Expert railway enthusiast Ben Le Vay returns with a new edition of his much-acclaimed guide to
discovering Britain from the rails. This latest edition adds new lines and destinations in
Britain's fast-changing railway while updating the guide to the classic greats. Thoroughly
updated it includes a full fascinating guide to the new Borders Railway in Scotland plus
details of the new route from London to Oxford and expanded coverage of the eccentric Jolly
Fisherman line in Lincolnshire and the charming Cotswold line from Oxford to Hereford. Also
included are more details of the Far North line from Inverness to Wick and Thurso. 'Now
finally the network has a book to be proud of!' So said one reviewer of the first edition.
Branch lines and 'secret railways' are covered and so too are the popular routes such as the
glorious East Coast main line to Scotland and the Great Western to Penzance. Regional treats
include the famed West Highland Line in Scotland the Settle and Carlisle railway in the north
of England and entire chapters dedicated to 'Wales Rails' and 'East Anglia: A Circular Tour'.
Additional information ranges from the practical - such as a guide to the layout of some of the
country's main termini - to the 'Inside Track: a window-gazer's guide to stuff to look out for
on your journey' and intriguing train trivia. The best historic and preserved railways are also
included as are Ben's Top Ten Rail Journeys. Ben Le Vay says: 'There are endless books about
trains about the history of the railways about stations signal boxes carriages wagons...
as specialist as you like. There are also myriad books about British cities and countryside
about what is wonderful and fascinating about different patches of our unique island. But there
were none that successfully combined the one type of book with the other (after all you look
at the country while sitting on trains) until now. And this is I do with deep knowledge love
and enthusiasm for both parts.'
