Railways

This breathtaking train journey is right beside the sea, where you can see black swans, quaint villages, and even see waves crashing into the tracks.

It is often said that the journey matters just as much as the destination – and across the UK, certain train routes are so stunning they become an attraction in themselves. The Riviera Line is a railway route in Devon, England, renowned for its spectacular scenery, as it is one of the few railways in Britain that runs directly alongside the sea.

This train journey covers 28 miles from Exeter city centre to the town of Paignton, taking approximately 50 to 60 minutes. It is one of the most affordable ways to soak up the most picturesque landscapes of the English Riviera, where waves are known to crash across the train tracks.

A single ticket costs around £8 for an adult, with most websites pricing them at £8.40, and returns available at £10.70.

It has also been recognised as one of the “most scenic train journeys” in Britain by National Geographic, which highlights that it showcases “the best views the English Riviera has to offer.”

They said: “South Devon’s Riviera Line connects Exeter with Paignton, threading its way past towering cliffs, numerous estuaries (look out for egrets, one of the UK’s rarest birds), quaint market towns and Powderham Castle, with its deer-filled grounds.”

What can you see on the Riviera Line?

Once you depart Exeter, the train hugs the Exe Estuary, a vast expanse of water where the River Exe meets the English Channel, reports the Express.

Passengers are treated to breathtaking views of the shimmering sea, whilst numerous boats can be spotted making their way along the riverbanks. Have your camera at the ready the moment you arrive at Starcross, a tranquil rural village, as you’ll encounter the renowned sea wall at Dawlish.

Waves frequently crash spectacularly straight over the railway line, creating a stunning sight, and you’ll also witness the iconic sandstone cliffs, celebrated for their vivid rusty red hue.

Dawlish is equally famous for its black swans, though the region serves as a sanctuary for distinctive birdlife as you can regularly observe egrets, herons and waders along the coastline.

The train also passes through Teignmouth, a seaside resort recognised for its vibrant houses and enormous Victorian pier extending into the sea.

You’ll then sweep past the English countryside, where you’ll observe abundant green woodland, agricultural land, tiny hamlets, and you’ll also catch sight of the Dartmoor hills on the horizon

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As you near Paignton, you’ll begin to notice palm trees as the locale is renowned for having gentler weather than the rest of Britain and enjoys summers warm enough for tropical vegetation.

Be sure to sit on the right-hand side of the train at Exeter for the finest views, and you’ll be able to savour the best of Britain’s coastal landscape without requiring a car or ferry.

The Hoffman Kiln near Settle in the Yorkshire Dales is a moss-covered derelict kiln hidden in woodlands, though the site is currently undergoing development with limited access

For those looking for an extraordinary walking adventure, this trail delivers something truly unique and proves ideal for youngsters who relish uncovering secret treasures along the way.

Nestled within the forests on the outskirts of Settle in Yorkshire lies Hoffman Kiln, an abandoned kiln that once served as an insulated furnace for burning raw materials.

Today, it resembles an subterranean grotto constructed from brickwork and blanketed in moss, lending the location an unsettling verdant atmosphere.

Its past remains somewhat enigmatic to locals, though additional points of interest dot the vicinity, designated as part of the ‘Craven Limeworks trail’.

The kiln formed part of what was previously an industrial complex, where Yorkshire workers toiled in appalling conditions before nature eventually reclaimed the site, leaving it abandoned.

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Historical background

The nineteenth century witnessed the establishment of the railway route connecting Settle to Carlisle, which subsequently generated fresh industrial prospects for the region.

The railway regularly transported coal inbound to process the limestone extracted from the scar, then carried away the completed product.

Enormous quantities of stone were once processed here, yet now it lies concealed. The kiln was previously operated by labourers whose responsibility involved shovelling burnt lime onto wagons positioned mere feet away in the sidings.

Describing the harsh working conditions, Senior Historic Environment Officer Miles Johnson explained: “It’s quite pleasant space to be in now but whilst it was in use it was probably absolutely grim. Lime is really nasty, caustic stuff to work with.

“The lime burners who worked in here had to cover every inch of their body with rags and clothing to try to keep the lime dust out. When lime dust meets moisture or water it reacts and generates a lot of heat.

