There are plans to launch a night train from Scotland to Europe
Scotland has taken the first step toward launching a direct overnight train service to mainland Europe. A special working group has already begun studying whether the Caledonian Sleeper route can be extended through the Channel Tunnel. Initial findings on the project are expected by the end of this year.
Transport Scotland announced this week that the working group, tasked with preparing a feasibility study for the new rail route, held its first meeting. The focus is on the possibility of extending the Caledonian Sleeper night train from Scotland to mainland Europe. It currently runs between Scotland and London, and in the future could offer direct service to European cities.
The working group includes representatives from Transport Scotland, Scottish Rail Holdings, and the Caledonian Sleeper. They are tasked with assessing the feasibility of launching such a route from technical, practical, and commercial perspectives. One option involves traveling through the Channel Tunnel under the English Channel. This route is already used by Eurostar high-speed trains, which run from London to Paris and other cities in continental Europe.
Where does the Caledonian Sleeper currently run?
The Caledonian Sleeper operates six nights a week. The train has five routes in various directions and connects Scotland with London. It departs from Aberdeen, Inverness, Fort William, Glasgow, and Edinburgh, among other cities. The train also stops in smaller towns and rural areas of Scotland and England. If the project for a direct connection to Europe is implemented, passengers will be able to travel much farther without having to transfer to a plane.
Why Scotland Wants to Develop This Route
The idea of a direct rail link to Europe was part of the Scottish government’s election platform. The Scottish National Party (SNP) promised to explore the possibility of launching such a route to reduce the country’s reliance on air travel.
The manifesto also specifically mentioned the possibility of extending the Caledonian Sleeper through the Channel Tunnel. However, this idea is far from new. As early as the mid-1990s, there were proposals to launch a similar overnight rail project called the Nightstar. However, the idea was ultimately abandoned at that time.
When Might the Train Launch?
Stephen Flynn, Scotland’s Minister for the Economy, Tourism, and Transport, stated that the government has officially begun work on studying the feasibility of such a route. “Establishing a working group is an important first step toward fulfilling this commitment,” he noted.
According to the minister, experts will assess whether the project is feasible, how much it might cost, and to what extent the route would be commercially viable. In other words, there is no talk of launching the train just yet. Scotland is merely exploring the possibility of such a service. The working group is expected to present its findings to the government by the end of 2026. After that, the government will be able to decide whether to move forward to the next stages of the project. This is reported by The Independent.
