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This is one of just two sleeper trains left on the UK rail network. Platform 1 at Paddington Station is not usually a place I find myself at 11pm on a Monday night, but I’m here with good reason. I am about to catch Great Western Railway’s Night Riviera Sleeper from London to Penzance in Cornwall at the very tip of the UK’s southwest peninsula.

I’ve been visiting Cornwall since before I could walk. I’ve taken the ordinary train, the coach and braved the summer getaway traffic jam chaos by car more times than I can count. But I’d never even considered as an option until now.



Turns out this was a major mistake. I’m early so I grab a complimentary drink and some snacks in GWR’s plush first class lounge. After a short while, someone comes in to tell us all that the train is ready to board.

I snap a few pictures of the train, the crew check my name off a list and I am led to one of the 57 cabins on board. There is a brief tour of my accommodation for the night. I am shown the call button to summon a member of staff at any time for more drinks and snacks along the way.

As I am , my cabin’s second bunk has already been folded away to make it a single sleeper berth. There are plenty of charging ports, a light, a window to watch the city slip away and, though there is no ensuite, a sink is tucked under a desk. There are no showers on board but you can book one for the morning at the first class lounge in Penzance.

The crew are endlessly helpful as they take individua.

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