This tiny railway route has become somewhat of a tourist attraction, with Brits travelling from across the nation to marvel at the 'people mover'. While trains in the UK have a reputation for being expensive, unreliable, and always seem to be plagued by strikes - the Stourbridge branch line* proudly runs with a 99.6 per cent reliability performance rating. At just 0.8 miles (1.2km) long in length, it also holds the spot as Britain's shortest railway line and is believed to be the shortest in Europe too. Carrying passengers from Stourbridge to Stourbridge Town to Stourbridge Junction, near Birmingham, the three-minute route sets off around every 10 minutes and only costs as little as £1.50 for a one-way fare.
It has been running for more than 140 years and is operated by PRE METRO in partnership with West Midlands Railway. The first train departs at 5.55am and the last just before midnight (11.59pm), meaning you don't need to plan your whole day around when you can hop on board. However, don't expect a normal train carriage to pull up on this record-holding rail line - as Class 139s railcars have been used since 2009. It's the only place where these light vehicles (that wouldn't look totally out of place at a children's fairground) can be found in the UK.
"Featuring one of the most unique vehicle designs, it's also one of the most reliable and eco-friendly vehicles operating on the UK's railways today," The Stourbridge Shuttle's official website reads. "This is due in part to its lightweight frame and use of a hybrid flywheel which enables the shuttle to perform regenerative braking; an activity in which the vehicle's kinetic energy is collected when braking, and later re-used for acceleration.".
Want the latest travel news and cheapest holiday deals sent straight to your inbox? Sign up to our Travel Newsletter. Last year, train enthusiast Neil Hughes embarked on an 18-hour round trip from Scotland to experience the Stourbridge Shuttle. The then 62-year-old took two flights and two trains to reach the shuttle from his home in Troon, on Scotland's west coast. "I'd been wanting to do it for a number of years and I finally got my chance," Neil, a retired air traffic controller, told the BBC. "I like oddities and strange things - I'll travel places to go up funicular railways and things like that.".
