Trivia: One way only services?

[34D]

In the shoulder peaks, there are semi-fast GN services from King's Cross to Welwyn Garden City (WGC) which stop at Finsbury Park, New Southgate, Oakleigh Park, New Barnet, Potters Bar, Hatfield and WGC. However, there are no such services going the other way, oddly.

Are there any other UK rail services which behave this way?

But there are morning services from New Barnet etc to King's Cross. Think I counted six of them: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced/NBA/2015/08/28/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt

 

[LLivery]

Southern run London Bridge - West Croydon via Sydenham in evening peak, which then run non-stop back to London Bridge or go depot. With services from Caterham serving the intermediate stations instead. Meaning you can get direct from East Croydon (or anywhere from Caterham) to Sydenham corridor stations but not Sydenham corridor stations to East Croydon-Caterham stations at evening peaks.

Seven King's has an early morning AGA service to Liverpool St too.

 

[TheNewNo2]

12:28 Dunblane to London Kings X

Once weekly on a Sunday - no return service.

That's a service from Inverness, or are you saying that there's no direct northbound service from KGX?

 

[PHILIPE]

The return service is 11 50 Kings Cross to Edinburgh but, unlike the opposite direction, flies straight through Dunblane.

 

[Andyjs247]

0637 Nottingham - Bournemouth XC
No Bournemouth to Nottingham return

In a similar vein is the 0609 Bath Spa - Glasgow Central with no equivalent return working.

 

[backontrack]

12:28 Dunblane to London Kings X

That's a service from Inverness, or are you saying that there's no direct northbound service from KGX?

The return service is 11 50 Kings Cross to Edinburgh but, unlike the opposite direction, flies straight through Dunblane.

Once weekly on a Sunday - no return service.

The Highland Chieftain calls at London, York, Darlington, Newcastle, Berwick, Edinburgh, Haymarket, Falkirk Grahamston, Stirling, Gleneagles, Perth, Pitlochry, Kingussie, Aviemore and Inverness most of the time.

The southbound journey on a Sunday also calls at Dunblane, Dunkeld & Birnam, Blair Atholl, Newtonmore and Carrbridge (not Dalwhinnie). There is no return journey to these stations; it operates to a weekday timetable heading northbound.

I think the Sunday Chieftains used to call at Peterborough; not entirely sure. I think that the Darlington and Berwick stops are fairly new as well (certainly Berwick). I've also always wondered why there's no stop at Dalwhinnie.

On the sleepers, Carrbridge is only served heading northbound (I think Falkirk is too; that might be southbound only). Watford Junction is another one I think, and some stops on the Night Riviera (Lostwithiel/Par/Hayle) are only served in certain directions as well.

 

[najaB]

On the sleepers... Watford Junction is another one I think...

If memory serves correctly, it's a served by the Highland northbound and the Lowland southbound.

 

[matchmaker]

The 0739 (SX) Alloa- Edinburgh doesn't have a return working until 1733. This "return working" however also operates Saturdays.

 

[Esker-pades]

I believe the 04:43 Colchester to Liverpool Street has no alternative down working (stopping at all stations to Shenfield then Gidea Park, Seven Kings, Stratford and Liverpool Street).

Also, there was a similar service from Southend Victoria to Liverpool Street that stopped at both Seven Kings and Ilford between Shenfield and Stratford although it doesn't seem to run any more.

 

[Boothby97]

Lincoln to Boston through service on a Saturday evening, no return service http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C83080/2015/08/29/advanced

0620 Cleethorpes to Manchester calls at Chinley, the only TPE service to call there and the only direct service from Cleethorpes/Grimsby/Habrough/Barnetby/Scunthorpe to Chinley (not return). http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y00370/2015/08/31/advanced

1615 Adwick to Manchester Piccadilly, the only through service from Adwick to Manchester Piccadilly. It is the only direct service from Adwick, Bentley, Doncaster, Conisborough, Mexborough, Rotherham Central and Meadowhall to Grindleford, Hathersage, Bamford, Hope, Edale, New Mills Central, Strines, Marple, Romiley and Bredbury. It is also the only through service from Adwick, Bentley, Conisborough, Mexborough and Rotherham Central to Dore and Chinley. Again no service in the other direction http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y30023/2015/08/31/advanced

 

[jopsuk]

I think the Sunday Chieftains used to call at Peterborough; not entirely sure. I think that the Darlington and Berwick stops are fairly new as well (certainly Berwick). I've also always wondered why there's no stop at Dalwhinnie.

When I first moved to Cambridge (My parents live near Stirling) the Chieftain stopped at Peterborough all days in one direction only- I think it was northbound?

Going back a long time, I'm pretty sure it used to stop at Polmont. We'd take my grandparents (London) there to board it, as it was easier to get to than Grahamston (the nightmare of the Falkirk one way system) and Stirling's old lifts could not be relied upon.

 

[Marton]

Northallerton to Glasgow. 1530 from kings cross northbound but no southbound direct service.

 

[causton]

If memory serves correctly, it's a served by the Highland northbound and the Lowland southbound.

