ow3n
Member
out of curiosity, anybody know what service calls at the most stations?
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Most stops?
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Farigiraf
Member
It used to be a Cardiff/Swansea to Crewe Heart of Wales line service, but this no longer runs. I think the actual longest now will be one of the tube lines. I'm not sure which National Rail service makes the most stops now, but here are some contenders:
- Swansea to Shrewsbury (Heart of Wales)
- Aberdeen to Plymouth
- Manchester Piccadilly to Milford Haven
- Lancaster to Carlisle (Cumbrian Coast)
- Ellesmere Port to Ellesmere Port via Liverpool
- Swansea to Shrewsbury (Heart of Wales)
- Aberdeen to Plymouth
- Manchester Piccadilly to Milford Haven
- Lancaster to Carlisle (Cumbrian Coast)
- Ellesmere Port to Ellesmere Port via Liverpool
DelW
Established Member
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I haven't counted the numbers, but IIRC if you join a TfW Cambrian line train at Birmingham International, you get an announcement of all the stops to both Aberystwyth and Pwllheli, given in both Welsh and English. Takes a while!
To give it some quantification (including origin and terminus):
36 stops
35
32
Not currently operating
33
36 (2149 ex EDB)
I make 15 to Aberystwyth, 38 Birmigham International to Pwllheli, so if we count the dividing service as the same service, I think that's our winner - though contentious, especially as it may not actually stop at request stops.
In terms of announcements, however, at 51 stations (102 if we count Welsh), I dont think that one is getting beaten!
36 stops
35
32
Not currently operating
33
36 (2149 ex EDB)
I make 15 to Aberystwyth, 38 Birmigham International to Pwllheli, so if we count the dividing service as the same service, I think that's our winner - though contentious, especially as it may not actually stop at request stops.
In terms of announcements, however, at 51 stations (102 if we count Welsh), I dont think that one is getting beaten!
norbitonflyer
Established Member
- Picadilly Line - Cockfosters to Uxbridge - 43 stops (during hours when it calls at Turnham Green)
- Central Line - Woodford to West Ruislip via Hainault 39 stops
- Lancaster to Carlisle (Cumbrian Coast) - 35
- Aberdeen to Plymouth via Newcastle 35 (although there is no direct sevice from Aberdeen to Plymouth this week)
- Swansea to Shrewsbury (Heart of Wales) 31
- Manchester -
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- Ellesmere Port to Ellesmere Port via Liverpool - 33 (or Chester to Chester)
but if that counts, so does:
- Piccadilly Line Cockfosters to Cockfosters via Terminal 4 - 76
EDIT Aberdeen to Plymouth added
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Currently this doesn't run and won't run for a fair while.
36 (see above)
Just do an RTT all day search for trains operated by AW from MAN (its around midday).
Yes there is. RTT search all XC operated departures from ABD. It may not be running this week due to the possession at Sheffield.
Also agree these are contentious as they're out and back along the same line and from a users perspective these become a different service once they start duplicating stops as no one is doing Paddington to Ealing via Heathrow for example (unless they're very tired...).
Farigiraf
Member
There's a lot of variance with this one, as some stations on the line are only served by this route occasionally - Wem, Pyle, Kidwelly, Alderley Edge and Church Stretton to name a few. I don't think there's a single service that calls at all of these, but there may be one or two trains a day that make more than 32 stops. Plus there's the Fishguard-Manchester service which makes one less call in West Wales but can compensate by calling at almost every station along the Marches.
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
Most of them only call at Capenhurst in one direction, but the first and last few trains of the day do stop there in both directions.
Cannon Street rounders are 26 stops and 2W54 Faversham to Charing Cross is 28 stops.
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DelW
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I think TfW's auto announcements omit the request stops, just guards announce them manually if necessary when the service gets close to them. It's still a lot of calls though, and some stations seem to switch between request and compulsory status from time to time.
For individual schedules (excluding associated trains) currently showing in the timetable, the winner is this upcoming VAR schedule on 22nd May 2026 calling at 42 stations:
9P50 17:00 Rainham - Bedford
For WTT trains its a tie between these two services calling at 39 stations each:
1V58 17:30 Manchester Piccadilly - Milford Haven (Fridays only)
2V08 16:20 Shrewsbury - Cardiff Central (Sundays only, starts May 2026)
9P50 17:00 Rainham - Bedford
For WTT trains its a tie between these two services calling at 39 stations each:
1V58 17:30 Manchester Piccadilly - Milford Haven (Fridays only)
2V08 16:20 Shrewsbury - Cardiff Central (Sundays only, starts May 2026)
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brad465
Veteran Member
If that's the calling count for that service, the Aberdeen-Penzance must have been a contender for most stops back in its operating days. I can't remember exactly where in Cornwall it called, but would have got over 40 easily.
