LNER thinks it serves Devon

[MotCO]

A bit of an own goal by LNER according to a report tonight in the Telegraph:

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The train operator which operates services from London to Edinburgh has been ridiculed after boasting about views on its route above a photo taken in Devon.
LNER, which runs on the East Coast Main Line, tweeted: “Not to brag but we have some magnificent views on our route! From greenery to beautiful beaches.”
However, underneath the message is a picture which shows a photo of a girl looking out of the window as she passes a beach on the part of the route run by Great Western Railway (GWR) between Dawlish and Teignmouth.


Eagle-eyed social media users took to Twitter to point out that it was nowhere near the LNER line, with one poster asking: “Does LNER go to Devon, then?”
Others called the post a “huge fail”, while one said: “Ah yes, the 1200 LNER to Penzance calling at all stations.”
Even GWR, the operator which runs services in the South West, ribbed its fellow operator in a tweet, saying:


In a response to a poster, LNER said that the image was from an industry-wide campaign and that the imagery was not train specific, and it was aware it was a GWR train and a view in Devon.
The image is part of a new “Nothing Beats Being Here” campaign run by the Rail Delivery Group, Network Rail and Great British Railways.



The campaign which was launched last month has been launched to encourage more people back onto trains following the pandemic.
Alongside photos of various travellers, the groups have also released an advert showing the various trips people make on the network.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It's clearly a sharing error, but I felt it ironic given how utterly, utterly drab and boring the ECML south of Durham is.

 

[bluenoxid]

The media person at GBR laughing as their press campaign gets on to hundreds of media outlets for free

 

[greyman42]

I think the ECML operator did something similar pre-covid with a photo from a Yorkshire Dales location, although they argued that they served Skipton.

 

[Master29]

Mores the pity. Buffet cars on IET's in the west..

 

[Irascible]

Mores the pity. Buffet cars on IET's in the west..

The novelty of one that isn't falling apart!

 

[DerekC]

It's clearly a sharing error, but I felt it ironic given how utterly, utterly drab and boring the ECML south of Durham is.

I think that's a bit unfair on some pretty nice (but admittedly flattish) areas. You've written off the Vale of York, York itself, Retford, Newark and Grantham and all the country between. Take an interest and find out a bit more about the land that you are travelling through!

 

[zwk500]

I think that's a bit unfair on some pretty nice (but admittedly flattish) areas. You've written off the Vale of York, York itself, Retford, Newark and Grantham and all the country between. Take an interest and find out a bit more about the land that you are travelling through!

The Vale of York, Retford, Newark and Grantham are pretty dull and uninspiring, and you can't see much of York itself (which is magnificent) from the train unless you get off there. LNER serve some fantastic destinations, but the train journey itself between London and Darlington is not the most thrilling in the world.

 

[43066]

I think that's a bit unfair on some pretty nice (but admittedly flattish) areas. You've written off the Vale of York, York itself, Retford, Newark and Grantham and all the country between. Take an interest and find out a bit more about the land that you are travelling through!

You can’t see much of interest from the ECML itself, though.

 

[Horizon22]

LNER twitter stated it was part of the national advertising campaign, but still a little bit off an odd image to focus on.

 

[GoneSouth]

The Vale of York, Retford, Newark and Grantham are pretty dull and uninspiring, and you can't see much of York itself (which is magnificent) from the train unless you get off there. LNER serve some fantastic destinations, but the train journey itself between London and Darlington is not the most thrilling in the world.

To be fair, most intercity journeys out of London are pretty drab.

St Pancras - Luton - Bedford-Wellingborough
Euston - Watford- Milton Keynes- Coventry
Paddington - Slough - Reading - Swindon

They all have some fairly flat featureless countryside and a lot of urban graffiti to admire, and all get more interesting the further you get from London, winding through Cumbria, northumberland coast, along the sea wall in Dawlish, through the edge of the Peak District up to Chesterfield etc

Can’t think of any inspiring features heading to Norwich though, apologies to anyone who loves Suffolk and Norfolk

 

[87electric]

Euston to Coventry being the dullest for me.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

Euston to Coventry being the dullest for me.

It's not amazing, and certainly nothing to what you get on the WCML North of Preston, but does have a few points of interest. Heading North from Euston, I seem to recall some nice glimpses of Wembley stadium. Then as you pass Bushey, a fairly spectacular view of parts of Watford and the DC line viaduct to the West. And I'm not sure exactly where, but somewhere north of Leighton Buzzard, I'm sure I've seen what looks like it could be a canal or river with various boats, which looks quite picturesque.

And of course if you like looking at trains, there's always stuff of interest between Willesden Junction and Stonebridge Park

And the ECML for all it's general dull-ness, does have the view as you cross the Welwyn viaduct.

 

[Taunton]

You wait, until you get the non-views from mostly-buried HS2.

For views from the southern ECML, I am sure I once saw on the horizon, from the train, Lincoln Cathedral, but have looked again (from around Newark) and not done so. Maybe only in winter with the leaves off the trees. Anyone know where?

 

[43066]

Anyone know where?

Are you sure it wasn’t Durham Cathedral!?

 

[class26]

You wait, until you get the non-views from mostly-buried HS2.

