Lines around Edinburgh and Glasgow

[Aictos]

Just thinking of getting some routes completed in the area, also interested to see how the real life layout is compared to the SimSig version of Edinburgh and Central Scotland!

Now I've done Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh via Falkirk High, Edinburgh to Edinburgh on a Fife Circle service, Edinburgh to North Berwick, Alloa to Glasgow Queen Street not forgetting Edinburgh to Inverness and Aberdeen as well not forgetting Edinburgh to Carstairs.

I was looking at Edinburgh to Newcraighall, Edinburgh to Bathgate, Glasgow Central to Edinburgh via Shotts and Carstairs for starters - any help on the Glasgow routes would be appreciated.

Now with the SPT routes, can I use my First passes on them as they're managed for SPT by FSR?

 

[me123]

If your pass allows you onto First Scotrail trains, then you can travel on any First Scotrail service. SPT are no longer involved in running the railway (even though their livery lives on). So, yes, you can get on Glasgow Suburban services.

 

[Bittern]

I didn't know you were allowed to do Edinburgh - Edinburgh on the Fife Circle!

 

[90019]

I didn't know you were allowed to do Edinburgh - Edinburgh on the Fife Circle!

Technically, it's not a single journey, so you need a retun ticket for somewhere on the fife circle.
IIRC, Glenrothes is technically the terminus for fife circle trains.

 

[CarterUSM]

Your First boxes have always been valid. Scotrail ran the services on behalf of SPT at the time. For other companies non safeguarded staff, their ATOC card is not valid for privilege tickets on the strathclyde suburban network services at any time though.

 

[subway156]

Will be staying on Leven Beach in early August. We'll be riding from Kirckaldy to Glasgow one day, Edinburgh at least 3 other times. I am so pumped up! We ARE planning to move there in years to come. We intend to retire there. Why? because living in the Staes isn't what it used to be. Besides, we'd be closer to many other countries of interest to travel to. Bring it on! And please pile on the HAGGIS! My favorite: Stuffed backed potato, haggis and cheddar with a cold one!

 

[Aictos]

Technically, it's not a single journey, so you need a retun ticket for somewhere on the fife circle.
IIRC, Glenrothes is technically the terminus for fife circle trains.

Well I managed to do it, helps to check with the guard first and it also helps that we work for the same parent company,

As to the boxes always been valid on former SPT services, I never knew that.

Still, any suggestions of Glasgow routes to do?
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Also what services are there between the Inverness route and the Aberdeen route say from Stirling?
I know there was a service last year in the evening from Stirling to someplace on the Aberdeen route, could be Ladybank then connects with the last East Coast to Edinburgh from Aberdeen.

 

[flymo]

The new summer timetables are on the Scotrail website towards the bottom of the page.

You could pick up the last East Coast to Edinburgh at either Dundee or Kirkcaldy, depending on what you prefer and what ticket you have.

For example you could leave Stirling at 1815 SX (1807 SO), change at Perth to get the 1909 to Kirkcaldy arr 1953 and pick up the HST at Kirkcaldy at 2007.
Or if you wish you could stay on the train from Stirling to Dundee arr 1915 SX, 1906 SO and change to the HST there departing 1930.

 

[CarterUSM]

You could spend a lot of a day ticking off the glasgow central suburban routes. East kilbride, neilston, kilmarnock, newton, ayr, ardrossan, largs whifflet, paisley canal, gourock, wemyss bay to mention just some. You then would have the low level argyle line and north clyde electrics, queen st's suburban services, not to mention whatever else you want. Glasgow central to North Berwick is a good service to tick off the cobbenshaw route. I'm sure you will have a great time.

 

[Moog_1984]

Worth the run up to Arrochar, about 3 hour round trip from GlsQS. Probably the most specatacular climb on the way back of any railway in Europe IMHO, beats the Bergens banen if you ask me!

 

[me123]

I didn't know you were allowed to do Edinburgh - Edinburgh on the Fife Circle!

I think you can also go Haymarket-Edinburgh via the Fife Circle, although it's a bit dubious. The train's obviously doubling back, but it is a direct train. I'm sure I've seen a letter from Scotrail somewhere saying it's valid. I wouldn't presonally try this though, and it's probably a lot safer to buy a return to Glenrothes (although a return to Rosyth will do the job just as well).
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You could spend a lot of a day ticking off the glasgow central suburban routes. East kilbride, neilston, kilmarnock, newton, ayr, ardrossan, largs whifflet, paisley canal, gourock, wemyss bay to mention just some. You then would have the low level argyle line and north clyde electrics, queen st's suburban services, not to mention whatever else you want. Glasgow central to North Berwick is a good service to tick off the cobbenshaw route. I'm sure you will have a great time.

Glasgow's got a plethora of fantastic rail journeys. There's some scenic parts on the North Clydes (going to Helensburgh-NOT on the Airdrie end!) and Ayrshire Coast/Inverclyde lines, and Kilmarnock/EK. The Cathcart Circle is fantastic, the stations are so close together. It's no WHL, but it's quite good.

 

[Moog_1984]

Glasgow's got a plethora of fantastic rail journeys. There's some scenic parts on the North Clydes (going to Helensburgh-NOT on the Airdrie end!) and Ayrshire Coast/Inverclyde lines, and Kilmarnock/EK. The Cathcart Circle is fantastic, the stations are so close together. It's no WHL, but it's quite good.

Weymss bay or Ardrossan also fairly scenic options. But if Helensburgh way, you may as well take a 156 upto arrochar: just check there is a train it will cross there so you can get back without a "fester"!

