The Northern Belle, Britain's most luxurious train, is set to arrive in Glasgow this weekend, offering passengers a lavish journey along what has been dubbed the 'world's top railway journey'. The 1930s Pullman-style train, formerly part of the legendary Orient Express group, will depart from Maryhill and Dalmuir stations on Saturday, August 8, heading to Oban.
Red Carpet Welcome and Scenic Route
A red carpet will be rolled out across the platforms at both stations as passengers board for the full-day round trip. On Sunday, August 9, the train will return to Dalmuir only, taking passengers along the West Highland Line. The train departs from Edinburgh Waverley before stopping at Maryhill and Dalmuir.
The Northern Belle was recently crowned the "world's top railway journey" by readers of independent travel magazine Wanderlust, beating the Trans-Siberian route and Peru's Machu Picchu line into second place.
Luxury Amenities and Fine Dining
Billed as a "throwback to the golden age of rail travel", the excursion features a red carpet welcome, musicians to entertain diners, and a magician moving between tables. Passengers will enjoy a magnificent seven-course lunch while traveling at 70mph aboard one of the world's most opulent trains.
Despite tickets costing upwards of £400, both departures are almost entirely sold out. A spokesman said: "We only have the odd single seats left on the Oban trip. But, of course, we won't only be taking them to Oban, Scotland's seafood capital. We will be transporting them back to the golden days of rail travel, when nothing was too good for the pampered passenger."
Special Menu and Future Journeys
The Northern Belle's director of food and beverages, Brian Clark, has created a special menu for both journeys featuring caviar, Hereford beef, and strawberry consommé, with vegetarian and gluten-free alternatives available.
The train will return to Dalmuir on October 21 for another West Highland Lunch special, and in November will journey from Glasgow Central to York's historic Christmas market. Consistently ranked among the world's Top Ten trains, the Northern Belle features individually hand-decorated carriages, one of which was formerly part of the Royal Train and is whispered to house the late Queen Mother's favourite seat.
Actor Bill Nighy has called the train "the Grand Dame of luxury travel" during its appearance on Channel 5's The World's Most Scenic Railway Journeys.