Until fairly recently, GWRs Penzance to Cardiff services had 34/35 stops.
(St Erth, Hayle, Camborne, Redruth, Truro, St Austell, Par, Lostwithiel, Bodmin Parkway, Liskeard, Menheniot, St Germans, Saltash, St Budeaux Victoria Road, Plymouth, Ivybridge, Totnes, Newton Abbot, Teignmouth, Dawlish, Exeter St David’s, Tiverton Parkway, Taunton, Bridgwater, Highbridge, Weston, Worle, Yatton, Nailsea, Bristol Temple Meads, Filton Abbeywood, Patchway, Severn Tunnel Junction, Newport, Cardiff Central)
(St Erth, Hayle, Camborne, Redruth, Truro, St Austell, Par, Lostwithiel, Bodmin Parkway, Liskeard, Menheniot, St Germans, Saltash, St Budeaux Victoria Road, Plymouth, Ivybridge, Totnes, Newton Abbot, Teignmouth, Dawlish, Exeter St David’s, Tiverton Parkway, Taunton, Bridgwater, Highbridge, Weston, Worle, Yatton, Nailsea, Bristol Temple Meads, Filton Abbeywood, Patchway, Severn Tunnel Junction, Newport, Cardiff Central)
Rainham to Luton 38 stops on some services? 37 if we are excluding Rainham.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
Realtime Trains | 1700 Rainham (Kent) to Luton | 04/02/2026
Real-time train running information for 1700 departure from Rainham (Kent) to Luton on 04/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
swt_passenger
Veteran Member
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- 34,232
A few years ago one of the services with a surprisingly high number of calls, IIRC 46 or 47, was an early morning Waterloo to Weymouth. Actually 48 stops, please see next post.
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Before covid there was a once a day Heart Of Wales Line from Crewe to Shrewsbury service with 50 calls (only four stations - Pencoed / Llanharen / Pontyclun / Ninian - were skipped):
Before covid there was also a once a day London Waterloo to Weymouth service with 48 calls (only six stations - Vauxhall / Queenstown Road / Earlsfield / Raynes Park / New Malden / Berrylands - were skipped):
Both of these seem to be gone now but when they existed they were the previous top two winners for the most calls made by any trains.
Before covid there was also a once a day London Waterloo to Weymouth service with 48 calls (only six stations - Vauxhall / Queenstown Road / Earlsfield / Raynes Park / New Malden / Berrylands - were skipped):
Both of these seem to be gone now but when they existed they were the previous top two winners for the most calls made by any trains.
norbitonflyer
Established Member
Aberdeen, point taken.
manchester, I put in Manchester to Swansea into RTT "searching "all day" and got a nil return. Alsom can't find anything in TfW's own published timetables
What am i doing wrong?
pokemonsuper9
Established Member
There is engineering work on a bridge near Swansea at the moment, so the line is closed.
Looking at the 13th I see the below with 32 stations (3 of which request stops).
Realtime Trains | 1V40 1130 Manchester Piccadilly to Milford Haven | 13/02/2026
Real-time train running information for 1V40 1130 departure from Manchester Piccadilly to Milford Haven on 13/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
or 35 (5 of which request)
Realtime Trains | 1V44 1330 Manchester Piccadilly to Pembroke Dock | 13/02/2026
Real-time train running information for 1V44 1330 departure from Manchester Piccadilly to Pembroke Dock on 13/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
norbitonflyer
Established Member
Ah, thanks for thatThere is engineering work on a bridge near Swansea at the moment, so the line is closed.
Looking at the 13th I see the below with 32 stations (3 of which request stops).
Realtime Trains | 1V40 1130 Manchester Piccadilly to Milford Haven | 13/02/2026
Real-time train running information for 1V40 1130 departure from Manchester Piccadilly to Milford Haven on 13/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
or 35 (5 of which request)
Realtime Trains | 1V44 1330 Manchester Piccadilly to Pembroke Dock | 13/02/2026
Real-time train running information for 1V44 1330 departure from Manchester Piccadilly to Pembroke Dock on 13/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Suspect that was a happy coincidence on my part then - must have left my date search as next week for the Milford Haven one as I had no idea about the engineering works down there!
StephenHunter
Established Member
We're not allowed to count the London Underground, are we?
pokemonsuper9
Established Member
If so I propose the True Circle line (infinite).
Someone already said
which I don't think should count since it's a service to T4 then a completely new separate service.
If we allow the London Underground then i think that Upminster to Ealing Broadway on the District Line at 43 stations is the winner.
