The Caledonian Sleeper Experience now includes a bit of Burns

Overnight rail service Caledonian Sleeper has organised a new calendar of events for the year ahead, offering guests travelling between Scotland and London the chance to enjoy a series of celebrations on board.

Kicking off the new events programme was a true Scottish tribute to the great Robert Burns which allowed guests travelling from Inverness to London on 31 January and from London to Glasgow on 1 February to enjoy ‘Burns on Wheels’. This was a traditional evening filled with live piping, haggis, songs from rising Scottish singer Robyn Singleton, poetry and a toast with a dram from Tomintoul Distillery.

Keith Wallace, Serco’s Managing Director of Caledonian Sleeper who led the event, commented: “A Burns Supper is a true celebration of Scotland’s history and culture and one that we were extremely excited to bring to our guests.  We believe this to be the first ever Burns Supper on a train, and are sure the conviviality would have made Caledonian Sleeper Burns’ preferred choice of travel.

“From the live piping in Euston and Inverness railway stations which was played as guests boarded the train to the glass of whisky and traditional haggis enjoyed in the comfort of the lounge car, this was a unique and memorable event enjoyed by all.”

The Burns Supper event will be followed by a series of events throughout the year hosted with partners of Caledonian Sleeper on routes across the country. These include:

·         Tuesday 13 February            Chocolate Tasting with Hotel Chocolat
·         Tuesday 06 March                Gin Tasting
·         Friday 06 April                      Magic Workshop for Kids with Hopscotch Magic
·         May                                         Whisky Tasting with Malt Whisky Trail
·         June                                        National Gin Week Celebration
·         July                                          Carnoustie Golf Club Insight into The Open
·         August                                     Scotland’s Natural Larder Tasting
·         September                              Arm Knitting with Loch Ness Knit Fest
·         October                                   Hallowe’en with Mary King’s Close
·         December                               Christmas Carols

Keith added: “We have a great line up of events for 2018 for those with all interests to enjoy. Our event partners are sure to make the experience of travelling with Caledonian Sleeper even more exciting and we can’t wait to welcome guests on board.”

The Caledonian Sleeper’s overnight service between Scotland and London has been hailed as one of Lonely Planet’s ‘Super Sleeper Trains’ and the London to Fort William service made the world’s best-selling travel guidebook’s top ten list.