Which way should I go? ECML/WCML/??

[bangor-toad]

Hi there,
I've got a Sailrail trip coming up in a few weeks from south London to Belfast. I've got the time spare for this and it makes a nice change from flying.

The question is, which way should I go?
I'm thinking I'll go via Glasgow/Ayr/Cairnryan rather than via Holyhead or via Liverpool as this gives the shortest ferry ride and the longest train sectors.

So, which route to take? The Sailrail ticket is nice and flexible so it's not a routing question but one of comfort and scenery. The choice seems to be an earlier start for a ECML with a change at Edinburgh or a later start for a WCML to Glasgow.

What do you think, is the ECML scenery and the 91+Mk4 worth an hour less in bed in the morning than a Pendolino dash up the WCML?
(I['ve done both quite a few times but I'll be travelling with someone who's never done the northern halves of either route.)

Cheers,
Mr Toad

 

[cf111]

The ECML between Berwick and Edinburgh is my favourite bit of railway in the country in terms of scenery. The WCML has its charms but if I were in your position and that were the main deciding factor I would go via Edinburgh.

 

[bb21]

What do you think, is the ECML scenery and the 91+Mk4 worth an hour less in bed in the morning than a Pendolino dash up the WCML?

No it is not imo.

The Pendos offer a much better ride quality I find.

(I['ve done both quite a few times but I'll be travelling with someone who's never done the northern halves of either route.)

In that case, definitely WCML, as the northern parts of the ECML is pretty dire apart from parts of the Northumbrian coast.

If it were a weekend then I may contemplate Weekend First on Virgin East Coast if I were you.

 

[507021]

I prefer the West Coast Main Line personally, I agree with bb21 about the Class 390s too.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The ECML between Berwick and Edinburgh is my favourite bit of railway in the country in terms of scenery.

It is quite good, but the rest of the ECML is insufferably drab, like travelling across the Netherlands or northern Germany.

I'd go WCML every time. It's scenic in different ways all the way, from the rolling Chilterns to the industrial Midlands and North West and the mountains around Shap and further north.

 

[Quakkerillo]

Having done sailrail this summer (Liverpool - Belfast, and Belfast - Cairnryan) I can really advise the route via Cairnryan. Not only is this service more frequent, but the connections are much better, as is the service; the port in Liverpool is quite dire, and you're both driven onto, and off the ferry at both ends in buses in a very slow procedure. Cairnryan-Belfast you can walk comfortably via an airline-style boarding corridor straight onto the boat.

Getting to Ayr for the coach to Cairnryan, I'd certainly advise the West Coast line. As long as you're in a pendolino, I much prefer the feel of the ride and the views compared to the ECML, where you have only some seaside views between Newcastle and Edinburgh.
If you feel particularly adventurous, you could change trains at Carlisle and travel via Kilmarnock, which is also a nice interesting ride, albeit much less frequent so you'd need to plan it well, in case a train doesn't run and you need to go via Glasgow anyway.

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

Definitely WCML. Apart from the well known scenery north of Carnforth there's also the Upper Clyde Valley as you descend from Beattock, a much under-rated section of route scenery wise. Just to muddy the waters I'll point out that views from a Pendolino are harder to appreciate compared with the more generously windowed Voyagers or 350/4s.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Always thought the run between Carlisle and Carstiars on a 390 is one of the best in the country, you can feel the sheer power of Pendos on that stretch better than many other places. Sadly it's either proceeded by the crawl from Motherwell to Glasgow or the agonising curve towards the Cobbinshaw branch!

It's very pretty too, always been impressed by how little of it was built in cuttings.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Another vote for the WCML.

Off topic here but if theyd only sort out carstairs and haymarket I would say Edinburgh to Carlisle would be doable in under an hour.

Also wasnt aware sailrail was valid Liv Belfast crossing