Worst Railway Journeys in the UK

[Mat17]

Doncaster-Hull

Field, field, field, bridge, field, field, field, field. And repeat.

The swing bridge is the highlight on a journey punctuated by fields.

It has none of the rugged and at times bleak beauty of the Standege line, nor even the curiosity of former industrial wastelands that you might get around East Manchester.

The ECML is pretty fieldy as well. Once you've seen one farmland, you've really seen them all.

 

[Magdalia]

Doncaster-Hull

Field, field, field, bridge, field, field, field, field. And repeat.

The swing bridge is the highlight on a journey punctuated by fields.

It has none of the rugged and at times bleak beauty of the Standege line, nor even the curiosity of former industrial wastelands that you might get around East Manchester.

The ECML is pretty fieldy as well. Once you've seen one farmland, you've really seen them all.

Absolutely not. Fields are very interesting, especially what crops are being grown or what animals are being grazed.

This shows a complete disconnection between "farm and fork" that leads to poor diet and ill health.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Absolutely not. Fields are very interesting, especially what crops are being grown or what animals are being grazed.

This shows a complete disconnection between "farm and fork" that leads to poor diet and ill health.

What's interesting about wheat field after wheat field when compared to e.g. an interesting cityscape or some beautiful mountains? We all know wheat is grown in fields.

 

[Mat17]

Absolutely not. Fields are very interesting, especially what crops are being grown or what animals are being grazed.

This shows a complete disconnection between "farm and fork" that leads to poor diet and ill health.

Each to their own. Maybe it's because I come from hillier regions and I like a variety of countryside, not farmland. I want hills and woods - land that still seems wild. Throw in a few viaducts and you've got a proper scenic route. Woodhead or the Penistone line would be what I consider a good line.

What's interesting about wheat field after wheat field when compared to e.g. an interesting cityscape or some beautiful mountains? We all know wheat is grown in fields.

I'm in utter agreement.

 

[yorksrob]

I have little interest in the link between farm and fork, however I love seeing the cows, sheep and pigs in the fields when I go by !

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Southern today, service totally decimated all day ..

 

[PGAT]

Southern today, service totally decimated all day ..

That shouldn't be indicative of the journey as a whole. Disruption can happen anywhere

 

[John Griffiths]

Unlike many posters, I enjoy flat landscapes as much as hilly ones. Perhaps a result of my half-Dutch parentage? Bur I really enjoy the Peterborough -March-Ely line (and on to Kings Lynn): there is something seductive about Fenland, especially when the line crosses the New Bedford River and it's parallel waterway, and once on a windy day was able to view a dust storm in comfort - a scaled-down English version of 1930s Oklahoma. I am fed up of the ECML, not for the scenery, but because of so many trips in the last few years on stressful personal business, not helped by the discomfort of Azuma seating.

Can I add: my wife really likes the Reading-Waterloo line, and I don't think it so bad either, especially the Chobham Common bit.

 

[yorksrob]

Unlike many posters, I enjoy flat landscapes as much as hilly ones. Perhaps a result of my half-Dutch parentage? Bur I really enjoy the Peterborough -March-Ely line (and on to Kings Lynn): there is something seductive about Fenland, especially when the line crosses the New Bedford River and it's parallel waterway, and once on a windy day was able to view a dust storm in comfort - a scaled-down English version of 1930s Oklahoma. I am fed up of the ECML, not for the scenery, but because of so many trips in the last few years on stressful personal business, not helped by the discomfort of Azuma seating.

Can I add: my wife really likes the Reading-Waterloo line, and I don't think it so bad either, especially the Chobham Common bit.

Yes, I liked Reading - Waterloo when I lived down there and they still had slammers on it (except when they put 455's on it at weekends, which made me incandescent with blind rage).

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Ooh yes, I was post Valetta when I experienced it, but the comfort of a mk3 was superb !

You'll struggle to find a pleasant train journey there... even the vintage buses are but a memory!

 

[rg177]

As an (almost) weekly commuter from Newcastle to London, I have to say I've learned to basically zone out for much of the journey. I admire the fog on the Tyne (all mine all mine) and usually open up the work laptop after that

Going the other way though, I'll never tire of the views between Newcastle and Edinburgh.

As for genuinely unpleasant lines, Guide Bridge to Ardwick has everything but the kitchen sink dumped on the embankments.

