 It is one of the longest train journeys in the United Kingdom at 581 miles with a journey time of eight hours.Historically the principal train between London and the Scottish Highlands was "The Clansman" which ran via the West Coast Main Line.The "Highland Chieftain" was introduced with the May 1984 timetable, the running time then being 8 hours 40 minutes southbound and 8 hours 50 minutes northbound and was intended to replace "The Clansman".