“So if you’ve got lime dust on your body, and you’re shovelling and starting to sweat, then you’d start to blister and burn quite quickly.”

Exploration today

Proposals to develop the land housing the kiln have been under consideration for some time. Back in 2021, it emerged that Craven District Council’s planning application had received approval, with the site now earmarked for commercial development.

Prior to construction commencing, one visitor wrote on TripAdvisor: “Really loved my visit. I was amazed by how big the site is, considering it isn’t promoted very well. There is lots to explore, and the information boards are very helpful.

“The car park for the site is also quite large, so there is plenty of room. It felt quite exciting to be exploring the vast Hoffmann kiln by torchlight, and I was very pleased to see that it hadn’t been littered or abused.”

Yet more recently, visitors have suggested that the feeling of discovering a secret, unspoilt location has vanished, with construction work now progressing at full pace. A later review states: “These unusual kilns are well worth a visit.

“However, as other reviewers have mentioned, at the moment the area is a building site. There is access to the Hoffman kiln, but you need to cross the building site and walk along beside the railway.”

To find the kiln, you can use the postcode BD24 9NU, where you’ll find it just off the main road between Langcliffe and Stainforth.

One train journey takes a staggering 167 hours to complete, with the railway spanning eight time zones to make it the longest in the world

The longest direct train journey in the world stretches a staggering 5,771 miles and takes almost a week to complete. Passengers on board the train undertake a mammoth journey through eight time zones.

The Trans-Siberian Railroad claims the title of the longest single rail system in the world. It connects east and west Russia, running from Moscow to Vladivostok.

To travel the length of the railway, it takes approximately 167 hours and requires no passenger changes. Heading east from Moscow, the train crosses the country to the Pacific Ocean.

There are even non-stop train options, so all passengers remain on board throughout the seven days. If you prefer to get off and explore the local surroundings, passengers can opt for the stopping service.

However, this takes between 14 and 20 days to complete. The Trans-Siberian railway runs through cities such as Moscow, Yaroslavl, Chelyabinsk, Omsk, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude, Chita, Khabarovsk, and Vladivostok.

There’s also the Trans-Manchurian line, which runs through northern China to Beijing, and the Trans-Mongolian, which heads to Beijing but passes through Ulan Bator.

A famous train on the Trans-Siberian railway is Rossiya (the Russia), which has second-class sleepers, third-class open-plan sleeper bunks, and a restaurant car.

Passengers can pay for four tickets to ensure sole occupancy of a four-berth compartment, even if they’re the only ones travelling. The bunks convert to seats during the day, with toilets and washrooms at the ends of the corridors.

Many tourists who travelled the route chose not to start or end their journey in Russia. Tourists once began in London and made their way to Moscow before boarding the Trans-Siberian Railroad.

Once in Vladivostok, tourists could then head to Korea, Japan, or China without taking a plane. National Geographic also ran tours along the route, offering tourists the chance to travel on “one of the world’s most legendary railways.”

They described the journey: “Set out on an epic train journey across one-third of the world, travelling from Vladivostok, Russia to the heart of Moscow along the legendary Trans-Siberian Railway.

“From the Mongolian steppe to Lake Baikal’s remote shores to the snow-capped Ural Mountains, trace the history of tsars, exiles, and Mongols in the comfort of our luxury train, the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express. Encounter remote cultures and the unique architecture of Siberia’s wooden cottages and Moscow’s onion domes.”

Tours like these have been halted, yet the train is reportedly still being used by Russians. The UK Government warn against all travel to Russia.

Official advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office says: “FCDO advises against all travel to Russia due to the risks and threats from its continuing invasion of Ukraine, including security incidents, such as drone attacks, and Russian air defence activity, lack of flights to return to the UK and limited ability for the UK government to provide support.”

The trail is an 8.5-mile family-friendly walk through the Peak District with stunning viaduct views, tunnels and plenty of cafes along the flat, accessible route perfect for pushchairs

Featuring views of a bridge looking like something straight out of Harry Potter, this Peak District ramble will delight youngsters without being too demanding on their small legs this half-term.

