Worst Railway Journeys in the UK

[jrail1992]

A couple of years ago I got a Spirit of Scotland rover & did some wonderful journeys, particularly over the West Highland & Highland main line.

There's also the likes of the Cumbrian Coast & Vale of Rheidol & even Calder Valley which I've done recently which were lovely.

However, what are the worst UK Railway journeys you can do? Think poor capacity, lackluster scenery, poor timetables etc. What are people's thoughts?

 

[greyman42]

There's also the likes of the Cumbrian Coast & Vale of Rheidol & even Calder Valley which I've done recently which were lovely.

Regarding the Calder Valley; the section from Leeds to Bradford is awful.

 

[jrail1992]

Regarding the Calder Valley; the section from Leeds to Bradford is awful.

Yes that's definitely the low point of the route.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

May I nominate Ashburys to Guide Bridge?

Scruffy East Manchester at its (less than) scenic best!

 

[Unstoppable]

Carlisle - Leeds S&C is severely overrated and mind-numbing

 

[Atomix330]

Bristol Temple Meads to Birmingham New St in a CrossCountry Voyager - horrific!

 

[gazzaa2]

Wolverhampton-Birmingham stretch is just pure industrial decline and very un-scenic.

 

[greyman42]

May I nominate Ashburys to Guide Bridge?

Scruffy East Manchester at its (less than) scenic best!

Yes, i have mentioned Stalybridge to Man Picc on similar subjects.

Carlisle - Leeds S&C is severely overrated and mind-numbing

How so?

 

[Merseysider]

Wolverhampton-Birmingham stretch is just pure industrial decline and very un-scenic.

Seconded - was going to mention this.

Also can't stand Stansted to Cambridge on XC - a couple of nice sights but most of the journey blends into sameness, plus it's been 3 carriages & absolutely rammed every time I've done it.

 

[CaptainHaddock]

Morecambe to Heysham Port.

 

[yorksrob]

Carlisle - Leeds S&C is severely overrated and mind-numbing

Each to their own. I find the route superb.

I can't really think of any lines I don't like. Even the "urban wasteland" type journeys are interesting in their own way.

Calder valley on a Saturday night when there was only one train an hour (a few years ago) was a challenge. They seem to have sorted it though

 

[DaleCooper]

Wolverhampton-Birmingham stretch is just pure industrial decline and very un-scenic.

I last travelled that route in about 1972 and it was the same then. I just remember miles of car scrapyards.

 

[greyman42]

The southern half of the MML is pretty dull.

 

[dk1]

Bristol Temple Meads to Birmingham New St in a CrossCountry Voyager - horrific!

I always quite enjoy that journey even in a Voyager. Nice large windows & only a gentle purr from the engine at speed.

 

[warwickshire]

Bedford to London St Pancras through Luton.
Also Stratford to Shenfield.

 

[alxndr]

Reading to Waterloo. Nothing particularly interesting out the window and stops painfully frequently.

 

[12LDA28C]

I always quite enjoy that journey even in a Voyager. Nice large windows & only a gentle purr from the engine at speed.

And the rancid stink of the toilets assailing your nostrils. Perfect.

 

[yrreb]

Middlesbrough to Redcar Central passing all the old industry… very very dismal

 

[jrail1992]

May I nominate Ashburys to Guide Bridge?

Scruffy East Manchester at its (less than) scenic best!

Certainly not pretty, however I was thinking end-end journeys rather than a section of line.

 

[dk1]

And the rancid stink of the toilets assailing your nostrils. Perfect.

It’s not that bad at all. Unless you sit/stand in the corridor/vestibule this statement is always exaggerated.

 

[BurtonM]

Certainly not pretty, however I was thinking end-end journeys rather than a section of line.

To that end, the Glossop line. Utterly miserable until Broadbottom.

 

[randyrippley]

Morecambe to Heysham Port.

???

Wonderful views of Heysham Moss nature reserve and the industrial achievements of Heysham 1 & 2

 

[lxfe_mxtterz]

I've always found Reading to London via Staines utterly, utterly drab - also doesn't help that it takes three times as long as going via Slough on GWR.

Some of the local lines through South East London towards Dartford aren't the most interesting either - I recall the line via Bexleyheath as being horrendously boring.

To be honest, the Great Eastern Main Line isn't that interesting to look at either - always seems to drag on and on for me.

 

[philosopher]

For lacklustre scenery, Drayton Park to Moorgate has to be high on the list, unless you like looking at a tunnel wall!

 

[Purple Train]

I'd vote for the North Kent Line as well simply because it's monotonous, not that scenic, and stops about every half a mile, but there's always something new to see, whatever line you're on - unless it's the EL/TL cores or the Northern City Line, perhaps - and that's why I don't care where I'm travelling as long as I am.

 

[CaptainHaddock]

For lacklustre scenery, Drayton Park to Moorgate has to be high on the list, unless you like looking at a tunnel wall!

Well if we're going to include tunnels then I nominate Dore to Grindleford as Britain's least scenic rail journey!

 

[Shimbleshanks]

Any journey on the Northern Line, with the Piccadilly Line to Heathrow running it a close second...

 

[yorksrob]

I'd vote for the North Kent Line as well simply because it's monotonous, not that scenic, and stops about every half a mile, but there's always something new to see, whatever line you're on - unless it's the EL/TL cores or the Northern City Line, perhaps - and that's why I don't care where I'm travelling as long as I am.

And no more EPB's of course.

 

[Intercity110]

Northampton-rugby on a 350/2. Your back’s hurting, there’s no interesting scenery and, to top it all off, you’re 15 minutes late due to a passenger in incident at long buckby. (Just seems to be one Of the most common occurrences In my experience)

 

[weepingwillowb]

Stalybridge-Stockport.

Wolverhampton-Birmingham stretch is just pure industrial decline and very un-scenic.

I travelled that line early one morning some time in the late 70s. With a bit of ground mist and the dereliction, the first half of the journey was a real eye-opener, looking like a post-war landscape.