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Best of the Valley Lines?

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Bletchleyite

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I'm in Cardiff this weekend and will have a few hours spare during which I could go for a ride up one of the Valley Lines and back. Probably tomorrow morning (so any lacking Sunday services probably best avoided) but maybe this afternoon.

What's the most scenic/interesting one to choose?
 
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cactustwirly

cactustwirly

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Bletchleyite said:
I'm in Cardiff this weekend and will have a few hours spare during which I could go for a ride up one of the Valley Lines and back. Probably tomorrow morning (so any lacking Sunday services probably best avoided) but maybe this afternoon.

What's the most scenic/interesting one to choose?
Click to expand...

Them all! :lol:

The Rhymney line is quite nice, the best bit is Bargoed - Rhymney, which is only served by 1tph

Also the Treherbert line is good as well
 
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mrcheek

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Rhymney is my favourite, but theyre all good. Probably the most under-appreciated scenic lines in the country. Its shocking that they arent marketed for tourist purposes.
 
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PHILIPE

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Ebbw Vale can be quite fascinating rather than scenic but no train until afternoon tomorrow due Engineering Work. Buses prior to that.
 
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Tom Quinne

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Ebbw Vale is the slowest crawl of all the Valleys, long sections in tree lined tunnels as well - look out for the double track folly beyond Risca.
 
gnolife

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If you have enough time, I'd suggest going up the Merthyr branch, getting a bus to either Aberdare or Rhymney, and coming down that one
 
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Cardiff123

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Don't forget that whilst it's not a Valley line, the Vale of Glamorgan line between Barry - Bridgend is nice and scenic running along the coast.
Only 1tp2h on Sundays but you can then return via the mainline to Cardiff.
 
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Parallel

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My favourites are Ebbw Vale and Aberdare but they are all quite good.
 
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Bletchleyite

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Cheers all for these ideas, much appreciated...I will bear the recommendations in mind for next time but as it turns out I now have another plan for which I seek a bit of advice - new thread time! :)
 
Techniquest

Techniquest

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Hard to say which one is the most enjoyable personally. Rhymney line was my first suggestion but that was probably more biased towards 37s up that line back in the mid 2000s.

The climb out of Abercynon onto the Merthyr branch certainly is significant and gives the DMUs some work to do!

It's been close to 15 years since I last did it, but I do concur with the other forum member that the Treherbert line isn't too bad. So I'm not really sure which one I'd advise doing to be honest!
 
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