See the sights of the Nith Valley Line

Monday 21 September 2009

A new guide on the scenic attractions of travelling on the Glasgow-Kilmarnock-Dumfries-Carlisle line is to be published.

The 12-page, fully illustrated guide highlights the best of the varied and picturesque scenery.

It also contains a gazetteer describing the heritage and attractions of the main towns and villages along the 120-mile route which includes the Burns Line from Kilmarnock to Ayr.

The guide on the route’s hidden secrets was written by Michael Pearson, author of the  "Iron Roads" series of books on scenic rail journeys including the South-West Scotland and West Highland Lines.

It will be available at selected stations in time for the Community Rail Festival which is being held in Carlisle on 26/27 September.

Funding for the guide came from numerous sources, including ScotRail.

Graeme Macfarlan, ScotRail’s marketing manager, said: "We are most grateful to the Nith Valley Line Promotion Group for delivering this attractive guide.

“It is a welcome addition to a series of ‘See the Sights’ scenic guides across Scotland which are full of hidden treasures and fascinating facts and figures.”

Media contact details
John Yellowlees, ScotRail: 0141 335 4787 / john.yellowlees@firstgroup.com
www.scotrail.co.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS
Copies of the guide will be available - free of charge - at Glasgow Central, Kilmarnock, Ayr, Dumfries and Carlisle Stations, and can also be downloaded from the ScotRail website
www.scotrail.co.uk

The guide’s production was co-ordinated by the Nith Valley Line Promotion Group. Funding came from ScotRail and the Association of Community Rail Partnerships, East Ayrshire Council, Kirkconnel and Kelloholm Community Council, Passenger Focus, Railfuture Scotland, the Royal Burgh of Annan Community Council, Sanquhar Community Council Springfield and Gretna Green Community Council, SPT and Swestrans,

There are three other ‘See the Sights’ guides offering comprehensive coverage of rural routes and lines linking cities with country places where the journey is part of the experience. They interpret Scotland's scenic beauty for the enlightenment of Scots and first-time visitors alike. The others cover the West Highland Lines (Glasgow-Oban/Mallaig), the North Highland Lines (Inverness-Kyle of Lochalsh/Thurso and Wick) and the Ayr-Stranraer line.

Anyone aged 55 or over can travel throughout Scotland and to Carlisle until 13 December for £15 return (£13 with a Senior or Disabled Railcard). Kids Go Free allows a fare-paying adult to take two children off-peak for free. The Freedom of Scotland Travelpass offers unlimited travel throughout Scotland and to Carlisle and Berwick-upon-Tweed after 0915 Mondays-Fridays and all day at weekends. The Cumbria Day Ranger is available for £32 allowing unlimited travel in an area stretching from Dumfries and Lockerbie to Windermere, Barrow-in-Furness, Preston and Skipton. Further information on rail fares and services can be obtained from National Rail Enquiries on tel: 08457 484950, and products may be bought from ScotRail Telesales on 08457-550033.