A new sleeper service connecting Scotland with mainland Europe is being considered, with a feasibility study now underway.
Transport Scotland, the national transport agency, has formed a working group to explore extending the Caledonian Sleeper through the Channel Tunnel and into Europe.
The working group, consisting of Transport Scotland, Scottish Rail Holdings and Caledonian Sleeper, will assess the practical and commercial viability of the proposed route and explore ways it could connect to the continent.
The existing Caledonian Sleeper connects destinations including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and Fort William with London.
Plans to connect Scotland and mainland Europe by rail were last explored in the 1990s, through the proposed Nightstar service, which was scrapped in 1997 due to lower than expected Eurostar numbers and competition from low-cost airlines.
No launch date has been confirmed and the working group is expected to report its findings to ministers later this year.
Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport Stephen Flynn said: “We committed to exploring the potential for a direct Caledonian Sleeper service to mainland Europe and I am pleased that this work is now underway.
“The establishment of this working group marks an important first step in delivering that commitment and will help ensure the feasibility study is informed by the expertise of our rail partners.
“This is an early-stage exercise and the study will focus on understanding the practical, technical and commercial considerations involved. The findings will provide an evidence base to inform any future decisions.”
