Analysis: First choice for travel with romance and style

I HAVE been a committed user of the Caledonian Sleeper for many years, and it’s certainly my first choice as a means of travelling to and from London.

Arriving late in the evening, and settling down in the lounge car for a dram before retiring for the night always seems like a very civilised way of travelling, much superior in every way to ‘red eye’ flights, and all the unpleasant inconvenience associated with modern air travel.

At a time when we are all increasingly aware of the environmental challenges which the world faces, this also has to be the means of travel of choice for the responsible traveller.

It’s a very pleasurable mode of travel that so many people think of positively and have good memories of after their journeys. The staff are always pleasant and it’s something that’s one of the really positive experiences you can have while travelling aboard trains.

The sleeper has great potential to be a major tourist attraction for Scotland, as well as being an excellent service for commuters.

With the options of travelling beyond Glasgow and Edinburgh to destinations like Fort William and Inverness, it creates the opportunity for travel with romance and style through some of the most beautiful country in the world.

We are not using this resource to its full potential – let’s use this opportunity to move into the 21st century.

I have had the good fortune to travel on the Hotel Train from Paris to Madrid.

Despite its rather grand title this is the regular sleeper service joining these two cities.

For a very reasonable fare, travellers not only have their berth with en suite shower and toilet, but also dinner in an elegant dining car, with an impressive choice of wines to boot.

We then waken to a similarly enjoyable breakfast as we roll through the Spanish countryside en route to Madrid.

• Professor Jim Gallacher is the Scottish Board Member of Passenger Focus.