West Highland Line

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:About Template:Infobox rail line Template:West Highland Line The West Highland Line (Template:Langx – "Iron Road to the Isles") is a railway line linking the ports of Mallaig and Oban in the Scottish Highlands to Glasgow in Central Scotland. The line was voted the top rail journey in the world by readers of independent travel magazine Wanderlust in 2009, ahead of the notable Trans-Siberian line in Russia and the Cuzco to Machu Picchu line in Peru.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The ScotRail website has since reported that the line has been voted the most scenic railway line in the world for the second year running.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The West Highland Line is one of two railway lines that access the remote and mountainous west coast of Scotland, the other being the Kyle of Lochalsh Line which connects Inverness with Kyle of Lochalsh. The line is the westernmost railway line in Great Britain.

At least in part, the West Highland Line is the same railway line as that referred to as the West Highland Railway.

HistoryEdit

The route was built in several sections:

Glasgow Queen Street to Cowlairs Junction - Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
Cowlairs Junction to Bowling - Glasgow, Dumbarton and Helensburgh Railway (later absorbed into the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway)
Bowling to Dumbarton Central - Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire Railway, operated by the Caledonian Railway
Dumbarton Central to Dalreoch - Caledonian and Dumbartonshire Junction Railway
Dalreoch to Craigendoran - Glasgow, Dumbarton and Helensburgh Railway
Craigendoran to Fort William (opened 11 August 1894)<ref>Template:Cite news Template:Open access</ref><ref>Template:Cite news Template:Open access</ref><ref>Template:Cite news Template:Open access</ref> - West Highland Railway sponsored by the North British Railway
Crianlarich to Oban<ref>Template:Cite news Template:Open access</ref> - Callander and Oban Railway, operated by the Caledonian Railway.

There is an additional section from Fort William (or a junction near Fort William) to Mallaig, built as the Mallaig Extension Railway.<ref>Template:Cite news Template:Open access</ref> The West Highland Railway approved the construction of the line at their annual meeting in January 1895.<ref>Template:Cite news Template:Open access</ref>

The line faced potential closure as part of the Beeching cuts in 1963<ref>Template:Cite news Template:Open access</ref> and again in 1995 due to reduced revenues.<ref>Template:Cite news Template:Open access</ref><ref>Template:Cite news Template:Open access</ref>

Route descriptionEdit

Template:Morefootnotes

File:Train crossing bridge at Banavie - geograph.org.uk - 1224706.jpg

Train crossing bridge at Banavie

File:Corrour Summit - geograph.org.uk - 177748.jpg

The summit of the line just north of Template:Rws

Shortly after leaving Glasgow Queen Street station, and beyond Queen Street Tunnel, the line diverges from the main trunk route to Template:Rws and Template:Rws at Template:Rws and follows a northwesterly course through the suburbs of Maryhill and Kelvindale. Between Template:Stnlnk and Dumbarton, the route is shared with the North Clyde Line to Template:Rws before branching northward at Craigendoran Junction towards Template:Stnlnk, the section where the West Highland Line itself is generally accepted to begin. It gives high-level views of the Gare Loch and Loch Long before emerging alongside the northwesterly shores of Loch Lomond, then climbs Template:Rws to Template:Rws.

File:HelensburghUpperTS.jpeg

A Glasgow-bound train at Helensburgh Upper in 2020

The branch to Oban diverges at Crianlarich, an important Highland junction of both road and rail, and runs through Glen Lochy to Template:Stnlnk and through the Pass of Brander to reach salt water at Template:Stnlnk and Template:Stnlnk before a final climb over a hill to Template:Stnlnk. About Template:Convert from Crianlarich, the Mallaig and Oban routes both pass through the village of Tyndrum, but they are served by separate stations, making it the smallest settlement in the UK to be served by more than one railway station.

After Template:Rws, the line to Mallaig climbs onto Rannoch Moor, past the former crossing point at Gorton Crossing to Template:Stnlnk station. In winter, the moor is often covered with snow,Template:Refn and deer may be seen running from the approaching train. The station at Template:Stnlnk on the moor is one of the most remote stations in Britain and is not accessible by any public road. This is the summit of the line at 1347 ft (410 m) above sea level. Carrying on northwards, the line descends above the shores of Loch Treig and through the narrow Monessie Gorge. The final stop before Fort William is Template:Stnlnk. The section between Fort William and Mallaig passes over the Glenfinnan Viaduct, through Arisaig with its views of the Small Isles of Rùm, Eigg, Muck and Canna, and the white sands of Morar before coming to Mallaig itself.

