The West Highland Line is one of the most romantic railway lines in Britain, linking the fishing port of Mallaig on the west coast to Glasgow. Passenger services on the line are operated by First ScotRail, primarily between Glasgow and Mallaig. However, a through sleeper train service operates from London Euston to Fort William.

Since the great improvements to Scottish trunk roads in the 1980s, the train journey can take significantly longer than the equivalent road journey. The line takes a circuitous route that brings it into Fort William from the north-east. Most of the line is single track and up trains must wait at stations where the track is dual for down trains to pass. Over much of the Rannoch Moor section the speed limit is 30 mph to avoid damage to the foundations of the track which float on top of the boggy ground.

Significant points on the journey include Crianlarich, an important Highland junction of both road and rail, and Tyndrum, which is probably the smallest place in the world to boast two railway stations. After Tyndrum, the line climbs onto the Moor of Rannoch. In winter, the moor is often covered with snow, and the deer may be seen running from the approaching train. The station at Corrour on the moor, is probably one of the most remote stations in Britain. Carrying on northwards, the final stop before Fort William is Spean Bridge .

The sleeper train terminates at Fort William, but the true glory of the West Highland Line is yet to come. "The Jacobite" is steam locomotive-hauled train that operates in summer months on the section between Fort William and Mallaig, passing over a magnificent viaduct at Glenfinnan, through Arisaig with its fine views of the Small Isles of Rhum, Eigg, Muck and Canna, and the sparkling white sands of Morar before coming to Mallaig itself.

The main towns along the route are listed below.

• Glasgow Queen Street (or Edinburgh Waverley for sleeper train)
• Dumbarton
• Helensburgh
• Garelochhead
• Arrochar
• Ardlui
• Crianlarich
  • Line diverges to serve Tyndrum Lower, Dalmally , Loch Awe, Taynuilt , Connel Ferry and Oban
• Tyndrum Upper
• Bridge of Orchy
• Rannoch
• Corrour
• Tulloch
• Spean Bridge
• Fort William
• Banavie
• Corpach
• Glenfinnan
• Lochailort
• Beasdale
• Arisaig
• Morar
• Mallaig (for ferry to Armadale, Isle of Skye)