Caledonian Sleeper losses rise after record ticket sales cancelled out by soaring interest rates

Scotland-London service was £4.3 million in the red prior to nationalisation in June

A strong post-pandemic bounce back in ticket sales on the Caledonian Sleeper to reach record levels was eclipsed by soaring interest rates, which left the service deeper in the red over the year to March, new figures show.

The privately-run overnight Scotland-London train operation lost £4.3 million in 2022/23 – just prior to its nationalisation by the Scottish Government – compared to £3m the previous year, according to its annual accounts.

It means Serco, whose franchise ended seven years early in June, lost a total of £77m since it took over the trains in 2015, the firm told The Scotsman. The accounts stated that despite Scottish Government support of £29m, “interest rates, which are outside its bounds, increased, lowering the profit margin”.

The £150 million new Caledonian Sleeper fleet was introduced in 2019

The increased loss came despite revenue from passenger tickets increasing from £21m to £29m in 2022/23 – the highest under the franchise. That topped the £26m total in pre-Covid 2019/20, which was the first year of its brand new fleet, which feature double beds and en-suite loos and showers.

Retail spending, such as food and drink in the trains’ Club Cars, also nearly doubled from £553,000 to a record £940,000.

Ministers returned the service to the public sector after rejecting Serco’s request last year for substantial extra funding to keep operating it until the end of its contract in 2030 in the face of increasing costs due to rising inflation.

Nationalised Caledonian Sleeper ‘may not get the attention it deserves’, SNP warned

Takings in the Club Car nearly doubled in 2022-23. (Photo by Caledonian Sleeper)

Caledonian Sleeper head of sales and marketing Steven Marshall said prospects for the service looked very good.

He said: “We are in a very strong place and enjoying record sales now that travel is returning to pre-Covid norms. We carried a record 999 passengers one evening last week, the highest single night in the life of the new trains.

“The outlook for the Sleeper continues to look bright with strong forward revenues for this year and into 2024.”

Confirmation of the booming ticket sales comes after Kathryn Darbandi, who has continued as the Sleeper’s managing director under public control, told Scotland on Sunday it had notched up the highest monthly ticket sales in May last year under Serco’s operation.

The trains carried a record 999 passengers one night last week. (Photo by Caledonian Sleeper)

She said she was looking at how to boost the Inverness service, such as by adding more carriages or increasing its frequency, because it was so popular that it could sell twice over on some nights. Sleepers also operate six nights a week between Aberdeen, Fort William, Edinburgh, Glasgow and London.

Ms Darbandi said a new route to Oban was also being considered to improve access to the Hebrides.

Also being assessed is the trains being privately chartered for events on Saturdays when they don’t run because of traditionally low demand. This could include to take wedding parties to the Highlands after a woman booked most of a train for her 50th birthday.

However, the cost of supporting the service was criticised by Edinburgh Airport chief executive Gordon Dewar at an aviation and sustainability event at this month’s Festival of Politics at Holyrood. He said: “The current subsidy level to go on the Sleeper is about £250 per person. I don’t think that’s a good use of the money. I have no idea why we do that and it’s certainly not a decarbonisation solution.”