Amaranthe's 2026 "All The Lines" Challenge

[Amaranthe]

I've decided to set myself the challenge of travelling on every UK passenger line during 2026 and to complicate things slightly I want to do them all in daylight hours.

The challenge starts tomorrow with a trip to take in the Avanti S&C diversion. The plan of action for tomorrow is...

1N51 06:41 Durham - Carlisle 08:41 Northern
1Z85 09:23 Carlisle - Preston 11:45 Avanti
1Z92 14:07 Preston - Carlisle 16:28 Avanti
2N32 20:00 Carlisle - Newcastle 21:37 Northern
2A55 22:30 Newcastle - Durham 22:47 Northern

Given my daylight hours rule I'll not be able to tick off part of Durham - Carlisle tomorrow but that won't be a problem to get another time, but at least I'll be able to tick off Blackburn - Settle.

 

[Kite159]

Good luck, especially with some of those lesser used lines which can only be done in daylight during the summer time

 

[The exile]

Good luck, especially with some of those lesser used lines which can only be done in daylight during the summer time

Just out of curiosity- which are those? Other than the odd sleeper only curve, there can’t be many that have nothing between 08.30 and 16.00.

 

[Kite159]

Just out of curiosity- which are those? Other than the odd sleeper only curve, there can’t be many that have nothing between 08.30 and 16.00.

The two which spring to mind are
Knottingley - Goole & Helsby - Ellesmere Port

 

[Amaranthe]

The two which spring to mind are
Knottingley - Goole & Helsby - Ellesmere Port

Options there look like...

07:42 Goole - Knottingley 08:13 or 18:36 Knottingley - Goole 19:08

06:00 Helsby - Ellesmere Port 06:11
06:33 Ellesmere Port - Helsby 06:43
18:50 Helsby - Ellesmere Port 19:00
19:06 Ellesmere Port - Liverpool LS 20:29

 

[spyinthesky]

Both can be done by the end of March

 

[Paul AC]

Bare Lane Junction - Hest Bank Junction is only done by one train, 2C99 05:19 Lancaster to Morecambe after its reversal at Carnforth at 05:29/05:33. So that's an early start from somewhere, summer only, depending on your definition of daylight....

I assume the OP is familiar with the contents of the Branch Line Society's publication PSUL (Passenger Train Services over Unusual Lines) at https://www.branchline.uk/rail_chronology/PSUL/2026.htm ?

 

[spyinthesky]

Bare Lane Junction - Hest Bank Junction is only done by one train, 2C99 05:19 Lancaster to Morecambe after its reversal at Carnforth at 05:29/05:33. So that's an early start from somewhere, summer only, depending on your definition of daylight....

I assume the OP is familiar with the contents of the Branch Line Society's publication PSUL (Passenger Train Services over Unusual Lines) at https://www.branchline.uk/rail_chronology/PSUL/2026.htm ?

From 4th May onwards

Sunrise and sunset times in Lancaster

Calculations of sunrise and sunset in Lancaster – England – United Kingdom for January 2026. Generic astronomy calculator to calculate times for sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset for many cities, with daylight saving time and time zones taken in account.

www.timeanddate.com

 

[Amaranthe]

Bare Lane Junction - Hest Bank Junction is only done by one train, 2C99 05:19 Lancaster to Morecambe after its reversal at Carnforth at 05:29/05:33. So that's an early start from somewhere, summer only, depending on your definition of daylight....

I assume the OP is familiar with the contents of the Branch Line Society's publication PSUL (Passenger Train Services over Unusual Lines) at https://www.branchline.uk/rail_chronology/PSUL/2026.htm ?

I wasn't, thank you for that!

 

[Amaranthe]

I plan on purchasing the Rail Atlas: Great Britain & Ireland 16th Edition to track lines covered (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1800352875/)

​

 

[The exile]

The two which spring to mind are
Knottingley - Goole & Helsby - Ellesmere Port

I’d forgotten those two substantial (ie with intermediate stations) ones. Having experienced Rawcliffe in the near-dark (lights only came on 5 minutes before the arrival of the train), I should have remembered.

 

[Turbo004]

I plan on purchasing the Rail Atlas: Great Britain & Ireland 16th Edition to track lines covered (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1800352875/)

​

It's an excellent Atlas. I use the same one for a similar challenge. I go on one trip a month to cover all the lines in Great Britain. 40 years on I've just got two left. These are Eurostar out of Saint Pancras and Underground Watford North curve.

 

[Paul AC]

Then when you've cleared the UK and want to see some real railways with real scenery, Mike Ball's atlases will show you the way https://europeanrailwayatlas.com/european-railway-atlas-regional-series-2/ - and EGTRE (Enthusiast's Guide to Travelling the Railways of Europe) https://www.egtre.info/wiki/Main_Page will help you out with the "rare" track.

 

[Amaranthe]

Currently on the rather confused 1N51 from Durham to Carlisle with 156443 doing the honours. It seems to think it is going to Blackpool North though!

Attached image showing the on train display showing as a service to Blackpool North.

 

[Amaranthe]

Well looks like the end of the day is falling apart, was meant to be getting 2N32 20:00 Carlisle - Newcastle but it's reporting as cancelled.

Given I'm on advances should I just get the earlier service? (19:06?)

 

[Amaranthe]

Was meant to be doing my 2nd day of this today with a day trip to Whitby but something came up at the last minute.

I would have been on...

1J68 09:05 Newcastle to Middlesbrough 10:14

Realtime Trains | 1J68 0733 Carlisle to Middlesbrough | 28/01/2026

Real-time train running information for 1J68 0733 departure from Carlisle to Middlesbrough on 28/01/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

2E11 10:21 Middlesbrough - Whitby 11:54

Realtime Trains | 2E11 1021 Middlesbrough to Whitby | 28/01/2026

Real-time train running information for 2E11 1021 departure from Middlesbrough to Whitby on 28/01/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

RTT is showing 1J68 as arriving at Middlesbrough at 1020-3/4 (P2) and 2E11 leaving bang on time at 10:21 (P1), so would they really have not held the connection?

 

[Amaranthe]

I'm still worried about this ticket for the 10:52 Edinburgh - Preston (then to Euston)
As it has Route as Ap Tpe & connect

It was a £10 ticket bought during the rail sale