Caledonian Sleeper, the overnight train service from London to Scotland, is offering a unique way for guests to get an insight into their new fleet of trains by leveraging virtual reality (VR). Over two days the rail service will be at Glasgow Central Station to host its special VR event and invite members of the public to glimpse into the future of overnight train travel.
The VR expereince will allow users to enter a portal on the station’s main concourse and explore a stunning recreation of the new carriages. Created by digital media stdio Soluis, the VR tour will offer users the chance to walk through the Club Car and discover the rooms on the new trains, which a number of will be en-suite.
“Our new trains will transform Caledonian Sleeper, heralding a new era of rail travel and ensuring a truly timeless experience for all guests.” Said Ryan Flaherty, Serco’s Managing Director at Caledonian Sleeper: “We are so proud of the new trains and everyone in the team is excited to give people a sneak peek, thanks to the immersive virtual reality experience we have developed in partnership with Soluis. This is a chance for current and prospective Caledonian Sleeper guests to delve into the exciting world of the new trains and to whet their appetite ahead of their introduction in just a few short months.”
The new trains are set to make their debut from October of this year and will mark the start of a new standard of overnight travel between Scotland and London. The £150 million (GBP) fleet, which is partly funded by the Scottish Government, has been designed to accommodate the modern-day traveler and allow for both business and leisure travel guests to have a relaxing and enjoyable ride. The new accommodation that will be on offer includes comfort seats, classic rooms, club rooms and en-suite rooms with most being available as single or twin rooms with a number supporting full accessibility for quests with reduced mobility.
“As frequent users of this service ourselves, we were delighted when the team behind Caledonian Sleeper approached us. This was an ideal opportunity to create a digital version of the new trains that would both inform and excite guests around this unique form of transport and accommodation.” Said Scott Grant, CEO of Soluis: “The virtual reality Sleeper carriages deliver a uniquely immersive format that leaves no doubt as to the intended quality of the guest experience.”
The VR event will be running between 8am to 8pm on July 25th, 2018 and July 26th, 2018. Those who are able to attend the event at Glasgow Central Station will be able to enter an exclusive competition to be in with the chance of winning a return trip for two on the new trains. There is no word on if the VR experience will be made available by other means after the event just let but VRFocus will be sure to bring you all the latest from Caledonian Sleeper in the future, so stay tuned for more.