Cotswolds & Malverns Line Drivers Eye View

This journey covers the picturesque 86¼-mile Cotswolds and Malverns route, travelling through some of the most celebrated rural scenery in England. Recognised as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the line winds through rolling hills, historic market towns and timeless countryside vistas. Our train for this run is a First Great Western High Speed Train, offering a classic perspective on one of Britain’s most scenic inter-urban routes.

We begin at Oxford, long regarded as the gateway to the Cotswolds, before heading west through increasingly rural surroundings. While much of the line remains single track, recent redoubling works allow speeds of up to 100mph, blending heritage infrastructure with modern main line running. Traditional signalling remains in place over large stretches, with semaphore signals and block working still a defining feature of the route.

Alongside the cab ride, additional views from lineside locations provide further context to the railway and surrounding landscape. Aerial footage enhances the experience, allowing us to appreciate both the railway’s alignment and the beauty of the countryside it serves from a wider perspective.

Filmed largely in real time and in the warm mid-summer sunshine of 2013, this Driver’s Eye View offers an evocative look at one of Britain’s most scenic and historic rural railways, from Oxford to the foot of the Malvern Hills.