Trivia- most circuitous route between closest stations.

[MontyP]

Several on the Tube.

Warren Street to Euston Square
Euston Square to Euston
Bayswater to Queensway
Hammersmith (Piccadilly and District) to Hammersmith (Circle and Hammersmith & City)

Epping to Harlow, the latter not on the Tube.

Away from the Tube, Bourne End to High Wycombe is much quicker by bus (and Plusbus is valid).

Wimbledon to South Wimbledon is quite a trek too!

 

[plugwash]

Reddish South to Reddish North would be a bit of a challenging journey by rail, especially on a weekday!

It's not possible on a weekday because reddish south has no service on a weekday.

It is possible in both directions on a Saturday, taking about an hour. I don't think you can do both directions on the same day though.

 

[Lukeo2311]

Birkenhead Central - Conway Park, can be walked pretty easily or if done by train you have to change at Hamilton Square or on the Liverpool Loop.

 

[PDG1949]

St. Helens Central (Liverpool-Wigan line) and St Helens Junction (Liverpool-Manchester line). There was a passenger service between the two until 1965, when it fell victim to the Beeching Axe

 

[class26]

Haven`t noticed Tyndrum upper and lower yet.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Haven`t noticed Tyndrum upper and lower yet.

Not really all that circuitous a rail journey. Although it is usually quicker to walk between the two stations.

 

[zwk500]

Not the most extreme, but Edenbridge to Edenbridge Town would require routing via South Croydon, although changing at East Croydon reduces the overall journey time.

The Stations are 1.2KM apart, yet require a rail journey of c.55KM minimum (1:45 ratio). 18mins walk vs 1hr30 with 2 Changes at Redhill and East Croydon (1:5 ratio).

 

[HSP 2]

How about Shotton low level to Shotton high level, two routes one via Wrexham and Chester, or via Bidston and Chester.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

How about Shotton low level to Shotton high level, two routes one via Wrexham and Chester, or via Bidston and Chester.

Are these actually separate stations?

 

[Sultan]

Not the most extreme, but Edenbridge to Edenbridge Town would require routing via South Croydon, although changing at East Croydon reduces the overall journey time.

The Stations are 1.2KM apart, yet require a rail journey of c.55KM minimum (1:45 ratio). 18mins walk vs 1hr30 with 2 Changes at Redhill and East Croydon (1:5 ratio).

I thought if this one as well.

But expanding the other suggestions, how many can you actually buy a ticket for? It doesn't seem possible for Edenbridge.

Whereas, Dorking Deepdene to Dorking main costs £5 single, via Guildford and Leatherhead, or you could walk in less than 5 minutes.

 

[HSP 2]

Are these actually separate stations?

I would say-so as they are on different lines IIRC nether of them has a station building. The only way between the two is a long path that only connects two platforms. Also, two names so two different stations, a bit like Waterloo and Waterloo East.

 

[duncanp]

Not really all that circuitous a rail journey. Although it is usually quicker to walk between the two stations.

Kyle of Lochalsh to Mallaig would be very circuitous by rail. (over 300 miles via Inverness, Perth, Stirling, Glasgow, Crianlarich and Fort William)

Taking the ferry to Armadale and then a road journey across Skye is about 25 miles, according to Google Maps.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I would say-so as they are on different lines IIRC nether of them has a station building. The only way between the two is a long path that only connects two platforms. Also, two names so two different stations, a bit like Waterloo and Waterloo East.

Inclined to disagree. Shotton (= official name of station?) seems to be just the one station, albeit with platforms at different levels. As is the case at Glasgow Queen Street.

Kyle of Lochalsh to Mallaig would be very circuitous by rail. (over 300 miles via Inverness, Perth, Stirling, Glasgow, Crianlarich and Fort William)

Taking the ferry to Armadale and then a road journey across Skye is about 25 miles, according to Google Maps.

But are Kyle of Lochalsh and Mallaig "closest stations" as per the thread title? Duirinish station has to be closer to Kyle of Lochalsh (and Morar station closer to Mallaig).

 

[D6975]

Kyle of Lochalsh and Mallaig actually have ticket interchangability, ie if you travel from Edinburgh to Mallaig, your return half is valid via Kyle/Inverness.

ps Shotton is definitely one station, code SHT rather unfortunately.

 

[duncanp]

Morden (LU) to Morden South

I presume the shortest and fastest route would be Northern Line to Balham, Southern to Clapham Jct, SWR to Wimbledon and TL to Morden South.

The route with the least changes would be Northern Line to E&C then TL.

Morden (LU) to Morden Road (Tramlink) would also be a very long way round.

Northern Line to Balham, Southern to Mitcham Junction and then Tramlink.

