Worst Railway Journeys in the UK

[Bletchleyite]

The ECML south of Durham. There is absolutely nothing of note, just continuous flat fields, and it goes on forever.

The Atherton line, just continuous boring grimness. Odd when Bolton to Manchester is really quite scenic in places.

Greenford, just a parade of sink estates and vandalism, with some of the nastiest looking urban decay in what is already one of the nastiest parts of London.

The Blackpool South line past Lytham. Just run down urban decay with the very occasional roller coaster.

Heysham. As Blackpool South but without even the roller coasters, and only one train per day to "enjoy" it.

Kirkby-Wigan, almost nothing of note and decaying stations that half look like it's already closed.

Unlike others I don't mind Brum to Wolves or east Manchester, they're not pretty but they are at least interesting.

Stalybridge-Stockport.

I dunno, you get a nice view of the Pennines for part of the trip, though the rest of it is a bit boring.

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

Interesting you say that, I quite like it but I would say the view of the other side of the hills from the WCML is better. Bentham and the Hadrian's Wall Line are probably overtalked a bit, they aren't unpleasant but they aren't super scenic either.

On the subject of Merseyside, I would argue for Ormskirk to Preston. Dreadful run with dreadful stock

It's not amazing but I don't think it's terrible, just classic flat West Lancs farmland like Southport to Wigan. The views from both probably wouldn't look out of place in the Netherlands.

 

[43066]

The ECML south of Durham. There is absolutely nothing of note, just continuous flat fields, and it goes on forever.

Agreed.

The MML from North of Luton to North of Derby (excluding the area around Market Harborough which is scenic) is similar, albeit a little less featureless.

 

[Russel]

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

I kind of agree, it's scenic enough, but it's very over hyped.

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

You're overexaggerating a little there...

 

[MadCommuter]

Dalmarnock to Exhibition Centre. Almost all in tunnel, usually very busy with standing, no mobile signal and frequent signal problems. And flooding in heavy rain. The stations need refurbishment too but that probably doesn't count.

 

[StarCrossing]

Some of my favourite journeys have been mentioned on this thread. Not sure if I'm the strange one if you all are....

I once took the last train from Manchester to Liverpool on a bank holiday Sunday. I'm a veteran of such services, but even so that was an eye-opener!

 

[BrummieBobby]

I have always found the Chase Line (Cannock Line) to be particularly dull; several deep cuttings, dull stations (Mostly narrow, prefab stations with bus shelter type accommodation) and it seems to be particularly bad for litter in the cess and on the embankment. Save for the area around Landywood, its frankly dull scenery too.

 

[Whistler40145]

North London and West London Lines

 

[infobleep]

For me any journey where I would like to snap a sunset but it is plagued with trees along the route is annoying.

Guildford to London via Effingham Junction springs to mind.

I do appreciate the country needs trees but why do they have to be along the railway lines? Selfishly I wish they weren't.

Other bad journeys are any without loos. In this respect, alone could be good or bad depending on the rolling stock in use and how long my journey is.

 

[superalbs]

Back in the 90s I’m sure some dopes thought they’d see fish. I always go to the bar in those boring 19 minutes.

People STILL think that...

 

[MikeWM]

+1 for the ECML between Hitchin and Durham (though I quite like that first/last bit into Kings Cross south of Hitchin). Endless miles of dull nothingness, and the brief interesting punctuation offered by Peterborough, Doncaster, York and Darlington are nice but don't make up for all the tedium inbetween.

Possibly in second place, I find Nuneaton-Leicester-Peterborough to be particularly uninteresting, apart from the few miles through Leicester itself.

The Chiltern main line is really rather dull once you get out of London/Birmingham. As is Didcot-Swindon-Chippenham.

The Settle & Carlisle is nice - certainly not one of the worst journeys in the UK! - but I'd agree that it is very overrated.

I do find the more industrial lines quite fascinating though. I always enjoy Birmingham to Wolverhampton, for one example that's already been mentioned a few times.

 

[warwickshire]

Also Cheshunt to London Liverpool Street via Seven Sisters and via Tottenham Hale. Apart from around the junction curve from where the line goes of to Stratford and comes in from Chingford. Just a small bit of scenery there. Just after Tottenham Hale Station going to London.
However around Northumberland Park area is the vile of vile for me also.

 

[johntea]

Wakefield Kirkgate-Pontefract-Knottingley-Goole must be a good contender....especially now that Ferrybridge power station has been demolished and Eggborough is about to be.

Leeds - Knottingley via Wakefield Westgate is certainly not a route I enjoy taking especially after dark!

 

[Llandudno]

Holyhead to Cardiff on a summer Saturday morning on a crush loaded 2 Car TfW 150 unit…!

 

[Halish Railway]

I don't think anyone has mentioned Shipley to Bradford Forster Square yet. That stretch of line is pretty dire (with some evening services Monday to Saturday shuttling between the two). What's worse is that it is a shell of what it once was, with Bradford Forster Square and Frizinghall once being nice enough stations, as well as the route once being four-tracked, although we have gained electrification, although the line has gone from seeing six trains per hour in each direction before the May timetable change to four.