The Sheerness branch also wins the award for the truly oddest passengers. I'll never forget boarding to the sight of an elderly lady lying across three seats (back in the 466 days) with her legs in the air and the guard looking bewildered only for her to say "what you looking at? I just sit like this"

 

[yorksrob]

As an (almost) weekly commuter from Newcastle to London, I have to say I've learned to basically zone out for much of the journey. I admire the fog on the Tyne (all mine all mine) and usually open up the work laptop after that

Going the other way though, I'll never tire of the views between Newcastle and Edinburgh.

As for genuinely unpleasant lines, Guide Bridge to Ardwick has everything but the kitchen sink dumped on the embankments.

The Sheerness branch also wins the award for the truly oddest passengers. I'll never forget boarding to the sight of an elderly lady lying across three seats (back in the 466 days) with her legs in the air and the guard looking bewildered only for her to say "what you looking at? I just sit like this"

She'd have been a lot more comfortable on a HAP.

 

[Magdalia]

What's interesting about wheat field after wheat field when compared to e.g. an interesting cityscape or some beautiful mountains? We all know wheat is grown in fields.

That you think that every field is wheat, and haven't noticed what other crops are grown, demonstrates my point.

 

[Bletchleyite]

That you think that every field is wheat, and haven't noticed what other crops are grown, demonstrates my point.

I know full well that other stuff is grown (and animals are kept) in fields. I'm a frequent walker and so walk through lots of them. I walked through several today in fact.

I don't however find them interesting to look at out of a train window. I similarly don't watch Countryfile, which is the televisual equivalent. That in no way means I don't care about where my food comes from, I know where it comes from, I'm not thick.

I don't mind a quick half hour Ormskirk-Preston or Southport-Wigan, but two and a bit hours of them on the south ECML or the MML is just tedious.

 

[43066]

I know full well that other stuff is grown in fields.

Solar panels, in particular.

 

[SteveyBee131]

Hopefully I'll have travelled on it within the next few months, but is the Barton-on-Humber line a candidate for 'worst railway journey?'

I am oblogated to travel because others have implied with any cuts, it might be one of the first to be dispensed with.

Far from it! It has a good mix of industry and rural areas. In my experience both passengers and crews always contribute to a pleasant journey, which is always pleasantly busy but not overcrowded. It even benefits from air-conditioned trains now too! In fact, the only bad thing about the Barton Line is that trains along it only run every 2 hours, and Sunday services only run in summer (though in the recent past the idea was suggested that they may become a year-round thing).

Now for a worst railway journey contender Personally I'm struggling to think of one, so I'll go back to enjoying listening to the suggestions of others again...

 

[yorksrob]

Indeed. In my day, Barton didn't have a Sunday service, so one had to hot foot it on the bus to Paragon !

But yes, lovely little line, definitely not deserving of any title "worst".

 

[Craig1122]

Can I add: my wife really likes the Reading-Waterloo line, and I don't think it so bad either, especially the Chobham Common bit.

Glad someone else has defended this route! I wouldn't go as far as really liking it but I'd say it's also far from the worst. Nice views of the Thames at Staines and Richmond as well as plenty of bits of pleasant enough countryside. Definitely looks better in the sun though, can drag at night thanks to the number of stops.

I find HS1 pretty boring on the whole as most of it is either in a cutting or has noise barriers. Also found the Heart of Wales a disappointment but as others have said the trees don't help.

 

[railfan99]

Indeed. In my day, Barton didn't have a Sunday service, so one had to hot foot it on the bus to Paragon !

But yes, lovely little line, definitely not deserving of any title "worst".

Thank you all. Something to look forward to, and great that some on the fora have travelled.

Another one that's criticised in the Bradford area so far I've only done at night, but it's a daytime run this year so I'll be able to observe if it 'qualifies'.

 

[D6130]

Thank you all. Something to look forward to, and great that some on the fora have travelled.

Another one that's criticised in the Bradford area so far I've only done at night, but it's a daytime run this year so I'll be able to observe if it 'qualifies'.

While the immediate inner-city approaches to both Bradford stations are pretty squalid, the routes approaching them - with the exception of Leeds-Bradford Interchange - are green, wooded and hilly. The Calderdale line from the South West is particularly beautiful in sunny weather....and even more so if you travel over the Burnley - Hebden Bridge route, which climbs steeply over the moors with long-distance views - and then winds down a spectacular rocky gorge towards the outskirts of Todmorden.

