By Ambarish Awale,Oliver Radcliffe

Copyright dailyrecord

There’s a certain charm to train travel, especially for lengthy journeys. Your usual quick trip from Glasgow to Edinburgh might not be the most luxurious experience, but there’s something about rail travel that retains a certain prestige. Perhaps it’s the influence of vintage period dramas that have painted an image of trains with private compartments, an Art Deco dining carriage, and free-flowing Champagne. Sleeper trains elevate this concept, offering the chance to fall asleep in one city and wake up in another. It’s a notion that has long intrigued us, with film and television often depicting glamorous versions of a hotel on wheels. But in reality, it’s more likely to involve a meal deal, a cramped seat, and harsh lighting. Despite the UK’s smaller size, there are still two sleeper services in operation. The Great Western Railway’s Night Riviera, which runs from London to Cornwall, and the Caledonian Sleeper, connecting London with Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and Fort William, are popular choices for overnight travel, reports Glasgow Live . The latter operates five routes, Northbound and Southbound, six nights a week. These include the Highlander journeys between London and Aberdeen , Inverness and Fort William, and the Lowlander routes between London, Glasgow and Edinburgh. However, while the idea of being lulled to sleep by the rhythm of the tracks may sound appealing, the reality can sometimes be less than ideal. One bloke who recently sampled the Caledonian Sleeper discovered that whilst it had its appeal, there was one significant flaw. Revealing his journey to his million-plus TikTok followers, Phil Carr remarked: “Have you ever been so excited and then let down by something that it hurts you? The famous Caledonian sleeper was a case of never meet your heroes, but I think I was the problem.” Phil climbed aboard the train at London Euston heading for Glasgow, storing his baggage in one of the private bunk bed compartments, complete with an en-suite and shower. Following some grub and a couple of pints, he retreated to his quarters hoping to awaken refreshed in Glasgow, but instead, he suffered what he branded as “six hours of hell”. He observed: “The cabins are clever with lights, storage, chargers, etc, but they are very tight if you’re travelling with someone, yes, you’ll split the cost, but you can’t have any secrets.” The overnight voyage is crafted to feel like a hotel stay. Phil, nevertheless, wasn’t entirely taken with the journey. He remarked: “It’s not for me. “The train is not that fast and really bounces around. Why aren’t we on a 7-foot gauge? You sleep sideways to the direction of travel, which made me feel quite queasy as I rolled around in the night, so I barely slept.” The price of this rail trip fluctuates, with a single seat costing you merely around £60 to £80, whilst a shared compartment will set you back roughly twice that amount.