West Highland Line

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){{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52168539/the-observer/| title=Opening of the West Highland Railway| newspaper=The Observer| location=London| date=12 August 1894| page=7| via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52167485/the-bristol-mercury-and-daily-post/| title=A New Highland Railway| newspaper=The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post, Western Countries and South Wales Advertiser| location=Bristol, England| date=13 August 1894| page=5| via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52167635/the-record/| title=Fling: Highland train| first=Mary Jane| last=Fine| newspaper=The Record| location=Hackensack, New Jersey| date=26 January 2003| page=145| via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}} - West Highland Railway sponsored by the North British Railway
• Crianlarich to Oban{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52170094/the-courier-and-argus/| title=Railway Enterprise in the North - Railway extension in the West Highlands| newspaper=The Courier and Argus| location=Dundee, Scotland| date=15 August 1895| page=6| via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}} - 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.{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52167299/glasgow-herald/| title=The West Highland Railway (Mallaig Extension) Bill| newspaper=Glasgow Herald| date=28 April 1894| page=3| via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}} The West Highland Railway approved the construction of the line at their annual meeting in January 1895.{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52168299/glasgow-herald/| title=Railway Meetings - West Highland Railway| newspaper=Glasgow Herald| date=18 January 1895| page=10| via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}

The line faced potential closure as part of the Beeching cuts in 1963{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52168010/the-observer/| title=Lifeline in Jeopardy| first=Neal| last=Ascherson| newspaper=The Observer| location=London| date=13 January 1963| page=21| via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}} and again in 1995 due to reduced revenues.{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52166916/johnson-city-press/| title=Scottish rail ride faces closure| first=Maureen| last=Johnson| agency=Associated Press| newspaper=Johnson City Press| location=Johnson City, Tennessee| date=14 May 1995| page=44| via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52168764/the-observer/| title=Deerstalker sees light at end of the tunnel| first=Lisa| last=O'Kelly| newspaper=The Observer| location=London| date=14 May 1995| page=7| via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}

{{morefootnotes|section|date=October 2023}}

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

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

Shortly after leaving Glasgow Queen Street station, and beyond Queen Street Tunnel, the line diverges from the main trunk route to {{rws|Edinburgh Waverley}} and {{rws|Perth|Scotland}} at {{rws|Cowlairs}} and follows a northwesterly course through the suburbs of Maryhill and Kelvindale. Between {{Stnlnk|Westerton}} and Dumbarton, the route is shared with the North Clyde Line to {{rws|Helensburgh Central}} before branching northward at Craigendoran Junction towards {{Stnlnk|Garelochhead}}, 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 {{rws|Glen Falloch}} to {{rws|Crianlarich}}.

File:HelensburghUpperTS.jpeg in 2020]]

The branch to Oban diverges at Crianlarich, an important Highland junction of both road and rail, and runs through Glen Lochy to {{Stnlnk|Dalmally}} and through the Pass of Brander to reach salt water at {{Stnlnk|Taynuilt}} and {{Stnlnk|Connel Ferry}} before a final climb over a hill to {{Stnlnk|Oban}}. About {{convert|3|mi|km|0|abbr=off|spell=on}} 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 {{rws|Bridge of Orchy}}, the line to Mallaig climbs onto Rannoch Moor, past the former crossing point at Gorton Crossing to {{Stnlnk|Rannoch}} station. In winter, the moor is often covered with snow,{{refn|group=note|After a particularly heavy snowfall in January 1895, the snow was so heavy as to require {{convert|20|ft|m|0|adj=mid|deep}} cuttings to allow passage on the line.{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52169047/sheffield-and-rotherham-independent/| title=The Weather - The snow blocks in Scotland - A passage cut through the West Highland Line| newspaper=Sheffield and Rotherham Independent| location=Sheffield, England| date=10 January 1895| page=5| via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52169445/glasgow-herald/| title=(untitled)| newspaper=Glasgow Herald| date=8 February 1895| page=6| via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52169901/aberdeen-journal-and-general/| title=The storm disasters| newspaper=Aberdeen Journal, and General Advertiser for the North of Scotland| date=9 January 1895| page=6| via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}}} and deer may be seen running from the approaching train. The station at {{Stnlnk|Corrour}} 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 {{Stnlnk|Spean Bridge}}. 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.

