A TINY one-carriage train has been named one of the most amazing rail routes in the world by a team of travel experts.
There are some pretty breathtaking stretches of track running through the UK, making it a great country to travel through by rail.
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One of those is the Heart of Wales railway line, which has been ranked among the top ten train journeys in Europe by Lonely Planet.
Running from Swansea to Shrewsbury, the route is operated by Transport for Wales and takes four hours to complete from start to finish.
The route, which passes through over 30 stations, including Llandeilo, Llandovery and Craven Arms, operates up to four times a day along a single track.
Its scenic journey passes through the green hillsides of Powys and the Millennium Coastal Path.
The tiny also trundles underneath the Sugar Loaf Mountain before crossing the Cynghordy Viaduct.
Other ports of call include Llandovery, Llandeilo in the Tywi Valley, Ammanford ,Pontarddulais and Loughor Estuary.
The final stop on the journey is Swansea, where passengers will be able to board onward rail connections to Cardiff and West Wales.
The route is loved by both day trippers and walkers, with an army of volunteers working to keep some of the stations open.
It has been praised by holidaymakers, with one person writing on TripAdvisor: “Although we only travelled a relatively short distance, it was great fun on this little train.”
Another person added: “Lovely trip to Swansea from Cynorgey. A single carriage train on single track, with stunning views.”
Marie Daly, chief customer and culture officer at Transport for Wales, said: “It’s great to be recognised internationally by Lonely Planet and I’d encourage visitors to take a ride and enjoy the experience of dramatic mountains, forests, wild rivers and the quaint towns and villages of of Shropshire, Powys, Carmarthenshire, and Swansea.”
Tickets on the Heart of Wales Line for a circular route cost £31 per person.
There are other amazing train routes across Europe that you can book a ticket for too.
Italy
Located along the Italian coastline in northern Italy, the Cinque Terre is a string of five villages, including Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore.
The towns are linked together by a rail trip that rail experts and enthusiasts love to ride – and it takes just 25 minutes to complete.
The UK
There are some pretty breathtaking stretches of track running through the UK countryside, making it a great country to travel through by rail.
And the stretch running between Settle and Carlisle has been described as the most scenic in all of Europe by travel experts Lonely Planet.
Meanwhile, this new 19-hour European train service is set to launch between top city break destinations.
And these are four European train trips that can be joined from the UK.
Three scenic train journeys you can take in the UK
Cornish Coast – One trip that rail enthusiasts seem to love is along a stretch of the Cornish coast and takes just 10 minutes to complete.
The route from St Erth to St Ives only stops at Carbis Bay en route to its final destination, but the views out the window for the whole journey are pretty spectacular.
Another highlight of the journey is that St Ives station is situated right next to Porthminster beach, meaning the sand and sea can be accessed almost immediately.
Meanwhile, the station is less than a ten minute walk into town, where the harbour, shops, galleries and pubs can be explored.
Durham to Edinburgh – Another train route that people in the UK love is the East Coast train line between Durham and Edinburgh, with coastal views and city landscapes among the sights that can be seen out the window.
Newcastle, Berwick, Lindisfarne and Durham Cathedral are all among the highlights on that route.
Scotland’s West Highland Line – While Scotland is home to plenty of famous landmarks and top attractions, it also has one of the most breathtaking train routes in the world.
Scotland’s West Highland Line has previously been dubbed the best rail journey in the world by Wanderlust – and it’s easy to see why.
The journey from Glasgow to Fort William is one of my favourite train routes – and I’ve interrailed through mainland Europe.
With mountain landscapes, serene lochs, wistful moors, and wildlife all visible through the train window, it’s certainly a route all holidaymakers should consider doing at least once.
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