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London to Fort William by train
How to take a direct train from London to the fabulous Scottish Highlands
How to buy tickets, what's on board the trains, how to use the stations, plus tips for making the most of the scenic journey
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Routes
From London Euston to Fort William
Journey Summary
12hr 42 min - 12hr 58min
Not Every Day
Travel Information
The train also departs from: Watford Junction, Crewe and Preston
The train also calls at a number of other stations on the West Highland Line, including Arrochar & Tarbet (07:09); Crianlarich (07:45); Bridge Of Orchy (08:17); Rannoch (08:44) and Spean Bridge (09:38)
It is due into Fort William at 09:57.
On departure from London the coaches heading to Fort William are joined to other coaches heading to Aberdeen and Inverness.
The shorter journey time applies to Mon-Fri departures
There are no departures on Saturday evenings
Tickets
Unusually for UK train tickets, you can book journeys on the Caledonian Sleeper up to twelve months ahead.
If you want a full choice of accommodation in the summer months or around holiday times, it's best to book at least a month in advance.
When making a journey by these Caledonian Sleeper trains, you can choose from three types of sleeping cabin, or you can opt to travel in reclining seats - If you want to travel in the reclining seats, you will in effect only be paying the journey costs.
In common with how tickets are sold to travel in sleeping cabins on other European night train services, there are two elements to the total cost of the sleeping cabin ticket price:
(1) the cost of making the journey, and
(2) the more expensive accommodation costs of travelling in the cabin.
On these Caledonian Sleeper trains the sleeping cabins have a fixed price, regardless of how many people are using them, so how the total costs per traveller are calculated, is dependent on how the cabins will be occupied.
If you will be making an individual booking you will have sole occupancy of a Club Room or Classic Room - booking a Caledonian Double isn't an option for solo travellers.
The total cost per person is more expensive if you will be travelling individually, because if you travel solo you pay the full cost for the Club Room or Classic Room, plus a cost for making the journey.
But two people travelling together, can in effect split the cost of travelling in the Club rooms and Classic rooms between them, and the additional cost comes from having to purchase two journey tickets.
Paying a higher price for single occupancy of a sleeping cabin is the norm on European night trains, but this particular pricing methodology makes the sleeping cabins on a Caledonian Sleeper service, a comparatively expensive option for solo travellers.
Travelling as a family group:
The costs of adults and children travelling together will be calculated during the booking process - here is the relevant information.
Using Rail Passes:
If you will be using a valid rail pass you can travel in a reclining seat at no additional charge, but you must reserve a place prior to boarding, by calling the Guest Service Centre on 0330 060 0500.
If you want to travel in a bed in a Club Room sleeping cabin, you need to pay a 'Room only supplement' of £170 if you will be travelling solo, or £200 if two people will be travelling together.
If you want to travel in a Classic Room sleeping cabin, the supplement is £120 for solo travellers and £140 if two people are travelling together.
These 'Room only supplements' can be booked online.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Caledonian Sleeper | * |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
The optimum daytime journey from London to Fort William involves taking these trains:
(1) Depart London Euston for Glasgow at 12:30 on Mondays to Saturdays, or at 12:28 on Sundays.
The train will arrive in Glasgow Central station at around 17:00.
(2) Depart from Glasgow Central on a commuter train heading to Dalmuir, the latest departure that can be taken is the train leaving at 18:02.
These trains will be depart from the lower level part of Glasgow Central station.
(3) The train to Fort William will depart from Dalmuir between 18:36 and 18:42.
Step on board to take a ride on Britain's longest train journey.
The romantic vision of taking a night train often stems from a perception of boarding a train in darkness and then waking in the morning to a beautiful world outside the train windows.
Well taking a night train on continental Europe isn't usually like that, but this journey lives up to that fantasy.
It is fairly remarkable that one can set off from one of the world's biggest cities before midnight and then find yourself being transported the next morning, through the epic scenery of the Scottish Highlands!
For the final 2hr 30 mins of the journey the train will be traveling along the most scenic section of the stunningly beautiful West Highland Line.
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