The Aberdeen to Penzance line in the United Kingdom has long be the country’s longest direct train route. However, timetable changes entail the end of the 13 hours and 20 minutes during journey as of mid-May.
Since 1921, a direct train connection has been bringing travellers from Aberdeen (northeast Scotland) to Penzance (southwest England). Stopping at 35 stations on the way and taking 13 hours and 20 minutes to reach its destination, the train covers a total of 774 miles (1245 kilometres). While travelling, passengers pass by cities such as York, Bristol, Taunton, and Truro while crossing not only some of Britain’s most beautiful landscapes but also monuments such as the Edinburgh Castle, Bamburgh Castle, the Fife coastline, and the Royal Albert Bridge.
However, starting from 18 May 2025 CrossCountry, the company currently operating the Aberdeen to Penzance route, will be changing its timetables and thereby putting an end to the UK’s longest train route. Its last journey is scheduled to leave Aberdeen at 8.20 am on 16 May 2025 and will arrive at Penzance at 9.31 pm.
Those who wish to make the 774 miles-long journey will thus have to hurry up and buy their ticket while it’s still possible. At the moment, standard fares for the train’s last-ever direct leg cost £ 138.60 (€ 159) per adult.
And after 13 hours and 14 minutes, we have finally made it to Penzance! This was such an interesting journey for me, and definitely by far the longest journey I ever did. Thanks to @CrossCountryUK for this journey pic.twitter.com/ZlRXM3kh1u
— Pati (@PatiSmh) April 4, 2025
The UK’s newest longest direct train route
As for afterwards, the service will be adapted and shortened. Starting from 18 May, the train line will ’only’ cover a 11-hour and 30-minute journey from Aberdeen to Plymouth. The same set-up was already put in action during the pandemic, with the full route being reinstated only in May 2023.
“Amending our Aberdeen to Penzance service from May 2025 will mean a more efficient timetable for our train crews and a more convenient service for our customers, making a day trip from Bristol and the west of England to Penzance more viable. The new timetable will also deliver an additional service in each direction between Glasgow and the North East of England towards Birmingham,” a CrossCountry spokesperson told The Independent.
As the days of the direct train connection between Aberdeen and Penzance come to an end, another train route will become the UK’s longest direct service: Caledonian Sleeper’s overnight train, running between London Euston and Fort William. That journey takes approximately 12 hours and 45 minutes.
