UK’s longest train route with 36 stops & ‘breathtaking’ views is AXED after a century – check exact date of last journey
AFTER 10 years in service, the UK’s longest train route with 36 stops and “breathtaking” views is being axed.
For those who haven’t ticked the UK’s longest train journey off the bucket list yet, time is running out.
Spanning 13 hours and 20 minutes, the direct service carried tavellers through the Scottish countryside down to the Cornish coast.
First starting in 1921, the Aberdeen to Penzance service was only reinstated back in 2023 after it was paused during the pandemic.
It covers an impressive 774 miles via Birmingham, with 36 stops.
But sadly, due to limited usage, CrossCountry confirmed that changes to the timetable will axe the route.
The train will run its last service on May 16, 2025.
It will depart from Aberdeen at 8.20am and arrive at Penzance at 9.31pm.
Some of its notable stops include Taunton, Cheltenham, Derby, York and Newcastle.
While some of the most scenic sites along the way include in Bamburgh Castle and the Dawlish seawall.
Single journey tickets cost around £194, but it’s worth it for the views.
The service only runs once a day so if you’re wanting to get back to Aberdeen, you’ll need to be prepared.
Either change in London for the simplest route, or make a maximum of five stops between the likes of Bristol, Newport, Crewe, and Edinburgh.
But should you still wish to experience the UK’s longest direct train service, we recommend grabbing a window seat.
Sit back and watch Edinburgh Castle, Bamburgh Castle, the Fife coastline, the Royal Albert Bridge pass by.
Then finally, you will arrive at the Dawlish seawall down in Devon.
Following the timetable changes in May, a service from Aberdeen will only run as far as Plymouth.
It’ll take just over 11 hours and be 80 miles shorter than its predecessor.
Hopefully, the changes made to the timetable will improve service on the main CrossCountry routes, Simon Calder, travel correspondent for The Independent reports.
In addition, the shorter service from Aberdeen to Plymouth should create a “more efficient timetable” and be a “convenient service” for many customers.
With the scrapping of the Aberdeen to Penzance route, the Caledonian Sleeper’s overnight train from London Euston to Fort William will become the UK’s longest direct train service.
It will last approximately 12 hours and 45 minutes.
Sun Travel's favourite train journeys in the world
Sun Travel’s journalists have taken their fare share of train journeys on their travels and here they share their most memorable rail experiences.
Davos to Geneva, Switzerland
“After a ski holiday in Davos, I took the scenic train back to Geneva Airport. The snow-covered mountains and tiny alpine villages that we passed were so beautiful that it felt like a moving picture was playing beyond the glass.” – Caroline McGuire
Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen
“Nothing quite beats the Shinkansen bullet train, one of the fastest in the world. It hardly feels like you’re whizzing along at speed until you look outside and see the trees a green blur. Make sure to book seat D or E too – as you’ll have the best view of Mount Fuji along the way.” Kara Godfrey
London to Paris by Eurostar
“Those who have never travelled on the Eurostar may wonder what’s so special about a seemingly ordinary train that takes you across the channel. You won’t have to waste a moment and can tick off all the top attractions from the Louvre to the Champs-Élysées which are both less than five kilometres from the Gare du Nord.” – Sophie Swietochowski
Glasgow to Fort William by Scotrail
“From mountain landscapes and serene lochs to the wistful moors, I spent my three-hour journey from Glasgow to Fort William gazing out the window. Sit on the left-hand side of the train for the best views overlooking Loch Lomond.” – Hope Brotherton
Beijing to Ulaanbatar
“The Trans-Mongolian Express is truly a train journey like no other. It starts amid the chaos of central Beijing before the city’s high-rises give way to crumbling ancient villages and eventually the vast vacant plains of Mongolia, via the Gobi desert. The deep orange sunset seen in the middle of the desert is among the best I’ve witnessed anywhere.” – Ryan Gray