Latest news with #Trainline
Daily Mirror
20 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Sub-tropical Scottish village with palm trees on world's fourth most beautiful train line
Plockton is a small fishing village in the Highlands of Scotland that has a surprising connection to a much more exotic location than the rugged west coast of Scotland One of the least-visited train stations in the country sits in the shadows of a ruined castle, not far from a palm tree-packed town. The Kyle Line in the Scottish Highlands is one of the most beautiful train lines in the world. And that's official. JRPASS analysed the most scenic train rides around the world and placed the Scottish entry at fourth, only just behind The Bernina Express in the Swiss Alps, the Flam Railway in Norway and The Glacier Express in Switzerland. This comes after the Bernia Express was dubbed 'the Hogwarts Express of the Swiss Alps'. Alongside four other stations on the Kyle line, which also feature in Trainline's top 50 least visited stations, is Stromeferry. Hardly anyone makes it there. In fact, during a 12-month period from 2019 to 2020, just 1,508 journeys were made to and from the station. That is less than five passengers each day. I have been one of those lucky few, having stayed at the Stationmaster's Lodge, which sits metres away from the train station and on the banks of Loch Carron. It's a handy spot, as the incredibly infrequent train can be heard from the living room, meaning you're not likely to miss it and then face another four-hour wait for the next one. Following this route through Strome Wood will lead you to a breathtaking view of Strome Castle, a now ruined fort that was built on the loch's banks in the 1400s. Head on a little further and you'll make it to a quaint fishing village that boasts a feature more commonly associated with the sun-soaked shores of Miami Beach. Plockton may receive three times fewer average sunshine hours than its Floridian counterpart across the Atlantic and see far less footfall from tourists, but it shares a unique characteristic - palm trees. Since the 1960s, a line of New Zealand cabbage palm trees has graced Harbour Street in the heart of the town, skirting the edge of Loch Carron. James Nicholson, in his book 'Beyond the Great Glen', refers to Plockton as having a "sub-tropical appearance" thanks to these exotic additions. Travel writer Barry Shelby has even dubbed it "arguably the prettiest village in the highlands", an opinion echoed by location scouts for TV series like 'Hamish Macbeth' and the film 'The Wicker Man. If you're seeking a slice of tranquillity, Loch Carron and the wider western Ross-shire are your ideal destinations. Here, golden eagles soar, highland cattle graze, and sheep abound. Solitude is easy to come by, unlike pubs, hotels, and shops. When I visited, our group spent several blissful days swimming, hiking, and climbing in Ross-shire, until one day we timed our walk to coincide with one of the two daily summer trains at Stromeferry. We hopped aboard and journeyed towards Plockton. Capturing the essence of the brief 12-minute train ride from Stromeferry to Plockton is a challenge, but Visit Scotland encapsulates it well. "The Kyle Line leads through charming Highland villages such as Achnasheen and Plockton before arriving in Kyle of Lochalsh. Completed in 1897, the line was the most expensive rail project of its day: the last 10 miles between Stromeferry and Kyle needed 31 cuttings and 29 tunnels and had to be blasted out of solid rock," the tourist board explains. "The result is a gem of a railway passing over deserted beaches and through fishing villages and offering views of mountains and herons and possibly the odd eagle or otter." Several factors have conspired to make the delightful village we found ourselves in so enchanting. One is the warming North Atlantic Drift and the relatively sheltered bay that Plockton nestles in, making its climate surprisingly mild and palm tree-friendly for its northern position. Another was the advent of a local laird who transformed the community into a thriving fishery, then chose to reinvest much of the profits into enhancing the village in a planned style that still feels both tidy and quaint today. More recently, the enormous success of the Kishorn Yard oil rig construction site, just a few miles from the village in the 1970s and 80s, saw 3,000 well-paid workers flock to the area, injecting cash into the region. Today, the industry that keeps Plockton ticking over is tourism. Like many before us, we savoured an ice cream from Meghan's as we strolled along the promenade, before pausing for a portion of chips at the Harbour Fish Bar. This was all washed down with a pint of local ale in the seafront garden of the Plockton Inn. A simple but perfect day out, capped off by a harbour tour courtesy of the village's most famous modern son Callum Mackenzie, who has taken numerous television crews around Loch Carron in his River Thames Police Launch to spot the abundant seals that bask there. Simply idyllic. Booking it The Plockton Inn offers rooms from £251. A little further afield, the Lochlash Hotel has rooms from £225 per night, based on two sharing. An off-peak day return ticket for an adult from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh is priced at £45.00. Accompanying children can travel for a mere £1 return each, with up to four children allowed per adult.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
