Farewell voyage on the lengthiest UK train ride: Enthusiasts hop on the 775-mile Aberdeen to Penzance service, lasting 13 hours and 40 stops, priced at £321. The run is set to terminate permanently.
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Saying goodbye to history, the UK's longest direct train journey, spanning Aberdeen to Penzance, embarked on its final ride today. Operator CrossCountry decided to bid adieu to this iconic 104-year-old route to orchestrate a 'more efficient timetable.'
The beloved train service, with its single southbound direction, took off from Aberdeen at 8:20 am, traversing a whopping 775 miles and reaching Penzance around 9:31 pm. The journey made 12 stops in Scotland, including a trip through Edinburgh, before crossing the border to England.
Excitement filled the air as train enthusiasts boarded the final service. Stuart Storey exclaimed on Twitter, "Time for one last journey on 1V60 with CrossCountry, in for the long haul from Aberdeen to Penzance." Others shared their anticipation, observing, "The time has come to do the UK's longest train journey for the first and final time," and "Time for the CrossCountry longest train journey from Aberdeen all the way down to Penzance, the final one."
The vibrant train ride passed through Newcastle, York, Leeds, Sheffield, the Midlands, Birmingham, Cheltenham, Bristol, Taunton, Tiverton, Exeter, and several stations in the South West before ending at Penzance.
During the journey, passengers had the unique opportunity to watch the first six Star Wars films with a run time of approximately 13 hours and 15 minutes, just shy of the train's own journey time.
CrossCountry's decision to discontinue the route enables a more convenient service to Penzance, making day trips from Bristol and the West of England more accessible, as per the company statement.
The removal of the Aberdeen to Penzance service marks the UK's longest direct journey as the CrossCountry service from Aberdeen to Plymouth, at 695 miles, according to rail industry records[1][4]. This change underscores the industry's focus on more efficient and potentially higher-demand routes.
In essence, the rail industry is undergoing transformative changes, with plans to revitalize other cross-country routes to encourage domestic tourism and bolster regional economies[4]. For instance, aspirations exist to construct a new route from Newcastle to Brighton, aiming to bypass London and foster greater regional connectivity[4].
[1] - https://www.railway-technology.com/projects/aberdeen-penzance-rail-link-reopening/[4] - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-55124562
- The rail industry's focus on more efficient routes is evident as CrossCountry discontinues the UK's longest direct train journey, Aberdeen to Penzance, and transitions to a service from Aberdeen to Plymouth, aiming to boost day trips from Bristol and the West of England.
- The tranformation within the rail industry includes plans to revitalize cross-country routes, encourage domestic tourism, and bolster regional economies, with aspirations to construct a new route from Newcastle to Brighton, bypassing London to foster greater regional connectivity.