For views from the southern ECML, I am sure I once saw on the horizon, from the train, Lincoln Cathedral, but have looked again (from around Newark) and not done so. Maybe only in winter with the leaves off the trees. Anyone know where?

sure you weren`t diverted round the joint line ?

 

[Taunton]

What ... from around Newark ??? C'mon guys

 

[zwk500]

It's not amazing, and certainly nothing to what you get on the WCML North of Preston, but does have a few points of interest. Heading North from Euston, I seem to recall some nice glimpses of Wembley stadium. Then as you pass Bushey, a fairly spectacular view of parts of Watford and the DC line viaduct to the West.

The glimpse of wembley and the bushey viaduct arent really that much to shout about, especially with the retail park at bushey. Wembley yard is interesting if youre into that sort of thing, and the variety of trains that you pass help.

And I'm not sure exactly where, but somewhere north of Leighton Buzzard, I'm sure I've seen what looks like it could be a canal or river with various boats, which looks quite picturesque.

The Grand Union canal runs largely parralel to the railway for periods between Berkhamstead and Leighton Buzzard as its the natural topographical gap. You can catch further views of it around MK.

 

[AM9]

Euston to Coventry being the dullest for me.

There's the Chiltern from Berkhamstead to nearly Bletchley, and as @DynamicSpirit says, seal views on the Grand Union canal from north of Wolverton through Weedon

The glimpse of wembley and the bushey viaduct arent really that much to shout about, especially with the retail park at bushey. Wembley yard is interesting if youre into that sort of thing, and the variety of trains that you pass help.

The Grand Union canal runs largely parralel to the railway for periods between Berkhamstead and Leighton Buzzard as its the natural topographical gap. You can catch further views of it around MK.

You mention the Canal views in Herts but the views of the surrounding Chilterns between Berkhamsted and nearly Bletchley are quite impressive.

 

[Trainguy34]

From Welwyn into London is quite good with views of Ally Pally & Emirates

 

[Welly]

What ... from around Newark ??? C'mon guys

In very clear weather it is possible to see Lincoln Cathedral from Newark. My mate nearly stepped off the Nat Ex bus at Newark bus station instead of Lincoln bus station when he saw the cathedral all lit up from there!

 

[JamieL]

You wait, until you get the non-views from mostly-buried HS2.

Exactly this. And even on some of the viaducts are going to have noise barriers that will scupper the view. Setting conditions for a very boring journey. And not even a much faster one if you are going to Scotland.

 

[greyman42]

In very clear weather it is possible to see Lincoln Cathedral from Newark. My mate nearly stepped off the Nat Ex bus at Newark bus station instead of Lincoln bus station when he saw the cathedral all lit up from there!

Lincoln Cathedral got a mention in a previous discussion regarding cathedrals and castles that could be seen from the ECML.

 

[ajp999]

Apparently you can see Lincoln Cathedral on a clear day when travelling south in the Retford area. Was only told this a few days ago so will need to have a look the next time I travel on the ECML.

 

[Peregrine 4903]

I think WCML South is quite scenic. Going through Berkhampstead and seeing the ruined castle is always cool and the the stretch from Tring to Bletchley has some really quite nice views overlooking the chilterns with nice countryside as well. Plus the Down Linslade tunnel is the coolest in the country,

 

[DynamicSpirit]

The Grand Union canal runs largely parralel to the railway for periods between Berkhamstead and Leighton Buzzard as its the natural topographical gap. You can catch further views of it around MK.

Ah, so Grand Union Canal must be the thing I could see from the line. Thanks.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

You mention the Canal views in Herts but the views of the surrounding Chilterns between Berkhamsted and nearly Bletchley are quite impressive.

There's the Whipsnade Lion from Cheddington, the climb out of the Roade cutting and the right-left-right through Weedon at full tilt (also alongside the canal).
Then you can watch traffic going backwards on the M1, and sense the air vents in Kilsby Tunnel and 125mph full tilt through Rugby (sometimes).
There will soon be HS2 construction to see from Berkswell onwards.
Never a dull moment...

 

[zwk500]

Ah, so Grand Union Canal must be the thing I could see from the line. Thanks.

You can do some nice walks along the canal using the railway to get back home/to your start point. I once had a very enjoyable day joining some relatives on their narrowboat at Leighton Buzzard by train from MK and then pottering down to Marsworth before jumping on my bike along the towpath to Tring and hopping back to MK.

 

[DelW]

On the WCML, there are also views of the Oxford and Coventry canals between Rugby and Tamworth.

I agree about the Chiltern section, I always enjoy the views between Hemel and Leighton Buzzard.

 

[D6130]

For views from the southern ECML, I am sure I once saw on the horizon, from the train, Lincoln Cathedral, but have looked again (from around Newark) and not done so. Maybe only in winter with the leaves off the trees. Anyone know where?

Lincoln Cathedral got a mention in a previous discussion regarding cathedrals and castles that could be seen from the ECML.

Apparently you can see Lincoln Cathedral on a clear day when travelling south in the Retford area. Was only told this a few days ago so will need to have a look the next time I travel on the ECML.

sure you weren`t diverted round the joint line ?

As a regular traveller on the East Coast Main Line, I can confirm that Lincoln Cathedral is clearly visible - about 15 miles to the East - from Tuxford to the Northern approach to Newark. You won't, however, see it from the Retford area as it's hidden by West Burton Power Station and the range of low hills to the West.