ON TRACK
The miniature railway parents are raving about as the ‘best experience ever’ – and rides only cost £1
Plus, three scenic train journeys you can take in the UK
THERE'S a little-known miniature railway hidden behind a Premier Inn - and rides only cost £1.
Train travel is on the up with new routes cropping up all across Europe.
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And it's not just new rail routes that are enjoying the limelight, as miniature railways in the UK are being praised by holidaymakers.
One tiny track that Brit holidaymakers might not know about is hidden behind a Premier Inn in Milton Keynes.
Tucked behind Premier Inn Milton Keynes South, the Caldecotte Miniature Railway has been running trains 2006.
The tiny railway loop is run by an army of volunteers from the Milton Keynes Model Engineering Society, and it only costs £1 for two loops around the tiny track.
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From April to October, the tiny train is open every Sunday between 1pm and 5pm, with special events held on Bank Holidays.
The tiny route has been praised by visitors on TripAdvisor, with one person saying: "The best experience, my eight-month-old enjoyed the train ride."
Another person added: "An absolutely brilliant miniature railway. We paid for 10 tickets (£1 per person for two laps of the track each time).
While a third person wrote: "A smashing little railway. Brilliant location near the lake and pub and excellent for the kids. A nice little ride with good smiling staff. Nice engines also.
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Other nearby attractions include The Caldecotte Pub & Grill, which serves traditional pub grub like pies and cod and chips.
There's also Caldecotte Lake, which is home to watersports clubs like canoeing, rowing and sailing.
Despite not being known for its tourism prowess, Milton Keynes has been quietly remaking itself into a great city break destination for the last couple of decades
Last year, holiday home site put it right at the top of their list of underrated UK cities.
One of the best-known attractions in Milton Keyenes is , which picked up a 2023 TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Award.
The indoor ski slope is a place where people can learn to ski or snowboard on real snow, without having to trek up a mountain to visit a pricey ski resort.
It's far from the only famous attraction in the city however, with the home of the World War II codebreakers, Bletchley Park, another travellers' choice award-winning attraction to visit.
In the mean time, here are two other new train routes that could soon launch from the UK.
London to Basel
Swiss National Railways (SBB) has proposed new routes between London St Pancras and Basel.
The five-hour trip would use the Channel Tunnel and Eurostar trains.
The direct route would make it much easier to visit, which currently requires three trains from the UK.
London to Paris
While Eurostar currently operates between the UK and France, a new start-up wants to offer similar routes.
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Evolyn has revealed plans to connect London St Pancras and Paris Nord by 2025.
If it goes ahead, it would be the first competitor to Eurostar since it first started 30 years ago.
Three scenic train journeys you can take in the UK
The UK is full of great train journeys, including some with scenic views.
- The West Highland Line in Scotland has previously been dubbed the best rail journey in the world, thanks to its breathtaking views overlooking mountain landscapes, serene lochs and wistful moors. Tickets start from £19.50.
- The East Coast Main Line from Durham to Edinburgh is another popular railway route. Passengers on this train will be treated to views of Durham Cathedral, the Angel of the North, and the King Edward VII Railway Bridge. Tickets start from £24.50.
- The train from St Erth to St Ives only has one stop on its route, which is complete with sea views. Tickets start from £3.
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