Ireland's most beautiful railway journey?

AngryLips

So I was reading about the highlands railway that's described as Britain's most stunning railway journey. I have traveled much of Ireland's railways (but not all) and was wondering what stretch of line might be a contender for the title here? My own opinion is that the Southside Dart line never fails to take my breath away a little bit ...thoughts?

end of the road

rosslare dublin probably. i like it anyway. much of the very scenic railways closed years ago sadly

Banjoxed

Coleraine to Londonderry. As endorsed by Michael Palin years ago, and by increasing numbers using the train daily.

Geog1234

plus 1 for both of the above lines.

Scenic enough too is the cross-country line from Limerick Junction to Waterford via Clonmel (its now mothballed continuation to Rosslare Strand is also quite scenic - especially the Barrow Bridge crossing).

Nice stretches on the Dublin-Belfast line too e.g. north of Dundalk as the line runs through the foothills of the Mourne Mountains.

L1011

Banjoxed wrote: »

Coleraine to Londonderry. As endorsed by Michael Palin years ago, and by increasing numbers using the train daily.

And you get to cross a runway, not a common thing on a railway line anywhere in the world (albeit its now a closed runway).

Grandeeod

Dublin - Rosslare and Colraine - Derry for the lovely coastal runs they involve.

Previously (and in no particular order) the run to Valentia, Waterford to Dungarvan, Dingle, Clifden, Achill, Donegal.

foggy_lad

Mallow-Tralee?

SureYWouldntYa

I always like the look over Lough Owel near Mullingar on the Sligo line

Santa Cruz

Michael Portilos rail journey really showed up the beautiful British landscapes from the West Country right up to the Highlands. I don't think our present rail network has anything to match but in the days of the West Cork, West Clare, Connemara lines etc it must have been fantastic

purplepanda

Could the Valentia Kerry line possibly be viable as a heritage railway, the amount of tourists travelling around the Iveragh peninsula seems to be ever increasing & the existing road struggles to cope with all the traffic & excursion tours.

I'm surprised that the cute folk in Kerry haven't given this some thought at best!

SpaceTime

I've heard a few tourists saying that they works strongly advice not taking the train on the routes to say Cork and Kerry because it's very dull compared to the motorway.

The extreme tint on the MK4 windows doesn't help much either

end of the road

purplepanda wrote: »

Could the Valentia Kerry line possibly be viable as a heritage railway, the amount of tourists travelling around the Iveragh peninsula seems to be ever increasing & the existing road struggles to cope with all the traffic & excursion tours.

I'm surprised that the cute folk in Kerry haven't given this some thought at best!

as much as i would love for it to happen, i'd doubt it. it would be a lovely journey though

loyatemu

end of the road wrote: »

as much as i would love for it to happen, i'd doubt it. it would be a lovely journey though

a (small) section of the Tralee-Dingle line was reopened as a steam railway- it wasn't a great success.

tayto lover

Geog1234 wrote: »

plus 1 for both of the above lines.

Scenic enough too is the cross-country line from Limerick Junction to Waterford via Clonmel (its now mothballed continuation to Rosslare Strand is also quite scenic - especially the Barrow Bridge crossing).

Nice stretches on the Dublin-Belfast line too e.g. north of Dundalk as the line runs through the foothills of the Mourne Mountains.

Sliabh Gullion and Faughalitra Mountain where the railway line runs are not part of the Mournes. Just for your information.

kingshankly

tayto lover wrote: »

Sliabh Gullion and Faughalitra Mountain where the railway line runs are not part of the Mournes. Just for your information.

But you can see the mourned over faughalitra mountain
The prettiest journey would gave to be south dublin some fantastic views on a nice day
Worst for me would be between newry and Portadown very boring or Phoenix park tunnell

Losty Dublin

The whole run from Dublin to Belfast is well worth calling shotgun on the window seat. The last few miles coming into Galway is gorgeous as well but one sight I have a special grá for is when, on the Westport line the Reek finally comes into view, usually from Castlerea onwards.

Banjoxed

Losty Dublin wrote: »

The whole run from Dublin to Belfast is well worth calling shotgun on the window seat. The last few miles coming into Galway is gorgeous as well but one sight I have a special grá for is when, on the Westport line the Reek finally comes into view, usually from Castlerea onwards.

I sea window seat it from Derry to Dublin. Port out, Starboard home!

whisky_galore

loyatemu wrote: »

a (small) section of the Tralee-Dingle line was reopened as a steam railway- it wasn't a great success.

Not very scenic either, unless the back end of Tralee town and sloblands are your thing.

purplepanda

whisky_galore wrote: »

Not very scenic either, unless the back end of Tralee town and sloblands are your thing.

Dingle region is not as nice as Iveragh peninsula IMO, never mind the back end of Tralee :rolleyes:

Valentia railway would have been preserved anywhere else in Europe & beyond.
Looks like many of the bridges are still in place according to this film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpEx3xGppEQ

LoonyLovegood

A plus one for Lake Owell, I love doing that journey for that exact reason.

I love the view from the Oranmore level crossing into Galway. It's picturesque.