With the exception of the route between Glasgow Queen Street and Helensburgh Upper, and the short section between Fort William Junction and Fort William station, the railway is signalled using the Radio Electronic Token Block, controlled from the signal box at Banavie station.

ServicesEdit

Passenger services on the line are operated by ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper. As of May 2021, the service pattern is as follows:

3tpd each way Mallaig - Template:Rws
1tpd each way Mallaig - Template:Rws
1tpd Oban - Dalmally
6tpd each way Oban - Glasgow Queen Street. Additionally, 1tpd Glasgow Queen Street - Oban (one way only)

All of the services from Glasgow Queen Street - Mallaig are combined with services to Oban, splitting at Crianlarich. Similarly, two of the return services combine at Crianlarich.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

During the summer season from May until October a steam locomotive-hauled daily return service between Fort William and Mallaig known as The Jacobite is operated by West Coast Railways. There is one train a day in May, September and October, and two trains per day from June until the end of August.

Caledonian Sleeper operates a nightly service from Fort William to London Euston.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Onward ferry connections operated by Caledonian MacBrayne are available from Mallaig to the Isle of Skye, to the small isles of Rùm, Eigg, Muck, and Canna, to South Uist, and to Inverie on the Knoydart peninsula. From Oban ferries sail to the islands of Lismore, Colonsay, Coll, Tiree, Mull and Barra.

As of 2021, there is a single regular freight operation on the line, consisting of alumina services from North Blyth to a smelter near Fort William.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Route timingsEdit

Since improvements to Scottish trunk roads in the 1980s, a train journey can take significantly longer than the equivalent road journey. There are several reasons for this. The line is entirely single track once it leaves the North Clyde suburban network at Template:Rws and trains must wait at stations with crossing loops for opposite direction trains to pass. Even when no crossing is timetabled, each train must pause at the various token exchange points whilst the driver contacts the main signalling centre at Template:Rws to swap tokens electronically and obtain permission to proceed. Up to 15 minutes have to be allocated for trains to divide or combine at the junction station at Template:Rws, whilst trains heading to/from Mallaig also have to reverse at Fort William & traverse the Banavie swing bridge at low speed. A further issue is finding suitable timetable paths for Oban & Mallaig trains on the busy North Clyde line, which carries an intensive local stopping service. As West Highland trains only stop at Dumbarton Central and Dalmuir on this stretch, it is not uncommon for them be delayed by a preceding local train and so recovery time has to be included in their schedules to reduce the possibility of a late arrival in Glasgow.

Over much of the Rannoch Moor section the speed limit is Template:Convert for the Sprinter and Template:Convert on the approach to Rannoch station. The Caledonian Sleeper travels at Template:Convert maximum, slowing down for a number of bridges on the route due to the heavy weight of the Template:Brc locomotive which hauled the train until the end of the old franchise in April 2015. The operator of the sleeper Serco has replaced these with refurbished Template:Brc electro-diesels since it took over, which have a lighter axle load; it is not yet clear whether the new locomotives will be cleared to run at higher speeds now they are in service.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Rolling stockEdit

