UK’s Longest Train Journey Just Got Even Longer (briefly)

[GoneSouth]

I know a lot of people on this forum have been chatting about the removal of the Aberdeen to Penzance service in May, and I know a lot of people want to do the journey before it’s withdrawn, so here’s an added bonus opportunity for you all.

I was planning a XC trip next weekend and noticed there’s an unusual Penzance to Aberdeen service running, presumably because of engineering work and timetable changes.

Realtime Trains | 0632 Penzance to Aberdeen | 03/05/2025

Real-time train running information for 0632 departure from Penzance to Aberdeen on 03/05/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

0632 Penzance to Aberdeen
Departing on 3rd May 2025
Penzance 0632
...
Bristol Parkway (reverse) 1042-1048
Newport (reverse) 1108-1119
...
Aberdeen 2041

There are a few added bonuses actually:

1. It’s going in the opposite direction to the usual service
2. It visits all 3 mainland UK countries with an added stop in Newport
3. It visits Gloucester without reversing
4. It takes even longer than the southbound, with an extra hour of Voyager comfort to enjoy
5. I couldn’t see any big football matches that mean the train would be swamped by supporters

I have no idea if this is for one day only, but it looks like it could be an enthusiast’s bank holiday treat

 

[MerlinRail 804]

Was looking at this earlier. Definitely would like to do that, even if it means spending 14 hours on XC!

 

[43096]

it looks like it could be an enthusiast’s bank holiday treat

Other interpretations are available!

I've done Penzance to Dundee on XC in the past, but that was on an HST, which is infinitely better than the hellish experience that is a Voyager.

 

[Retorus]

That's the most stops I've ever seen.

 

[yorkie]

I have no idea if this is for one day only, but it looks like it could be an enthusiast’s bank holiday treat

I doubt many people would welcome this. Perhaps tolerable in 1st class, but Standard on a Voyager would be an endurance test for many.

 

[MerlinRail 804]

I doubt many people would welcome this. Perhaps tolerable in 1st class, but Standard on a Voyager would be an endurance test for many.

First isn’t exactly cheap though. I’d much rather be in standard if it’s less than half the price of first. It’s not 14 hours on a Pacer or a 700 so it’s not exactly torture

 

[yorkie]

First isn’t exactly cheap though. I’d much rather be in standard if it’s less than half the price of first. It’s not 14 hours on a Pacer or a 700 so it’s not exactly torture

All things considered, I'd say £30 for the upgrade for 14 hours is excellent value.

 

[MerlinRail 804]

All things considered, I'd say £30 for the upgrade for 14 hours is excellent value.

How am I looking at an extra £310 for 1 adult & 1 child with F&F railcard on TrainSplit? £30 sounds like a bargain so no clue what I’ve done wrong there!

 

[signed]

£30 sounds like a bargain so no clue what I’ve done wrong there!

Weekend first upgrade will be available on that service as it's a Saturday service

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[GoneSouth]

I doubt many people would welcome this. Perhaps tolerable in 1st class, but Standard on a Voyager would be an endurance test for many.

But at £470 for an anytime single I’d rather do standard thanks!

Other unreasonable fares are also available, there’s always the £320 standard class anytime single.

If you decide now and book advance fares it’s much better, £155 standard and £296 First. A bargain weekend out

 

[pokemonsuper9]

That's the most stops I've ever seen.

It calls at 41 stations, which is is the same amount as yesterday's Aberdeen - Penzance.

 

[GoneSouth]

To be fair, £102 with a railcard isn’t actually that bad considering how much I pay for my regular XC journeys!

 

[tumbledown]

I doubt many people would welcome this. Perhaps tolerable in 1st class, but Standard on a Voyager would be an endurance test for many.

Perhaps you could do it as a sponsored event. You'd have to give some thought to what to do with the sponsorship in the event of anything going wrong with the service (heaven forbid).

 

[A S Leib]

It calls at 41 stations, which is is the same amount as yesterday's Aberdeen - Penzance.

By my count it's 48 on St. Albans – Sutton loop services, but that might not count if it's split at Sutton. Birmingham International to Pwllheli and Carlisle to Preston via Barrow (19:09) come to 37 and Swansea to Shrewsbury via Llandrindod is 34. I think a Heart of Wales service went through to Manchester a few years ago which was, at the time, the service with the most stops outside engineering work services.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Birmingham International to Pwllheli and Carlisle to Preston via Barrow (19:09) come to 37 and Swansea to Shrewsbury via Llandrindod is 34.

When originally drafting my post, I had those as examples, but cut them out to avoid derailing the thread.

I think a Heart of Wales service went through to Manchester a few years ago which was, at the time

In an old thread (from 2020) there was a Crewe - Heart of Wales service that I think had 50 stops.

By my count it's 48 on St. Albans – Sutton loop services, but that might not count if it's split at Sutton

I personally wouldn't count that since it's two different services (not a split/join/reverse).

 

[Vexed]

By my count it's 48 on St. Albans – Sutton loop services, but that might not count if it's split at Sutton. Birmingham International to Pwllheli and Carlisle to Preston via

I personally wouldn't count that since it's two different services (not a split/join/reverse).

