Is a Scottish/SPT version of the "Tube Challenge" possible?

[Scotrail12]

I've been rewatching some of Geoff Marshall's Tube Challenge videos. Definitely a bucket list thing for me to do in future for charity (albeit without I wouldn't aim for the record).

It got me thinking if it would actually be feasible to do a version in Scotland using the ScotRail services in the former SPT area. Obviously absolutely impossible to cover all Scottish stations in a day (or even two, would be at least three or four). However, the former SPT area may be more doable.

The map covers all of the Ayrshire Coast, Inverclyde, Cathcart Circle, Argyle, Paisley Canal and Maryhill lines whilst also consisting of Glasgow C - Kilmarnock, Glasgow C - EK, Glasgow QS - Croy, Glasgow QS - Cumbernauld and the North Clyde as far east as Drumgelloch. Search the map up in case you don't know what I'm talking about.

Do you think that it would be feasible to do this within one day? I've counted approx 176 stations.

 

[alexf380]

I think it's certainly plausible. I'd imagine you need to either start or finish at Barrhill on the Stranraer line as an out and back journey there would take up too much time.

 

[py_megapixel]

It seems like a missed opportunity not to include the Subway as part of it...

 

[telstarbox]

The forum has organised SPT challenges in the past, does anyone know what the record is?

 

[Scotrail12]

It seems like a missed opportunity not to include the Subway as part of it...

I'm mentally debating as to whether or not it would make the cut.

 

[Scotrail12]

I think it's certainly plausible. I'd imagine you need to either start or finish at Barrhill on the Stranraer line as an out and back journey there would take up too much time.

I would personally go no further than Ayr since the Stranraer and Dumfries branches just take too long. Same for the North Clyde - Edinburgh and back would take too long so Drumgelloch is the limit. I think that my rule would be that no lines with less than 1tph should be included.

I was thinking a Helensburgh or Balloch start and an Ayr finish would work. It's what happens in between that counts the most.

 

[alexf380]

Girvan and Barrhill were SPT branded stations back in the day, surprisingly! If we're taking the whole Strathclyde Daytripper validity area into consideration then acutally the West Highland line as far as Ardlui is also included. Croy, Cumbernauld, Drumgelloch, Shotts and Carstairs were the traditional boundary stations on the eastern edge.

 

[HSP 2]

I think that it could be doable if you miss out the stations that only have 1tph. to give you an example Glasgow Queen street to Cumbernauld, is 2h 58 min but Cumbernauld to Motherwell (missing out Greenfaulds as you did on the way out) is 1h 45 min but if you miss out Coatbridge Central it's 45 min.

http://www.spt.co.uk/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/roundabout.pdf

http://www.spt.co.uk/images/daytripper_map_web.pdf

https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/static/documents/promotions/Transport_Scotland_operating_area.pdf

One of the daytripper maps implies that you can get out as far as Carstairs. But all of the words say Lanark.

Hope that the maps are some use.

 

[route101]

Used my daytripper few weeks ago to Girvan. Quicker to change at Ayr rather than via Killie.

Theres also the roundabout ticket which would cover less and more managble.

I suppose if you were going to Barrhill and not done the branch to Stranraer , you might as well go to Stranarer.

 

[Huntergreed]

Theres also the roundabout ticket which would cover less and more managble.

I did 2 roundabouts at the weekend there (Sat and Sun). I managed to cover the lines to Motherwell (via Belshill, via Hamilton and via Carmyle) the Helensburgh Central branch (you need an extra ticket to Helensburgh), the WHL to Helensburgh Upper (again the same ticket but the return portion), the Glasgow to Edinburgh line as far as Croy, the Queen Street - Anniesland Line, the “Dalmuir- Hyndland Loop” (via scotstounhill and via Singer) and the Ayrshire mainline as far as Paisley Gilmore St, the Paisley Canal Branch, the GSW as far as Barrhead, the Cathcart Circle, and the Subway, so it’s absolutely doable!

 

[Scotrail12]

I did 2 roundabouts at the weekend there (Sat and Sun). I managed to cover the lines to Motherwell (via Belshill, via Hamilton and via Carmyle) the Helensburgh Central branch (you need an extra ticket to Helensburgh), the WHL to Helensburgh Upper (again the same ticket but the return portion), the Glasgow to Edinburgh line as far as Croy, the Queen Street - Anniesland Line, the “Dalmuir- Hyndland Loop” (via scotstounhill and via Singer) and the Ayrshire mainline as far as Paisley Gilmore St, the Paisley Canal Branch, the GSW as far as Barrhead, the Cathcart Circle, and the Subway, so it’s absolutely doable!

Sounds like a fun weekend! Which route did you like the most and least?

