Trivia - Shortest Journey Requiring Two Changes

[randyrippley]

Think there's a Parlimentary that does Heysham docks to Carnforth, but other than that Carnforth > Lancaster > Morecambe > Heysham unless you are on the very scarce Lancaster > Heysham "boat" train?

If you're going to Heysham the train starts at Lancaster, reverses at Morecambe. No changing at Morecambe.
And there's no Heysham-Carnforth "parliamentary", though there is one daily Barrow train which runs Lancaster-Morecambe-Carnforth

 

[BeijingDave]

If it's 'realistic' journeys people would actually make, then Widnes to Chester must have quite a flow of road traffic (commuter and weekend shoppers), yet would always require two changes on the train AFAIK.

 

[gingertom]

Kelvindale to Jordanhill....changing at Anniesland and Hyndland.

can this journey be done with one change at Glasgow Queen St? Long way for a shortcut!

 

[Farigiraf]

can this journey be done with one change at Glasgow Queen St? Long way for a shortcut!

Jordanhill is only served by the Garscadden-Whifflet/Motherwell services, ones to/from Glasgow QS skip it

 

[gingertom]

Jordanhill is only served by the Garscadden-Whifflet/Motherwell services, ones to/from Glasgow QS skip it

changed days (and timetables) since I last used those services.

 

[Railcar]

West Croydon to East Croydon? Under a mile. Change at Selhurst or Norwood Junction. Or take a tram (or a bus).

 

[xotGD]

Points of clarification:

1. I was not including London Underground, only proper trains.

2. I was only considering journeys where it is impossible to do it with one change, even by a much extended route. So, for example, Euston to King's Cross is one change at Edinburgh Waverley!

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

If it's 'realistic' journeys people would actually make, then Widnes to Chester must have quite a flow of road traffic (commuter and weekend shoppers), yet would always require two changes on the train AFAIK.

Since Merseyrail started running to Chester it has been a single connection journey via Lime Street. So that's 30 years and counting!

 

[peter.owen]

One change at Hunts Cross

Albeit there are only a handful of trains that call at Hunts Cross AND Edge Hill

It's slightly shorter if you change at Liverpool South Parkway.

 

[Peterthegreat]

Pontefract Baghill to Pontefract Monkhill.
Deepdene to Dorking.

 

[Farigiraf]

North Camp to Ash Vale, about 800m, change at Ash+Aldershot, Redhill+Clapham or Wokingham+Clapham

Edenbridge to Edenbridge Town, change at Redhill and East Croydon

Clock House to Kent House, change at Lewisham and Victoria

Streatham to Streatham Hill, change at Tulse Hill and West Norwood (There used to be a Tulse Hill-Streatham Hill parliamentary/limited service but I don't think it runs anymore)

 

[xotGD]

Pontefract Baghill to Pontefract Monkhill.

Change at York and Leeds, so quite a long journey.

I'm looking for examples where the rail journey is shorter, rather than just the start and end points being close together.

 

[Peterthegreat]

Something involving Western region branches?
Wargrave to Furze Platt
Windsor to Wargrave
Wargrave to Earley

 

[urbophile]

Also not a real/sensible journey, as any prospective passenger would simply walk to Lime Street.

I'd forgotten about Hunts Cross. But I don't think the OP was expecting 'sensible' itineraries for anywhere.

 

[urbophile]

If it's 'realistic' journeys people would actually make, then Widnes to Chester must have quite a flow of road traffic (commuter and weekend shoppers), yet would always require two changes on the train AFAIK.

One these days; Liverpool South Parkway. Though not very frequent.

 

[StephenHunter]

Points of clarification:

1. I was not including London Underground, only proper trains.

2. I was only considering journeys where it is impossible to do it with one change, even by a much extended route. So, for example, Euston to King's Cross is one change at Edinburgh Waverley!

Is Overground OK?

If so, Romford to Rainham.

