GB Railfreight (GBRf) has agreed on a seven-year deal with Caledonian Sleeper Ltd to continue hauling the Caledonian Sleeper coaches. The contract, effective from 25 June, comes into effect following the service entering into public sector control by the Scottish Government.
The services will see GBRf support the new era of the Caledonian Sleeper, operating seven trains a night, six nights a week, hauling the Mk5 coaches between London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Aberdeen & Fort William.
“This new partnership with Transport Scotland is another great example of GB Railfreight’s ability to deliver an excellent and reliable haulage service. As the iconic Caledonian Sleeper enters a new era, we are extremely proud to be working with Transport Scotland and look forward to continuing to deliver fantastic service to passengers for many years to come,” John Smith, CEO of GB Railfreight, said.
Operations will continue to use Class 92s and Class 73s to haul the service, with the length of the new agreement offering the potential opportunity to consider incorporating GBRf’s new bi-mode Class 99 locomotives in the future. Utilising the Class 99s would create a significant reduction in the volume of carbon created by the service.
Having provided services since 2015, this agreement remains in line with the original 15-year contract length – until 2030. At a time when the service is seeing the highest levels of demand, the continuity of GB Railfreight’s service will minimise disruption for guests during this transition period for the Caledonian Sleeper.
Starting June 25, 2023, Caledonian Sleeper services will be provided within Scottish Government ownership from today, Sunday 25 June 2023.
This new arrangement replaces the previous Caledonian Sleeper franchise, operated by Serco Caledonian Sleepers Limited.
This is a result of the Scottish Government’s decision to run Caledonian Sleeper services, from the expiry of the current franchise, through an arm’s length company owned and controlled by the Scottish Government, in line with its Operator of Last Resort Duty.
Caledonian Sleeper coaches will continue to provide services with reservations available for up to 12 months in advance. Scottish Rail Holdings (SRH) will be focused on maintaining our current high standards of service through the transition. In due course, the Scottish Government Ministers and Scottish Rail Holdings (SRH), in partnership with Caledonian Sleeper Limited, will set out their aspirations for Caledonian Sleeper’s evolution.
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