Past, present and future rolling stock on the line
Class	Image	Operator	Route	Maximum speed		Builder/Built	In service on the line	Leased from	Notes
Class	Image	Operator	Route	mph	km/h	Builder/Built	In service on the line	Leased from	Notes
Past rolling stock (from 1980)
Template:Brc	File:The Royal Scotsman at County March Summit - geograph.org.uk - 772782.jpg	British Rail (Until 1983) BR ScotRail (From 1983)	Template:Rws to Template:Rws/Template:Rws (Until 1989) London Euston to Template:Rws (Takes over from electric loco at Edinburgh) Freight	80	130	English Electric 1960-1965	1981-1985	N/A	Class 37/0
Template:Brc		BR ScotRail	Glasgow Queen Street to Oban/Mallaig (Until 1989) London Euston to Fort William (Takes over from electric loco at Edinburgh) Freight	90	145	English Electric 1960-1965	1985-2006	N/A	Class 37/4
BR Standard Class 4 2-6-0	File:76079 Castleton East Junction.jpg	West Coast Railways	Fort William to Mallaig	60	96	Horwich Works 1957			The Jacobite
LNER Class K4 2-6-0	File:61994 The Great Marquess in Blaenau Ffestiniog.jpg	West Coast Railways	Fort William to Mallaig	60	96	Darlington Works 1938			The Jacobite
Mark 1 Passenger Coach	File:Mark 1 coach 6313 at Bristol Temple Meads 2006-03-01 05.jpg	British Rail (Until 1983) BR ScotRail (From 1983) Royal Scotsman (1985 - 1989)	Glasgow Queen Street to Oban or Mallaig	100	160	1951-1963	1961-1989	N/A
Mark 2 Passenger Coach	File:Caledonian Sleeper in Fort william.JPG	Caledonian Sleeper	London Euston to Fort William	100	160	BREL 1963-1975	1964-2019		It was replaced by the Mark 5 passenger coach.
Mark 3 Sleeper Coach	File:Caledonian Sleeper at Euston.jpg	Caledonian Sleeper	London Euston to Fort William	125	200	BREL 1979-1980	1980-2019		It was replaced by the Mark 5 sleeping coach.
Current fleet
Template:Brc	File:Class 66 66708 GBRF Hatton 09-05-19 (47810954931).jpg	GB Railfreight	Freight	75	120	Electro-Motive Diesel 1998-2015	2000-	N/A	Class 66/7
Template:Brc	File:Class 66 66708 GBRF Hatton 09-05-19 (47810954931).jpg	Belmond Limited	Special Passenger Workings (Royal Scotsman)	75	120	Electro-Motive Diesel 1998-2015	2000-	GB Railfreight	Class 66/7
Template:Brc	File:67004Waverley.jpg	First ScotRail (Until 2015) Caledonian Sleeper	London Euston to Fort William (Took over from electric loco at Edinburgh)	125	200	Alstom 1999-2000	2006-2016, 2023-	DB Cargo UK
Template:Brc	File:73966, Class 73 Electro-diesel in Caledonian Sleeper livery at Fort William Station.JPG	First ScotRail (Until 2015) Caledonian Sleeper		90	145	British Railways Eastleigh Works 1962 English Electric 1965-1967 Rebuilt 2014-2016	2016-	GB Railfreight	Replaced Class 67 when their lease from DB Cargo UK Expired Class 73/9.
Template:Brc	File:Exeter TCD - GWR 153377.JPG	ScotRail (2021-present)	Glasgow Queen Street to Oban/Mallaig	75	120	Leyland Bus 1987-1988 as Template:Brc<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1\|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Converted to Class 153 by Hunslet-Barclay 1991-1992<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1\|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	2021–	N/A	In service from 19 July
Template:Brc	File:156 458 near Inverlochy Castle.jpg	BR ScotRail (until 1997) National Express (1997-2004) First ScotRail (2005-2015) ScotRail (2015-present)	Glasgow Queen Street to Oban/Mallaig	75	120	Metro-Cammell 1987-1989	1989–			N/A
LMS Stanier Class 5 4-6-0	File:The Jacobite Express - geograph-3677281-by-Stuart-Wilding.jpg	West Coast Railways	Fort William to Mallaig	60	96	Armstrong Whitworth (45212 & 45407) 1935 & 1937 Crewe Works (44871) 1945	-		The Jacobite
Peppercorn Class K1	File:The Jacobite - geograph.org.uk - 902375.jpg			60	96	North British Locomotive Company 1949-1950	-
Mark 1 Passenger coach	File:West Coast Railways Mk1 SK 99712 (25893) at Taunton.JPG			100	160	Cravens 19511963
Mark 2 Passenger Coach	File:Caledonian Sleeper in Fort william.JPG			100	160	BREL 1963–1975
Pullman Mark 3 coach	Dining car - geograph.org.uk - 892799	Belmond Limited	Special Passenger Workings (Royal Scotsman)	125	200	BREL 1979–1980
Mark 3 Sleeper Coach	File:Caledonian Sleeper at Euston.jpg	Belmond Limited	Special Passenger Workings (Royal Scotsman)	125	200	BREL 1979–1980
Mark 5 Passenger Coach	File:CAF mk5 sleeper coach.jpg	Caledonian Sleeper	London Euston to Fort William	100	160	CAF 2016–2018	Oct 2019–	Caledonian Sleeper Rail Leasing	It replaced the Mark 2 passenger coach.
Mark 5 Sleeper Coach	File:CAF mk5 sleeper coach.jpg	Caledonian Sleeper	London Euston to Fort William	100	160	CAF 2016–2018	Oct 2019–	Caledonian Sleeper Rail Leasing	It replaced the Mark 3 sleeping coach.