 

[xotGD]

She'd have been a lot more comfortable on a HAP.

I admire your ability to turn every topic into a discussion about southern slammers!

 

[Silenos]

What's interesting about wheat field after wheat field when compared to e.g. an interesting cityscape or some beautiful mountains? We all know wheat is grown in fields.

Each to their own. Personally I find the wave patterns of green and silver as the wind moves through it at this time of year rather fascinating, like watching the sea. And on my regular trips between Kings Lynn to Kings Cross, at least between Ely and Kings Lynn there are usually deer, geese, hawks and the like to look out for, whereas once you get beyond Hitchin it’s mainly prefabs…

Pastureland and sugar beet, I’ll grant you, can be dull in excess.

 

[yorksrob]

I admire your ability to turn every topic into a discussion about southern slammers!

It's taken years of practice

 

[Techniquest]

Now for a worst railway journey contender Personally I'm struggling to think of one, so I'll go back to enjoying listening to the suggestions of others again...

I have a similar problem, most of my regular journeys are nice ones so it's difficult to choose a journey for this thread. Many possibilities have already been mentioned by others, but none of them really qualify as bad enough to be 'worst journey' for me.

Don't get me wrong, there's some routes that are incredibly tedious such as Shrewsbury to Gobowen. I just can't find anything to really enjoy about that bit of line! I do agree with the person who commented on the A55 ruining the views on the North Wales Coast, but equally some of the engineering involved is fascinating. I think it was in the Llanfairfechan and Penmaenmawr areas that the road gets interesting, in terms of how much it has to dive up and around the rest of the infrastructure and through tunnels etc.

I'd also agree on Birmingham to Wolverhampton, it's not an exciting route in terms of scenery but there are some bits of interest. The Wolverhampton end always feels the worst bit of that route personally, but I wouldn't say it's the UK worst route.

I'm also not a fan of some of the routes around South London, there's something about the Brixton and Balham areas I just don't like. Mind you, I always feel 'off' in Shoreditch and the surrounding area, there's a weird vibe over there and I don't know what it is. The only thing I know for sure is that when I'm in the area, I can't get out of there quick enough!

Yet other parts of London are brilliant. I haven't been to London for a good while, definitely feeling the need to return soon!

The Penarth branch I don't like much, same for Barry Island, there's some weird vibe in both areas and after encountering a violent person near Cogan earlier in the year I'd rather stay well clear of the area! This was in the middle of the day, not a late-night mission! Merthyr Tydfil has a weird vibe to it as well, my best experience there was a meal in the Tesco cafe many months back during a big cycling session from Risca to Cardiff via Route 4 and Route 8!

So in short, without scouring the memory for all the unpleasant journeys I've ever made, there's a lot that I've done that I don't like but I can't honestly say any of them are the worst in the country!

 

[Goldfish62]

Can I add: my wife really likes the Reading-Waterloo line, and I don't think it so bad either, especially the Chobham Common bit.

Yes, Chobham Common is the largest section of heathland in the south of the country. Always reminds me a bit of the New Forest.

The line between Martins Heron and Ascot cuts through Swinley Forest. Some lovely walks there.

 

[Acey]

Is not Ashdown Forest larger than Chobham ?

 

[Goldfish62]

Is not Ashdown Forest larger than Chobham ?

Actually yes.

Chobham Common is the largest something, and also a nature reserve.

 

[Retorus]

Absolutely not. Fields are very interesting, especially what crops are being grown or what animals are being grazed.

This shows a complete disconnection between "farm and fork" that leads to poor diet and ill health.

This is one hell of a leap.

 

[yorkie]

Can we please stick to the topic of worst railway journeys in this thread?

Any other topics are absolutely fine to discuss elsewhere; we don't want to stifle the discussion but just ask that it be placed in the correct forum/thread.

Thanks

 

[hvordan]

I personally hate the bit between Marylebone and Moor Park/Rickmansworth on the way up to Aylesbury. I find it so boring and rather slow, just endless back gardens on slow diesel trains (which are often comprised of 2 carriage trains). It doesn't help that the latest Chiltern timetable has been cut back either, with an hourly service on weekends. I suppose the only interesting part of the journey is passing the Neasden LU depot.

The Chiltern Main Line on the other hand, I love!