Review: The Highland Chieftain makes a practical long-distance choice

In RAIL’s latest Mystery Shopper, we take LNER’s ‘Highland Chieftain’ to Inverness, boarding at Peterborough. How does it fare against driving or flying?

In this article:

• LNER staff were friendly and helpful, turning Mystery Shopper's travel mistake into a positive customer experience.
• Trains and key stations were clean, comfortable, and well-equipped—making for a civilised long-distance journey.
• This rail option compares well with driving or flying in cost, comfort, and convenience, even factoring in delays.

Argh! Your reviewer has travelled on trains for decades and cannot remember ever having jumped on the wrong one… until now.

As some kind of defence, it’s hot… and things are rushed. The train arrives slightly late at the platform where RAIL’s is due minutes later… and more than one person boards in error. Note to self - always check the destination screens on the train sides.

However, by the time those of us who’ve made the error realise our mistake, it’s too late. The doors close, and the train eases away from Peterborough.

This LNER service is bound for Leeds, not York. Which is not ideal if you had been planning to change at York for destinations further north - in this case, Inverness.

So, a problem? Fortunately, no.

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