UK's most remote and underrated train station that rivals Hogwarts Express line
The Kyle Line runs through the Scottish Highlands from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh and is officially one of the most scenic train rides in the world. Duirinish is one of its least visited stations. A train station at the end of one of the most scenic rail routes in the world is one of the least used in the country. In the never-ending travel quest to find somewhere little-trod and original, you may well be wise to hop on Scotland's Kyle Line and head for Duirinish. The Kyle Line runs through the Scottish Highlands from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh and is officially one of the most scenic train rides in the world. JRPASS analysed the most scenic train rides around the world and placed the Scottish entry at fourth, only just behind The Bernina Express in the Swiss Alps, the Flam Railway in Norway and The Glacier Express in Switzerland. This comes after the Bernia Express was dubbed 'the Hogwarts Express of the Swiss Alps'. That means that the Kyle Line, which offers some spectacular views of the Scottish Highlands and only costs £32 for a ticket, trumps the Hogwarts Express line when it comes to beautiful railway routes. In the Harry Potter films the fictional line is depicted by the West Coast Railway steam service from Fort William to Mallaig. However, a hidden gem it is not. When I visited the famous section of curved bridge on that line, several kilt-clad bagpipers were providing mournful entertainment to the hundreds of Potter fans who were braving the mizzle to view the famous viaduct. If you're after somewhere much less visited and trumpeted about, then Duirinish on the Kyle Line is a good bet. Trainline recently highlighted it as one of the most underrated, isolated destinations on the UK rail network. A spokesperson for the ticketing app told the Mirror: "The penultimate stop on the Kyle line, the UK's most remote yet underrated railway, and with only 17 passengers booked via Trainline in the last year, Duirinish is frequently overlooked. "This quaint township provides insight into crofting, a practice unique to the Highlands, with the opportunity to spot Highland cows thanks to a nearby dedicated tour. Built in 1826 by Thomas Telford, famous for his part in the construction of Somerset House – it has so far retained its heritage, untouched by modern architecture. As it's a request stop, passengers will need to signal to the driver if they wish to board or get off the train." Getting there won't be much of a hardship. The scenic Kyle Line journey crosses from shore to shore, including Loch Alsh and Hindland scenery, as well as offers views of Isle of Skye. While you're there, you can get off at the market town of Dingwall for the Far North Line for more distinctive mountain range views and the Torridon Peaks.
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Daily Mirror
I visited a lesser-known beach on the French Riviera that's better than Nice
Its clear and tranquil waters are hard to beat, and I've struggled to find a beach that's as pretty as this ever since I visited France has no shortage of beautiful beaches that draw in thousands of visitors each year, and while some are still relatively unknown, Nice is no stranger to tourists thanks to its location as the capital of the French Riviera. While there are plenty of dupes for the French Riviera, there's nothing quite like seeing the real thing, and a few years ago I decided to do just that. Attracting an estimated five million visitors each year, although I found the pebbled beaches in Nice fairly charming, it didn't make for a relaxed seaside getaway. Fortunately, there are plenty of tranquil towns along the French coastline, and one of them is home to the prettiest beach I've ever seen. Often hailed as the Jewel of the French Riviera, Villefranche-sur-Mer is a mere 15 minutes from Nice and a welcome break from the crowds of tourists you can expect to see in the capital during the peak summer season, myself included. Arriving with little more than a freshly-baked baguette and a towel in my bag, lounging on the beach here was exactly what I'd hoped for from my trip the South of France — a laidback seaside with a touch of old-school charm. Sheltered by dramatic cliffs adorned with pastel-hued homes gazing out over the azure waters, stepping off the train and glimpsing the shoreline felt like picking up a postcard. The charming town houses roughly 5,000 year-round inhabitants and is often considered one of the region's most beautiful, reports the Express. Though it was high season and busy with other sun-seekers, the charming bay known as Plage des Marinières never seemed excessively crowded either, and there's a peaceful atmosphere to the beach. Comprising rough sand mixed with tiny stones, it also proved to be a slightly more comfortable experience than lounging on Nice's 10km stretch of coastline. Charming bistros and eateries dot the seafront, and while I'd brought my own provisions due to travelling on a budget, which is, in fact, doable along the glamorous French Riviera, it ensures that