In early 2018 it was widely reported that Template:Brc would be used from Q3-Q4 2018 to replace the Class 156s. However, following investigation it was discovered that the line does not have sufficient gauge clearance for the class. Template:As of studies were still ongoing.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Some notable railway-related featuresEdit

File:Glenfinnan Viaduct.jpg

Glenfinnan Viaduct

The Horse Shoe Curve, between Template:Rws and Template:Rws
The Cruach Rock snowshed, between Template:Rws and Template:Rws
Glenfinnan Viaduct, between Template:Rws and Template:Rws
The Pass of Brander stone signals, between Template:Rws and Template:Rws
Template:Rws is the most westerly railway station in Great Britain

The two branches of the line are described in detail by John Thomas in his two books (see Sources).

The route in detailEdit

Template:West Highland Line Places served along the route from Glasgow Queen Street are listed below. Sleeper services to Fort William start, however, at London Euston, calling at Template:Stn and Queen Street Low Level (to pick up or set down depending on direction).

Place	Station	OS reference	Notes
Glasgow to Crianlarich
Glasgow	Template:Stnlnk	{{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates\|oscoord\|NS592655_region:GB_scale:25000\|NS592655\|name=}}}}
Dalmuir	Template:Stnlnk	{{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates\|oscoord\|NS484714_region:GB_scale:25000\|NS484714\|name=}}}}
Dumbarton	Template:Stnlnk	{{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates\|oscoord\|NS397755_region:GB_scale:25000\|NS397755\|name=}}}}
Helensburgh	Template:Stnlnk	{{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates\|oscoord\|NS298833_region:GB_scale:25000\|NS298833\|name=}}}}
Garelochhead	Template:Stnlnk	{{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates\|oscoord\|NS242910_region:GB_scale:25000\|NS242910\|name=}}}}
Arrochar and Tarbet	Template:Stnlnk	{{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates\|oscoord\|NN311045_region:GB_scale:25000\|NN311045\|name=}}}}
Ardlui	Template:Stnlnk	{{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates\|oscoord\|NN317155_region:GB_scale:25000\|NN317155\|name=}}}}	Request stop for the Caledonian Sleeper.
Crianlarich	Template:Stnlnk	{{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates\|oscoord\|NN384250_region:GB_scale:25000\|NN384250\|name=}}}}	At Crianlarich the former West Highland Railway route to Fort William and Mallaig links to the remaining section of the former Callander and Oban Railway to Oban
Crianlarich to Oban
Tyndrum	Template:Stnlnk	{{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates\|oscoord\|NN327301_region:GB_scale:25000\|NN327301\|name=}}}}
Dalmally	Template:Stnlnk	{{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates\|oscoord\|NN159271_region:GB_scale:25000\|NN159271\|name=}}}}
Loch Awe	Template:Stnlnk	{{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates\|oscoord\|NN124274_region:GB_scale:25000\|NN124274\|name=}}}}
Loch Awe	Template:Stnlnk	{{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates\|oscoord\|NN079267_region:GB_scale:25000\|NN079267\|name=}}}}	Used mainly by hikers
Taynuilt	Template:Stnlnk	{{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates\|oscoord\|NN003312_region:GB_scale:25000\|NN003312\|name=}}}}
Connel	Template:Stnlnk	{{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates\|oscoord\|NM916340_region:GB_scale:25000\|NM916340\|name=}}}}
Oban	Template:Stnlnk	{{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates\|oscoord\|NM857298_region:GB_scale:25000\|NM857298\|name=}}}}
Crianlarich to Fort William
Tyndrum	Template:Stnlnk	{{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates\|oscoord\|NN333302_region:GB_scale:25000\|NN333302\|name=}}}}
Bridge of Orchy	Template:Stnlnk	{{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates\|oscoord\|NN300394_region:GB_scale:25000\|NN300394\|name=}}}}
Rannoch	Template:Stnlnk	{{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates\|oscoord\|NN422578_region:GB_scale:25000\|NN422578\|name=}}}}
