Least scenic lines

[DeeGee]

I was going to nominate Doncaster to Grimsby as boring boring boring - it's all just FLAT, and the train always seems deathly slow considering how straight the lines are.

You've got a mine lift just outside Doncaster.

Then there's the stretch alongside the canal where it seems to go at walking pace, which is quite pretty.

There's the inside of the Steelworks which is far from dull. Not Cotswold picturesque, admittedly, but interesting.

And there's a view of the refineries which is better at night than during the day.

There's a lot of interest in our industrial heritage, you know. Sometimes I'd rather see something like that than yet another deep valley full of sheep.

 

[bronzeonion]

West London Line, apart from the bridge across the Thames

 

[trentside]

Sidcup? Bexleyheath? Neither compares to the Woolwich route in the "bad" stakes

True, true - tower blocks, tunnels and distinctly dodgy customers at certain stations. The train had two BTP officers onboard, I've never seen more people try to leg it off the train at the next station

 

[Roverman]

I think this could be a very contentious thread. One could name an area they find utterly depressing to look at and the next poster could take great offence at this!

The first time I travel on a section that's new to me I always like to see what I go past, it is always interesting to see the bits of life you can't see anywhere else. Lets just say there are some interesting extensions to peoples houses along several lines that I am not sure the local planning authorities are aware of!

 

[Buttsy]

I would say the least scenic line has to be Morden - East Finchley via Bank...

 

[jb]

It has so much contrast it's almost amazing.

Further up the Waterloo-Reading line, just short of Richmond in the down direction. Having passed through the relatively pleasant and posh-seeming parts of Barnes and Mortlake, to my mind the view over the allotments on the left as you approach North Sheen seems a bit, well, post-apocalyptic, really.

 

[SF-02]

True, true - tower blocks, tunnels and distinctly dodgy customers at certain stations. The train had two BTP officers onboard, I've never seen more people try to leg it off the train at the next station

Yeah the Woolwich line has massive fare evasion. One of the main benefits of TfL's plan to take it over was to add more staff and barriers like on other parts of the Overground. At the moment almost no stations have barriers, and if any BTP/REOs get on there's so many people legging it they can't catch people.

 

[Antman]

Yeah the Woolwich line has massive fare evasion. One of the main benefits of TfL's plan to take it over was to add more staff and barriers like on other parts of the Overground. At the moment almost no stations have barriers, and if any BTP/REOs get on there's so many people legging it they can't catch people.

But surely that could be done now under SET with a bit more investment?

Woolwich Arsenal and Abbey Wood have barriers although they are regularly left open.

I'm afraid the fare evaders on that line have no respect for REO's and not much more for BTP officers.

Certainly one of the more unpleasant lines to use.

 

[bAzTNM]

Dalmarnock to Exhibition Centre in Glasgow, Scotland?

Just basically one big, dark tunnel.

 

[43021HST]

I would say the Reading to Waterloo, miles and miles of just boring suburbs until you get to Vauxhall where you may catch a glimpse of Big Ben.

 

[Bevan Price]

Most of Merseyrail Northern Line. I'd say Liverpool to Manchester via Chat moss

Especially the section between Eccles and Manchester, with views of the M602 and then, before Ordsall Lane Junction, you pass an enormous rusty iron fence (higher than the train), concealing a scrapyard, I believe.

 

[Sidious]

I was going to nominate Doncaster to Grimsby as boring boring boring - it's all just FLAT, and the train always seems deathly slow considering how straight the lines are.

Erm... I do have to take some issue with this. Doncaster to Althorpe is flat, but from Althorpe to Scunthorpe the line rises up a very steep bank to the extent that I can remember when there was a 'banker' stabled at Gunhouse Loop to push heavy goods up the hill.

Then through Scunthorpe there is the Steelworks, while not exactly picturesque, it can't be described as boring.

Then the line runs through the top of the Lincolnshire Wolds between Elsham and Brocklesby - again not exactly the Cairngorms, but not flat either...

 

[carriageline]

I suppose the majority of the London side of the CTRL isn't brilliant to look at in all them tunnels

 

[Antman]

I suppose the majority of the London side of the CTRL isn't brilliant to look at in all them tunnels

The only surface bit between St Pancras and Ebbsfleet is pretty bleak marshland and industry, nice view of the QE2 bridge and Ensign bus companys base but that's about it

 

[bicbasher]

True, true - tower blocks, tunnels and distinctly dodgy customers at certain stations. The train had two BTP officers onboard, I've never seen more people try to leg it off the train at the next station

Forgot to mention in my previous Greenwich line post that I was mugged on this line a few years ago between Woolwich Arsenal and Plumstead on a Saturday afternoon. Have to admit I felt safer on the line between Greenwich and London Bridge than the other way.

 

[WestCoast]

Comparing two "industrial" lines, Birmingham to Wolverhampton has a lot more to look at than Bolton to Salford Crescent! The latter I find very tedious...

 

[TOCDriver]

Merseyrail Northern Lines at Kirkby and Bootle have the most depressing scenery anywhere in the country as far as I'm concerned. yet the change when they head into Formby and Ainsdale is remarkable. You really must experience the journey to Southport from Liverpool Central to believe it

 

[43021HST]

Many people have mentioned London Suburban lines, I actually think they're rather interesting in their own ways, I like the sight of industrial dereliction, sprawling housing estates and rows of grubby Victorian villa's.

Then again I'm weird like that.

 

[SF-02]

But surely that could be done now under SET with a bit more investment?

Woolwich Arsenal and Abbey Wood have barriers although they are regularly left open.

I'm afraid the fare evaders on that line have no respect for REO's and not much more for BTP officers.

