Have you ever been on a sleeper train before? Would you recommend it?

@NotKyleChicago

Жыл бұрын

No "Snaptacle" footage? 😉😎

@ThePixel1983

Жыл бұрын

I wish!

@ragnkja

Жыл бұрын

The most relaxing way to travel long distances, assuming you don’t have to get off the train in the middle of the night. Getting a compartment is definitely a lot more comfortable than a chair, even if they do supply you with a blanket, face mask and ear plugs.

@EdwardMason9000

Жыл бұрын

I used that exact train last year, albeit in Classic Sleeper rather than Club Class. Classic doesn't come with any shower facilities and there's a communal loo, but you get your own sink. The room looks about the same size and you don't get a full breakfast, just a cuppa and one of those Porridge bars. I found that I was the same and woke up approximately once an hour, probably through the train stopping or bouncing around, but still better than what I would've got in a seat. I'd definitely recommend it as a unique and low carbon way to travel if you're short on time, but book early as the cheaper cabins can go fast!

@ChaplinONLINE

Жыл бұрын

I travelled on the Caledonian sleeper from Euston to Glasgow. Of the 8 hour journey I slept around 20 minutes, combined with a fire alarm due to ice on a sensor and late leaving Euston meaning the train went faster, making more noise and vibrations. If I was travelling further north into Scotland I would try the sleeper again, but between Glasgow/Edinburgh to Euston, it just isn't long enough to justify the price and experience.

You change direction at Carstairs, when the portion from Edinburgh attached with the portion that comes from Glasgow

that shot of Matt looking out the window when the train stopped was great

If I had a nickel for every time a member of Techdif made a video from the Caledonian Sleeper, I'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot, but it's weird it happened twice...

@davidscann

Жыл бұрын

Both going to Edinburgh, too.

@Kneyki

6 ай бұрын

@@davidscann Late correction Matt came from Edinburgh

@Northerner_Transport_Hub

Ай бұрын

Who was the other one

Stand in a window wearing a costume of the Inquisition. The commuters would never expect that!

I find it quite interesting how exactly opposite to my own experiences this was: I took the Caledonian sleeper the other way earlier this year. I slept like a baby through the entire night, but I thought the cabin was rather cramped, and I'm "only" 6'2!

@ragnkja

Жыл бұрын

The cabin _is_ rather cramped. I’m about a foot shorter than you, so if it’s cramped for me it’s cramped for most people.

@ragnkja

Жыл бұрын

@@SylviaRustyFae The fact that your luggage completely blocks your path the moment you put it on the floor is pretty constant.

I love the fact that Matt said “bye bye room”, it’s such a Matt thing to do.

The Caledonian Sleeper is always a delight and the new carriages are loads better than the old ones. It’s about the same cost as flying into London then getting a hotel for the night. But my main takeaway from this is learning that there’s a sleeper to Cornwall, definitely need to try that out!

@barvdw

Жыл бұрын

Those are old Mk4 carriages, but fully remodeled a few years ago. I think their riding qualities are superior to the new Mk5s on the Caledonian, but both are pretty great. Best going towards Cornwall, though, arrival time in London is just too early.

A new Matt Gray! This one sure won't be a snoozie.

@lycandusk7263

Жыл бұрын

i think out of all the places I expected to see qsie, a matt gray video wasn't one of them

@Qsie

Жыл бұрын

@@lycandusk7263 insert clash of clans king laugh here never have expectations, I'm just gonna break em!

I laughed way more than I should at you saying you only took four photos in Edinburgh 😂 Hope you and your friend had a great time! Seeing this, I now want to take one of these sleeper trains, even if I had the worst night sleep ever.

@ragnkja

Жыл бұрын

If you get a compartment like Matt did, sleeper trains are incredibly comfortable. The gentle motion of the train rocks you to sleep.

