Longest journey time on direct train compared to direct distance

[onionjoe76]

Is there a direct train between Wemyss Bay to Largs? Reckon that you would always have to change at Paisley Gilmour Street?!

Oops, my bad, You are right, all involve changes at Paisley.

 

[merlodlliw]

Wales has the obvious diadvantage that North-South Wales services go via England opposed to being more direct.

Your example would mean the car would need to average 22.13mph to travel at the same speed as the train making it second lowest mph value so far out of the ones where there isn't a faster rail alternative. end quote

here it is
Distance: 177.5 miles
Time: 4 hr 14 min
0.00
Start out ferry terminal
0.02

A55
0.15
At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the A55
0.26
Turn right onto the A55
0.34
At traffic signals turn left onto the A55
Bangor

0.47
At roundabout take the 1st exit onto the A55
Bangor

21.21
Britannia Bridge
A487
21.91
Leave the A55 at junction 9, then at roundabout take the 3rd exit onto the A487
22.34
At roundabout take the 1st exit onto the A487
Caernarfon

22.96
At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the A487
Caernarfon

26.16
At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the A487
Caernarfon

28.26
At roundabout take the 1st exit onto the A487
Porthmadog

28.38
At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the A487
Porthmadog

28.76
Bear left onto unnamed road
28.83
Turn right onto unnamed road
A487
28.89
Bear left onto the A487
29.28
At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the A487
30.32
At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the A487
Porthmadog

31.66
At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the A487
Porthmadog

32.04
At roundabout take the 1st exit onto the A487
Porthmadog

33.16
At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the A487
Porthmadog

33.79
At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the A487
Porthmadog

35.21
At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the A487
Porthmadog

46.83
Bear right
Porthmadog, Dolgellau A470

47.79
At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the A487
Dolgellau

A470
57.02
Continue forward onto the A470
70.64
At roundabout take the 1st exit onto the A470
Dolgellau

A487
75.55
Turn right onto the A487
Machynlleth

87.55
Bear left
Machynlleth

88.31
At Machynlleth clock tower continue forward onto the A487
Aberystwyth

88.42
At mini-roundabout continue forward onto the A487
88.47
At mini-roundabout continue forward then immediately
88.48
At next mini-roundabout continue forward onto the A487
88.64
At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the A487
A44
105.84
Turn left onto the A44
Llangurig

106.44
At roundabout take the 1st exit onto the A44
Llangurig

A4120
106.81
At Llanbadarn Fawr miniroundabouts turn right onto the A4120
Southgate, Cardigan A487

107.17
At roundabout take the 1st exit onto the A4120
Southgate, Cardigan A487

A487
107.56
At roundabout take the 1st exit onto the A487
Cardigan

107.67
Bear right on the A487
Cardigan

128.88
At Synod Inn continue forward
Cardigan

137.57
At Gogerddan Crossroads continue forward onto the A487
Cardigan

140.14
At roundabout take the 1st exit onto the A487
144.31
At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the A487
Fishguard

144.83
At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the A487
Fishguard

147.12
At Croft Crossroads continue forward onto the A487
Fishguard

149.35
At crossroads bear right onto the A487
Fishguard

B4329
151.00
Turn left onto the B4329
Haverfordwest

158.07
At New Inn Crossroads continue forward onto the B4329
Haverfordwest

A40
168.94
At roundabout take the 1st exit onto the A40
St. Clears

A4076
169.75
At Scotchwell Roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the A4076
Town Centre, Milford Haven

170.14
At Salutation Square roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the A4076
Milford Haven

171.35
At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the A4076
Milford Haven

177.52
Turn right onto the A4076
Docks


Section time 4:14, Total time 4:14

now you know why it takes over four hours by car,pre 1960s, I doubt if the rail journey was much quicker with around 4 to 5 changes of train.

Bob

 

[MCR247]

I feel sorry for anyone reading this thread on a mobile. Ages of scrolling because of pointless directions

 

[tbtc]

Bynea to Swansea is nine miles by road but 31 minutes - 42 minutes by train (its quicker in the other direction, but I'm not sure whether "padding" counts in the rules?)

 

[northwichcat]

This is a direct train, and I can't see a quicker way of doing it than sitting on the service through Snow Hill (I've said Kidderminster, not Worcester, as there are faster trains from Worcester to New Street, so it may not fit jcollins definitions)

I originally hoped the thread wouldn't become full of services like Selby-Bradford-Huddersfield-Wakefield and Cardiff to Shrewsbury via Heart if Wales line where there are quicker alternatives. I suggested a local service that many passengers make every day that isn't very direct as a starting point. I later said the Walsall-Bescott Stadium journey should count because while it's possible to get their quicker by changing, there's only one journey option per day that allows that so for the majority of people making that journey they would have to take the slow direct service.

but I'm not sure whether "padding" counts in the rules?

If you know about the service then you're best using your own judgement to decide. Some services have generous padding added in and can look like they're going to arrive early but the timetable may have another train occupying the platform required so the train that looks like it will arrive early finishes up being held at a red signal. On mainline intercity services to and from London that would rarely happen but on certain local services it can happen throughout the day.

 

[BrummyBoy]

Wolverhampton to Bescot stadium takes some beating.

What about Wolverhampton - Walsall (excluding the direct service)

 

[tbtc]

I originally hoped the thread wouldn't become full of services like Selby-Bradford-Huddersfield-Wakefield and Cardiff to Shrewsbury via Heart if Wales line where there are quicker alternatives. I suggested a local service that many passengers make every day that isn't very direct as a starting point. I later said the Walsall-Bescott Stadium journey should count because while it's possible to get their quicker by changing, there's only one journey option per day that allows that so for the majority of people making that journey they would have to take the slow direct service

I think its an interesting idea for a thread, and it makes a change, made me have to think (there are a lot of "slow" services, like Leeds - York via Harrogate) but where a "fast" service exists as an alternative. I was originally going to suggest "Scunthorpe - Lincoln" but there are faster journeys possible changing at Doncaster.