Practically it is a through service with just a two minute dwell at Sutton. Historically it was but I believe it was split due to a direct train fare routeing loophole (which could have probably been solved with a negative easement and already wasn't an issue as I don't think you can break of journey on direct trains taking non-permitted routes, but I digress. I might be misremembering here).

 

[Class15]

I know a lot of people on this forum have been chatting about the removal of the Aberdeen to Penzance service in May, and I know a lot of people want to do the journey before it’s withdrawn, so here’s an added bonus opportunity for you all.

I was planning a XC trip next weekend and noticed there’s an unusual Penzance to Aberdeen service running, presumably because of engineering work and timetable changes.



There are a few added bonuses actually:

1. It’s going in the opposite direction to the usual service
2. It visits all 3 mainland UK countries with an added stop in Newport
3. It visits Gloucester without reversing
4. It takes even longer than the southbound with an extra hour of Voyager comfort to enjoy
5. I couldn’t see any big football matches that mean the train would be swamped by supporters

I have no idea if this is for one day only, but it looks like it could be an enthusiast’s bank holiday treat

Will this kind of service could potentially be repeated in future on occasion? So maybe not quite the end of the service…

 

[MerlinRail 804]

Will this kind of service could potentially be repeated in future on occasion? So maybe not quite the end of the service…

Considering it’s an extended Penzance - Edinburgh that could be a thing. Probably even the other way if the circumstances are right maybe?

 

[mathstrains19]

Will this kind of service could potentially be repeated in future on occasion? So maybe not quite the end of the service…

Considering it’s an extended Penzance - Edinburgh that could be a thing. Probably even the other way if the circumstances are right maybe?

I don't think it's that likely - the reason Penzance - Aberdeen happens is because XC often step back a path when they have to divert along a route that takes longer than the usual route. In the new timetable I don't think there is a northbound Penzance an hour before an Aberdeen, or a southbound Penzance an hour after an Aberdeen to make this possible

 

[60159]

I know a lot of people on this forum have been chatting about the removal of the Aberdeen to Penzance service in May, and I know a lot of people want to do the journey before it’s withdrawn, so here’s an added bonus opportunity for you all.

I was planning a XC trip next weekend and noticed there’s an unusual Penzance to Aberdeen service running, presumably because of engineering work and timetable changes.

Realtime Trains | 0632 Penzance to Aberdeen | 03/05/2025

Real-time train running information for 0632 departure from Penzance to Aberdeen on 03/05/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

There are a few added bonuses actually:

1. It’s going in the opposite direction to the usual service
2. It visits all 3 mainland UK countries with an added stop in Newport
3. It visits Gloucester without reversing
4. It takes even longer than the southbound, with an extra hour of Voyager comfort to enjoy
5. I couldn’t see any big football matches that mean the train would be swamped by supporters

I have no idea if this is for one day only, but it looks like it could be an enthusiast’s bank holiday treat

I’ve not checked but is Dundee-Aberdeen non stop a first?

 

[kkong]

I’ve not checked but is Dundee-Aberdeen non stop a first?

No, XC run Dundee-Aberdeen non-stop daily.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

In an old thread (from 2020) there was a Crewe - Heart of Wales service that I think had 50 stops.

Wasn't it Crewe to Cardiff? Effectively a HOWL service that had a Crewe-Salop stopper grafted on the beginning and a Swanline service stuck on the end?

 

[Class15]

I personally wouldn't count that since it's two different services (not a split/join/reverse).

I disagree here. It stops for a couple of minutes and then goes off again!

 

[60159]

No, XC run Dundee-Aberdeen non-stop daily.

Thanks for that. Can’t think of any other company doing that. Should have checked rtt. Sorry.

 

[IrishDave]

I disagree here. It stops for a couple of minutes and then goes off again!

But it's a different schedule with a different headcode. In scheduling terms it's no different than a train terminating at, say, Wrexham Central, before departing again 2 minutes later as a new service.

Moreover, each southbound train is advertised as terminating at Sutton, and then changes at Sutton to be a (northbound) train to St Albans. It's never advertised as a through service.

 

[Class15]

But it's a different schedule with a different headcode. In scheduling terms it's no different than a train terminating at, say, Wrexham Central, before departing again 2 minutes later as a new service.

It’s very different to Wrexham Central because at Wrexham Central the trains reverse!

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

That's the most stops I've ever seen.

Admittedly not at the start of the journey but would be interesting to see how the TFW customer information system at Newport copes with the Welsh language version of all those stops!

 

[GoneSouth]

Admittedly not at the start of the journey but would be interesting to see how the TFW customer information system at Newport copes with the Welsh language version of all those stops!

Is there a Welsh word for Wakefield

 

[mm333]

Admittedly not at the start of the journey but would be interesting to see how the TFW customer information system at Newport copes with the Welsh language version of all those stops!

It would make me happy if the Welsh for Edinburgh - Caeredin - is in the PIS.

 

[StarCrossing]

Admittedly not at the start of the journey but would be interesting to see how the TFW customer information system at Newport copes with the Welsh language version of all those stops!

Newport has direct trains daily (on weekdays) to both Edinburgh and Penzance, so it's only the stations between Edinburgh and Aberdeen that would be one-offs here (plus possibly the odd station that the daily trains don't call at).