@barvdw

Жыл бұрын

@@ragnkja Caledonian sleeper won't sell separate bunks (anymore), so you'll be either alone, or together with the person with whom you booked it with. That makes it somewhat expensive (and British trains aren't the cheapest as it is), but it is quite comfortable, yes. British trains are small, though, so it will be a bit more cramped than your average continental sleeper train, but it is very well though out. I'm 2 m tall, and can fit in it fine enough. If you really want to splurge, there is an option for a full bedroom, but I don't dare to look at those prices...

Sleeper trains are common here in Russia. It was certainly fun to see Matt experience something that feels banal to me (lying down in a train and looking out the window), but at the same time do so with considerably more luxury. We have the option for a separate room, but a tiny bathroom in each room? incredible

@annsuma28

Жыл бұрын

These were my thoughts also! We don't usually have bathrooms tho. Besides, England is much smaller so I guess that explains why sleeper trains are a novelty there

@CymruEmergencyResponder

Жыл бұрын

Must be nice for you to get on your train in a station that isn’t full of civilians being targeted by the forces of a mad dictator like Putin. Slava Ukraini.

@the_retag

Жыл бұрын

You can have private bathrooms in russia too i guess, exept most russians wont be able to afford it

@whydoineedanameiwillneverp7790

Жыл бұрын

I'm an Indian, and came here to comment pretty much the same. Sleeper trains are so common-place here - in my head, they're the default for inter-city/long distance trains. I forgot how *tiny* the UK is - makes sense sleeping in trains is a novelty.

@peashootercat

Жыл бұрын

toki pona!!

I guess the TechDiff bois are all quite tall? Would've never guessed you were 6'4- I'm 6'1 and it's great to see that the train fitted you well enough!

I've only done a sleeper train trip once, and that was from Chicago to LA on the Amtrak Southwest Chief. It's a three-ish day journey, which makes the sleeper car option very much worth it, even though it's a lot. Nice thing about the Amtrak sleepers is that your meals are included, and they're pretty nice. I definitely want to do it again, next time I have the vacation time to really commit to it...the train trip itself is as much a part of the vacation as the destination.

@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721

Жыл бұрын

Wow, I didn't even know we had trains in America!

@edwardphilibin3151

Жыл бұрын

@@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721 I would imagine the airlines are happy no one realizes Amtrak is still a thing.

07:40 its your tame railnerd here! You join the Glasgow portion of the lowlander at Carstairs Junction. That's where you change directions :)

If you sleep well in this kind of situation I would absolutely recommend it. In Sweden at least you can also find really cheap tickets for a much more cramped cabin shared by 4 people which is great for me as a student. Probably not for everyone though.

@ragnkja

Жыл бұрын

In Norway they did away with that sort of shared compartment decades ago, so you either have to get a compartment with two bunks (which I and my then-boyfriend did a few times) or you have to make do with a reclining chair (which I’ve done when travelling alone). The chair was decent enough that I managed to get a bit of sleep even though I generally don’t manage to sleep in cars or similar, but the compartment was definitely way more comfortable. One is like trying to sleep in the front passenger seat of a car, whereas the other is a bed that gently rocks you to sleep.

@sirBrouwer

Жыл бұрын

I think it well also help if you do it a few times. then you get more used to all the noises and bumping. it's the same like sleeping on a ferry. at first you will have trouble sleeping but the more you do it the more you might be able to sleep very well.

@Yorick257

Жыл бұрын

In Russia there (used to be?) sleeper trains with bunks but without doors as a cheaper version of 2-bunk cabins

@typhoon5445

Жыл бұрын

All depends who your sharing with angilino jolie and her mates

"Would I recommend it?" _shrug_ *fart* Brilliant.

@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721

Жыл бұрын

So is that a yes?

I have no idea why your videos are so calming to me. But they are. I just binged a lot of your travel videos yesterday and it really helped calm my anxiety, and then today this video popped up! Thank you so much for posting these :)

I went on the Caledonian a few years back when they still used the old Mk3 carriages, and I've got to say waking up in the Scottish Highlands and being able to hang my head out the window at stops and have a look at the views and the sunrise is still up there as one of the top 5 things I've ever experienced

@alexmcwhirter6611

Жыл бұрын

Indeed. But in winter it won't be daylight all the way.