 

[CarterUSM]

You should go to Wemyss bay just to see the station itself, absolutely beautiful!

 

[Bittern]

You should go to Wemyss bay just to see the station itself, absolutely beautiful!

Granted, I've never seen the station in person, but form the pics I've seen, it looks like it could use with a bit of a clean.

 

[CarterUSM]

It perhaps could a little, but i would hardly call it dirty, in any case the architecture is wonderful.

 

[rail-britain]

I didn't know you were allowed to do Edinburgh - Edinburgh on the Fife Circle!

Most circular routes are possible, you just need to work out what the minimum fare is if you only plan purchasing a return ticket
Personally, always go for the furthest and cheapest, as mentioned above Glenrothes

Another example is the Cathcart Circle
You can travel on the Inner Circle, with a ticket to Queens Park or Crosshill, equally the Outer Circle to Maxwell Park

There are then similar circles which don't actually use the same routes
Another such circle is the Glasgow - Newton
I used to know someone that travelled between Kings Park and Cambuslang, they thought the only route was via Glasgow Central Low Level
I pointed out they could also travel via Newton, so by consulting the timetables they could use either
Others include Glasgow Queen Street - Anniesland, Glasgow Queen Street - Motherwell, Glasgow Central - Motherwell, etc
As far as I am aware the largest in Scotland is Perth - Elgin

 

[Aictos]

As far as I am aware the largest in Scotland is Perth - Elgin

How is that possible, there's no such route in Live Departures unless I'm looking at the wrong information?

Looking forward to these 334s though!

On the subject of Circles, there's the Wimbledon or Sutton services depending on which direction you take as the train officially terminates at Wimbledon from St Albans or Luton for example but the train then continues staying in service but with a slightly different headcode as the Wimbledon to St Albans or Luton service.

 

[CarterUSM]

334's? Why so? Did you not get the chance the last time?

 

[b0b]

I used to know someone that travelled between Kings Park and Cambuslang, they thought the only route was via Glasgow Central Low Level

I can't imagine that is a valid route, going via Glasgow Central has to be more than 3 miles more than via Newton?!

 

[DaveNewcastle]

As far as I am aware the largest in Scotland is Perth - Elgin

Well that would be an excellent, if very unusual, example of "a circle"!
I guess it would have to be ticketed with 2 (or even 3) parts to the journey.
Nice journey, though!

On the subject of "circles", I hope you haven't forgotted Glasgow's ancient underground circle?

 

[Aictos]

334's? Why so? Did you not get the chance the last time?

Sadly no, I did see them though the window of the charter I was on at the time.

Last time I was in Scotland, the traction I got was the 322s as I was staying with a colleague who lives on the North Berwick line.

 

[CarterUSM]

Poor you!! Not the most comfortable units in my opinion!!! Well i'm sure you'll have plenty of choice this time.

 

[me123]

322s are awful! Here's the 334 diagrams if you want to try and plan your trip around one. As with anyh set of diagrams, they're not 100% guaranteed of course and the trains can be changed at the last minute. Happens all the time to me. But they are accurate diagrams so you should see a 334 on the services they say.
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On the subject of "circles", I hope you haven't forgotted Glasgow's ancient underground circle?

At £1.20 for the twenty minute ride round, I'd say not bad value for money! You can also take it between Buchanan Street (for Queen Street) and St Enoch (for Central) or to get to Partick.

 

[yorkie]

Junipers are boring and you can see how boring they are much closer to home, on SWT!

 

[37372]

The Largs branch is also suprisingly scenic and well worth a visit, I didn't expect it to be as good as it was. Plus it was a lovely day weather-wise so I suppose that helped too.

 

[me123]

Junipers are boring and you can see how boring they are much closer to home, on SWT!

Whole heartily disagree. Use them most mornings to go into uni, and they're fantastic trains. Much better than the rancid 320s everyone goes on about!

Hint for ajax; don't use the middle carriage if you're on a Juniper. The outside carriages have a more spacious 2+2 layout, whereas the middle car has a cramped, and much less comfortable, 3+2 layout.

 

[Aictos]

I don't mind what the traction is even Pacers, even though I loath them and wish they got retired ages ago in exchange for new build stock.

As to the 322s, I don't think they're that bad - quite decent units in my book.

Still, who knows I might even bump into CarterUSM while there,

 

[rail-britain]

I can't imagine that is a valid route, going via Glasgow Central has to be more than 3 miles more than via Newton?!

It depends on what type of ticket you have, passenger was using a SPT Travel Card
Checked their zones and indeed the route was possible!
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Well that would be an excellent, if very unusual, example of "a circle"!
I guess it would have to be ticketed with 2 (or even 3) parts to the journey.
Nice journey, though!

The direct ticket would be Perth - Elgin return
This allows you travel via either Inverness or Aberdeen
Therefore the circle is created : Perth - Inverness - Elgin - Aberdeen - Perth

I used to a similar one many years ago, Glasgow - Newcastle
Out via Carlisle and return via Newcastle, and all on one return ticket

I wonder is Glasgow - London could be classed as one?
Out via Euston and return via King Cross, as I've done that a few times too!

 

[b0b]

It depends on what type of ticket you have, passenger was using a SPT Travel Card

Ah yeah, the incredibly complicated Zonecard. What a great idea that is

 

[CarterUSM]

Not if I bump into you first ajax! 322's are fast, but I dislike the ride quality very much. I used to get thrown about them something awful. Zonecard is one of the most over complicated tickets i've ever come across, about 80 odd zones or more when lahndan tahn has 6.