 

[kaysha]

Inverness to Edinburgh in the winter time in the dark on a 170 with no heating

 

[Peter0124]

Dalmarnock to Exhibition Centre. Almost all in tunnel, usually very busy with standing, no mobile signal and frequent signal problems. And flooding in heavy rain. The stations need refurbishment too but that probably doesn't count.

I have found mobile signal very strong in Argyle St and Central LL stations with an EE sim. I'm on vodafone now and get nothing apart from the centre of Central LL near the middle stairs.

 

[Alanko]

Aberdeen to Inverness? Two hours to cover 108 miles. I don't recall any interesting scenery and I'm pretty sure there were sections of jointed single-track line. Makes the electrified central belt feel like a different country.

 

[Mike99]

My choices are, Worksop to Sheffield, just uninteresting, and Liverpool to Hunts Cross on Merseyrail seems to be in deep cutting with little to see

 

[nitten_travell]

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

No need to specify stations, the last three words are all that are needed!

 

[Alanko]

Glasgow Central to Motherwell isn’t very exciting

Good for seeing what is happening in Polmadie! I once ended up on a detour via the DRS yard in Motherwell and seeing Fife Circle coaches, independent snowploughs and various DRS locos, which was a nice bonus.

 

[Some guy]

Glasgow to carstairs junction once it gets past carstairs though the scenery is brilliant

 

[airantraigh]

Aberdeen to Inverness? Two hours to cover 108 miles. I don't recall any interesting scenery and I'm pretty sure there were sections of jointed single-track line. Makes the electrified central belt feel like a different country.

To be fair, the jointed line was a surprise for myself on my first trip through there, especially considering HSTs run along there

Dalmarnock to Exhibition Centre. Almost all in tunnel, usually very busy with standing, no mobile signal and frequent signal problems. And flooding in heavy rain. The stations need refurbishment too but that probably doesn't count.

Argyle line sits in an absolute league of its own. a real let down to the entire Scottish rail network

 

[1D54]

Norwich to Peterborough
Always busy, clapped out rolling stock, no First Class, no catering, poor luggage space, need I go on?

Hardly refer to a 755 as clapped out!! Worth the change at Ely.

 

[railfan99]

Then surely Stourbridge junction - Town is a strong contender.

Irrespective as to 'lack of good scenery', this is essential for me this year due to its most unusual railcar.

 

[DarloRich]

Is this just a subjective list of lines people don't like? Mine is quite simple: Any voyager operated route.

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

it is depressing not dismal because of what has happened to those communities and those industries over the years.. I wont go on as it makes my urine boil with rage. @ainsworth74 might be more calm about this kind of thing than I am!

Thought that was an incredible route (25 years ago) the only time I've made the journey. In winter when all the steel works used to be burning, early evening it was already dark. Quite unique!!

it was quite a sight!

The ECML south of Durham. There is absolutely nothing of note, just continuous flat fields, and it goes on forever.

this statement is incorrect. This the best part of the route.

 

[Zamalek]

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

Leaving aside what stock is being used, some great scenery along the way!

 

[stuu]

Greenford, just a parade of sink estates and vandalism, with some of the nastiest looking urban decay in what is already one of the nastiest parts of London.

Greenford is one of the nastiest parts of London? Objectively how?

 

[DarloRich]

Leaving aside what stock is being used, some great scenery along the way!

hard to see it when you are wedged in a doorway in the corridor...................

 

[Bantamzen]

I don't think anyone has mentioned Shipley to Bradford Forster Square yet. That stretch of line is pretty dire (with some evening services Monday to Saturday shuttling between the two). What's worse is that it is a shell of what it once was, with Bradford Forster Square and Frizinghall once being nice enough stations, as well as the route once being four-tracked, although we have gained electrification, although the line has gone from seeing six trains per hour in each direction before the May timetable change to four.

I can't disagree on this section, as well as Bradford-Leeds as being pretty grim. Thankfully things improve once the moors & Aire / Wharfe Valleys come into sight.

And talking of moors I'm surprised at people thinking the S&C isn't as good as it is said to be. Depending on the time of year, & prevailing weather the run through the high Pennines can be beautiful & dramatic at the same time. The only way it is made better is by getting off the train and walking some of it!! I'd also for similar reasons defend the Vale of York section of the ECML. I've seen some really dramatic lighting, especially in the mornings as you pass Sutton Bank.

 

[ValleyLines142]

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

Really?!

I mean each to their own of course, but I personally really enjoy the greenery of South Gloucestershire between Yate and Standish, and again between Cheltenham and Worcester, then there's something quite pleasant on the cross city line into Birmingham, especially the section adjacent to the canal and that high bridge bypassing Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Really gorgeous, especially with the weather we have at the moment!

I'm also an urban geographer, so I really enjoy the contrast between fields and the approaches of urban areas/cities.

I imagine for you, especially as you mention it, it's more down to the rolling stock, but even then Voyagers genuinely aren't that bad if you're towards the middle of the carriages.