I learned a little bit too late that there's a sleeper train option from Milano to Vienna, like a month after my trip to Vienna; I would have taken it otherwise. Yes, the price would have been more or less the same than cheap airline + hotel, but I like this option better!

@salmiakki5638

Жыл бұрын

I'm always drooling at all the sleepers leaving Milan. From there you can go to Sicily, to Vienna, and there's a sleeper that goes from Nice to Moscow (at least before the war) that stopped aswell

I've done a couple overnight train journeys. A sleeper train is fun! Definitely more fun than that time I did an overnight journey on a route that should have only taken about three hours, because a freak freeze messed with the electricity wires and they could only scrounge up a motor locomotive that normally only does shunting jobs. :D ... but, in all seriousness, sleeper trains genuinely are quite fun. Despite the lack of room.

@beth12svist

Жыл бұрын

P.S. As a Czech, I was very proud of myself for remembering the word "shunting", and then you used it. :D

During my national service in Sweden we used to travel by sleeper from Stockholm to northern Sweden. It was pretty Spartan, of course, but sharing a six-berth cabin goes from being a misery with strangers to genuinely enjoyable with good mates from one’s platoon. And of course I’ve always slept well on trains, coaches and whatnot.

we went on a sleeper train to switzerland (from the netherlands) when i was very young, an exciting and formative moment

Certainly looks upgraded from when I went on the sleeper years ago... En-suite rather than the loo at then end of the carriage, but waking up every hour sounds about right!

Honestly for a flight of an hour, there should always be a good alternative by train. no need to waste kerosene for such a short trip.

@alexmcwhirter6611

Жыл бұрын

But there are rail alternatives. LON-EDI has fast daytime trains with LNER and Lumo.

One gain the train has over planes is that you just step on and off in the city centers with out the extra time and expense of getting to the airport (outside the city center) so taking that into account the train is far better and more relaxing way to travel .

Any train can be a sleeper train if you are confident you can wake up before your stop

I would be out like a light and sleep probably until the train arrived - especially considering I actually sleep to 10hr KZread videos of "sounds inside a train", played on my mobile phone next to my pillow ... but the real thing also has the movement of the train on top which I find always makes me sleepy any time I travel during the day time. The room itself is plenty big enough for me, since I'm under 6ft in height.

3D cameras are becoming more amazing. I get a kick out of how they can make the selfie pole vanish, so we just have to look for it in reflections, such as at @1:32

Such a fun video! Really enjoyed seeing your experience of this, Matt. 😊

Proper FFP2, well done Matt!

This is perfect timing, I've been considering taking this train when I'm going to a wedding in the new year, this is super helpful! Lovely video as always!

That looks very cozy! I love your dino socks too

Having watched some sleeper train/ferry videos from Japan, i would say that should be your next goal :)

love the content as always matt

Fun! Sleeper trains are one of those things that seem cool but also not very comfortable, as your waking frequently seemed to confirm. So it's ideally suited to watching someone else do it and then reporting back! Thank you for your sacrifice! And thanks also for the baked in captions as well as the option for them to be enabled on KZread! They're a great help!

I was on a sleeper train occasionally when i was young (mid-late 90s). It had closed compartments like this one, but within it weren't any shower or toilet. Instead it had benches that doubled as beds, with two more beds that were folded up above. It wasn't my most comfortable sleep ever, but for young me it was an adventure. Watching this brought back vivid memories.

The wife and I were just discussing the Caledonian Sleeper as part of our next trip the UK. Thanks for sharing, Matt!

Sleeper trains are amazing! Nice and comfy.

I went on the sleeper train between Hamburg and Paris with my dad when I was like 5 or 6. I didn't sleep well either but it still was a fun experience.

glad to see a review from you Matt. I'm 6ft 5 so this has confirmed I wouldn't enjoy this train very much. Id love to see them redo these and make a stacked configuration instead without double beds or beds running along the length.