The Monsal Trail is a beloved Derbyshire spot that traces the route of the old Manchester to London Midland Railway line, which closed down in the 1960s.

These days, it serves a different function – guiding ramblers along the path, through tunnels and across the magnificent railway viaduct.

A recent visitor described their experience on TripAdvisor, stating: “For enthusiasts of railway walks, this route stands out as one of the finest in the UK.

It offers a captivating combination of stunning views, numerous tunnels, and impressive viaducts that showcase the area’s historical and engineering heritage.”

Along the way, there are three cafés-two conveniently located directly on the trail and one set slightly back-providing excellent opportunities to rest and refresh. “

The Route

To reach the trail’s starting point, you’ll need to begin behind Hassop Station, walking past the front of the building and proceeding beneath the bridge.

The route then continues as you pass Longstone Station, Headstone Tunnel and the Monsal Viaduct – all standout and characteristic features of this walk.

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Two shorter tunnels await before you arrive at Miller’s Dale Station. To reach the trail’s end, you’ll need to press on along the viaducts, bearing left beneath the dramatic cliffs of Chee Tor towering above – completing an 8.5-mile route.

What makes this walk so beloved and ideal for a half-term outing is how accessible it is; suitable for pushchairs, wheelchairs and young children alike.

The level terrain allows for an effortless stroll through the dales, whilst the multiple refreshment points dotted along the way make it perfect for little ones requiring a quick loo stop or energy boost.

Cafés

Before your adventure even kicks off, you can pop into Hassop Station for breakfast, all-day brunch, lunch and loads of sweet treats.

Alternatively, you can simply pause for a cuppa, getting fuelled up before a lengthy ramble through the Peak District at this handily positioned café.

It also features shops for a quick browse, stocking books, accessories, homeware and more. Plus, as it’s the trail’s starting point for many visitors, they offer bike hire to tackle the route in style.

One customer commented: “Visited the café three times in our week. By far the best place for breakfast, lunch, coffee and cake. Also the best Bakewell slice we had! The trail is stunning and such a great café to visit before and/or after was a great find we’ll be returning for!”

The refurbished Refreshment Room at Millers Dale Station provides another excellent place to pause for delicious food and refreshments during your journey.

The building stands as a stunning homage to the railway history of the trail and provides ample room to relax or shelter from the weather, complete with toilet facilities and refreshments.

One visitor said: “Stopped here for a bite to eat after a walk, absolutely wonderful café! The coffee was one of the best I’ve tried! Lovely customer service by all staff. Will 100% be going back.”

Where to stay

The Monsal Trail lies in the heart of the Peak District, with Bakewell positioned at one end and Blackwell Mill, near Buxton, at the opposite end.

This positioning makes it a favoured route for visitors exploring these major towns who fancy extending their stroll into a weekend break. Alternatively, it’s just over an hour’s drive from Derby city centre.

Bakewell is famous for the much-loved Bakewell Tart, available in practically every café and coffee shop throughout the town. The area also boasts numerous pubs offering more substantial meals following a lengthy day’s ramble.

Buxton, meanwhile, is a spa town, renowned for its natural spring water and status as Britain’s highest market town. Visitors typically choose a weekend break here for the spa facilities, tranquillity and easy access to excellent walking and cycling routes.

The tunnel will become the world’s longest underground railway connection at 64km long when it opens

The Brenner Base Tunnel is presently being built to link Austria and Italy. This remarkable tunnel, destined to become the world’s longest, is due to open in 2032.

The railway tunnel will join the Austrian city of Innsbruck with Franzensfeste/Fortezza in Italy, connecting two nations across different time zones. Construction expenses are projected at 8.54billion euros (£7.4billion). The extraordinary BBT will stretch for 55km (34 miles) as a cutting-edge railway tunnel.

BBT explained: “In May 1994, a railway bypass was opened south of Innsbruck, known as the Inn valley tunnel. This 12.7 km tunnel links to the Brenner Base Tunnel.

“Passenger and freight trains along this stretch will therefore not only travel through the Brenner Base Tunnel, but for a few kilometres, through the Inn valley tunnel as well. This line, totalling 64 kilometres, will become the longest underground railway connection in the world.”

