West Highland Line wins 'World's Best Rail Journey' for 2nd year running.

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) (05/02/10):

The West Highland line has been voted the world's greatest rail journey for the second year running.

Readers of independent travel magazine, Wanderlust put the trip ahead of other routes including the Trans-Siberian Express and the Orient Express.

The line from Glasgow to Mallaig is 164 miles long and runs by Loch Long, Loch Lomond, Loch Etive and Loch Eil.

It crosses the world's first concrete rail viaduct at Glenfinnan, which was featured in the Harry Potter films.

Passengers can also see the silver sands of Morar and Britain's most westerly station at Arisaig.

The line has also featured in programmes such as the BBC's Great Railway Journeys of the world.

The Eurostar, Trans-Siberian Express, Cusco-Puno in Peru and the Ghan in Australia completed the top five line up, according to readers of the magazine.

The awards attracted almost 2,000 readers' votes.

Wanderlust editor-in-chief Lyn Hughes said: "It's great to see the West Highland Line once again topping the list - proving that you really don't need to travel to far flung destinations to experience truly breathtaking scenery."

Well deserved. I note that Eurostar made the top 5. Methinks the voting was done before Christmas!!

http://www.wanderlust.co.uk/article.php?page_id=3171

[IndustryInsider]

It's a lovely journey, but best in the world? 

I've been on several journeys that have been 'better' - although I appreciate that's a very subjective word.  For me, how Oslo to Bergen doesn't even make the top 10 is surprising.  Perhaps due to the fact the magazine is British?

[willc]

Never mind Oslo to Bergen. These lists never mention Nordlandsbanen - Trondheim to Bodo - a 10-hour series of scenic highlights but a bit off the beaten track in terms of tourist Norway, even though you get to cross the Arctic Circle and go to Hell - the town, that is.

[IndustryInsider]

Never mind Oslo to Bergen. These lists never mention Nordlandsbanen - Trondheim to Bodo - a 10-hour series of scenic highlights but a bit off the beaten track in terms of tourist Norway, even though you get to cross the Arctic Circle and go to Hell - the town, that is.

Quite agree, Will.  I've done pretty much all of Norway over the years - including a change of train at Hell. Twinned with Castle Bar Park apparently... 

Also well worth a mention in Norway is the Raumabanen, the stretch of railway from Domb^s to ^ndalsnes, which includes a magnificent double horseshoe curve under the mountains!  Though the glaciers and mountains of the Bergen line just get the nod in my opinion.

[Chris from Nailsea]

There is another side to the spectacular scenery of the West Highland Line - from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Image reveals avalanched railway

An image has been released by Network Rail of an avalanche that has closed the West Highland Line since Tuesday.
The risk of further snow slides from the slopes of Beinn Odhar between Tyndrum and Bridge of Orchy in Argyll has prevented the track being cleared.
Train services between Crianlarich and Fort William have been disrupted. ScotRail has advised passengers not to travel to Corrour or Rannoch stations.
Specialists are being flown to the remote area to examine the line.
A Network Rail spokesman said: "We have been unable to clear the site to date due to the risk of further avalanches, however avalanche specialists are travelling to the site via helicopter today to take bore samples and provide a more detailed understanding of the risk.
"Provided that the all-clear is given, we expect to move our snow-blowers onto site to begin clearing the line tomorrow."

[Btline]

How on Earth is Eurostar in the top 5?

You've got the Kent "countryside" (Garden of England? Well, you can see the compost heap and the weeds!) and then a rather boring flat endless section in France.

And of course, you're in a tunnel for 20 minutes!

[grahame]

How on Earth is Eurostar in the top 5?

I would certainly prefer a trip on the White Pass and Yukon

http://www.wpyr.com/

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Avalanche West Highland Line reopened

Debris from four avalanches which closed the West Highland Line for almost two weeks has been cleared and the track reopened for rail services.
Snow slides from the slopes of Beinn Odhar shut the line between Tyndrum and Bridge of Orchy in Argyll.
Network Rail said its staff removed more than 15,000 cubic metres of snow.
Network Rail said the operation had been hampered by an ongoing risk of further avalanches in the days after the initial incident on 25 February.
A spokesman added: "But engineers capitalised on good conditions over the weekend to complete the works and restore an important transport link between the central belt and West Highlands."