most boring line

[starrymarkb]

Bologna–Florence high-speed railway - all in tunnel apart from 3km in cutting and 700m on viaduct

 

[cuccir]

But I still maintain that the physical geography of the ECML is more homogeneous throughout than any other main line

I'll grant you the ECML south of York, though I think the WCML south of Preston is probably more boring in my experience.

:roll: Agree with that, in particular the section between Salford Crescent and Bolton, particularly at night, when all you can seem to see is the back of warehouse units and scrapyards.

Ashburys to Guide Bridge (East Manchester) is not so fun, either !

Whilst I'd tentatively agree with these, aren't they too short to be really boring? I think any journey under an hour, however dull the scenery, is going to struggle to be boring. The worst are the two-three hour mainline stretches where not much is doing.

The stretch of line that I find most boring must be Sheffield to Doncaster or Wakefield. It always seems so grey and dismal, and progress seems uniformly slow. Completely uninspiring and tedious. It might also be something to with the journeys that I am usually undertaking: Typically Birmingham to Newcastle or vice versa, where I've been travelling for a long time, am getting a bit fed up with being sat on a Voyager, but am still a long way from my destination. And as I say, because of the need to fit the XC services amongst the slow local Northern services and freight traffic, the train never seems to be getting anywhere fast after the comparative romps along the MML and ECML on either side, and there's scenes of industrial desolation all around. I'm sure it'll feel even worse next month when I'll be doing Birmingham to Edinburgh that way, all on a Voyager.

Whilst I agree that this can be a bit dull, I think this is one section where the number of different stops, trying to predict how busy/empty the train will be after any given station (I can never seem to fathom it!) just about saves this journey. There's also some nice scenery in the Derby to Sheffield stretch, which helps!

 

[Badger]

Birmingham-Wolverhampton

abandonned factories, empty canals, the M5 going overhead.

Ah but the views - Dudley Castle up on the hill, Smethwick high street with it's over-the-top buildings, and... ok, you're right, there's not much else.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Ely-Peterborough - flat and slow.
The new Airdrie-Bathgate line - dismal old coal mining area, without the long views you get from the neighbouring Edinburgh-Carstairs or Edinburgh-Falkirk lines.
Dawdling at 60 over Chat Moss.
Any trip on Merseyrail or a Pacer.
Changing at New St.
Anywhere with opposing station announcements (mostly Southern, eg East Croydon)

 

[callum112233]

Aye, any stretch of track that you frequently travel on will get boring, even if it is the most beautiful scenery in the world. In my case it would be Wigan to Manchester Vic, especially via Walkden. For some reason, I prefer going via Bolton, especially on the limited stop services.

 

[Zoe]

The ECML south of Peterborough doesn't seem too bad as there are quite a few towns and stations passed through. The boring section though is Peterborough to Doncaster.

 

[43021HST]

Agree with Ivo about Liverpool Street to Shenfield bit.

In my view the Reading to Waterloo Line is the dullest, its only the bit from Clapham to Waterloo that's the most interesting.

The rest of the line is just a stop start journey of boring little commuter towns. Even from an enthusiast perspective the route is dull, no railways yards and the same old junipers. When a Desiro visits takes over for a broken juniper, that's a moment of excitement. No high speed bits.
Definitely the dullest line in Britain.

I always find any rail journey up north is interesting, plenty of decaying factories and rail yards to look at.

The large consensus say the ECML is boring, I don't think so, the various rail yards and high speed sections are interesting.

 

[ANorthernGuard]

:roll: Agree with that, in particular the section between Salford Crescent and Bolton, particularly at night, when all you can seem to see is the back of warehouse units and scrapyards.

Ashburys to Guide Bridge (East Manchester) is not so fun, either !

but that only takes 3 minutes! lol

 

[Zoe]

I'm surprised no-one has said it yet: The Channel Tunnel.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Bologna–Florence high-speed railway - all in tunnel apart from 3km in cutting and 700m on viaduct

Just like HS2 will be then...
Actually I had planned to do a trip on Bologna-Florence but I won't bother now.
The old line had a very long tunnel (18.5km) but I thought the route and engineering was very interesting.

 

[SS4]

Camden Junction to Euston (admittedly not a line )

I found the Cross City south between Bournville and Redditch dull

 

[Zoe]

I found the Cross City south between Bournville and Redditch dull

King's Norton to New Street on XC is also very boring as it's usually very slow.

 

[Ivo]

I found the Cross City south between Bournville and Redditch dull

I should have thought of that. The entire Cross City period is dull.

 

[junglejames]

i thought settle carlisle is supposed to be a wonderful tourist attraction? is it boring?

Only 1 person to bite!! I was joking!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Liverpool to Chester on Merseyrail is pretty dull.

Oh and the London to Norwich line - there isn't much scenery to speak of there either.

Ive always liked the Anglian Mainline. You even get proper trains as well!!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

This is interesting to me, so often times I find that the most enjoyable lines to travel on are the ones that pass through rolling empty countryside, regardless of how interesting it is. So, for me, the ECML, GEML and Basingstoke-Salisbury etc make for nice journeys.

