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Testing begins on new Caledonian Sleeper carriages

Testing has begun on the brand new Caledonian Sleeper carriages for the first time.

The overnight Caledonian Sleeper rail service is to be transformed when the new £100m fleet is introduced later this year.

There will be a phased transition starting this autumn, which will see Serco introduce 75 new carriages.

A total of four Mark 5 carriages were out for testing last week, running on the West Highland line from Glasgow to Arrochar and Tarbet.

Testing on the line will continue over the coming weeks before moving onto the West Coast Main line.

Serco’s new trains director for Caledonian Sleeper, Magnus Conn, said: “Taking some of the new carriages out on the network for testing marks an exciting phase in our development programme.

The first carriages arrived in the UK in January after their journey from the Velim Test Centre in the Czech Republic through the Channel Tunnel.

“The purpose is to monitor the interaction between vehicle and track, and to check ride comfort in a variety of suspension states and speeds.

“As testing progresses onto the West Coast Main line later this month, we will be conducting a variety of tests including running at up to 110mph.”

These are the first sleeper trains to be introduced to the UK in over 35 years, partly funded by a £60m capital grant from Scottish Ministers.

The trains will initially be introduced on the Lowlander route between Glasgow/Edinburgh and London from October 2018, followed by a phased transition on the Highlander route, which serves Fort William, Aberdeen and Inverness.

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