight accommodation, prices for Comfort Seats start from £45, Classic Rooms from £140 for Solo or £170 for Shared, Club Rooms from £205 for Solo and £250 for Shared and Caledonian Doubles from £335 for Solo and £400 for Shared. Various Railcard discounts may also apply, while guests are always assigned the best value ticket when making their booking.

Caledonian Sleeper fares have no hidden costs and allow guests to bring multiple suitcases or excess baggage on board without incurring any additional charges. And with centre-to-centre travel, there is an additional cost saving over flying as there is no need to pay for connections to take you in or out of the city. That means Caledonian Sleeper is not only the most civilised way to travel – it is also frequently the most cost effective.

With a 12-month booking window, it also means that guests can plan their travel well in advance. That is a major advantage over other train operators, where cheaper advance fares are usually only available from 12 weeks before travel.

The new Caledonian Sleeper coaches were constructed by CAF in Spain at a cost of over £150m, part funded by a capital grant from Scottish Ministers of £60m.

Testing has been underway across the UK throughout 2018 and early 2019, while the coaches are currently undergoing final fitting out in the Central Belt.

Susan Calman on board as voice of new Caledonian Sleeper

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Guests travelling on board Caledonian Sleeper will soon be woken by one of Scotland’s most popular celebs – after Susan Calman was named the voice of the new trains.

The TV and radio star is no stranger to travelling to some of the nation’s best-loved destinations having recently presented Channel 5’s Secret Scotland.

And now, her tour of Scotland will continue six nights a week as she ‘travels’ on board Caledonian Sleeper between London and various Scottish locations including Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Fort William, Glasgow and Inverness.

Susan, who will voice all scheduled announcements, is a frequent guest on board and a huge advocate of sleeper travel. During her time on BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing last year, she even filmed on the train as part of the show.

Susan said: “I spend almost as much time on the Caledonian Sleeper as I do in my own house and so it was a great pleasure to give voice to the new trains. I look forward to being woken up by myself. Although it might give me a fright occasionally.”

The new Caledonian Sleeper trains will be introduced by the end of May 2019 and for the first time will include rooms with double beds and en-suite toilet and showers.

Ryan Flaherty, Serco’s Managing Director at Caledonian Sleeper, said: “Susan is the perfect fit as the voice of Caledonian Sleeper. Like us, she has a real sense of adventure and is completely at home travelling around Scotland.

“Our ambition with our new trains is to deliver a timeless experience for guests and I know Susan is thrilled to be part of such a huge change to the service. We’re firmly on the final countdown now and I cannot wait for guests to step on board and see the new Caledonian Sleeper for the first time.”

The new fleet, built at a cost of over £100m and part funded by a capital grant from the Scottish Ministers of £60m, has been designed to accommodate the modern-day traveller and cater to both business and leisure travel guests. A range of accommodation options will be offered, including:

• Caledonian Double (double bed with en-suite)
• Club Rooms (solo or twin with en-suite)
• Classic Rooms (solo or twin)
• Comfort Seats
• Fully accessible rooms for guests with reduced mobility

Other new features will also be included, such as a hotel-style key card entry system, more accessible rooms, charging panels and WiFi throughout the train.

The trains will initially be introduced on the Lowlander route between Glasgow / Edinburgh and London before being rolled out onto the Highlander which serves Fort William, Aberdeen and Inverness.

To find out more about the Caledonian Sleeper, visit sleeper.scot.

Caledonian Sleeper to host bothy-inspired preview event of Highland Adventure Fest

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Caledonian Sleeper is set to be transformed into Scotland’s first mobile bothy to offer guests a preview of Highland Adventure Fest.

Guests on board the London to Inverness service on Friday 22 March will be able to congregate in the Lounge Car ahead of the festival – which takes place on Sunday 24 March – and hear from Geoff Allan, author of The Scottish Bothy bible and a speaker at the festival.

Katie Masheter from Planit Scotland which is leading the event, said: “As a direct route from London to Scotland’s wilderness Caledonian Sleeper is often the preferred travel option for many adventurers and so we thought it was only fitting to host the preview of Highland Adventure Fest on board.

“The festival, which is in its first year and take places from 10am – 4pm on Sunday 24 March at Inverness Leisure Centre, is designed for all outdoor enthusiasts with talks, activities and exhibitors providing plenty of inspiration. We are very excited to be bringing a snippet of this to Caledonian Sleeper guests – we’ll even be offering complimentary tickets to Highland Adventure Fest so that guests can enjoy the event as part of their Highland escape.”

The Highland Adventure Fest event forms part of a calendar of seasonal and timely on board events hosted by Caledonian Sleeper which take place throughout the year, including on the new trains which are due to begin their introduction by the end of May.

Graham Kelly, Serco’s Guest Experience Director at Caledonian Sleeper, added: “The on board events offer our guests a snapshot of some of the great celebrations, festivals and events taking place across the country. Highland Adventure Fest is part of this exciting mix and we’re sure that the preview will get guests enthused about attending the festival or planning their next Scottish adventure.”

To find out more about Highland Adventure Fest, visit www.highlandadventurefest.co.uk

To find out more about Caledonian Sleeper, visit sleeper.scot.