An unusual characteristic of the Brenner Base Tunnel is the “exploratory tunnel running from one end to the other”.

“This tunnel lies between the two main tunnels and about 12m below them and with a diameter of 5m is noticeably smaller than the main tubes.

“The excavations currently underway on the exploratory tunnel should provide information on the rock mass and thereby reduce construction costs and times to a minimum.

“The exploratory tunnel will be essential for drainage when the BBT becomes operational.”

Additional remarkable railway projects include the globe’s lengthiest train route, which links three nations spanning eight time zones.

You’ll have to hurry

The UK’s tiniest railway station measures just 15 metres in length and can only accommodate one train door opening at a time. Among the hundreds of stations dotted across Britain linking villages, towns and cities, one holds the record for being the smallest.

Beauly Station in the Scottish Highlands claims this unique distinction. Its platform is considerably shorter than a single train carriage, meaning passengers must be given advance notice if they wish to alight there.

An announcement alerts travellers to plan accordingly if Beauly is their destination.

The station boasts a rich heritage, having first opened its doors in 1862. But by 1960, fierce competition from local bus services forced its closure.

More than four decades later, following determined campaigns by local residents, it reopened. Since 2002, Beauly Station has featured a modest 10-space car park, bicycle storage and shelter facilities, reports the Express.

Whilst there’s no ticket office, the diminutive station remarkably handles approximately 35,000 passenger journeys annually, according to figures from the Carno Station Action Group. Located roughly 10 miles west of Inverness, it serves ScotRail services.

Trains calling at Beauly travel onwards to Wick, Kyle of Lochalsh, Dingwall, Invergordon, Ardgay and Inverness.

The station wasn’t always this compact, having previously boasted two platforms. Originally constructed for the Inverness to Invergordon line in the 1800s, it featured twin platforms, a passing loop and a goods shed.

During the 1960s, Beauly was amongst numerous stations axed. All stations between Inverness and Dingwall were shut down.

The solitary platform at Beauly standing today was constructed in 2002 when the station reopened. The reinstatement scheme came with a £250,000 price tag.

Class 158 trains normally operate on this line, which extend beyond Beauly’s platform length.

Usually, only the front door of the train opens to allow passengers to board and alight.

The railway operates on tracks dating back to 1725 and 1621, making it the world’s oldest. Heritage steam trains run every Sunday along the three-mile route, kept alive by dedicated volunteers

Britain boasts a remarkable industrial heritage, with its railway network standing as a particular point of pride. Through decades of ingenuity and hard graft, tracks were laid across the country, linking villages, towns and cities together.

While many of these lines remain operational today, only one can claim the distinction of being the world’s oldest. Sections of this historic route stretch back to 1725 and continue to operate as a heritage railway.

A passenger service travels along the three-mile stretch every Sunday.

The Tanfield Railway winds its way through Gateshead and County Durham. Its origins began as a horse-drawn colliery wooden waggonway, then evolved into a rope-and-horse railway, and eventually into a rope-and-loco railway.

Preserved industrial steam locomotives still traverse the route between East Tanfield, Durham, and Sunniside, Gateshead. The railway holds the distinction of being the world’s oldest, with track sections dating to 1725 and other portions in service since 1621, reports the Express.

The Tanfield Railway was constructed for transporting coal, not people, to the River Tyne for shipping to London and further afield. It employed cutting-edge technology for its era, with wooden wagons running on wooden rails, hauled by horses.

This predated the arrival of iron rails and steam power on the railway by a century. Today, dedicated volunteers have shouldered the responsibility of maintaining Tanfield Railway’s remarkable heritage.

Last year marked the railway’s 300th anniversary, with celebrations featured in the BBC documentary, The World’s Oldest Railway. Tom Hartley joined as a volunteer in 2004 after being captivated by the North Polar Express train during a childhood trip with his parents.

At 19, Tom and three fellow volunteers set out to restore their own steam engine. They purchased the National Coal Board No. 38 from veteran volunteer Peter Weightman for just £1, working out at 25p each.

