VisitScotland and Caledonian Sleeper have announced the success of their recent collaboration, which has injected an estimated £1.7 million into Scotland’s visitor economy. The campaign, designed to promote winter breaks, highlighted the allure of travelling to Scotland via the iconic overnight rail service. This initiative resulted in over 1,000 Caledonian Sleeper bookings and supported more than 5,000 hotel reservations.

The campaign targeted travellers from London and the Southeast, emphasising rail travel as a comfortable, sustainable, and memorable option. It utilised TV advertisements, digital displays, and a dedicated landing page to reach its audience. The effort coincides with research from holidaycottages.co.uk, revealing that 45% of UK families now prefer public transport for holidays, with “railcations” becoming a notable trend in 2026.

Jill Walker, VisitScotland’s Director of Marketing, remarked on the importance of strategic partnerships in supporting Scotland’s tourism growth. “More and more visitors want to travel in a way that feels meaningful, memorable, and sustainable, and the Caledonian Sleeper offers exactly that,” she said.

Steven Marshall, Head of Sales and Marketing at Caledonian Sleeper, noted the strengthening relationship with VisitScotland, stating, “The success stems from sharing a common goal of boosting tourism into Scotland and ensuring our service impacts positively on the economy of the communities we serve.”

The campaign also spurred approximately £25,000 in additional domestic rail ticket sales, indicating that travellers are exploring Scotland further by train after arriving via the Caledonian Sleeper. This initiative reinforces Scotland’s reputation for offering scenic and sustainable travel experiences.