My wife and son and I took the sleeper train from Rome to Venice and we were split on sleep. I slept fine, but my wife, like you, woke up at nearly every station en route so didn't sleep that well. All in all I would say that it was good, definitely cheaper than flying in between the 2 cities, because we had a shared cabin and definitely more restful.

This is something I want to do at least once, I enjoy a nice long train journey (Something I did often during my uni days between home and university) and I the environmental considerations that constantly play out in the back of my head when travelling are satisfied when taking the train. Sure it might cost more and take more time but I'm willing to put up with it.

I love sleeper trains. Ive only taken a few of them in my life, most of them when I was a small child, but from what I can remember, it was always quite nice.

I used to get the sleeper from Oxford to Edinburgh after meetings / weekend parties. That service has long gone and I'd heard that the new service from to/from London had been upgraded. What surprised me most was that the upper bunk (and ladder) was there. They used to fold them away when there was only one occupant (which was the default in 1st class). The private loo was nicer than walking to the end of the carriage but I don't think I'd ever be bothered getting up early enough to use the shower. (They used to have shower facilities at the stations for those who wanted them.) But I just checked on the prices! I'll give it a miss. As a kid I went on a couple of school trips (to Austria and Switzerland) where they had compartments seating six people. In the evening the train staff turned up and somehow turned each side of the compartment into 3 tier bunk beds - yes 6 of us in one cabin. A little cramped but not that uncomfortable. Not sure what it would have felt like if I'd been traveling with complete strangers rather than my class from school.

Had a wonderful experience on the caledonian sleeper. Cheaper than a regular train ticket and a hotel room, or a plane ticket and hotel room (when travel to/from the airport).

Big fan of the conclusion

I've done this trip twice, but in the opposite direction. London -> day trip in Inverness and then plane back to London from Edinburgh a few days later. I never sprang for the actual cabin but there is something magical about waking up to the Scottish highlands passing by, even if you're just in a plain old seat. Now that I'm not a broke uni student I would do it again in a heartbeat, but I would spring for the cabin.

Looks like something that'd be fun to do in summer, particularly if you're naturally an early riser so then you can see the scenery as you go.

I had this choice a little while ago, I went with the hotel and flight back to Gatwick, although I did have to also get a connecting flight home!

Similarly I had trouble sleeping on the sleeper (Preston to Aberdeen) on both times I travelled that way in the late 1990s. The cabins were less well appointed and you only had a wash basin and no shower or loo.

I did Seattle to Oakland in a sleeper, which was about 23 hours (after Vancouver to Seattle the morning before, and a night in Seattle since the train times didn't allow a direct transfer). It replaced a night in a hotel at my destination compared to flying out the day before (and included meals), so the price wasn't much more, and it was a pleasant day relaxing either in the lounge car or my cabin.

Idk what it is, but I absolutely love everything about this video, Matt. Makes me want to get on one.

I worked on a custom game map of this exact sleeper train a while ago for funsies and then stopped because reasons. Now I feel like I have to have another go at it!

I've only ever done one sleeper train as a kid, but I've always wanted to do it again!

I've wanted to do a sleeper service for ages, thinking of doing a 'day trip'with a sleeper both ways soon 😴

When you were mentioning the narrow hallway, it made me wonder about the length of the bed. Turns out to not have been a problem, whew. I get terrible claustrophobia, not to mention cramping, when I have to fit into tiny spaces.

woah thats going straight to the bucket list

I’ve done a couple nights on sleepers, it’s a neat concept, but private cabins are a must to be honest. I also really wish that some of the ones in mainland Europe had showers, because mine didn’t, and it was terrible. lol

The two sleepers I've taken in the USA have been great. If you sleep soundly, they are very refreshing, but I can see how the motion might wake up lighter sleepers. Your ensuite was very impressive. The similar room on America's Amtrak only come with a sink.

My mum went on that same sleeper last week, I believe the change in direction is when the train joins up with the Glasgow train

I have to know, "How jealous did this make Gary?"