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 - {{rws|Glasgow Queen Street}}
• 1tpd each way Mallaig - {{rws|Fort William}}
• 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.scotrail.co.uk/sites/default/files/assets/download_ct/20210517/LGFnG7mu5UZezcXLltgOB74cAkM2NekKoWTaJUmMTIU/sr0041_west_highlands_may_2021.pdf |title=West Highlands Timetable May 2021 |date=May 2021 |website=Scotrail |access-date=17 June 2021}}

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.{{cite web |url=https://www.sleeper.scot/timetable/london-fort-william/ |title=London to Fort William timetable |date=May 2021 |website=Caledonian Sleeper |access-date=17 June 2021}}

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.{{Cite web|date=2021-02-18|title=End of freight on Harry Potter line|url=https://www.railfreight.com/railfreight/2021/02/18/end-of-freight-on-harry-potter-line/|access-date=2021-02-28|website=RailFreight.com|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Munro|first=Alistair|title=End of the line? West Highland Line freight fears|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/highlands/2862172/end-of-the-line-west-highland-line-freight-fears/|access-date=2021-02-28|website=Press and Journal|date=2 February 2021 |language=en-US}}

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 {{rws|Craigendoran}} 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 {{rws|Banavie}} 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 {{rws|Crianlarich}}, 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 {{convert|60|mph|km/h|round=5|abbr=on}} for the Sprinter and {{convert|70|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} on the approach to Rannoch station. The Caledonian Sleeper travels at {{convert|40|mph|km/h|round=5|abbr=on}} maximum, slowing down for a number of bridges on the route due to the heavy weight of the {{brc|67}} 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 {{brc|73|9}} 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.{{cite web| url=http://www.westhighlandline.org.uk/index.php/news/74-class-73s-for-sleeper-train| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827113704/http://www.westhighlandline.org.uk/index.php/news/74-class-73s-for-sleeper-train| archive-date=27 August 2016| title=Class 73s for sleeper train| website=Friends of the West Highland Line| access-date=26 August 2016}}

In early 2018 it was widely reported that {{brc|158|cs}} 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. {{As of|2018|August}} studies were still ongoing.{{cite web |url=http://westhighlandline.org.uk/2018-agm/ | url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180823210702/http://westhighlandline.org.uk/2018-agm/| archive-date=23 August 2018| access-date=23 August 2018 |title=2018 AGM Report| website=Friends of the West Highland Lines}}

File:Glenfinnan Viaduct.jpg]]

• The Horse Shoe Curve, between {{rws|Upper Tyndrum}} and {{rws|Bridge of Orchy}}
• The Cruach Rock snowshed, between {{rws|Rannoch}} and {{rws|Corrour}}
• Glenfinnan Viaduct, between {{rws|Locheilside}} and {{rws|Glenfinnan}}
• The Pass of Brander stone signals, between {{rws|Dalmally}} and {{rws|Taynuilt}}
• {{rws|Arisaig}} 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).

{{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 {{stn|Edinburgh Waverley}} and Queen Street Low Level (to pick up or set down depending on direction).

• 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.{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52167768/the-philadelphia-inquirer/| title=Slow train's rewards just outside window| first=Will| last=Hawkes| agency=Washington Post News Service| newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer| date=16 February 2020| page=H14| via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}
• 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.{{cite web| url=http://ssa.nls.uk/film/4364| website=Scottish Screen Archive| title=Full record for 'LINE FOR ALL SEASONS, a'| access-date=2009-02-06}}
• {{rws|Corrour}} features in Trainspotting (1996), directed by Danny Boyle.

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

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.{{cite magazine|last=Shirres|first=David|title=Decarbonising Scotland's Railway|url=https://www.railengineer.co.uk/rail-engineer-may-june-2021-hs2s-largest-bridge-decarbonising-scotland-and-piccadilly-line-trains/|magazine=Rail Engineer|location=|publisher=|issue=190|pages=46–53|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-07-03}}

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

{{reflist|group=note}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book|last=Thomas |first=John |year=1965 |title=The West Highland Railway |location=Newton Abbot |publisher=David and Charles (Publishers) Ltd. |isbn=0-7153-7281-5 }}
• {{Thomas-CandO}}

• {{cite book |title=Great Railway Journeys Through Time: West Highland Line |first=John |last=McGregor |publisher=Amberley Publishing |year=2013 |isbn=9781445613369 |oclc=839316369 }}
• {{cite magazine |title=Pearls beyond price |first=Peter |last=Kelly |pages=23–33 |date=September 1983 |magazine=Rail Enthusiast |publisher=EMAP National Publications |issn=0262-561X |oclc=49957965 }}
• {{cite magazine |title=Oban line |first=Eddie |last=Bellass |magazine=Rail Enthusiast |publisher=EMAP National Publications |date=June 1984 |pages=35–37, 39 |issn=0262-561X |oclc=49957965 }}

{{Commons category|West Highland Line}}

{{Wikivoyage|West Highland Railway|West Highland Line}}

• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G20ooYEBviw#t=1680 Video of entire journey from Glasgow Queen Street over Fort William to Mallaig]: filmed from the cab of the train.
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iygaGHqgdlA Video footage of Garelochhead railway station]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8nvTLt-ABI Lochailort railway station]

{{Railway lines in Scotland}}

Category:Transport in Argyll and Bute

Category:Transport in Highland (council area)

Category:Railway lines in Scotland

Category:Standard gauge railways in Scotland