grabbing refreshments won't prove problematic for day-trippers. Though my visit lasted just one day, it's certainly deserving of an overnight break or even several days, particularly for those seeking somewhere slightly more easy-going than Nice. Speaking of her own visit, Louise Scott who runs the blog All Things French said: "Discover charming architecture, worn shutters, wrought-ironwork, and colour everywhere. A few shops, weekly brocante and food markets, and a terrific variety of beautiful restaurants and bistros makes relaxing for a week (or a month) in this place an absolute joy!" Catching the train is incredibly straightforward, and while I can't recall the exact fare when I visited, a quick glance at Trainline revealed that a one-way ticket today costs just £3. However, a word of caution — in all my travels to beaches around the world since, I've yet to discover one as charming as Villefranche-sur-Mer, complete with its slightly rugged landscape and peaceful shore. Indeed, I'd even venture to say that the South of France boasts some of the world's most stunning beaches, and while it's renowned as a posh destination, it's certainly achievable on a budget if you're merely seeking a relaxed beach holiday. While Nice is certainly worth a trip, I'd highly recommend using it as a base to explore the less-visited beaches nearby.
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trainline plc's (LON:TRN) Fundamentals Look Pretty Strong: Could The Market Be Wrong About The Stock?
It is hard to get excited after looking at Trainline's (LON:TRN) recent performance, when its stock has declined 3.6% over the past three months. However, a closer look at its sound financials might cause you to think again. Given that fundamentals usually drive long-term market outcomes, the company is worth looking at. Specifically, we decided to study Trainline's ROE in this article. Return on Equity or ROE is a test of how effectively a company is growing its value and managing investors' money. Put another way, it reveals the company's success at turning shareholder investments into profits. Trump has pledged to "unleash" American oil and gas and these 15 US stocks have developments that are poised to benefit. How To Calculate Return On Equity? The formula for return on equity is: Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations) ÷ Shareholders' Equity So, based on the above formula, the ROE for Trainline is: 21% = UK£58m ÷ UK£283m (Based on the trailing twelve months to February 2025). The 'return' is the income the business earned over the last year. So, this means that for every £1 of its shareholder's investments, the company generates a profit of £0.21. View our latest analysis for Trainline What Has ROE Got To Do With Earnings Growth? So far, we've learned that ROE is a measure of a company's profitability. Based on how much of its profits the company chooses to reinvest or "retain", we are then able to evaluate a company's future ability to generate profits. Assuming everything else remains unchanged, the higher the ROE and profit retention, the higher the growth rate of a company compared to companies that don't necessarily bear these characteristics. Trainline's Earnings Growth And 21% ROE To start with, Trainline's ROE looks acceptable. Especially when compared to the industry average of 8.7% the company's ROE looks pretty impressive. This probably laid the ground for Trainline's significant 71% net income growth seen over the past five years. We reckon that there could also be other factors at play here. For example, it is possible that the company's management has made some good strategic decisions, or that the company has a low payout ratio. We then compared Trainline's net income growth with the industry and we're pleased to see that the company's growth figure is higher when compared with the industry which has a growth rate of 32% in the same 5-year period. The basis for attaching value to a company is, to a great extent, tied to its earnings growth. What investors need to determine next is if the expected earnings growth, or the lack of it, is already built into the share price. By doing so, they will have an idea if the stock is headed into clear blue waters or if swampy waters await. What is TRN worth today? The intrinsic value infographic in our free research report helps visualize whether TRN is currently mispriced by the market. Is Trainline Making Efficient Use Of Its Profits? Trainline doesn't pay any regular dividends currently which essentially means that it has been reinvesting all of its profits into the business. This definitely contributes to the high earnings growth number that we discussed above. Conclusion In total, we are pretty happy with Trainline's performance. Specifically, we like that the company is reinvesting a huge chunk of its profits at a high rate of return. This of course has caused the company to see substantial growth in its earnings. With that said, the latest industry analyst forecasts reveal that the company's earnings growth is expected to slow down. To know more about the company's future earnings growth forecasts take a look at this free report on analyst forecasts for the company to find out more. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Scottish Sun
18-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
