Favourite Mainline?

[Transilien]

Personally my favourite mainline is the West Coast because of its early adoption of electrification and it's interesting geography with many loops and branches.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Saturday at 12:53 ==

(I have only picked what I see as the major inter-city routes heading out of London as answers on the poll)

 

[Class15]

I personally picked the Great Eastern. I really like that mainline and I have many happy memories of it. It is very well run as well by GreaterAnglia.

I’d personally rank them as following:

1. Great Eastern
2. Great Western
3. West Coast
4. Midland
5. East Coast

 

[Sorcerer]

Personal bias here, but easily the West Coast Main Line. The geography (especially through the Pennines, Lake District and Scotland), the destinations, and the rolling stock. Historically though the East Coast Main Line would be taking the edge for me on the latter because while I love the streamlined Coronation, you can't bet a Gresley Pacific. But today the Pendolino wins it for the west coast over the IETs.

 

[jfollows]

WCML because of familiarity, since the 1970s.
GE and Midland because of their signalling in the earlier times I used them.
I became a frequent user of services to/from Paddington in 1980 but the signalling was relatively boring by then.

 

[philosopher]

West Coast, has the most interesting scenery and most comfortable trains, as the Class 390, 805, 810 and most of the class 350’s are very comfortable. Scenery is very impressive north of Lancaster, particularly if you like looking at hills. South of Lancaster it is less interesting, but still more interesting than the East Coast line south of Darlington. For some reason it feels faster than the East Coast and Great Western Mainlines. However it is let down by poor reliability, it is unusual for an Avanti train to arrive on time, though the London Northwestern trains seem to be better.

Great Western. I have not travelled west of Didcot for some time on this line, however I do not rate this line that highly. GWR’s class 800, 801 and 802 trains are really uncomfortable and have no buffet, which I think is poor given some journeys are plus five hours. Scenery wise, at least on the line proper is not that interesting and reliability is poor. Travelling east into London, I find it is very unusual to arrive on time. Furthermore, the frequent stops are frustrating.

Great Eastern, has comfortable trains, with the class 745 having good seating and even a buffet, which is good going given they serve journeys of less than two hours. Reliability is very good, however the scenery is really boring outside of London. Only interesting thing scenery wise is the approach into Stratford.

Midland, have not travelled on this line for several years so can’t really comment. Passing Radcliffe-on-Soar power station was interesting, but alas this has now closed.

East Coast. Great scenery north of Darlington if sitting on the east side, particularly through Durham, Newcastle and around Berwick, however really boring scenery south of Darlington. Generally I find this line reasonably reliable. LNER’s class 800 and 801 trains are not that comfortable, though they are better than GWR’s as they have a buffet and Lumo’s trains are more comfortable.

Based on this, I would vote the West Coast first and Great Western last.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

WCML for variety, tilting technology and general optimisation of the timetable.
Also for scenery north of Preston.
GWML has its moments, but breaks up into too many branches beyond Reading.
The Marches main line is great for scenery, if not for volume of traffic.
TP North is another very interesting route, presently under electrification, mixed in with the Calder Valley for freight.

 

[duffield]

East Coast. Great scenery north of Darlington if sitting on the east side, particularly through Durham, Newcastle and around Berwick, however really boring scenery south of Darlington. Generally I find this line reasonably reliable. LNER’s class 800 and 801 trains are not that comfortable, though they are better than GWR’s as they have a buffet and Lumo’s trains are more comfortable.

People always say the south ECML is boring, but personally I really enjoy the cloudscapes over the wide open spaces (when it's fluffy clouds and sunshine; less so if it's dull and overcast!).

 

[Lloyds siding]

Having only been on two and a half of them, I'm not in a position to say.

 

[saxsux]

Great Eastern, has comfortable trains, with the class 745 having good seating and even a buffet, which is good going given they serve journeys of less than two hours. Reliability is very good, however the scenery is really boring outside of London. Only interesting thing scenery wise is the approach into Stratford.

Can't believe you'd badmouth Manningtree in this way! Shocking!

