Caledonian Sleeper passengers on £400-a-night train unable to wash or go to toilet after being left without running water

Fed-up passengers paid £400 for an overnight stay on the luxury Caledonian Sleeper train but were unable to wash and had to use a communal toilet after being left without running water throughout their 12-hour journey.

Punters travelling from Inverness Station to London at 8:30pm on Friday, April 12, learned as they boarded that some compartments would be without water in their private sleeping compartments.

That meant they couldn't have a shower and were left unable to flush, or use, their toilet throughout the trip to Euston Station in London.

Speaking to the Record, Ian Barratt, 81, from Maldon in Essex, who was returning with his wife from a three-day visit to Inverness, said by the time morning arrived he sat down for breakfast "unshaven, unwashed and thirsty."

He explained how staff had to direct elderly passengers down a long corridor just to use the toilet, and the only mitigation taken was to hand out spring water.

Ian said: "Embarrassed staff, willing and helpful though they were, suggested that passengers could use the few general passenger toilets situated on the express, but for some people that required a long trek along a narrow corridor on a train which stretches several hundred yards in length.

"One passenger claimed he had suffered a similar plight on four previous trips. A company spokesman apologised for the inconvenience but explained that the only maintenance depot was in London, so there was nothing else they could do but hand out cans of spring water."

Ian and his wife both paid £800 for a return ticket and he hit out at managment for the fiasco.

He says staff on the train were shocked to learn that passengers had not been advised about the issue prior to boarding.

Ian added: “A member of staff seemed surprised that I had not been given prior warning of the problem, but the first I knew was when we were about to board the train at 8.30.

“This kind of situation isn't what one expects after paying over £800 for a return ticket. I feel this was a management failing.

"It is obviously it isn't the first time this kind of thing has happened and a lack of regular maintenance looks a possible cause"

A spokesperson for Caledonian Sleeper said: “Due to a technical issue onboard on Friday night (12 April 2024) a number of the cabins were unfortunately left without water on for their journey south from Inverness.

"Since maintenance for this specific issue can only take place at one of our main engineering depots – Wembley or Polmadie - we were unable to rectify this issue ahead of travel. Wherever possible, we will move passengers to alternative unaffected cabins, however, this wasn’t possible on this occasion. Instead, Mr Barratt was issued with a partial refund for his inconvenience.

"We are very sorry that Mr Barratt’s journey was impacted on this occasion, however we look forward to welcoming him back onboard very soon.”

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