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Caledonian Sleeper - Lounges and Showers

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stut

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Apologies if this is already covered - I couldn't find anything in a brief search.

I'm doing Euston - Glasgow tonight, and wondered:

a) Do I get access to the FC lounge at Euston on a Sleeper Advance (standard) ticket? The Scotrail website is slightly unclear, saying "Dedicated Caledonian Sleeper Standard Single ticket holders can also be given access to the lounge".

b) How are the showers at Glasgow Central? The last time I used public showers was in Japan, and I find it hard to imagine the experience as being particularly similar... Failing that, I notice that there is an LA Fitness gym in the Radisson next to the station, offering £10 day passes - could be worthwhile for a (slightly expensive) shower and swim without having to stray too far from the station (I don't have long).

Any thoughts or other suggestions would be much appreciated.
 
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4SRKT

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No idea on ScotRail, but sleeper advance ticket holders on FGW can get access to the FC lounge at Paddington while they wait.
 

stut

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...and when they arrive! Was rather pleasantly surprised by the Paddington lounge.

Am not particularly bothered, as the lounge car is a nice place to wait anyway, that part is more out of curiosity to see what the VT lounge is like than anything else (it's extremely rare I go through London to head north...)
 

Liam

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b) How are the showers at Glasgow Central? The last time I used public showers was in Japan, and I find it hard to imagine the experience as being particularly similar... Failing that, I notice that there is an LA Fitness gym in the Radisson next to the station, offering £10 day passes - could be worthwhile for a (slightly expensive) shower and swim without having to stray too far from the station (I don't have long).

Pretty good. I used them a couple of weeks ago. However, there are only two showers, and when I was there one was out of use so I was given the disabled shower room. I made sure I was the first off the train in any case. The standard shower room is probably different, but the disabled one was very clean, spacious, shower was easy to use, radiator for your towel (which you get in the shower pack along with soap and shower gel/shampoo.

Be warned though, when I was talking to one of the sleeper attendants he told me that we must have been lucky, as usually the sleeper sits outside Central for about 20-30 minutes, so you may have less time than you thought.
 

Essexman

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Showers at Glasgow Central are fine. Sometimes you have to wait and although I try to get off the sleeper quickly, few passengers seem to use them.
 

stut

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Well, I can now answer the lounge part. Turns out to be something of a moot point, as the FC lounge closes at 11. Anyway, the sofas in the lounge car (where I currently am) are much better!
 

marks87

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Well, I can now answer the lounge part. Turns out to be something of a moot point, as the FC lounge closes at 11.
That's because the Lowland Sleeper is usually available for boarding by then, give or take.
 

stut

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Makes sense. Particularly as my berth appears to be halfway to Watford Junction...

As I said, it was more out of curiosity than anything else.

Ooh, and we're off! Time for bed, I think...
 
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No only first class sleeper holders can use the first class lounge. standard class can use the customer lounge at euston which is beside the left luggage office. HOWEVER if you are an advance customer *scotrail loyalty club* you can use any of scotrails lounges even if on a standard ticket.
 

marks87

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No only first class sleeper holders can use the first class lounge. standard class can use the customer lounge at euston which is beside the left luggage office. HOWEVER if you are an advance customer *scotrail loyalty club* you can use any of scotrails lounges even if on a standard ticket.
Which means if you book far enough in advance, you can use the lounge on any sleeper ticket because all sleeper customers are eligible to join Advance.
 

EltonRoad

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No only first class sleeper holders can use the first class lounge. standard class can use the customer lounge at euston which is beside the left luggage office. HOWEVER if you are an advance customer *scotrail loyalty club* you can use any of scotrails lounges even if on a standard ticket.

Not completely true. As it says on ScotRail web site, dedicated standard class sleeper ticket holders can use it as well, which I take to mean those holding "Route Cal Sleeper" tickets. Whether that includes Advance I don't know, but I'm certain it includes full fare standard. This has been debated here before.
 

stut

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Not completely true. As it says on ScotRail web site, dedicated standard class sleeper ticket holders can use it as well, which I take to mean those holding "Route Cal Sleeper" tickets. Whether that includes Advance I don't know, but I'm certain it includes full fare standard. This has been debated here before.

That's exactly the ambiguity I was unsure about.

Well, to answer the b) part, I opted for the station shower in the end, and it was really pretty decent - as clean as you'll find a public shower in the UK, good heat and water pressure too. Would definitely use again!

The whole journey was rather good really. Didn't mind sharing (was unsure whether I would or not - have done many 4- and 6- (and open carriage) sleepers and couchettes with strangers, but 2 is rather different. But it was absolutely fine. The new (to me) duvets and pillows were excellent, and so I had a goop night's sleep, with an obligatory wake-up at Carstairs.

After breakfast, I also had the pleasure of a 380 for the first time. Very nicely done, I must say.
 
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