I enjoy the GEML quite a lot although, as you say, the big open skies and flat countryside do become a little monotonous at times. The 745s are excellent.

The GWML through Devon and Cornwall is a delight and would easily get my vote, in spite of the IETs.

Not on the list, but have always got a soft spot for the South Western mainline. Trundling through the Somerset and Wiltshire countryside, long stops on passing loops to let the train pass in the other direction. Oddly relaxing.

 

[sh24]

The Seawall alone makes the GW mainline number one.

 

[Magdalia]

Given the limited choice it has to be the East Coast Main Line.

The coast section either side of Berwick has already been mentioned.

York and Newcastle are grander intermediate stations than what any other line can offer.

The ECML also has 3 very grand cathedrals at Peterborough, York and Durham.

What I'd miss now would be the coal fired power station cooling towers at Cottam, West Burton, Ferrybridge, Eggborough and Drax, all belching out steam on a cold day. But at least the Newark Sugar Beet factory is still there.

And the ECML has by far the best lineside signage.

 

[Iskra]

West Coast Mainline: Interesting pretty much all the way, excellent North of Preston, stunning North of Lancaster. Lune Gorge and Beatock are fantastic. Plenty of railway interest new and old. Bonus for tilt.

The next nearest competition in the form of the ECML and GWML are both dull as dishwater for very large parts.

 

[sad1e]

I Had to vote MML it's my local mainline. Have probably spend a good chunk of the past 8 years of my life watching HST's , 222s , 700s , 319s , and 360s at my local station.
WCML comes in at an easy second. the WCML is second to none for freight and special workings.

 

[D6130]

West Coast Mainline: Interesting pretty much all the way, excellent North of Preston, stunning North of Lancaster. Lune Gorge and Beatock are fantastic. Plenty of railway interest new and old. Bonus for tilt.

The next nearest competition in the form of the ECML and GWML are both dull as dishwater for very large parts.

.....although the Great Western main lines are fabulous West of Exeter and Swansea....and quite nice for the most part between Newbury and Castle Cary.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Personally my favourite mainline is the West Coast because of its early adoption of electrification and it's interesting geography with many loops and branches.

Personal bias here, but easily the West Coast Main Line. The geography (especially through the Pennines, Lake District and Scotland), the destinations, and the rolling stock. ………But today the Pendolino wins it for the west coast over the IETs.

WCML because of familiarity, since the 1970s.

For all these reasons easily the WCML for me. I still have a UK home that backs onto the WCML 4 miles north of Preston at the start of the Barton loop.

 

[Iskra]

.....although the Great Western main lines are fabulous West of Exeter and Swansea....and quite nice for the most part between Newbury and Castle Cary.

Yes, I enjoy them after those points.

 

[A S Leib]

My favourite's the WCML for familiarity, variety and hillier areas, although my favourite short stretch on any of them is between passing the Millennium Bridge and Durham Cathedral.

 

[birchesgreen]

Chiltern, so i didn't vote in your poll

 

[Wychwood93]

Chiltern, so i didn't vote in your poll

I also didn't vote - nothing Southern there!

 

[Topological]

Great Western must be the line that splits the closest to London. The divergence of the Berks and Hants at Reading, then the Cotswold line at Didcot, then Gloucester at Swindon and Bristol via Bath a few miles later creates quite a spread. I might have chosen GWR if Birkenhead was still there.

However, for its northern reaches, its linking of industrial heartlands and the innovation of the APT then Pendolino, it has to be the WCML.

 

[philosopher]

Chiltern, so i didn't vote in your poll

Of the ones not in the poll, I do really like HS1. It is the fastest mainline in the UK by some margin and it does have quite good scenery, particularly of the River Medway and if you like fairly bleak industrial looking landscapes, the east London marshes. It does also arrive into what I would say is London’s best looking terminal station (though this is shared by the Midland Mainline).

Great Western must be the line that splits the closest to London. The divergence of the Berks and Hants at Reading, then the Cotswold line at Didcot, then Gloucester at Swindon and Bristol via Bath a few miles later creates quite a spread. I might have chosen GWR if Birkenhead was still there.