This video is unexpectedly helpful, as I am planning to visit Edinburgh in February or March and I am quite partial to train travel. On the other hand, it would be over 20h one direction. And yes, I've been on a sleeper before from Munich to Hamburg. It was a 4 (or 6?) bunk cabine without a shower. I do really enjoy arriving rested at my destination. Just the prices are high :(

I've always wanted to try one of these.

That's great, but have you ever had a bath on a hovercraft?

@MattGrayYES

Жыл бұрын

Not yet, but I definitely will if the opportunity presents itself! :D

@domramsey

Жыл бұрын

@@MattGrayYES I knew you wouldn't be able to resist a challenge! 😀

@me_n_the_boys_lookin_for_beans

Жыл бұрын

new video idea? we built a hovercraft hot tub

@sirBrouwer

Жыл бұрын

@@me_n_the_boys_lookin_for_beans that sounds more something Collin fuse might do. I mean he did make a hot tub car.

@me_n_the_boys_lookin_for_beans

Жыл бұрын

@@sirBrouwer yeah you’re right

didn't even know the uk was large enough in the first place for sleeper trains! must be expensive given the low demand

I've been on the Caledonian Sleeper a couple of times and overall I found it to be a bit disappointing. The second time was Euston-Glasgow last year in a classic cabin without the en-suite. Very little sleep on that one. Just before the pandemic I did Euston to Fort William. I'd booked a club room and was upgraded to a Caledonian Double. Despite a nice double(ish) bed I didn't really sleep tat all until we left Edinburgh where the train splits at something like half four in the morning. I then managed a few hours before waking up and getting into what was unfortunately a cold shower. The problem with the new carriages is they give a very rattly, bouncy and noisy ride. They look great, the cabins fit a lot into a small space and the staff were lovely but the main thing about a sleeper should be that it facilitates a decent night's sleep. On the plus side, having breakfast whilst travelling over a snowy Rannoch Moor on the West Highland Line was magnificent and that experience alone made the journey worthwhile.

I took a sleeper train from Berlin to Munich several years ago, with the car loaded on as well. It was an interesting experience ... to load up the car, you had to be there more than an hour before departure. Half an hour after leaving Berlin, the train stopped on some sidetrack for an hour or two - apparently, the distance of 550 km is too short for a train to roll all night. Felt a bit eerie.... Breakfast was in the dining car and alright, the unloading took quite a while, too. It was pretty pricey and just barely justifiable as we got a steep discount for booking way ahead, but that made it rather unflexible. Apparently too many Berliners took the discounted tickets, so Deutsche Bahn shut down those trains from Berlin a few years after my trip.

That’s exactly my take on sleeper trains. Not much sleep, but works well in some cases.

I wish Deutsche Bahn hadn't sold their sleeper trains!

We got the sleeper for similar reasons a few years ago. Wanted to go to Eurogamer in London but go there and back in a day. Couldn't get booked for the train going back up the way so we ended up on the night Megabus which was cheaper but WAY WORSE!

I haven't been on a sleeper train but I have bucket list goals of doing both the Trans Canada railway trip which is supposed to be supremely beautiful. There's also the Rocky Mountaineer which only trains during the day and guests deboarding to sleep at historic hotels along the way. There's also an overnight train from Washington state down the coast line to southern California (the Starlight) which sounds beautiful and another that goes from Chicago to California (its called the Zephyr if you're going to Emery and the Southwest Chief if going to LA)

The cornwall one is all shiny and new but lacks showers. instead you get access to the first class lounge at each end.

Sleeping on trains takes a little practice. But that one looks like a nice cabin for it.😊

I'd love to try out a sleeper train, but it's really not an option for me right now. I live in a rural area and the closest stations with sleeper services are Cologne and Frankfurt. Not only are those cities a few hours away already, all the sleeper trains call there at like 3am because they're in the middle of the network, which is inconvenient.

