You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Hi Matt, can you give us more insider details…
Where does this go from, and to, and what rides (road or mtb) does it open up.
This looks awesome btw, thanks.
I took this route to Oban nearly 20 years ago. It was the first time I’d seen proper dedicated bike space on a train, and lots of it. All these years later, and there’s still nothing like that in the areas I visit by train in England. To ramp things up even further is an impressive move.
This is Glasgow - Mallaig Line.
It opens up stops and rides around Loch Lomond, North Argyll, Rannoch Moor, Spean Bridge, Fort William, and then on out west past Glenfinnan to Mallaig. Connects with ferry to Skye
Connections with a lot of road, bikepacking and gravel long distance routes. It also opens up many day outings on MTB, gravel and road.
@matt_outandabout It's actually the Glasgow - Oban line but should extend to the rest of the line, and Scotland, later.
We hope to extend the service to Fort William and Mallaig in time, and eventually look at bringing the concept to all corners of Scotland.
https://www.scotrail.co.uk/scotrail-highland-explorer
After the West Highland line I reckon the North Highland and Kyle of Lochalsh lines would be ideal candidates.
This was old news wasn't it? Or has the carriage just been added?
Of late I've come to realise just how scandalous the bike provision is on the Inverness/Kyle of Lochalsh line. 2 bike per 4 carriages, and the space is so inadequate (think 2 hooks in the ceiling of a broom cupboard) that a lot of bikes won't actually fit.
Once again a huge opportunity for active tourism missed.
I wrote to transport secretary a while ago (when they were proposing REDUCING capacity on West Highland Line) and maybe it worked, perhaps time to dust off the old email and change the subject a bit...
The Crianlarich - Glen Kinglas - Taynuilt route would be a nice ride, either in a day or as an overnighter. Train back from Taynuilt to Crianlarich if parked there.
@13thfloormonk had a bet with myself that it was Class 158s on that line, wasn't wrong. Those trains have always been bloody weird, if you want a laugh Lee Craigie posted a vid on Instagram of her cramming a cargo bike into one of those lockers. I think they were originally supposed to house the catering trolley (used to have roller doors) and someone modded them on the cheap.
But yeah they are awful for bikes imagine how bad it was when they were doing the Edinburgh - Glasgow service!