A Trip on the Night Riviera

The Night Riviera, operated by First Great Western, runs on the route from London Paddington to Penzance and viceversa every night except Saturday evening. On its way it also serves Exeter, Plymouth, Liskeard, Bodmin Parkway, Par, Truro and St Erth, amongst others. Besides taking you to beautiful Devon and Cornwall overnight the train also offers a cheap and fairly comfortable option to spend the night instead of staying at a London hostel for all old-school Interrail cheapskates:

London Paddington dep: 2345 (2350 on Sundays)
Plymouth arr: 0514 (0535 on Monday mornings)
Plymouth dep: 0553 (0540 on Saturdays)
London Paddington arr: 0900 (0921 on Saturdays)

In fact, you don’t have to get up that early in Plymouth since scheduled departure of the Night Riviera to Penzance is only at 0543. If you want to sleep just a little longer, you could also consider this option:

London Paddington dep: 2345 (2350 on Sundays)
Liskeard arr: 0607
Liskeard dep: 0626 (Mon-Fri only)
London Paddington arr: 1002 (Mon-Fri only)

We recommend to get seat reservations for both London-bound trains since they are usually full with commuters, especially the 0553 from Plymouth. You can get them for free at all staffed National Rail stations.

57 602 HAS PULLED THE NIGHT RIVIERA RAKE INTO PADDINGTON STATION. CUSTOMERS CAN ENTER THE TRAIN FROM AROUND 22.30.

The Night Riviera offers “Solo” and “Twin” sleeper compartments as well as 2nd class seated accomodation. Rail pass travellers can use the 2nd class seats without a reservation, although we recommend to get one to secure your seat since it is free of charge at any staffed UK train station. Unlike the Caledonia Sleeper trains, it is not possible to make reservations from outside the UK! Usually there are two 2nd class coaches, but only in one of the two the light is dimmed overnight so take care where you take your seat! The seats are all arrangend facing each other with a large table in between and can be reclined just a little bit. I would recommend to take blindfolds with you and get warm clothing as it can get quite cold due to the air-condition.

2ND CLASS COACH OF THE NIGHT RIVIERA. THE SMALL PAPER STRIPS AT SOME SEATS INDICATE A RESERVATION.

THE SEATS ARE RECLINABLE JUST A BIT.

In between the seated coaches and the sleepers there is a lounge car which offers drinks and light refreshments. Sleeper customers also can have a seat there and enjoy a meal or newspapers. Also, passengers in Solo cabins can purchase earphones for the VOLO TV system there at just 1 GBP.

INSIDE THE LOUNGE CAR.

If you are looking for a bit more comfort I can highly recommend the sleeper compartments. On the Night Riviera, there are two types, both of which can be used with either 2nd or 1st class tickets. Single travellers have to book a compartment on their own, called “Solo” at a price of 50 GBP. This includes a free reservation plus the sleeper supplement. The cabin offers a comfy bed plus washbasin and mirror and, quite remarkably, free VOLO TV. VOLO TV offers a selection of drama and comedy series as well as sport and documentary programmes that you can watch on a screen above the bed. Attention, there is no electrical plug in the cabin!

SOLO CABIN. TWIN CABINS HAVE THE SAME LAYOUT EXCEPT FOR THE VOLO TV SCREEN. BELOW OF IT THE MOUNT FOR THE SECOND BERTH CAN BE SEEN.

NOTE THE VOLO TV SCREEN ABOVE THE BERTH. THE WASHBASIN IS HIDDEN BELOW THE WINDOW ON THE LEFT (BLINDS DOWN).

Sleeper passengers can use the First Great Western lounge at London Paddington where they can choose from a complimentary offer of newspapers, snacks and refreshments.

THE FGW LOUNGE AT PLATFORM 1 IN PADDINGTON.

57 604 PENDENNIS CASTLE IN HISTORIC GWR LIVERY IS READY FOR DEPATURE WITH THE NIGHT RIVIERA TO PENZANCE.

Included in the sleeper supplement is a small breakfast which is served in the cabin usually about one hour before you arrive at your destination. Rattling through the Cornish countryside enjoying a cup of tea or coffee on a sunny morning can be rather marvellous. And as an alternative on all the other days there is still VOLO TV…at least for the sole traveller, that is.

POT OF COFFEE, CROISSANT WITH JAM, SHORTBREAD: BREAKFAST ON THE NIGHT RIVIERA.

VOLO TV IN ACTION: WHO GUESSES THE PROGRAMME?

Penzance, the western terminus of the Cornish Main Line is a small seaside town, ideal as starting point for trips to the Isles of Scilly or Land’s End. Beside the Night Riviera, there are frequent daytime trains to London operated by FW and taking around five hours. Besides that, a number of regional services operates to Plymouth and sometimes even further. XC operates two services to Glagsow and one to Manchester. Not far from Penzance, just one stop earlier, is St Erth station, where the branch line to St Ives starts. This is a perfect destination for a day trip from London: You can leave your luggage at the left-luggage facilities in Paddington, travel to St Ives overnight and go back to London either in the evening or again with the overnight train. So did I, and I will show some pictures another time.