Changing trains....

[coupwotcoup]

Somebody asked this question on a football forum but nobody has come
up with a definitive answer as yet.

What is the closest station to London - presumably outside the M25 - that
necessitates more than one change to reach it?

 

[Ivo]

More than one change from where? If the answer is "London Terminals" or similar, remember that the answer may differ between terminals...

Cardiff Bay strikes me as being a possibility, although I would expect that someone can beat that.

 

[tractakid]

Watford North perhaps? Within the M25.

 

[Ivo]

Watford North perhaps? Within the M25.

Only one change from Euston.

 

[coupwotcoup]

sorry fellah...London terminals appears to be the base point....

 

[gnolife]

The closest I can come up with is New Clee.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Unless we were to count the IOW?

 

[Ivo]

Cardiff Bay is 13 miles closer to Paddington than New Clee is to King's Cross (based on straight line distances). I am starting to wonder if anything can beat it.

For me the Isle of Wight isn't fair, but if it is then Ryde Pier Head Ryde Esplanade is about 70½ miles from Waterloo.

 

[coupwotcoup]

I was trying to sub the question down somewhat but 'mainland' UK was mentioned...

 

[johnnychips]

Ryde Pier Head is one change. Ryde Esplanade would be two.

 

[tractakid]

Ah. MORE than one. :roll:

Stourbridge Town

Edit- nuts, possible on the 17:15 from MYB in one change.

 

[wintonian]

As London isn't specified can we use Charing Cross as the traditional centre or is that making it too easy?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

What about anything between Ulceby and Barton on Humber? Anything between Shrewsbury and Bynea or anything west of Shrewsbury?

 

[dvboy]

Anything west of Shrewsbury? I suspect a lot of that can be done with one change at Birmingham Intl, New St or Wolverhampton.

 

[Tomonthetrain]

Somewhere on the Heart Of Wales Line?

 

[dvboy]

Somewhere on the Heart Of Wales Line?

One change at Cardiff Central, one train a day originates at Cardiff Central.

 

[D2022]

Ashchurch?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Ashchurch?

Now has one direct train to London in the morning Failing that, it's only one change at Worcester Stns, Cheltenham Spa or Bristol Stns.

 

[tsr]

This just goes to show how well-connected London is to the National Rail network, especially if you are flexible with your times and tickets! This can only be a good thing, but it would be interesting to see lists of the stations which are greater than one change away from other large cities. I am sure the comparison would reveal some interesting requirements for passengers on some flows!

 

[thelem]

I was trying to be clever by suggesting something on the Bluebell railway, but even that won't work as East Grinstead has a direct connection to London.

 

[wulfruna]

Whitby is 2 changes
1. Whitby - Middlesbrough
2. Middlesbrough - York
Some are even three via Leeds!

 

[kieron]

I'm sure they're not the closest, but most of the stations on the Merseyrail Northern line would count, as no London trains call at its interchange stations.

 

[NathanPrior]

Anything on the Doncaster-Cleethorpes line via Scunthorpe?

 

[gnolife]

Anything on the Doncaster-Cleethorpes line via Scunthorpe?

Change at Doncaster from East Coast?

 

[ValleyLines142]

Somewhere on the Heart Of Wales Line?

Change at Swansea onto a FGW service. I believe HoW services (along with Pembroke services) are timed to connect with mainline connections at Swansea.

 

[dstrat]

What about anything between Ulceby and Barton on Humber? Anything between Shrewsbury and Bynea or anything west of Shrewsbury?

Going to go with the Barton Line as well...although I have no idea of the rest of the network on the west side of the country so bit of a guess

 

[starrymarkb]

Whitby is 2 changes
1. Whitby - Middlesbrough
2. Middlesbrough - York
Some are even three via Leeds!

Or one using the Coastliner bus (which is a RailLink with through ticketing)

 

[mr williams]

I take it that a route is "disqualified" even if there is only one train a day which is either direct or involves just one change?

 

[ATW Alex 101]

I'm sure they're not the closest, but most of the stations on the Merseyrail Northern line would count, as no London trains call at its interchange stations.

There are a few you can get to, but not all actually use Merseyrail services.

If you count walking between statations as one change, Kirkby is doable via Wigan North Western and Wigan Wallgate.

Ormskirk can be done changing at Preston.

Hunts Cross can be done by changing at Nottingham or Grantham

Liverpool South Parkway can be done changing at Birmingham New street

 

[transmanche]

Wrexham Central - although the return journey is possible with just one change. (The first service leaves too late to connect with the VT service to Euston from Wrexham General. The only way to do it with one change is to spend the night at Wrexham General!)

 

[JohnB57]

Whitby is 2 changes
1. Whitby - Middlesbrough
2. Middlesbrough - York
Some are even three via Leeds!

Via Darlington?

...edit. Scratch that - checked for myself.