Also in London, Forest Gate to Wanstead Park must be a contender.

Easiest route I can see is Forest Gate - Stratford - Tottenham Hale - Blackhorse Road - Wanstead Park.

Unless you are travelling at times when there is a direct C2C service from Liverpool Street in which case:-

Forest Gate - Stratford - Barking - Wanstead Park

 

[Taunton]

Q - if someone wanted to get from one Burscough station to the other the route is lengthy, and there is no ticket, but as above why can't NRE suggest a rover for that?

In these days of vlogs, someone out there would make a trip of it, "I can see the other station from here, but can't get to it directly...so let's go the long way round!!"

Railway author Cecil J Allen was given in retirement, by BR, an all-line pass. Before the Argyle Line through Central Low Level was built, he apparently arrived at Glasgow Central station, with a hotel reservation by Queen Street. He decided that, cheaper than a taxi (it's about half a mile) he would take the stopping service from Central to Edinburgh, and come back on the express to Queen Street. And did so.

 

[quantinghome]

It would be sensible to exclude station pairs that are within easy walking distance.

Wemyss Bay - Largs must be a decent shout.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Wemyss Bay - Largs must be a decent shout.

Not sure about that. Surely the closest station to Wemyss Bay is Inverkip (two and a quarter miles away), and to Largs it's Fairlie (three miles).

Wemyss Bay to Largs (by road or on foot) is somewhat further.

 

[adamello]

The two Blackpools?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

The two Blackpools?

Already discussed in post #30, upthread. Likely anyway that Blackpool Pleasure Beach station is closer to Blackpool South (than Blackpool North is) and Layton station is the closest one to Blackpool North.

 

[zwk500]

It would be sensible to exclude station pairs that are within easy walking distance.

Wemyss Bay - Largs must be a decent shout.

If we are doing this then Lewes or Glynde to Uckfield must be a decent shout as well, all the way up to East Croydon to change. About 10 miles by car, more than 70 by rail.

 

[paul1609]

Not the most extreme, but Edenbridge to Edenbridge Town would require routing via South Croydon, although changing at East Croydon reduces the overall journey time.

The Stations are 1.2KM apart, yet require a rail journey of c.55KM minimum (1:45 ratio). 18mins walk vs 1hr30 with 2 Changes at Redhill and East Croydon (1:5 ratio).

I think of the obvious South East ones (Edenbridge, Dorking & Maidstone). By distance Maidstone Baracks to Maidstone East is by far the winner.

 

[duncanp]

Penrith to Langwathby is about 4 miles by road, or 35 miles by train via Carlisle.

In Scotland, Neilston to Barrhead is about 2 miles by road, but to do this journey by train you would have to go via Glasgow Central.

 

[zwk500]

I think of the obvious South East ones (Edenbridge, Dorking & Maidstone). By distance Maidstone Baracks to Maidstone East is by far the winner.

Quite possibly. There's also the two Canterbury stations but I suspect the shortest distance between them is a fairly straightforward run via Dover and Ashford.

 

[gg1]

Hessle to Barton on Humber?

Annoyingly Trainline doesn't give timings for a rail only option, the only journeys listed include a bus journey across the Humber Bridge.

 

[paul1609]

Quite possibly. There's also the two Canterbury stations but I suspect the shortest distance between them is a fairly straightforward run via Dover and Ashford.

Youre right Canterbury East to West is the SE winner but the shortest route is via the Minster Spur and Dover not Ashford.

 

[plugwash]

Hessle to Barton on Humber?

Annoyingly Trainline doesn't give timings for a rail only option, the only journeys listed include a bus journey across the Humber Bridge.

use fastjp (or trainsplit/trainscanbecheaper if you want to know about prices/tickets), it gives the option to turn on/off modes.

Tells me 4 hours and 12 minuites, changing at Doncaster and either Habrough or Grimsby town depending on which itinerary.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

If we are doing this then Lewes or Glynde to Uckfield must be a decent shout as well, all the way up to East Croydon to change. About 10 miles by car, more than 70 by rail.

Surely the closest station to Lewes is Cooksbridge. And for Uckfield it's Buxted. Remember we are talking about the most circuitous route between closest stations.

 

[zwk500]

Surely the closest station to Lewes is Cooksbridge. And for Uckfield it's Buxted. Remember we are talking about the most circuitous route between closest stations.

A good point! I'd overlooked the requirement for them to be specifically the next closest.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Hessle to Barton on Humber?

Is the closest station to Barton on Humber station not Barrow Haven station (one and a half miles by rail) rather than Hessle station (which is more like three miles via the Humber Bridge albeit, obviously, a lot more by rail)?