West Highland Line

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West Highland Line

Legend Mallaig Morar Arisaig Beasdale Lochailort Glenfinnan Locheilside Loch Eil Outward Bound Corpach Banavie Fort William Spean Bridge Roy Bridge Tulloch Corrour Rannoch Bridge of Orchy Upper Tyndrum Oban Connel Ferry Taynuilt Falls of Cruachan (summer only) Loch Awe Dalmally Tyndrum Lower Crianlarich Ardlui Arrochar and Tarbet Garelochhead Helensburgh Upper Dumbarton Central Dalmuir Glasgow Queen Street

The West Highland Line (Scottish Gaelic: Rathad Iarainn nan Eilean - "Iron Road to the Isles") is one of the most scenic railway lines in Britain, linking the fishing port of Mallaig on the west coast to Glasgow. Passenger services on the line are operated by First ScotRail, primarily between Glasgow and Mallaig. However, a through sleeper train service operates from London Euston to Fort William.

The route between Glasgow and Fort William was built as the West Highland Railway sponsored by the North British Railway, whilst the section section Crianlarich and Oban was part of the Callander and Oban Railway, operated by the Caledonian Railway.

Since the great improvements to Scottish trunk roads in the 1980s, the train journey can take significantly longer than the equivalent road journey. The line takes a circuitous route that brings it into Fort William from the north-east. The line is single track throughout and trains must wait at stations with crossing loops for opposite direction trains to pass. Over much of the Rannoch Moor section the speed limit is 30 mph to avoid damage to the foundations of the track which float on top of the boggy ground.

Shortly after leaving Queen Street Station in Glasgow, and beyond Queen Street Tunnel, the line follows a northwesterly course through the suburbs of Maryhill and Kelvindale. Between Westerton and Dumbarton, the route is shared with the North Clyde Line before branching northward at Craigendoran Junction towards Garelochhead and emerging alongside the northwesterly shores of Loch Lomond; the section where the WHL is generally accepted to "begin proper". Significant points on the journey include Crianlarich, an important Highland junction of both road and rail, and Tyndrum, the smallest place in Scotland to boast two railway stations. After Tyndrum, the line climbs onto the Rannoch Moor. In winter, the moor is often covered with snow, and the deer may be seen running from the approaching train. The station at Corrour on the moor is one of the most remote stations in Britain. Carrying on northwards, the final stop before Fort William is Spean Bridge.

The sleeper train terminates at Fort William, but the true glory of the West Highland Line is yet to come. The section between Fort William and Mallaig passes over a magnificent viaduct at Glenfinnan, through Arisaig with its fine views of the Small Isles of Rùm, Eigg, Muck and Canna, and the sparkling white sands of Morar before coming to Mallaig itself. "The Jacobite" steam locomotive-hauled train operates over this section in summer.

With the exception of 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.

[edit] The route in detail

Places served along the route from Glasgow Queen Street are listed below. Sleeper services to Fort William start, however, at London Euston, calling at Edinburgh Waverley.

Place	Station	Ordnance Survey grid reference
Glasgow	Queen Street	NS592655
Dalmuir	Dalmuir	NS484714
Dumbarton	Dumbarton Central	NS397755
Helensburgh	Helensburgh Upper	NS298833
Garelochhead	Garelochhead	NS242910
Arrochar and Tarbet	Arrochar and Tarbet	NN311045
Ardlui	Ardlui	NN317155
Crianlarich	Crianlarich	NN384250	The route divides at Crianlarich to serve either Oban or Fort William and Mallaig.
Oban route
Tyndrum	Tyndrum Lower	NN327301
Dalmally	Dalmally	NN159271
Loch Awe	Loch Awe	NN124274
Loch Awe	Falls of Cruachan	NN079267	Falls of Cruachan is a request stop, used mainly by hikers.
Taynuilt	Taynuilt	NN003312
Connel	Connel Ferry	NM916340
Oban	Oban	NM857298
Fort William and Mallaig route
Tyndrum	Upper Tyndrum	NN333302
Bridge of Orchy	Bridge of Orchy	NN300394
Rannoch	Rannoch	NN422578
Corrour	Corrour	NN356663
Tulloch	Tulloch	NN354802
Roy Bridge	Roy Bridge	NN272810
Spean Bridge	Spean Bridge	NN221814
Fort William	Fort William	NN105741	Services from Glasgow reverse out of Fort William to continue to Mallaig. The Jacobite runs from Fort William to Mallaig.
Banavie	Banavie	NN112767
Corpach	Corpach	NN096767
Loch Eil	Loch Eil Outward Bound	NN054783
Loch Eil	Locheilside	NM994786
Glenfinnan	Glenfinnan	NM898810
Lochailort	Lochailort	NM768826
Beasdale	Beasdale	NM709850
Arisaig	Arisaig	NM663867
Morar	Morar	NM677929
Mallaig	Mallaig	NM675970	Ferries link Mallaig to the Kyle of Lochalsh, Armadale, the Isle of Skye and the Small Isles.