The Caledonian Sleeper from Birmingham is the Highlander service, which has called at Birmingham International since 15 January 2026. It leaves at 22:42 on weeknights and 22:35 on Sundays, and reaches Aberdeen at 07:50, Inverness at 08:45 and Fort William at 10:00. Southbound, it arrives at 06:20. Because the stop is late at night, the journey to the station deserves as much planning as the train.
This guide covers the timetable and ticket types, how to get to Birmingham International for a late boarding, what to arrange for a 6:20am arrival, and the Christmas gaps. It also compares the sleeper with driving and flying.
Details last checked on 3 November 2026. Timetables can change, so confirm your train and date on the operator’s website before you book your transfer.
Caledonian Sleeper Birmingham at a glance
| Detail | What we know |
|---|---|
| Service | The Highlander. The Lowlander doesn’t stop at Birmingham International |
| First Birmingham departure | 15 January 2026 |
| Northbound from Birmingham International | 22:42 on weeknights, 22:35 on Sundays |
| Scottish arrivals | Aberdeen 07:50, Inverness 08:45, Fort William 10:00 |
| Southbound | Arrives at Birmingham International at 06:20, then continues to London Euston |
| At Birmingham International | Board northbound only, and get off southbound only |
| Days | Sunday to Friday nights, with no Saturday-night service |
| Booking | Up to 12 months ahead, through the operator |
| Station taxi rank | Outside the station entrance |
| Christmas 2026 | Reports say no service on the nights of 24, 25, 26 and 31 December |
What the Highlander does from Birmingham
Northbound: the 22:42 departure
The train leaves London Euston earlier in the evening and calls at Birmingham International first, then Crewe and Preston. It reaches Edinburgh in the early hours, where it divides into three sections for Aberdeen, Inverness and Fort William. Each section calls at other stations on the way, so check your destination’s timetable.
The Highlander runs every night except Saturday. The stop at Birmingham International is only on this service, so don’t book the Lowlander by mistake.
Southbound: the 06:20 arrival
Southbound, the train arrives at Birmingham International at 06:20 and continues to London Euston, which it reaches by about 08:00. At Birmingham International, passengers can only get off. Nobody can board a southbound train there, and nobody can get off a northbound one.
Why Birmingham International
The train calls at Birmingham International, not Birmingham New Street. The station sits next to the NEC and Birmingham Airport, with the free Air-Rail Link between the airport terminal and the station. Our Birmingham Airport to the NEC guide explains how the station, the airport and the NEC connect.
Rooms and tickets in brief
The sleeper offers a seated coach, which is the most economical way to travel, and several rooms:
- Classic room: twin bunk beds, with an option to interconnect with the room next door, which suits families and groups.
- Club room: twin bunk beds with an en-suite shower and toilet.
- Caledonian Double: a double bed with an en-suite shower and toilet.
Club and Caledonian Double guests get priority access to the Club Car and a complimentary breakfast. Fares change with demand, so check the operator’s website for the price on your date.
Choosing Aberdeen, Inverness or Fort William
Match your section to your destination
The train divides into three sections at Edinburgh, so check that you’re in the right coach for your destination. Aberdeen is the earliest arrival at 07:50, Inverness follows at 08:45 and Fort William is last at 10:00. If you’re heading for a hotel, a walk or a meeting, those arrival times set the day’s plan.
Onward travel in Scotland
ScotRail says customers with a valid Caledonian Sleeper ticket can get 20% off ScotRail services when travelling to or from their sleeper connection. That helps if your destination isn’t on the sleeper’s own route. Check the conditions on ScotRail’s website before you buy.
Getting to Birmingham International for a late boarding
What the station offers
Avanti West Coast manages Birmingham International. Its station page lists a taxi rank outside the station entrance and a combined drop-off and pick-up point. The point has no seating or waiting facilities, so you’ll wait outside.
The station car park is open 24 hours, and Avanti lists a daily ticket at £12.50. Station listings show the ticket office closing at 21:00, so don’t plan to collect a ticket late in the evening. Carry a mobile or printed ticket instead.
Work back from 22:42
We couldn’t find a published dwell time or boarding guide for this stop, so don’t cut it fine. The table is an illustration of our own, not an official rule.
| Stage | Sample timing |
|---|---|
| Train departs Birmingham International | 22:42 (22:35 on Sundays) |
| Be at the station | About 22:15 to 22:25 |
| Leave Birmingham city centre | About 21:40 to 21:50 |
| Leave from further out | Add your own journey time |
Our guide to how early to arrive at Birmingham Airport puts the drive from the city centre to the airport, which neighbours the station, at 25 to 30 minutes in clear traffic. Allow a buffer for roadworks and for the walk with your bags.
Taking a taxi or chauffeur to the station
A pre-booked pickup removes the late-evening search for a taxi. Ask your driver to use the station’s drop-off point, and carry your tickets on your phone. If your group has luggage, the Mercedes V-Class takes up to seven passengers and seven bags.
