Having experienced the Caledonian sleeper earlier in the week it seemed only fair that I spend my penultimate night on the ‘rival’ sleeper service – The Night Riviera from Penzance to London.
The sleeper services really do hark back to a bygone era of rail travel. You sit in a lounge with your fellow passengers waiting for the special carriages to arrive in the station. When they do arrive (hauled by a ‘proper’ locomotive) you’re each greeted in person by your ‘host’ and walked to your cabin, where your host will talk you through how everything works. A few minutes later they return to take your breakfast order and alarm call time for the morning. You can then head to the saloon / bar carriage, where complementary drinks are served, and spend the evening planning what on earth you’re going to do tomorrow as the Cornish countryside hurries past the window.
The Muscovy Duck 