The Caledonian Sleeper – a night-rail service operating between London and Scotland is to have a new stop from tonight, 15th January, with trains stopping at Birmingham International train station.
The Highland Sleeper service will operate six times a week between Birmingham International and Scotland, connecting the West Midlands directly with Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Fort William, and Inverness.
The introduction of the service not only enhances leisure travel opportunities for Birmingham residents but also supports stronger economic ties by encouraging tourism and business travel both ways. The link allows seamless travel for those in Birmingham to enjoy the natural beauty and tranquillity of the Highlands while providing Scottish visitors with improved access to the West Midlands, fostering sustainable growth and cultural exchange.
For those who wish to travel from Birmingham International to Scotland, the service departs at 22:42 on weeknights or 22:35 on Sundays. At Edinburgh, the Sleeper service divides into three sections, serving Aberdeen at 07:50, Inverness at 08:45 and Fort William at 10:00, with intermediate station calling points too
For those travelling south, services will run as per the Caledonian Sleeper timetable, arriving at Birmingham International at 06:20 to drop passengers off.
Full timetables can be found at https://www.sleeper.scot/travel-updates/all-timetables/, with booking through the Caledonian Sleeper site
The Lowland Sleeper (operating between London and Edinburgh and Glasgow) will continue as-is, with no stop at Birmingham International.
In Quotes
Graham Kelly, Interim Managing Director at Caledonian Sleeper, said:
“This historic timetable update marks a significant milestone in our mission to further boost sustainable cross border travel options.
“Birmingham is the latest city set to benefit from our high-quality overnight train service as residents will be able to drift off in the West Midlands in their own private room and wake up to beautiful views of the Scottish Highlands. Similarly, we believe our new route will be incredibly popular with leisure tourists from Scotland given the wide range of sights and attractions in Birmingham and across the West Midlands to be discovered.
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said:
“This iconic service means people from across the West Midlands will soon be able to travel comfortably and sustainably to discover the stunning beauty of northern Scotland.
“But this also means our Scottish friends can come and explore the wonderful West Midlands. That’s a win-win for our tourism and hospitality businesses on both sides of the border.”
Becky Frall, Head of Tourism at the West Midlands Growth Company, added:
“The launch of the Caledonian Sleeper to Birmingham offers another great rail option to the city and the wider region, opening the door for more people north of the border and along its route to take a cultural break bookended by ease of travelling in comfort by train.
“From acclaimed Michelin-starred dining, art galleries and world-class cultural institutions including the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Birmingham Royal Ballet, we can’t wait to welcome even more visitors and show off what makes the West Midlands so special.”
What accommodations are there aboard?
There are various accommodations aboard – depending on your budget, from Double En-Suite, Single En-Suite (with shower and toliet), Classic Rooms, Accessible Rooms and seated accommodation.
Caledonian Sleeper Double with en-suite
Caledonian Sleeper Single with en-suite.
Accessible accommodation aboard the Caledonian Sleeper
Seated accommodation aboard the Caledonian Sleeper
New links to Scotland
From Birmingham, it’s possible to reach Edinburgh and Glasgow during the day, with both CrossCountry and Avanti West Coast offering options during the day.
However, if you want space to relax or want to travel during the night, this is a great option for those who want to go beyond the lowlands and explore more of Scotland. It also offers new options for those travelling down, without having to spend the night freezing at Crewe station and waiting for the first train to Birmingham.
As for why Birmingham International instead of the main hub of Birmingham New Street? Simple… the train won’t fit into New Street, it being 15 carriages long at this point of the journey.
All you have to do is pony up the cash.
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