North Wales Coast: Crewe to Holyhead Drivers Eye View

This DVD captures the 21st-century incarnation of the traditional Irish Boat Train, which once linked London to Holyhead. Today, a handful of daily services operated by Virgin Trains continue the legacy. Viewers join the 10:49 service at Crewe aboard a five-car Class 221 Super Voyager for a scenic journey along the North Wales Coast.

The train calls first at the historic city of Chester before running non-stop to the seaside resort of Rhyl. Travelling along the picturesque coastline via Colwyn Bay and Llandudno Junction, the journey offers spectacular views of landmarks such as Conwy Castle and its castellated bridge spanning the river. Further along, the Britannia Bridge crossing the Menai Strait comes into view—a historic structure rebuilt after a 1970 fire and seen here from the driver’s unique perspective.

As the train reaches the Isle of Anglesey, it passes the station with the famously long name, L­l­a­n­f­a­i­r­p­w­l­l­g­w­y­n­g­y­l­l­g­o­g­e­r­y­c­h­w­y­r­n­d­r­o­b­w­y­l­l­l­l­a­n­t­y­s­i­l­i­o­g­o­g­o­g­o­c­h, pronounced expertly by Welsh-speaking narrator Arfon Haines Davies. He also shares the rich history of the route, which was built in 1848 specifically to convey Irish mail from London to Dublin.

Filmed on a glorious summer day in 2016 under a clear blue sky, the DVD combines cab footage with helicopter shots following the train from Crewe to Holyhead. This immersive journey highlights both the operational and scenic appeal of one of Britain’s most iconic coastal railways, making it an unmissable experience for rail enthusiasts and travellers alike.