National Rail is premiering exclusive footage of the Dartmoor line as part of its new ‘Great British Journeys’ YouTube series. The series is free for all to access, taking inspiration from Netflix’s fireplace and other relaxing videos while inspiring people to get back out and explore the nation by train.

The unique footage offers a stunning, high-definition drivers’ eye view of the iconic coastal and rural routes of the South-West, immersing viewers into the Devonshire countryside or skimming them past the ocean and the sight of wild birds.

Data from National Rail shows that train travel can be a great way to unwind. When surveyed about what they most enjoy about train travel, 55% of people said the scenery out of the window and 24% said the movement of travelling by train makes them feel a sense of calm. The new series features relaxing music, as well as scenic views to help viewers relax and alleviate stress.

Along with releasing new videos from across Britain every week for six weeks, National Rail will stream the full nine hours of uninterrupted footage on a loop so viewers can tune into the ‘live’ channel at any time and see beautiful scenery on journeys across Scotland, Wales, Devon and East Anglia.

‘Great British Journeys’ aims to showcase the beautiful views that the nation has to offer and inspire people to take staycations rather than travel abroad. Leisure travel by train is now close to pre-pandemic levels (95%) and is helping to drive the country’s recovery from the pandemic.

Jacqueline Starr, Chief Executive Officer of the Rail Delivery Group, said:

“Starring the reopened Dartmoor line, the Great British Journeys series captures some of the most picturesque routes in the country and we hope this footage will inspire passengers to get back on track.

“When you take the train it’s more than a journey. At the end of every railway line are businesses that rely on rail passengers to thrive, while every trip by train offers the chance to connect you with the people and places you love.”

GWR Regional Driver Manager for the West John Langlands, said:

“We at GWR are incredible lucky to be able to serve some of the most picturesque and well-known destinations that the South West has to offer.

“These new videos will help to remind people of the benefits of travelling by train and inspire new adventures.”

The rail industry is running its biggest campaign in a generation, ‘Let’s Get Back on Track’, to encourage more people to book a journey and take the train to connect with the people and places they love. Encouraging people to travel by train is good for the economy – research from WPI Economics shows that leisure passengers travelling pre-pandemic in the South-West by rail, spent a total of £2.7billion on leisure travel, helping to support jobs and businesses in the South-West.