My first time on a Caledonian sleeper was pre-price rises (about 2018), and I paid ~£90 for one-way. Unfortunately the price is now up past £200. I do wish we (society?) could do something to make sleeper trains more financially viable than short-haul domestic flights, but I dunno how that would look.

Australia has a couple of 3000km sleeper trains, they have the ability for a limited number of passengers to bring their cars with them, like to train to one end of the country & drive back.

Us height-wise societally challenged folks (I'm also 193/6'4) must stick together! (Even though it gets cramped!) But I suspect you being on your feet all day made you about an inch shorter (it happens to us, and we re-elongate when lying down), which helped you fit. Otherwise, sleep on your left side (stomach acid), and bend your knees. I used to visit family all the time taking a sleeping ferry, and the beds were 185cm.😅

I took that sleeper to go to my cousin's wedding with my Dad. Thought it was a cool experience and although a bit cramped with the both of us it was very comfortable. I would definitely consider it for business if the price was comparable to flight + hotel

I did it both ways. Going up in a sleeper and going back just snoozing in a regular seat. I got about the same amount of sleep both ways.

Yeah I noticed the train seemed to be going in the other direction when you were sitting having breakfast, I was wondering what was going on there!

Sleeper trains are super common in the states! Well, as common as passenger trains are.

My main take away from this: Jayzus, is that what it's like being 6'4" This entirely reinforces my life decision to stop growing at 5'7" It's good being a comparative midget, most things are me-sized or slightly bigger, also, ducking seems easier

We've considered going to Croatia on a sleeper train, ended up going by car, it was easier to go around. Didn't expect a separate toilet, let alone a shower, nice. Now I wonder what those trains (from Hungary to Croatia) are like.

i take sleepers with some frequency and while I don't have the best sleep it's also not the worst and i think trains are way cool. as for recommending it... im with you: euuuaueueueuh.

The Caledonian sleeper goes through my local station, but I've never been on it or even seen it. However, I have been on a sleeper train from Beijing to Suzhou in China. It was a very tight fit with all our luggage, but I slept very well.

I never suspected that Matt was that tall!

Great video aside: I love your socks ^_^

I feel like if I had to, I could do this kind of travel. If I was going to and from Kansas City from Saint Louis and back for instance, I think it would work well. I can sleep anywhere, so I probably might get more sleep than you did.

When I went on Cal Sleeper they folded the top bunk out the way as i was single occupancy like you. Disappointing they're not applying the same attention to detail these days. Edit: noticed it was Nov '21, maybe (hopefully) they're presenting the train a bit better these days.

@alexd9432

Жыл бұрын

When was it you went? They got new trains in 2019 and from memory with these both the beds are fixed so the top one can no longer get folded away. There are though a very small amount of rooms with a double bed but they are even more expensive.

Trains are so cool I wish they were real I go back and forth between the city my parents live in and the one I go to college in, which are about 432 km (~267 mi) apart and my best choice is going by bus.

i've always wanted to try the sleeper, but it's just a bit too expensive. i can't imagine what that room is like with 2 people in it, it seems so cramped with 1.

I would take an entire series of “Matt sleeps places”

It connects up to 2 other parts during the night to form 1 giant train

Matt's no Superalbs when it comes to ferrologues(??), but still an enjoyable video!

The Caledonian Sleeper gets mixed reviews on videos, but generally favorable. If you're a bit flexible and don't have huge expectations, it's a worthwhile experience.

25,000 steps in Edinburgh? Excuse me but that's an afternoon stroll.

@WyvernYT

Жыл бұрын

But the Fitbit doesn't count the 2km vertical traverse.

I've traveled in a sleeper train a few times, definitely better than traveling overnight on a regular train, which I've done more than a few times because it's generally cheaper. Not the most comfortable accommodations imaginable, but I've definitely slept in worse places, so it's an alright experience all things considered

nice t shirt but the socks tho; thats some matt gray style xD

A British guy in a sleeper car on a train? I was expecting someone to burst in and get into a fistfight with you through the entire video!

Honestly the best trips are those where you don’t take pictures bc you’re so in the moment