The group has invested countless hours and considerable funds into the restoration project, with hopes that the locomotive will soon be operational again.

Peter reflected: “It was frightening to see so many lovely machines that were getting scrapped in the 1960s, and that was my motivation really. Somebody had to do it before we lost our history, our local history.

“It has taken a lifetime to do it all, but I have confidence knowing that the next generation is going to repair it and get it working.”

Around 170 volunteers contribute to Tanfield’s operations, alongside three full-time employees.

General manager David Watchman expressed his pride: “I am really proud of our railway; we have a fantastic bunch of volunteers. Everyone has their own skill set. It is all about the people, and we have volunteers aged 12 through to 92. The railway wouldn’t exist without them.”

Only a few parts of this long-forgotten railway line remain standing, but it once carried up to 2,000 people a year on their final journeys along with their mourning loved ones clad in black

The Victorians have a reputation for dealing with death in strange ways, from photographing the dead to their obsession with Memento Mori objects, reminding them of the inevitability of death. But one almost forgotten part of Victorian history is particularly creepy and involves a long-abandoned railway line.

Early into Queen Victoria’s reign, the city faced a horrific problem. It had doubled in size thanks to the Industrial Revolution, bringing the population up to 2.5 million, many of whom lived in crowded, unsanitary conditions, causing outbreaks of conditions such as Cholera. London was the largest city in the world, but it also had insufficient sewage facilities and poor water quality, leading to disease and death. A Londoner born in the 1840s had an average life expectancy of just 36.7 years.

London’s churches soon found their graveyards were full to capacity, leading to the horrific practice of exhuming the recently deceased to make way for newer burials. As a solution, a huge new cemetery was planned in Brookwood, Surrey, but the plodding horse and carriages of the time would have taken hours to transport a body to this location. Therefore, the idea for the London Necropolis railway was formed.

The London Necropolis railway station was built next to Waterloo, and had a beautiful, ornate exterior typical of Victorian architecture. Here, the bodies of people of all ages and social classes were readied for their final 23-mile journey to the new Brookwood Cemetery in leafy Surrey, a world away from the grubby streets of London.

Coffins were issued a one-way ticket, while the mourners accompanying them would get a return ticket to take them back into the city after the service. Once the trains arrived in Brookwood, they made two stops in the Anglican and Nonconformist parts of the cemetery, depending on the religion of the deceased.

While all sorts of people were laid to rest in Brookwood, the rich, of course, enjoyed a better class of funeral than the Victorian poor. A first-class funeral came with a choice of burial plots and the ability to erect a permanent memorial. Those who chose a second-class funeral could put up a gravestone or other memorial for an additional cost, but if they failed to do so, the grave could end up being reused.

In third class were people who had a pauper’s funeral, paid for by their local parish. While these people weren’t given their own gravestone, they did get separate graves, which were much more dignified than the horrific burial practices going on at London’s graveyards at the time. The London Necropolis Company (LNC) carried out the burials, and about 80% of the funerals it held were third class, for those whose families couldn’t afford a service.

First and second class passengers had a separate waiting area, and their loved ones’ names were announced as their coffins were carried onto the train, a ceremonial touch not afforded to those headed to unmarked graves.

As London grew, and with the building of the London Underground, proper sewage systems, and overground railways, many churchyards stood in the way. The Necropolis Railway took on a huge new project, relocating the bodies from 21 churchyards across the city to the Surrey cemetery

Trains ran daily, and Sundays were a particularly busy day for funerals. It was the only day of the week when many workers had off, and by scheduling their loved ones’ funerals, they could avoid taking an extra day off.

The London Necropolis Railway ran until 1941, when a World War Two bomb destroyed the London station and track. By that point, funeral directors were increasingly using motorised hearses, and in the post-WW2 reconstruction of the city, the destroyed funeral train service wasn’t seen as a priority.

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Visit Westminster Bridge House and you can still see some of the façade of the old station building, although the old sign is boarded up. However, in Brookwood Cemetery, the remains of this unusual chapter of history are still on display. You can still see parts of the track, and plaques commemorate the 200,000 people who reached their final resting place on this unique train line.

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