Best lines to drive/travel

[92011]

Don’t know if this has been posted before but what are the best lines to drive or travel on? - passenger or freight.

I’d personally say, WCML through Cumbria.

 

[387star]

Southampton to Bristol temple meads

 

[NoMorePacers]

I personally quite like travelling on both the Durham Coast and Cumbrian Coast - nice lines that are quite scenic and don't feel too slow (could only dream of driving a train anywhere of course).

The Hope Valley is very nice as well.

 

[Peregrine 4903]

The WCML from Euston to Milton Keynes Central, lots of different railway traffic and variety.

And the scenery is quite nice between Tring and Cheddington stations.

And going through Berkhampstead and Leighton Buzzard stations in the down direction on a pendolino is really quite a staggering experience.

 

[92011]

The WCML from Euston to Milton Keynes Central, lots of different railway traffic and variety.

And the scenery is quite nice between Tring and Cheddington stations.

And going through Berkhampstead and Leighton Buzzard stations in the down direction on a pendolino is really quite a staggering experience.

I agree with you on that pendolino comment

 

[MrEd]

The Highland Main Line must be a contender, particularly if you get to drive an HST, the sleeper or a freight. Some absolutely incredible scenery, a variety of signalling, a mixture of single and double track, a mixture of high speed and low speed working, a number of magnificent viaducts and probably all four seasons in the space of 118 miles!

The route knowledge required to drive that route must be immense! So much to remember. But it would never be dull.

Some folk say the West Highland Line is perhaps more scenic (I’m not sure there’s much between them to be honest) but I think that the HML would probably be a more exciting route to drive. In many ways it has a remote rural branch line feel about it (particularly around Dunkeld, Newtonmore and Tomatin) but it has some main line elements too, particularly on the double track sections.

 

[Bald Rick]

The WCML from Euston to Milton Keynes Central, lots of different railway traffic and variety.

And the scenery is quite nice between Tring and Cheddington stations.

And going through Berkhampstead and Leighton Buzzard stations in the down direction on a pendolino is really quite a staggering experience.

The curve into Linslade Tunnel DF scares the hell out of me every time.

 

[ivorytoast28]

Don’t know if this has been posted before but what are the best lines to drive or travel on? - passenger or freight.

I’d personally say, WCML through Cumbria.

Depends what you like but Inverness-Kyle has to be one of the most scenic. Also any Newcastle-Carlisle, Sheffield-Manchester , -Middlesbrough-Whitby are nice and scenic

 

[bluesfromagun]

I strongly disagree about the HML, its wildly overrated by some people in my opinion. Dull.
WHL is another league altogether, as is Kyle.

 

[HowardGWR]

The curve into Linslade Tunnel DF scares the hell out of me every time.

Anybody know of a driver's eye video of this?

 

[Graham Hall]

Durham Coast line for me, not the most scenic but full of interest. I would follow that with the Tyne Valley line for the scenery and history.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Conwy Valley, if not flooded.

 

[Ianno87]

Anybody know of a driver's eye video of this?

Video 125 do a Pendolino cab ride: https://www.video125.com/products/pendolino

 

[Techniquest]

My personal all-time favourite to travel on is the West Highland Line. It's been many a year since I last did the line north of Arrochar & Tarbet, granted, but the memory of the line is still strong. Especially of the Oban line when the sleeper was diverted there in February 2006 Just the revisit as far as Arrochar this October, as part of my first ever cycling holiday, was enough to remind me just how much I need to go back there

It's been many a year since my last visit to the Kyle line too, I believe that was in 2006 as well. I've just remembered the epic tour to Thurso in 2007 with 40145, now that was fun Never drunk so much Irn-Bru in one day The line to Kyle, I definitely need to go back there too, my memory of it is still strong of the beautiful scenery. I also have a strong memory of getting the feet extremely wet going over the Skye Bridge after walking through a deeper than expected flooded dip

Highland Main Line, certainly very nice to do but compared to the WHL or the Kyle and Far North lines, it's in a different league.

Now if we're going outside the UK, it takes some doing to beat the Bernina Express between Chur, Switzerland and Tirano, Italy Dombas to Andalsnes in Norway is also very scenic and well worth doing.

In terms of pure fun though, racing along the GWML at 125mph while relaxing with a beverage, staring out of the window, that takes some beating.

 

[Mintona]

Kemble to Stroud, especially in the autumn.

 

[Techniquest]

Kemble to Stroud, especially in the autumn.

Ooh I had forgot about that one. I must do it again when travel is permitted again. It will just have to be when I don't want to take my bike, I hate those bike hooks!

 

[Harold Hill]

New St to Kings Norton via St Andrews Junction, fantastic views of Birmingham's skyline

 

[sannox]

Anybody know of a driver's eye video of this?

 

[Mitchell Hurd]

There's the section from Exeter St. David's to Newton Abbot and Plymouth to Saltash. Also, the East Coast Mainline from around Newcastle / Alnmouth onwards too.

 

[Skipness]

I personally quite like travelling on both the Durham Coast and Cumbrian Coast - nice lines that are quite scenic and don't feel too slow (could only dream of driving a train anywhere of course).

The Hope Valley is very nice as well.

The Hope valley line includes a lot of tunnels though!

 

[Meole]

Cambrian line on the coast is slow but scenic.

 

[Philip]

Manchester-Bolton perhaps for a not so typical choice. Good views across the Irwell Valley and the acceleration always feels quite impressive along there, more so since higher line speed and faster trains started.

 

[Tomos y Tanc]

The Wesh Marches line is a delight once your clear of Pontypool and if you travel on the Gerallt Gymro you have the pleasure of one othe few remaining dining cars.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Don’t know if this has been posted before but what are the best lines to drive or travel on? - passenger or freight.

I’d personally say, WCML through Cumbria.

One of my favorites. Still get a buzz traveling through Lancashire and Cumbria between Preston and Carlisle and the Lune Gorge.

 

[Steam Man]

I’ve always found the Exmouth to Paignton line quite scenic

 

[Bletchleyite]

One of my favorites. Still get a buzz traveling through Lancashire and Cumbria between Preston and Carlisle and the Lune Gorge.

The WCML in general is the best route to travel from London to Scotland in terms of interest of scenery (not all of it pretty, but near enough all of it interesting) but yes, that bit is breathtaking. A round trip one way via the S&C and the other way via the WCML is well worth it. A good use for the Bentham Line, though that line itself is just fairly generic rural scenery and not all that spectacular.

 

[2L70]

Droitwich - Worcester - Malvern, out of Birmingham and into GW Territory. Semaphores pointing the “Western” way keep you on your toes.

 

[Techniquest]

The Wesh Marches line is a delight once your clear of Pontypool and if you travel on the Gerallt Gymro you have the pleasure of one othe few remaining dining cars.

My local line Not one I use too often, admittedly, as I normally find myself going east rather than north or south, but it is nice. I do like the ride between Shrewsbury and Ludlow, that Shropshire countryside with the hills

 

[Peregrine 4903]

The curve into Linslade Tunnel DF scares the hell out of me every time.

I love it personally, the sheer speed you travel at through the curve is exhilirating and when you add in the fact you are tilting as well, it almost feels like a Launched Rollercoaster. I've certainly never experienced anything else like it on any other part of the UK railway network.

 

[L401CJF]

West Highland Line and extension all the way for me!