South West England
South West England

Railway journeys in South West England

7 charter trains and 6 scenic lines, signed in the colours of the old Western Region.

Photo: Stuart Wilding, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Charter trains

The Bournemouth BelleSteam
STEAM · WESTERN REGIONNº 18785

The Bournemouth Belle

FromLondon WaterlootoBournemouth and Swanage

Recreation of the Southern's Pullman express from Waterloo to Bournemouth behind a Bulleid Pacific, continuing to Swanage.

DiningPremier diningFirst ClassAfternoon teaBarFamily friendly
Sit leftfrom£120
The Royal DuchySteam
STEAM · WESTERN REGIONNº 26704

The Royal Duchy

FromBristol Temple MeadstoPlymouth and Par

Sunday steam from Bristol and Taunton along the Dawlish sea wall and over the Royal Albert Bridge into Cornwall.

DiningPremier diningFirst ClassAfternoon teaBarFamily friendly
Sit leftfrom£149
The Torbay Riviera PullmanLuxuryNext 29 May
LUXURY · WESTERN REGIONNº 97975

The Torbay Riviera Pullman

FromHull, Doncaster and DerbytoTorquay and Paignton

Midland Pullman day trip to the English Riviera, running along the Dawlish sea wall to Torquay and Paignton.

DiningPremier diningFirst ClassBarAfternoon tea
Sit leftFares vary
The MayflowerSteamNext 20 Mar
STEAM · WESTERN REGIONNº 93003

The Mayflower

FromBirmingham Snow HilltoPlymouth

A revival of a short-lived Western Region express, with two Tyseley Castles double-heading from Bristol over the South Devon banks to Plymouth.

DiningPremier diningFirst ClassAfternoon teaBarFamily friendly
Sit leftfrom£191
The Bath Christmas Market ExpressSteamNext 4 Dec +1
STEAM · WESTERN REGIONNº 27626

The Bath Christmas Market Express

FromSussex coast (4 December) or Peterborough and Hertfordshire (11 December)toBath

Saphos Trains' steam-hauled trips to Bath's Christmas Market, from Sussex on one date and from the Fens and Hertfordshire on the other.

DiningPremier dining
Saphos TrainsFares vary
The Sherborne Christmas CarolSteamNext 2 Dec
STEAM · WESTERN REGIONNº 75140

The Sherborne Christmas Carol

FromLondon VictoriatoSherborne and Yeovil Junction

Clan Line's annual pre-Christmas run from London Victoria down the West of England main line to Sherborne and Yeovil.

DiningPremier diningFirst ClassAfternoon teaBarFamily friendly
Either sidefrom£130
The Bath and Bristol Christmas ExpressSteamNext 10 Dec +1
STEAM · WESTERN REGIONNº 83059

The Bath and Bristol Christmas Express

FromEast Croydon (10 December) or London Paddington (12 December)toBath and Bristol

Steam-hauled Christmas trips to Bath's Christmas Market, with the option of continuing to Bristol.

DiningPremier diningFirst ClassAfternoon teaBarFamily friendly
Sit leftfrom£120

Scenic lines

Riviera Line and Dawlish Sea WallScenic line
WESTERN REGIONNº 34623

Riviera Line and Dawlish Sea Wall

FromExeter St DavidstoPaignton

Brunel's railway along the Exe estuary and the open sea at Dawlish and Teignmouth, the most photographed stretch of main line in Britain.

Dogs welcomeBikes carriedGreat walksRover ticketsSteam chartersHeritage railway link
Sit leftfrom£8
St Ives Bay LineScenic line
WESTERN REGIONNº 42542

St Ives Bay Line

FromSt ErthtoSt Ives

Four miles along the cliffs above Carbis Bay and Porthminster beach to St Ives, widely rated the most beautiful branch line in England.

Dogs welcomeBikes carriedGreat walksRover tickets
Sit rightfrom£4
Looe Valley LineScenic line
WESTERN REGIONNº 50461

Looe Valley Line

FromLiskeardtoLooe

A twisting single-track branch that reverses at Coombe Junction and follows the tidal East Looe river down a wooded valley to the fishing port of Looe.

Dogs welcomeBikes carriedGreat walksRequest stopsRover tickets
Sit rightfrom£5
Tamar Valley LineScenic line
WESTERN REGIONNº 58380

Tamar Valley Line

FromPlymouthtoGunnislake

Out of Plymouth beside the Tamar, over the 120-foot Calstock Viaduct and up a steep, reversing branch into the old mining country around Gunnislake.

Dogs welcomeBikes carriedGreat walksRequest stopsRover tickets
Sit leftfrom£5
Atlantic Coast LineScenic line
WESTERN REGIONNº 66299

Atlantic Coast Line

FromPartoNewquay

Through the china clay country and the wooded Luxulyan valley, under Treffry's viaduct, to the surfing beaches of Newquay on Cornwall's north coast.

Dogs welcomeBikes carriedGreat walksRequest stopsRover tickets
Either sidefrom£6
Tarka LineScenic line
WESTERN REGIONNº 74218

Tarka Line

FromExeter St DavidstoBarnstaple

Following the rivers Yeo and Taw through mid Devon's farmland, named after Henry Williamson's otter, to Barnstaple and the Tarka Trail.

Dogs welcomeBikes carriedGreat walksRequest stopsRover tickets
Either sidefrom£8