Corrour	Template:Stnlnk	{{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates\|oscoord\|NN356663_region:GB_scale:25000\|NN356663\|name=}}}}	Request stop for the Caledonian Sleeper
Tulloch	Template:Stnlnk	{{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates\|oscoord\|NN354802_region:GB_scale:25000\|NN354802\|name=}}}}
Roy Bridge	Template:Stnlnk	{{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates\|oscoord\|NN272810_region:GB_scale:25000\|NN272810\|name=}}}}	Request stop for the Caledonian Sleeper
Spean Bridge	Template:Stnlnk	{{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates\|oscoord\|NN221814_region:GB_scale:25000\|NN221814\|name=}}}}
Fort William	Template:Stnlnk	{{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates\|oscoord\|NN105741_region:GB_scale:25000\|NN105741\|name=}}}}	Services from Glasgow reverse out of Fort William to continue to Mallaig. The Jacobite runs from Fort William to Mallaig.
Fort William and Mallaig route
Banavie	Template:Stnlnk	{{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates\|oscoord\|NN112767_region:GB_scale:25000\|NN112767\|name=}}}}
Corpach	Template:Stnlnk	{{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates\|oscoord\|NN096767_region:GB_scale:25000\|NN096767\|name=}}}}
Loch Eil	Template:Stnlnk	{{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates\|oscoord\|NN054783_region:GB_scale:25000\|NN054783\|name=}}}}
Loch Eil	Template:Stnlnk	{{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates\|oscoord\|NM994786_region:GB_scale:25000\|NM994786\|name=}}}}	Request stop
Glenfinnan	Template:Stnlnk	{{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates\|oscoord\|NM898810_region:GB_scale:25000\|NM898810\|name=}}}}
Lochailort	Template:Stnlnk	{{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates\|oscoord\|NM768826_region:GB_scale:25000\|NM768826\|name=}}}}	Request stop
Beasdale	Template:Stnlnk	{{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates\|oscoord\|NM709850_region:GB_scale:25000\|NM709850\|name=}}}}	Request stop
Arisaig	Template:Stnlnk	{{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates\|oscoord\|NM663867_region:GB_scale:25000\|NM663867\|name=}}}}
Morar	Template:Stnlnk	{{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates\|oscoord\|NM677929_region:GB_scale:25000\|NM677929\|name=}}}}
Mallaig	Template:Stnlnk	{{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates\|oscoord\|NM675970_region:GB_scale:25000\|NM675970\|name=}}}}	Ferries link Mallaig to Armadale, the Isle of Skye, South Uist and the Small Isles

West Highland Line in filmEdit

Glenfinnan Viaduct, on the line between Fort William and Mallaig, is a filming location for the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter series of films.<ref>Template:Cite news Template:Open access</ref>
Eddie McConnell's poetic documentary A Line for All Seasons (1970) showcases the line and its history set against the scenery of the western highlands as it changes through the seasons.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Template:Rws features in Trainspotting (1996), directed by Danny Boyle.

MuseumEdit

There is a museum dedicated to the history of the West Highland Line situated at Glenfinnan station.

FutureEdit

In the Scottish Government's National Transport Strategy, published in February 2020, it was stated that the line will not be electrified with overhead lines. Instead, an alternative to diesel traction will be found.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

GalleryEdit

A freight train heading south on the West Highland line - geograph.org.uk - 234586.jpg

A freight train heading south on the West Highland Line
Scotrail Class 156 crossing Loch Awe April 2017.jpg

A Scotrail service crosses Loch Awe in 2017
Bridge of Orchy Station 1899197 506f4624.jpg

Bridge of Orchy station in 1961
Railway Bridge, near Inverlochy Castle - geograph.org.uk - 1274838.jpg

Railway Bridge near Inverlochy Castle
Approaching the Glenfinnan Viaduct by Rail - geograph.org.uk - 659934.jpg

Approaching the Glenfinnan Viaduct