Almost every night of the week, a train sets off from London Euston to some of Scotland’s biggest cities. The overnight rail journey, Caledonian Sleeper, connects the capital to the likes of Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness, and more rural locations, such as Fort William.
But, for the first time, in the biggest shake-up to the timetable in over 30 years, the Caledonian Sleeper will be calling at Birmingham in January 2026. The inclusion of a new calling point at Birmingham International will open a direct, convenient route for Brummies to the Scottish Highlands.
“This historic timetable update marks a significant milestone in our mission to further boost sustainable cross-border travel options,” said Graham Kelly, Interim Managing Director at Caledonian Sleeper. “Birmingham is the latest city set to benefit from our high-quality overnight train service.
“Residents will be able to drift off in the West Midlands in their own private room and wake up to beautiful views of the Scottish Highlands. Similarly, we believe our new route will be incredibly popular with leisure tourists from Scotland, given the wide range of sights and attractions in Birmingham and across the West Midlands.”
With the West Midlands to the Highlands an underserved transport route, this new service will connect Birmingham directly with Aberdeen, Fort William, and Inverness. The inaugural departure from Birmingham International station is scheduled for the evening of January 15, 2026—with tickets for the new service already available.
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “This iconic service means people from across the West Midlands will soon be able to travel comfortably and sustainably to discover the stunning beauty of northern Scotland. But this also means our Scottish friends can come and explore the wonderful West Midlands. That’s a win-win for our tourism and hospitality businesses on both sides of the border.”
To book your tickets on the Caledonian Sleeper, head here.