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The Railway Touring Company · Day excursion

The Cornish Branchliner

One-day diesel heritage train from Crewe to Cornwall's Fowey branch

Illustration of The Cornish Branchliner

The Railway Touring Company's Cornish Branchliner is a one-day diesel-hauled excursion departing Crewe on 19 September 2026, traveling to the freight-only Fowey branch at Carne Point in Cornwall and returning the same day. Passengers join at multiple gateways along the route, including Birmingham New Street, Bristol Temple Meads, and Exeter. The journey follows Britain's railway heritage through the Lickey Incline, runs along the Dawlish Sea Wall where the rails pass directly above the Devon coast, climbs the south Devon banks at Dainton and Rattery, and crosses Isambard Kingdom Brunel's Royal Albert Bridge over the Tamar into Cornwall. Four fare classes accommodate different preferences: Standard Class offers a reserved seat, while Premier Dining includes a full English breakfast and four-course dinner freshly prepared and silver-served on board. This trip suits repeat rail travellers seeking heritage diesel haulage and rare access to a freight line, history enthusiasts drawn to Crewe and Brunel's engineering, photographers seeking coastal and railway heritage scenes, and food lovers interested in on-board dining.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one confirmed departure: Saturday, 19 September 2026. Confirm future dates with The Railway Touring Company before booking
  • The from-price of GBP 115 is Standard Class with a reserved seat only; meal-inclusive fares start at GBP 160

Day by day

  1. Day 1

    The Cornish Branchliner

    Saturday 19 September 2026. Crewe to Carne Point on the Fowey branch and return, via the West Coast Main Line, Birmingham, the Lickey Incline, the Dawlish Sea Wall, the south Devon banks and the Royal Albert Bridge into Cornwall.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Diesel locomotive 47 802 runs along the Dawlish Sea Wall, where the railway passes directly along the Devon coast
  • Day 1The train crosses Isambard Kingdom Brunel's Royal Albert Bridge over the Tamar into Cornwall
  • Day 1A rare passenger journey down the freight-only Fowey branch to Carne Point

Questions travellers ask

What trains are used?
Diesel locomotive 47 802, a heritage locomotive hauling the excursion from Crewe to Carne Point and return
Is this escorted or independent?
It is a structured excursion operated by The Railway Touring Company; you travel on the train with other passengers
What meals are included?
Standard Class includes no meals. Standard First (Non-Dining) includes no meals. First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a breakfast roll and a sweet treat, plus afternoon tea or coffee with a savoury and a scone with butter and jam. Premier Dining includes a full English breakfast and a four-course dinner, both freshly prepared and silver-served at your seat
Where do I board and alight?
The journey runs from Crewe to Carne Point on the Fowey branch with stops including Birmingham New Street, Bristol Temple Meads, Exeter, Plymouth, and Fowey. You may join or leave at any of the listed gateways: Crewe, Stafford, Tame Bridge Parkway, Birmingham New Street, Worcestershire Parkway, Cheltenham Spa, Cam and Dursley, Bristol Parkway, or Bristol Temple Meads
What is the route?
The train departs Crewe, travels south along the West Coast Main Line through the Midlands, descends the Lickey Incline, continues through Worcestershire and Gloucestershire over the Somerset Levels to Exeter, runs along the Dawlish Sea Wall, climbs Dainton Bank and Rattery Bank in the south Devon banks, crosses the Royal Albert Bridge into Cornwall, and reaches Carne Point on the Fowey branch, then returns

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