The little-known way to travel across Spain by train for FREE this summer
Plus, more on routes you can explore for free from Madrid and Seville SI YA THERE The little-known way to travel across Spain by train for FREE this summer Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FOR anyone travelling across Spain, there is a clever hack to get train journeys for free. Trainline has revealed a handy tip on how to travel through parts of Spain for absolutely nothing this summer. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 You can get a free ticket if you make a long-distance train journey in Spain Credit: Alamy 4 Use the commuter routes to head out of the cities for free Credit: Alamy To get journeys for free, visitors can buy a combined Cercanías ticket, which is called the Combinado Cercanías in Spanish. The ticket essentially is included free of charge with tickets for some long-distance trains - these are run by Renfe and include AVE trains. Travellers who have already bought a long-distance ticket won't need to buy another one to take a connecting local train as it is free with the combined Cercanías ticket. The only condition is that you travel within four hours of when the booked train departs or leaves. So if you're heading into the likes of Madrid or Barcelona by train, you will need to buy an actual ticket. But from there, if you want to head out of the city to see mountains, lakes and other more tourist-free areas, you can do so by using the secondary and free ticket. Sarah Helppi, UK Country Director at Trainline, added: 'This nifty feature means that in many cities you can get to the train station where your journey starts, or onto another location when you've reached your final stop, completely free of charge. "For those keen to explore Spain, it means you can go beyond the main tourist hubs without the need to spend more.' You don't have to faff around with printed tickets either as you can get a PDF on your phone - which you can do on the Trainline app. If you want to buy a physical ticket, you can input the 5-digit code on the ticket into a ticket machine on the Cercanías train station platform. Huge new train station to open in world's most popular city 4 Head out of Seville to see beautiful hill towns Credit: Alamy This will print out the Combinado Cercanías ticket so you don't have to worry about your phone running out of charge. Here are some of the best ways to see Spain via train, according to Trainline. You can reach Madrid on high-speed trains from the cities of Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Malaga and Toleda. One Sun Travel writer visited Madrid last year where they discovered amazing art galleries, swanky bars and £22 flights. To then explore out of the city, hop on the Madrid Cercanías train network where you can go out into the Guadarrama Mountains. Up there, there's a medieval monastery and traditional restaurants. From Seville, you can pick up a commuter Cercanias train from Santa Justa station. That will take you out to the hill towns of the Sierra Norte, Aljarafe, Dos Hermanos and Utrera. Have a look before you travel at train routes and where a free ticket out of the city can get you for your next holiday. Sun Travel's favourite train journeys in the world Sun Travel's journalists have taken their fare share of train journeys on their travels and here they share their most memorable rail experiences. Davos to Geneva, Switzerland "After a ski holiday in Davos, I took the scenic train back to Geneva Airport. The snow-covered mountains and tiny alpine villages that we passed were so beautiful that it felt like a moving picture was playing beyond the glass." - Caroline McGuire Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen "Nothing quite beats the Shinkansen bullet train, one of the fastest in the world. It hardly feels like you're whizzing along at speed until you look outside and see the trees a green blur. Make sure to book seat D or E too - as you'll have the best view of Mount Fuji along the way." Kara Godfrey London to Paris by Eurostar "Those who have never travelled on the Eurostar may wonder what's so special about a seemingly ordinary train that takes you across the channel. You won't have to waste a moment and can tick off all the top attractions from the Louvre to the Champs-Élysées which are both less than five kilometres from the Gare du Nord." - Sophie Swietochowski Glasgow to Fort William by Scotrail "From mountain landscapes and serene lochs to the wistful moors, I spent my three-hour journey from Glasgow to Fort William gazing out the window. Sit on the left-hand side of the train for the best views overlooking Loch Lomond." - Hope Brotherton Beijing to Ulaanbatar "The Trans-Mongolian Express is truly a train journey like no other. It starts amid the chaos of central Beijing before the city's high-rises give way to crumbling ancient villages and eventually the vast vacant plains of Mongolia, via the Gobi desert. The deep orange sunset seen in the middle of the desert is among the best I've witnessed anywhere." - Ryan Gray Before you go, check all the travel rules in Spain, from where to wear bikinis to beach games. And from someone who visits Spain at least 8 times a year – here's how to avoid the common tourist mistakes that cost you money.
