Trivia: Rail journeys that used to be much quicker

[Malcolmffc]

Some journeys between stations on the current NR network used to be much quicker due to now-closed lines. Which journey has been slowed down the most?

A few possibilities:

Waterloo to Waterloo East
Alton to Winchester
Hertford East to Hertford North
Blackpool North to Preston
Uckfield to Lewes

 

[LOL The Irony]

Altrincham to Manchester
11 then 13 minutes now about half an hour.

 

[gazthomas]

Does it have to be limited by closed lines?

As an example Llandudno Junction to Chester could be done in 30-40 minutes, not more like 40-50

 

[johnnychips]

Waterloo to Waterloo East? Eh? Still two minutes walk.

 

[Agent_Squash]

Reading to Paddington

 

[bramling]

Some journeys between stations on the current NR network used to be much quicker due to now-closed lines. Which journey has been slowed down the most?

A few possibilities:

Waterloo to Waterloo East
Alton to Winchester
Hertford East to Hertford North
Blackpool North to Preston
Uckfield to Lewes

King’s Cross to Cambridge stopping service. Not a line closure though, just timetable padding.

 

[xotGD]

Whitby to Scarborough

Colne to Skipton

 

[topydre]

Cricieth - Bangor now takes close to 6 hours, vs more like an hour (maybe a bit more) before Afon Wen - Bangor closure
Aberystwyth - Carmarthen takes a similar time (more than double before closure)
Newtown - Merthyr now takes about 4 hours (though it wasn't that much quicker via Moat Lane)

 

[BrumKev]

Walsall to Wolverhampton

 

[Malcolmffc]

Waterloo to Waterloo East? Eh? Still two minutes walk.

Waterloo and Waterloo East were connected in the 19th Century. To go by rail today you’d have to go via Clapham Junction, Victoria and Lewisham. Of course, walking is far quicker as you say.

 

[Malcolmffc]

Just thought of a more recent example: Moorgate to Farringdon (though now you can just change at Finsbury Park)

 

[DanDaDriver]

Buxton to Matlock.

 

[johnnychips]

Oops sorry, I didn’t clock the ‘now closed lines’ bit.

 

[Mag_seven]

Just thought of a more recent example: Moorgate to Farringdon (though now you can just change at Finsbury Park)

You now just take two stops on the Metropolitan/H&C/Circle line.

 

[hexagon789]

Didn't read the opening post properly, sorry

 

[Bevan Price]

Just a couple of examples:

St. Helens (Central, formerly Shaw St.) to St. Helens Junction, or Widnes. (and now uses a different station in Widnes) (both are now quicker by bus)

Wigan to Eccles (formerly direct via Tyldesley; now requires you to go via either Huyton or Manchester, since Wigan North Western to Manchester services via Chat Moss do not stop at Eccles.)

 

[vdriud]

Try cheltenham to Hereford takes nearly 2hrs!

 

[chorleyjeff]

Some journeys between stations on the current NR network used to be much quicker due to now-closed lines. Which journey has been slowed down the most?

A few possibilities:

Waterloo to Waterloo East
Alton to Winchester
Hertford East to Hertford North
Blackpool North to Preston
Uckfield to Lewes

Blackpool South from Preston via direct line from Kirkham

 

[chorleyjeff]

Whitby to Scarborough

Colne to Skipton

And Clitheroe to Hellifield and places on the S&C.

 

[chorleyjeff]

Some journeys between stations on the current NR network used to be much quicker due to now-closed lines. Which journey has been slowed down the most?

A few possibilities:

Waterloo to Waterloo East
Alton to Winchester
Hertford East to Hertford North
Blackpool North to Preston
Uckfield to Lewes

Preston to Liverpool via Ormskirk

 

[James James]

For a long time: Glasgow-Euston. I think they fixed that again though. Not due to closed lines mind you.

Kings Lynn-Boston is quite a trek now. 3.5 hours, I imagine it used to be less than an hour.

 

[Lucan]

Waterloo and Waterloo East were connected in the 19th Century.

I believe that the connection was only available to Queen Victoria. The track, single line of course, passed though the centre of the Waterloo (LSWR) concourse and was normally bridged by wooden flooring, and continued over what is now used as a footbridge over the road and onto the SE lines. Royal trains used it to go from Windsor to Kent or the Channel ports.

I expect it had such a severe speed limit and signalling delays that it would have been quicker to walk anyway.

 

[Berneylegs]

Midland Main Line services from stations south of Market Harborough to London St Pancras

 

[Bromley boy]

King’s Cross to Cambridge stopping service. Not a line closure though, just timetable padding.

Referencing the heated discussion taking place on another thread, Charing Cross - Gillingham via Woolwich Arsenal is a new contender to be included on here!!!

Not due to a closed line, just due to a new (crap) timetable nobody really wants.

 

[farleigh]

Whitstable to Canterbury

 

[OwlMan]

Market Harborough to Northampton and Leicester to Rugby

 

[Malcolmffc]

A relatively new one ironically created by a reopening: Tweedbank to Carlisle

 

[randyrippley]

So what line was closed between Blackpool North and Preston?
If you said Blackpool South then you'd be right

 

[randyrippley]

Taunton-Yeovil
two most important towns in Somerset and no direct rail link.
Now have to go via Exeter, or Castle Cary / Westbury

Templecombe - Bath

If you want an example of a slower service where the closure wasn't the main cause, then Morecambe-Leeds

 

[Malcolmffc]

So what line was closed between Blackpool North and Preston?
If you said Blackpool South then you'd be right

You’re right, I meant Blackpool South