If an early or late start suits a transfer, our early-morning airport transfer guide explains how we plan pickups around fixed times. Tell us the train time, and we’ll agree the pickup.
Driving yourself
If you drive, the station car park is open around the clock. A multi-night trip means a longer stay, so check Avanti’s current rates for your dates before you decide.
Combining a flight with the sleeper
Birmingham International is the main station serving Birmingham Airport, and the free Air-Rail Link connects the two. Avanti lists the link as running from 3:30am to 00:30am, with a courtesy bus outside those hours. That makes it possible to fly into Birmingham and board the sleeper the same evening.
Our suggestion is to treat a flight landing after about 21:00 as tight for a 22:42 boarding. Baggage reclaim, the walk and the link all take time, and a delayed flight leaves no margin. If you’re cutting it fine, a pre-booked transfer from the terminal to the station removes the connection and the walk.
Arriving at Birmingham International at 06:20
What happens when you land
The train arrives at 06:20, and you can only get off. The station has a taxi rank outside the entrance, and the Air-Rail Link to the airport is running by that time. If you’re being collected, agree a pickup point and a time window. Share the arrival time with us, and message your driver if the train is running late.
The morning rush
A 06:20 arrival comes before the weekday morning peak, which our guide to Birmingham’s rush hour puts at about 7am to 9:30am. That helps if you’re heading into the city or to a meeting. A delayed train can push your drive into the peak, so allow extra time.
Christmas, New Year and engineering works
Dates to check before you book
Trainline reports that no Sleeper services run on the nights of 24, 25 and 26 December 2026, or on 31 December. The operator’s engineering page lists altered services on other dates, including changes to Fort William trains from Friday 13 to Tuesday 17 November and from Friday 20 to Tuesday 24 November.
The operator books up to a year ahead, so a timetable can change after you buy. Check the operator’s travel updates before you book your transfer.
Rail disruption at Christmas
New Street has no trains from 24 to 28 December, and West Midlands services are heavily reduced. If your sleeper date falls near Christmas, plan the ground journey early.
Sleeper, drive or fly?
| Option | What we know | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Caledonian Sleeper | Boards at 22:42, arrives Aberdeen 07:50, Inverness 08:45, Fort William 10:00. Runs Sunday to Friday nights | Dates around Christmas, and altered services during engineering works |
| Fly to Inverness | easyJet launched Birmingham to Inverness on 30 March 2026, twice a week on Mondays and Fridays, with a flight of around an hour and a half | Check the current winter schedule, because only two days a week were flown at launch |
| Drive or take a chauffeur | A long road journey to the Highlands | Tiredness, and possibly a night of accommodation on the way |
The sleeper serves Fort William and Aberdeen as well as Inverness, which the Inverness flight doesn’t. If you’d rather travel by road all the way, our city-to-city chauffeur service covers long-distance journeys from Birmingham.
Packing and luggage
Sleeper rooms are small, so pack a bag you can lift easily. If you’re heading to the Highlands to walk, ski or climb, tell us about boots, poles and other kit when you book, so we can pick a vehicle with space. Keep your ticket, phone charger and anything you need overnight in a small bag.
What to send us when you book
- The date of your sleeper and your boarding time.
- Your pickup address and group size.
- Your luggage, including any outdoor kit.
- For your return, the arrival date and the 06:20 time.
- A mobile number that stays on.
Book your transfer to Birmingham International
National Executive Transfers provides fixed-price chauffeur transfers across Birmingham and the Midlands, using Mercedes-Benz E-Class, S-Class and V-Class vehicles. Tell us your train date, pickup address, group size and luggage, and we’ll plan your journey to Birmingham International and your pickup after the 06:20 arrival. Get a quote and book online.
Related Articles
- Birmingham New Street Christmas Closure 2026: Are Trains Running on Christmas Day & Boxing Day?
- Birmingham Roadworks, Closures & Rail Changes: November-December 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The Highlander service has called at Birmingham International since 15 January 2026. The Lowlander to Edinburgh and Glasgow doesn’t stop there.
It leaves Birmingham International at 22:42 on weeknights and 22:35 on Sundays. It runs Sunday to Friday nights, with no service on Saturday nights.
It reaches Aberdeen at 07:50, Inverness at 08:45 and Fort William at 10:00. The train divides into three sections at Edinburgh.
Southbound, it arrives at Birmingham International at 06:20 and then continues to London Euston.
No. At Birmingham International you can only board northbound trains and only get off southbound ones.
Avanti lists a combined drop-off and pick-up point and a taxi rank outside the station entrance. The drop-off point has no seating or waiting facilities.
Trainline reports no service on the nights of 24, 25, 26 and 31 December. Check the operator’s travel updates before you book, because altered services apply on other dates.
easyJet launched one on 30 March 2026, flying twice a week on Mondays and Fridays. Check the current schedule before you plan around it.
We suggest being at the station by about 22:15 to 22:25 for a 22:42 departure. That’s our guidance, not an official rule, so leave a buffer.