• 31 stops - Hainault to Ealing Broadway via Newbury Park
• 31 stops - Hainault to Ealing Broadway via Woodford
• 31 stops - Morden to Edgware via Bank
• 31 stops - Morden to Edgware via Charing Cross
• 32 stops - Morden to High Barnet via Bank
• 32 stops - Morden to High Barnet via Charing Cross
• 32 stops - Epping to Ealing Broadway
• 34 stops - Upminster to Kensington Olympia
• 36 stops - Hainault to West Ruislip via Newbury Park
• 36 stops - Hainault to West Ruislip via Woodford
• 37 stops - Epping to West Ruislip
• 37 stops - Uxbridge to Heathrow T123 & T4 (day)
• 37 stops - Uxbridge to Heathrow T123 & T5 (day)
• 38 stops - Uxbridge to Heathrow T123 & T4 (night)
• 38 stops - Uxbridge to Heathrow T123 & T5 (night)
• 41 stops - Upminster to Wimbledon
• 41 stops - Cockfosters to Uxbridge (day)
• 42 stops - Upminster to Richmond
• 42 stops - Cockfosters to Uxbridge (night)
• 43 stops - Upminster to Ealing Broadway
TFL had published a plan about ten years ago where they looked in to extending the District Line services to Uxbridge to replace the Piccadilly Line branch. The plans have gone very quiet so have probably been scrapped. But if that had gone ahead then we would have a 55 station Upminster to Uxbridge service which would be a clear winner.
• 31 stops - Hainault to Ealing Broadway via Newbury Park
• 31 stops - Hainault to Ealing Broadway via Woodford
• 31 stops - Morden to Edgware via Bank
• 31 stops - Morden to Edgware via Charing Cross
• 32 stops - Morden to High Barnet via Bank
• 32 stops - Morden to High Barnet via Charing Cross
• 32 stops - Epping to Ealing Broadway
• 34 stops - Upminster to Kensington Olympia
• 36 stops - Hainault to West Ruislip via Newbury Park
• 36 stops - Hainault to West Ruislip via Woodford
• 37 stops - Epping to West Ruislip
• 37 stops - Uxbridge to Heathrow T123 & T4 (day)
• 37 stops - Uxbridge to Heathrow T123 & T5 (day)
• 38 stops - Uxbridge to Heathrow T123 & T4 (night)
• 38 stops - Uxbridge to Heathrow T123 & T5 (night)
• 41 stops - Upminster to Wimbledon
• 41 stops - Cockfosters to Uxbridge (day)
• 42 stops - Upminster to Richmond
• 42 stops - Cockfosters to Uxbridge (night)
• 43 stops - Upminster to Ealing Broadway
TFL had published a plan about ten years ago where they looked in to extending the District Line services to Uxbridge to replace the Piccadilly Line branch. The plans have gone very quiet so have probably been scrapped. But if that had gone ahead then we would have a 55 station Upminster to Uxbridge service which would be a clear winner.
Train 207 does Barking-Baker Street-Edgware Road-Victoria-Aldgate-Edgware Road-Hammersmith, which is 56 stops. However, the service technically changes at Aldgate, which is the 38th stop. There are also a few Upminster-Hammersmith trains each day, which is 37 stops, and on Sundays, train 277 does Barking-Ealing Broadway via Baker Street, which is 55 stops.
West Ruislip-Epping would also be 38 stops.
On the 158s, it only announces Birmingham International to Aberystwyth stops in English only but the do include an extra few “This train is for Aberystwyth and Pwllheli, and will be dividing on arrival at Machynlleth”. It is advertised as a through service for both portions at stations so should probably count as a through service. At Machynlleth, the Pwllheli portion will then be set up to show the mandatory stops along the coast, but the system will announce (twice) if there is a request stop before the next mandatory stop, and to tell the conductor if you wish to alight.
There is a video here if you wish to see how the current stock is set up.
YouTube video showing the announcements for services running along the Cambrian Coast.
One still runs, the 17:58 Cardiff-Penzance Looks like it has 36 stops excluding the origin.
Realtime Trains | 1758 Cardiff Central to Penzance | 03/02/2026
Real-time train running information for 1758 departure from Cardiff Central to Penzance on 03/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
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tumbledown
Member
Surely it's the North Pole - North Pole service , 24th December only.
hexagon789
Veteran Member
Pre-COVID (May 2019 GBTT), it made 43 intermediate calls.
Post-COVID, they removed a number of the smaller calls particularly in Scotland and only reinserted some of them before the service was truncated to Plymouth.
Going further back, for comparison, in the 1983 timetable the Dundee-Penzance was all stations to Edinburgh bar two (the return added those two), but was I think more limited stop south of there than the Aberdeen-Penzance.
I'd need to get out my timetable and count!
pokemonsuper9
Established Member
They advise that the first train from Govan is the 06:30, last is the 23:16, and that 1 lap takes 24 minutes.
Therefore, if that first unit stays in service all day, it would do 42 laps (I get 42.91666667 but a train can't do 0.91 laps).
Does an inner circle train take less time than an outer due to having less distance to travel or is the effect un-noticable?
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