 

[Huntergreed]

Sounds like a fun weekend! Which route did you like the most and least?

It was a nice weekend! My favourite I think is probably the line out from Dalmuir to Helensburgh, lovely views of the Clyde as it expands into the Irish Sea, amazing views across to the Ayrshire coast and the Erskine bridge!

Least favourite I think is perhaps the underground sections through the centre of Glasgow (ie Central and Queen street low level), the whole thing just seems vastly underwhelming, dull and quite depressing!

 

[Scotrail12]

It was a nice weekend! My favourite I think is probably the line out from Dalmuir to Helensburgh, lovely views of the Clyde as it expands into the Irish Sea, amazing views across to the Ayrshire coast and the Erskine bridge!

Least favourite I think is perhaps the underground sections through the centre of Glasgow (ie Central and Queen street low level), the whole thing just seems vastly underwhelming, dull and quite depressing!

In all my years living near Glasgow, I've never went further west than Dalmuir on the North Clyde, need to do it given what you're saying.

Agree on the underground sections of the North Clyde & Argyle - I don't like Charing Cross, High Street and Anderston. I do like Argyle Street though, that is actually one of my favourite stations, totally unique design and generally less crowded than Central LL. I would say that Central LL isn't terrible either. Queen St LL is fine at summer but too cold at winter.

 

[route101]

In all my years living near Glasgow, I've never went further west than Dalmuir on the North Clyde, need to do it given what you're saying.

Agree on the underground sections of the North Clyde & Argyle - I don't like Charing Cross, High Street and Anderston. I do like Argyle Street though, that is actually one of my favourite stations, totally unique design and generally less crowded than Central LL. I would say that Central LL isn't terrible either. Queen St LL is fine at summer but too cold at winter.

Surprised you havent been past Dalmuir , seemed a bit scary ha.

In the same vein ive never got on or off at Charing Cross.

 

[route101]

I did 2 roundabouts at the weekend there (Sat and Sun). I managed to cover the lines to Motherwell (via Belshill, via Hamilton and via Carmyle) the Helensburgh Central branch (you need an extra ticket to Helensburgh), the WHL to Helensburgh Upper (again the same ticket but the return portion), the Glasgow to Edinburgh line as far as Croy, the Queen Street - Anniesland Line, the “Dalmuir- Hyndland Loop” (via scotstounhill and via Singer) and the Ayrshire mainline as far as Paisley Gilmore St, the Paisley Canal Branch, the GSW as far as Barrhead, the Cathcart Circle, and the Subway, so it’s absolutely doable!

Yep , not bought a roundabout for years. Nothing really new for unless its new traction, eg i took 385 to Wemyss Bay other day.

 

[Scotrail12]

In the same vein ive never got on or off at Charing Cross.

Keep it that way, I commuted there for about 5 years. Depressing, dirty, long staircase (I'm more than fit enough to do lots of stairs but doing it every day was a pain) and the worst lifts ever (slow as treacle and can't fit anything in). Some of the staff were rather dour as well, though there is good and bad staff at every station.

With regards to not being west of Dalmuir, I'd actually never been further west than Anniesland or Scotstounhill prior to last year! Going through Yoker and past those derelict high rise flats was a unique experience.

 

[route101]

Keep it that way, I commuted there for about 5 years. Depressing, dirty, long staircase (I'm more than fit enough to do lots of stairs but doing it every day was a pain) and the worst lifts ever (slow as treacle and can't fit anything in). Some of the staff were rather dour as well, though there is good and bad staff at every station.

With regards to not being west of Dalmuir, I'd actually never been further west than Anniesland or Scotstounhill prior to last year! Going through Yoker and past those derelict high rise flats was a unique experience.

I will get off or on a Charing Cross soon, always forget its there. Im not even sure if ive done Anderston either. Its Scotland though. Dourness is part in parcel.

 

[Gathursty]

I suppose if you were going to Barrhill and not done the branch to Stranraer , you might as well go to Stranarer.

I split the Stranraer branch by doing a return from Girvan to the harbour and several years later buying a Daytripper and doing Central - Kilmarnock - Girvan - Ayr - Glasgow Central amongst other journeys.

 

[Altnabreac]

So I was interested in whether this was theoretically possible and its definitely impossible to get anywhere near doing the Day-tripper validity in a single day. I suspect its probably also impossible in 48 hours but haven't worked it out in full.

To do the full SPT Roundabout validity in a day (including Subway) is possible. My first iteration is about a 16 hour version (6am-10pm on a Saturday) but I reckon you could get a couple of hours less than that with some optimisation.

Used the Tube Challenge rules (i.e trains must call at the stations, don't need to cover all track just visit every station.)