While far fewer Scottish MPs use the sleeper regularly than is perhaps thought, I did once (about February 2015, in the last weeks of First Group) share a standard class cabin in the Inverness portion of the Friday night down sleeper (always a packed train) with the Western Isles MP, who was travelling back to his constituency via Inverness. I never in my life imagined I would share such an intimate space as a Mk3 sleeper berth with an MP, but he was an extremely pleasant, down-to-earth guy who talked with great knowledge and passion about life in the Highlands and Islands. The sleeper staff (an Inverness crew who knew all the regulars like the back of their hands) did not appear to recognise him, so he could not have been that regular a traveller; certainly the host on check-in did not allude to the fact that ’Mr MacNeil’ was a well known person of any kind. I believe that he was travelling in standard because first was already sold out, and it was very important for him to get back home (to Stornoway) that Saturday. Had a lovely evening with him in the lounge car, talking with him and some other good Highland folk. There was a chilli con carne on the lounge car menu in those days, which the MP enjoyed, although it did make him somewhat flatulent in bed afterwards... I also once shared a cabin on the northbound Inverness sleeper (perhaps around 2014) with the Bishop of Norwich, who seemed to enjoy flicking the light switches on and off during the night... some great stories. Such celebrity company is sadly now no more, as CS have abolished sharing with strangers.
Has anyone else shared a sleeper cabin with an MP/someone famous?
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