I must admit I am not sure what is actually considered the Great Western Mainline, I know the scenery between Exeter and Plymouth is very nice, as is around Castle Cray, but are they actually on the Great Western Mainline or are they on long branches of it?

 

[duffield]

Of the ones not in the poll, I do really like HS1. It is the fastest mainline in the UK by some margin and it does have quite good scenery, particularly of the River Medway and if you like fairly bleak industrial looking landscapes, the east London marshes. It does also arrive into what I would say is London’s best looking terminal station (though this is shared by the Midland Mainline).

I must admit I am not sure what is actually considered the Great Western Mainline, I know the scenery between Exeter and Plymouth is very nice, as is around Castle Cray, but are they actually on the Great Western Mainline or are they on long branches of it?

I've always thought of the GWML as going from London all the way through to Penzance, but on the other hand Wikipedia only classifies the London to Bristol line as *the* GWML !

 

[D6130]

I've always thought of the GWML as going from London all the way through to Penzance, but on the other hand Wikipedia only classifies the London to Bristol line as *the* GWML !

We'll the 'West Coast Main Line' is usually considered to include both the Trent Valley and Birmingham routes, both routes to Manchester and the Liverpool line....so I would consider the Great Western main line to include Paddington to Swansea - and possibly on to Fishguard - as well as both routes to Bristol and Penzance.

 

[Topological]

We'll the 'West Coast Main Line' is usually considered to include both the Trent Valley and Birmingham routes, both routes to Manchester and the Liverpool line....so I would consider the Great Western main line to include Paddington to Swansea - and possibly on to Fishguard - as well as both routes to Bristol and Penzance.

But what about Gloucester and Cheltenham? Hereford via Worcester? These are all served by the IETs and HSTs before them?

 

[D6130]

But what about Gloucester and Cheltenham? Hereford via Worcester? These are all served by the IETs and HSTs before them?

True. I was thinking more in terms of the original GWR....but both those lines also had through expresses to/from London in steam days. In fact, IIRC, the inter-war Cheltenham Flyer had the fastest point-to-point timing in the World at one stage.

 

[A S Leib]

But what about Gloucester and Cheltenham? Hereford via Worcester? These are all served by the IETs and HSTs before them?

Only having an hourly service means I'd call the Cotswolds and Golden Valley lines branches, not part of the Great Western Main Line. On the other hand, I think the Highland Main Line only has an hourly service between Perth and Inverness (I can't remember if it's counted as starting from Perth, Stirling or elsewhere).

 

[Topological]

Only having an hourly service means I'd call the Cotswolds and Golden Valley lines branches, not part of the Great Western Main Line. On the other hand, I think the Highland Main Line only has an hourly service between Perth and Inverness (I can't remember if it's counted as starting from Perth, Stirling or elsewhere).

But then for many years that would have invalidated the WCML north of Preston (unless you then do count the Transpennine and CrossCountry offerings despite neither being WCML proper)

Hourly also raises questions for how far South the GWML reaches. Even Swansea becomes pushing it on the 1 per hour definition for most of the day (only get extra depot moves in the morning and then some extensions of Cardiff terminators in the evening).

I would be more inclined to say anywhere with a meaningful number of express trains to London* counts. (* perhaps allow long distance trains to Glasgow/Edinburgh for Scotland)

 

[GuyGibsonVC]

ECML for me.

I agree it can be boring south of Darlington but Durham, Newcastle bridges, Holy Island, Alnmouth, Royal Border Bridge, all the sea cliffs North of Berwick make up for it.

Stations such as Edinburgh Waverley, Newcastle and York have a romantic history to them and Darlington is where the railways began.

 

[Omnidekkalover]

I’d say midland mainline because it’s currently the only line to use class 222s which I like and the fact it still retains local trains between Nottingham and Leicester. If you also include the Matlock branch (as it was formerly part of the midland mainline on the Manchester route before it was closed beyond Matlock) I would say that boosts it a fair bit.

 

[Nottingham59]

Sodor mainline