EDIT - With the exception of Burnley-Hebden Bridge, it's slow, plus I've done it too many times! :P

 

[junglejames]

I'm surprised no-one has said it yet: The Channel Tunnel.

But dont the odd flashes of light brighten it up?!!!

 

[PFX]

The new Airdrie-Bathgate line - dismal old coal mining area, without the long views you get from the neighbouring Edinburgh-Carstairs or Edinburgh-Falkirk lines.

The stretch between Camelon and Glasgow QS which takes in the scenic wonders of What'sitcalled, Gartcosh and Stepps has to rank up there in the dull league.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I can't really get into the Cardiff Valley lines either, I don't know why. c2c out towards Grays et al is dismal too.

 

[junglejames]

though I think the WCML south of Preston is probably more boring in my experience.

Did you notice how one day the WCML changed from nice scenary (especially north of Lancaster) to just bland plastic? Must have been about the time Mr Bransons masterpieces arrived

 

[Schnellzug]

Basingstoke-Salisbury (and Winchester-Basingstoke, which was another nomination) may not have soaring mountains and great viaducts, but you've got fields, trees & cows; what more could you ask for?

Oh, another one, though; Bristol-Taunton. Like the M5 parallel to it. Moors are rather dull.

 

[Zoe]

Oh, another one, though; Bristol-Taunton.

It's not too bad, there are at least quite a few stations to pass through and the M5 crosses a few times. Castle Cary to Cogload Junciton is worse.

Moors are rather dull.

First time I've heard the Somerset Levels called a moor although having just looked, it would be correct Old English.

 

[Ivo]

This is interesting to me, so often times I find that the most enjoyable lines to travel on are the ones that pass through rolling empty countryside, regardless of how interesting it is. So, for me, the ECML, GEML and Basingstoke-Salisbury etc make for nice journeys.

This is certainly true for me as well, coming from such a densely populated area. Swathes of countryside besides the track present either peace in abundance or a very dramatic view, both of which appeal far more than industrial waste.

 

[HSTEd]

HS1 St Pancras - Stratford Int.

 

[Schnellzug]

It's not too bad, there are at least quite a few stations to pass through and the M5 crosses a few times. Castle Cary to Cogload Junciton is worse.

First time I've heard the Somerset Levels called a moor although having just looked, it would be correct Old English.

Marsh, moor, they're all the same thing, flat and rather dull. Interestingly, the name Sedgemoor does not mean "sedge moor", but is instead "marsh of a man called Sicga" from the Old Norse personal name Sicga and Old English mor "moor".[2] The name was recorded as Secgamere in 1165.

i wonder if they make these thigns up. No one would know, would they.

 

[Zoe]

Marsh, moor, they're all the same thing, flat and rather dull.

Not the case with Dartmoor.

 

[Temple Meads]

This is certainly true for me as well, coming from such a densely populated area. Swathes of countryside besides the track present either peace in abundance or a very dramatic view, both of which appeal far more than industrial waste.

The polar opposite for me, all I ever seem to see, from cars or trains, is fields and hills, so a bit of industrial wasteland cheers me up no end

Anyway, most boring for me is Exeter - Salisbury, particularly after Honiton, it takes far too long, the speeds are low, the views are samey, and the PA system on the 159's drives me nuts..

Taunton - Westbury would be up there, but the HST's just about save it.

The Barnstaple branch drags on a bit as well.

 

[Rich_D3167]

I find the line from Barnetby to Doncaster via Scunthorpe incredibly dull. 55mph for nearly all of it (with the odd lower restriction), with 95% of it being flat and having very little distinctive scenery. The only thing I remotely look forward to is seeing a Class 20 at Scunthorpe Steelworks (maybe)! Maybe the odd loco to look out for, but that's about it. Other than that, it's the long wait until the 80mph surge to Doncaster after Hatfield & Stainforth!

 

[yorksrob]

Personally, I find Tonbridge - Ashford fairly dull, even though it's the first route I travelled on regularly (and probably ever!). Especially as you can no longer speed through the centre roads at Paddock Wood and Hedcorn in a slammer. Pluckly Station building and Chart Leacon depot are at least highlights.

 

[Bellwater]

The Barton on Humber Branch.

 

[ValleyLines142]

I can't really get into the Cardiff Valley lines either, I don't know why. c2c out towards Grays et al is dismal too.

The Cardiff Valleys are quite bland. The only interesting stretch is the section from Cardiff Central to Queen Street when it rises over Cardiff city centre. The only real nice stretch is over the Porthkerry Viaduct between Barry and Rhoose, as you soar above the park and by the Bristol Channel, but that's about it.

I have to admit, any line, even those that are meant to be renowned for scenery like the Settle-Carlisle Line or the Cumbrian Coast Line is boring in the dark. For example, I was on 1B91 (2115 London to Cardiff) last night and it was pitch black, got very boring upon departure from Bristol Parkway! But then it's nice in the day, particularly cutting through Wiltshire and Oxfordshire into the capital.