The train service between Glasgow and Oxenholme is split between trains operated by Avanti West Coast and trains operated by TransPennine Express.
Each of these operators doesn't provide an hourly service, so the pattern of departures can be fairly random.
It can vary from a total of three departures per hour to gaps of more than 90 minutes between trains.
The Avanti West Coast services have the faster journey times; they're typically 15 mins quciker than the TPE (TransPennine Express) services.
Final Destination: London Euston or Birmingham New Street (Avanti West Coast); Manchester Airport or Liverpool Lime Street (Trans Pennine Express)
All trains also call at: Carlisle
Most trains also call at: Penrith North Lakes
Usual timetable:
Mon-Sat = 23 x trains per day
Sunday = 21 x trains
Choosing a departure
As there are two operators which provide the trains on the same Glasgow to Oxenholme route, the recommendation is to use the National Rail booking service when looking up this journey.
By doing so you'll have an overview of the ticket times and prices of all departures, no matter which company is operating each departure, and you will also avoid any booking fees.
One company doesn't always offer the cheapest fares on this route, so it's worth making an easy comparison across all departures.
Booking Advance Tickets
If you want to travel at the cheapest possible price, look for the 'Advance tickets', though the three key things worth knowing about booking and using 'Advance' tickets are:
(1) Your ticket(s) will only be valid on the departure you selected when making a booking
(2) A fee will be payable if you want to transfer your ticket(s) to a different departure ahead of your travel date - and you will only be able to choose alternative departures operated by the same company that's providing the service you were originally booked on to.
(3) This type of ticket can't be refunded if you subsequently change your travel plans, or miss the train in circumstances not to do with a connecting train.
(4) If the train you are booked on is delayed, you cannot then just hop on an alternative train operated by a different company.
Reservations
When you book an Advance ticket for a Glasgow to Oxenholme train journey, you will be automatically assigned a seat(s), but if you book the other types of ticket ahead, you can request a complimentary reservation - more info on this
Tickets can now be booked online up to a couple of hours prior to departure
However, if you buy Off Peak or Anytime tickets just prior to boarding at the station, a seat reservation WON'T be automatically included with your booking.
That's because reservations at stations need to be booked by the end of the previous day for morning departures and around two hours ahead for afternoon/evening departures - so also keep that in mind if you will be using a rail pass, including a Britrail or Eurail pass.
Travelling on Monday - Friday
Tickets are usually available 12 weeks ahead of the travel date.
However, when you look up a journey you may see dates further ahead on the calendar, but you'll be informed that tickets aren't yet available for those dates.
Travelling on Saturday-Sunday
Tickets are usually available 12 weeks ahead of the travel date, but maintenance work on the route is periodically undertaken at weekends and if it is scheduled on your travel date, it can affect when tickets will be released for sale.
If you're looking up a journey less than 12 weeks ahead and tickets aren't available, it can be a good indication that works will be impacting on your travel date.
It can be worth checking this on the National Rail website
n.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
National Rail | * | |
RailEurope | * | |
TPE | * | |
Avanti West Coast | * |
Connect at Oxenholme station for trains to Windermere.
For the majority of this journey the train will travel through a majestic landscape.
Once the train has passed Motherwell it leaves the urban areas behind and enters a pastoral landscape, which is a prelude of the delights to come.
South of Carstairs the railway follows a route through the beautiful Southern Uplands.
After the train has passed through Carstairs station, the views as the railway climbs and then descends over Beattock summit, are particularly special.
Between Carlisle and Oxenholme the railway takes a route between The Lake District to the east and the Pennines to the west - so there are great views to be enjoyed from both sides of the train towards distant mountains.
Approximately 10 minutes north of Oxenholme comes one of the highlights of the journey when the railway travels through the Lune Gorge - though here the best views are from the left (when facing the direction of travel).
(The video was filmed from a train travelling in the opposite direction)A beautiful landmark to look out for on the left, just after the train enters the gorge, is the spectacular sight of Low Gill Viaduct, on a now abandoned railway.
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This is one of more than 1000 journey guides available on ShowMeTheJourney, which will make it easier to take the train journeys you want or need to make. As always, all images were captured on trips taken by ShowMeTheJourney.