Served by both northbound, but the Highland is too risky to stop there southbound as by the time it gets there it is peak time and it would quickly get in the way of a VT behind!

 

[najaB]

Served by both northbound, but the Highland is too risky to stop there southbound as by the time it gets there it is peak time and it would quickly get in the way of a VT behind!

Ah, thanks. I don't think I've ever caught the Lowland heading north.

 

[thenorthern]

Sundays only Carlisle to Nottingham I don't think has been mentioned. That is a journey I would like to do one day.

Am I right in thinking that many of the non-parliamentary one way services serve no real purpose they were just introduced by a company (most likely British Rail) and have carried on since just because thats what the company did.

 

[splitfare]

0524 Shrewsbury to Rugeley Trent Valley, effectively combining a Shrewsbury to Birmingham New Street service with a Birmingham New Street to Rugeley Trent Valley service.

 

[racklam]

Two evening peak services from Reading to Waterloo go via Hounslow as opposed to Twickenham, with no similar service heading west.

 

[JamesRowden]

0508 Hastings to London Bridge via Bexhill

A few years ago I saw Bexhill listed on the 'Next Fastest Trains' board at London Bridge even though there aren't any services.

 

[Tetchytyke]

In the morning all services that call at Kings Langley southbound call at Apsley and vice versa, however going northbound many services skip-stop with only one an hour calling at both, and some skipping bigger stops but calling at smaller ones as well!

The 0803 Tring-Euston doesn't stop at Berkhamsted or Hemel Hempstead.

 

[bILLOO]

Three non-stop services (1 x Virgin + 2 x LM) from Northampton to Euston during the week. None operate from Euston to Northampton.

 

[A0]

In the shoulder peaks, there are semi-fast GN services from King's Cross to Welwyn Garden City (WGC) which stop at Finsbury Park, New Southgate, Oakleigh Park, New Barnet, Potters Bar, Hatfield and WGC. However, there are no such services going the other way, oddly.

Are there any other UK rail services which behave this way?

But there's two London bound services in the morning peak which follow this pattern 8.12 & 8.43 ex WGC.

 

[onlinespotting]

There used to be a direct service from Leeds and all stations to Deighton, to Lockwood and all stations to Dodworth (it runs beyond, but there's direct services to Barnsley and beyond via Wakefield Kirkgate)... This no longer operates as the Penistone line "extra" is formed from an incoming Selby via Bradford service albeit no longer advertised as a cross-Huddersfield run. Either way, there have been no through services from the Penistone line to East of Huddersfield for a long time.

Yes I think it ran as far as Lincoln but was only advertised to Dodworth as anyone wishing to travel further could catch a more direct train.

 

[tsr]

There are no Northbound services from Uckfield to any station between Woldingham and Sanderstead inclusive, but a couple of Southbound services between those stations do exist in the morning peak (which are generally lightly-used), as well as some of the evening Uckfield services calling at Sanderstead and Upper Warlingham.

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

If I am permitted to stretch it a little to preserved railways and their operations...

The Pickering - Whitby services stop at Sleights but do not do so on the Whitby - Pickering returns.

And to sneak in another, Whitby - Pickering services call at Ruswarp but don't for Pickering - Whitby services

 

[Marton]

If I am permitted to stretch it a little to preserved railways and their operations...

The Pickering - Whitby services stop at Sleights but do not do so on the Whitby - Pickering returns.

And to sneak in another, Whitby - Pickering services call at Ruswarp but don't for Pickering - Whitby services

Are these stops not just operational? They are not in the NYMR Timetable, and I doubt that the platforms are long enough.

There is an eastbound signal plunger at Sleights and a compulsory stop westbound at Ruswarp.

 

[dzug2]

The first morning train from Worcester to Paddington via Swindon calls at Ashchurch at 0548. Return working(s) don't call

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

Are these stops not just operational? They are not in the NYMR Timetable, and I doubt that the platforms are long enough.

There is an eastbound signal plunger at Sleights and a compulsory stop westbound at Ruswarp.

That was my thought, but I have seen people get on and off at those locations so I presumed that you could get on and off there.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Yes I think it ran as far as Lincoln but was only advertised to Dodworth as anyone wishing to travel further could catch a more direct train.

The through service beyond Sheffield is and was a later Huddersfield departure, I believe... Other that the Northern Spirit period of all Penistone line services being extended to Retford.

Another one: Huddersfield to Leeds stoppers don't call at Cottingley during the day, but Leeds-Huddersfield services do...

 

[1D53]

Also a one per day Horsforth to Selby service. Post Farnworth they'll be another interesting one with Blackburn to Clitheroe via Todmorden, Man Victoria, Bolton and er...Blackburn.

 

[Esker-pades]

I don't believe that the 10:00 Glasgow Central to London Euston has a northbound version.

Stopping points are: Carlisle, Penrith, Preston, Wigan NW, Warrington BQ, Crewe, Wolverhampton, Sandwell and Dudley, Birmingham NS, Birmingham International, Coventry, Milton Keynes.