 

[urbophile]

Points of clarification:

1. I was not including London Underground, only proper trains.

2. I was only considering journeys where it is impossible to do it with one change, even by a much extended route. So, for example, Euston to King's Cross is one change at Edinburgh Waverley!

What's improper about LU?

 

[Farigiraf]

Is Overground OK?

If so, Romford to Rainham.

Emerson park is a bit closer, and then your other option is changing at Stratford, which might be more stressful. If we ignore fact that there's a direct bus between them then that might be the perfect answer

Also, Grays/Tilbury to Ebbsfleet/Gravesend. If you are someone who gets very seasick then this would be a legitimate journey.
Route: (if we exclude tube/DLR as the OP said) Grays/Tilbury-Upminster-Romford-Farringdon-Gravesend/Northfleet (now if Elizabeth line is off the table then we would have to go via the north London line)

As the crow flies, Southend-on-Sea to Sheerness, about 10-15 minutes (?) on a boat, by train 5 (4 at peaks) changes - Southend(Vic, Central on weekends)-Stratford-Farringdon-Rainham/Chatham-Sittingbourne-Sheerness

Hessle-Barton, if the bridge is closed, Hessle-Doncaster-Habrough-Barton

 

[Mcr Warrior]

West Croydon to East Croydon? Under a mile. Change at Selhurst or Norwood Junction.

Isn't that just the one intermediate change of trains?

 

[eastwestdivide]

Sole Street to Cuxton (change Rochester and Strood)? You’d probably see your destination on the first leg of the journey

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Sole Street to Cuxton (change Rochester and Strood)? You’d probably see your destination on the first leg of the journey

1 train per day Rochester - Cuxton (the Tonbridge <-> Gillingham) that reverses at Strood (either way requires an overnight wait)

 

[InkyScrolls]

If you're going to Heysham the train starts at Lancaster, reverses at Morecambe. No changing at Morecambe.

Correct. Carnforth/Lancaster/Morecambe/Heysham are all at most one change apart.

And there's no Heysham-Carnforth "parliamentary", though there is one daily Barrow train which runs Lancaster-Morecambe-Carnforth

Not anymore. The 0519 service starts at Lancaster and terminates at Morecambe, though it does use a Barrow crew.

 

[xotGD]

Many of these suggestions are between places that are close together but require a long rail journey.

May I reiterate, I was looking for short rail journeys requiring two changes.

 

[Farigiraf]

Many of these suggestions are between places that are close together but require a long rail journey.

May I reiterate, I was looking for short rail journeys requiring two changes.

Tooting to Streatham Hill is a good example of what the OP wants (This is not BusUK forums so no nitpicking about buses please!)

 

[30907]

Back in the day*, Bromley N to Lewisham was one - but there have been regular trains from Grove PK to Lewisham for several decades.

Bromley N to Lee would fit though.

*after the last through trains off the branch went in the early 80s.

 

[urbophile]

How do you get from Catford to Catford Bridge? I remember Geoff Marshall did a video on this but I can't remember how he did it by train (walking is easy of course).

 

[Trainguy34]

Catford - Nunhead - Lewisham - Catford Bridge IIRC

 

[Sad Sprinter]

Battersea Park - Clapham Junction - Queenstown Road Battersea

 

[D6130]

Change at York and Leeds, so quite a long journey.

....or possibly a slightly shorter journey via Moorthorpe and Wakefield Westgate.

 

[Springs Branch]

Is Upton - Wallasey Village a contender?

. . . a short, plausible journey by rail & minimal doubling-back (but suspect Kelvindale/Jordanhill via Anniesland & Hyndland will still win on rail mileage)
. . . in the past Merseyrail had run the very occasional West Kirby - Loop - New Brighton (or vice versa) train, but there doesn't seem to be any of those in current timetable.


[EDIT] According to eNRT mileages, KVD-JOR is a mere 2¼ miles by rail.
UPT-WLV is ~4 miles via Birkenhead North (BKN - WLV was a bit further than I'd guessed), so no contest - but comparable to the OP's Ardwick - Salford Central via Crescent.