Certainly one of the more unpleasant lines to use.

Don't want to get too off topic but SET have no interest in it as it involves spending money. The DfT have no interest in forcing the issue or paying for it. What you say is often brought up as to why many of TfL's improvements could happen under SET. They certainly could, but there is no interest in doing so from them or the DfT, and hasn't for many years or in the future. There was from TfL, and as such the only chance I see of change is if they takeover as that's the only place where any will for change is coming from.

As for barriers - Abbey Wood has one exit open 24/7 so the other is pointless. Woolwich Arsenal also has a side exit open most of the time. Pretty much everyone knows that so the one barriered exit is not a great deterrent! Also many transfer from a train to DLR at Woolwich and no barriers in between. Every other station up to London Bridge has an exit without barriers. On the plus side I've never seen any violence or trouble on that line.

 

[MP33]

Just before Maryland to Manor Park on the left on a down service.

Wall
Platform no one uses
Wall
Platform no one uses
Wall

 

[St Rollox]

Somebody in another thread here recommended Glasgow Central to Stranraer as a nice journey, so I gave it a go a couple of months back.

God it was boring. And terminated in the most depressing station I've seen. I really feel sorry for the locals having to walk to that place. I read they're talking about opening a more central station, near the old one which was closed down - that'd be much better for the township.

Between Stranraer and Girvan i was always grateful i was on a train especially of a snowy winter's night.
Never seemed to be a light for miles out there on the Southern Uplands.

 

[theboywho]

I have to add Newcastle to Sunderland as being a high contender on the list.

 

[Drsatan]

I'd also like to add Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Piccadilly via Warrington to this list, along with Glasgow Central to Kilmarnock

 

[harry42]

I'd also like to add Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Piccadilly via Warrington to this list, along with Glasgow Central to Kilmarnock

Liverpol-Manchester is tedious and boring!

 

[kermit]

Especially Liverpool Lime Street to Edge Hill.

Or waiting at Birmingham New Street for a path to clear in the rain, with the special ways that the rain splats, splooshes and pours through gaps to platform level. So depressing!

 

[yorksrob]

Bolton to Preston doesn‘t seem to have much to recommend it.

 

[northwichcat]

Liverpol-Manchester is tedious and boring!

For transport enthusiasts it can be very interesting. You encounter OHEs, non-electrified track and 3rd rail. A variety of rolling stock could be encountered between leaving Piccadilly and arriving at Lime St: 142s, 150s, 156s, 158s, 175s, 185s, 350s, 390s (and rarely 170s and 323s.) In the Cornbrook area the heavy rail line runs right next to the Metrolink line. Approaching Warrington Central you see a number of red buses belonging to one of the few remaining council owned bus operators.

When I've come from a foreign place via Liverpool Airport seeing the typical brick housing type around Warrington makes it feel like I've returned.

 

[callum112233]

Bolton-Salford Crescent is exceptionally dull.

You think so?

There plenty trees and wooded areas to look at. Also a nice little river and golf course

Can't agree there.
WCML north of Preston is far more scenic than the ECML north of York.
Crewe-Lichfield is great too, better than, well, Hitchin to York except the bit through Grantham. There's also the Grand Union canal to follow in places.
They are both pleasant through the Chilterns.

Other depressing locations:
North Wales coast through caravan-land (Prestatyn-Rhyl-Abergele)
Slough ("come friendly bombs..." etc), up to Padd really
Glasgow QS to Airdrie
Warrington BQ (smell the Unilever soap)
Bristol Stapleton Road (or is it Lawrence Hill?)
Ardwick-Guide Bridge
Birmingham New St

I find this section of track quite interesting because of the history. It's quite difficult to imagine how many yards there were back in the day, and also the fact it was four track back then too.

Especially the section between Eccles and Manchester, with views of the M602 and then, before Ordsall Lane Junction, you pass an enormous rusty iron fence (higher than the train), concealing a scrapyard, I believe.

I know what you mean. The fence is almost like it should be part of the scrap yard. You need a tetanus jab if you just look at that rusty fence

 

[Crossover]

I was beaten to the case for Waterloo-Bank. So I'll go with Stourbridge Jcn to Stourbridge town.

It's alright - at least you have the distraction of being rocked and rolled up/down the hill by the PPM

Manchester to Manchester Airport & Stockport, not too fussy on Leeds to Huddersfield either.

Neither of those I've bolded are great, but they do have their moments. Old Roan to Maghull on the Ormskirk line is quite pleasant though not exactly breathtaking. The Huddersfield line is rather nice between the Western portal of Morley tunnel until Batley- the run through Dewsbury is a bit grotty I'll give you that. Once you're West of Ravensthorpe it's rather pretty until you get to Stalybridge though (tunnels and the ugly Tesco at Huddersfield notwithstanding).

I had thought about Leeds - Huddersfield, but it may be as much that it is my way to/from anywhere, so to be honest, I find the whole thing a bit boring now :P

I'd have to put a case for Dewsbury being OK though - on the approach from the Leeds bound direction, you have a number of the old mill buildings, most of which are now flats but some are still used for industry and the station itself isn't too bad either
Then you get to Ravensthorpe...*shudder*

Off topic, but to continue the above, I do love the run from Huddersfield to Stalybridge...get a nice day, especially at sunset and it looks fantastic!

 

[yorksrob]

Dewsbury to huddersfield has plenty of interest to see. Some disused railway bridges, some excellent views of the west riding townscapes around dewsbury and hudds and best of all, you can catch a glimpse of part of the viaduct of the eeds "new" line.

The demolition contractor apparently went bust trying to blow it up!

Victorian engineering - 1
Modern tat - 0