Once a week.

[tractakid]

How many station pairs are there where it is possible to make a direct journey only very infrequently?

This could be once a week, or it could be one day a week. (or similar)

Obviously, Stockport to Stalybridge is one train a week, Tees-side Airport only has one train a week in each direction SuO, Gainsborough Central et al have 3 trains SO, most people will know about these ones I guess. Also, stations like Bilbrook between Birmingham and Shrewsbury have direct connections to Chester and Birmingham International only on Sundays when trains are operated by ATW instead of the usual Mon to Sat LM service between BHM and SHR.

Fewer people will know that only one train headed from Euston to Holyhead a week calls at Watford Junction (Calls WFJ 09:05 SO), meaning pairings between WFJ and Chester, Rhyl, Colwyn Bay, Llandudno Junction, Bangor and Holyhead are only possible once a week without changing.

What other similar situations exist elsewhere on the network?

 

[yorksrob]

"Once a week's enough for anyone" Hya hya (Sid James)

 

[MidnightFlyer]

The southbound Highland Chieftain on a Sunday is the only one to serve Carrbirdge, Newtonmore, Blair Atholl, Dunkeld & Birnam (seems a bit odd to omit Dalwhinnie totally but I guess it's the quietest station on that line) and Dunblane; however I believe all are served by the Cally Sleeper Sunday-Friday, I'm not sure if that negates the above or not. OP's choice I guess!

 

[bb21]

Plenty of choices with once-a-day services.

Pilning is another example served once a week.

 

[tractakid]

I assume you're talking about Sunday only. One example of a station pair caused by that would appear to be Carrbridge to York, so yes, that would be a good example.

I also think I have come across Pilning before, but I had completely forgotten about it. So yes, Pilning can be paired with any other station served by that train to form a once a week pair.

 

[tractakid]

Just thought of another one. Cardiff Central to Cardiff Bay, once a week on sunday mornings.

 

[scarby]

London St Pancras to Scarborough (and reverse) once a week summer Saturdays only.

 

[Robinson]

Stansted Airport-Cambridge calling at all stations is hourly on Sundays, but doesn't happen on Mondays-Saturdays. (On these days there is still the hourly XC calling only Audley End, though.)

 

[tractakid]

Stansted Airport-Cambridge calling at all stations is hourly on Sundays, but doesn't happen on Mondays-Saturdays. (On these days there is still the hourly XC calling only Audley End, though.)

I can't find any evidence of this. Using journey planner or brtimes.com. All I see is services to Liverpool Street from the intermediate stations.

 

[NSE]

Stansted Airport-Cambridge calling at all stations is hourly on Sundays, but doesn't happen on Mondays-Saturdays. (On these days there is still the hourly XC calling only Audley End, though.)

Thats been happening recently for engineering works I believe, either Cambridge-Stansted or Cambridge-Bishops Stortford. But It doesn't happen on a sunday. I believe the slow goes to Stratford rather the Liv though.

 

[EltonRoad]

There's a once a week direct service from Windermere / Kendal / Oxenholme to Barrow in Furness on Sunday evenings, so that makes quite a few pairings possible.

London Paddington to Pembroke Dock (one down, two up services) on summer Saturdays gives several pairings with stations west of Carmarthen.

Sunday DalesRail service from Blackpool to the Settle/Carlisle gives more.

Summer Saturday XC services to Newquay.

Summer Sundays service from Edinburgh to Oban.

 

[IanXC]

London St Pancras to Scarborough (and reverse) once a week summer Saturdays only.

Outside of summer its a once a week service to York too.

There's also a summer Sundays Leicester-Scarborough service isn't there?

 

[Mike395]

Outside of summer its a once a week service to York too.

There's also a summer Sundays Leicester-Scarborough service isn't there?

The once weekly service to York starts at Leicester (Every Sunday) - on summer Sundays this is also extended to Scarborough. The return working goes through to St Pancras in the evening.

I believe on summer Saturdays there is also an additional St Pancras - Scarborough (and return) service, as mentioned, although I could be wrong on this point.

 

[IanXC]

The once weekly service to York starts at Leicester (Every Sunday) - on summer Sundays this is also extended to Scarborough. The return working goes through to St Pancras in the evening.

I believe on summer Saturdays there is also an additional St Pancras - Scarborough (and return) service, as mentioned, although I could be wrong on this point.

Having had a look at the timetable (http://www.eastmidlandstrains.co.uk/Global/Weekend_Timetable_1602-2403.pdf) its definitely:

Saturdays - St Pancras to York (extended to Scarborough in Summer)

Sundays - Leicester to York (return to St Pancras, extended to Scarborough in Summer)

 

[Mike395]

Aha, apologies! I forgot about the Saturday York service...

 

[SprinterMan]

Holyhead to Manchester is only possible on a Sunday on this train.

Mon - Fri there are 2 Manchester - Holyhead trains, a Manchester - Bangor train and a Bangor - Manchester train but no Holyhead - Manchester trains.

Sat there is a Manchester - Bangor train and a Bangor - Manchester train.

The HHD-MAN train is what is left over from the old "Irish Mancunian" service.

Adam

 

[Tim R-T-C]

Sunday is the only day that you can travel through Leeds on a Northern Rail Airedale Line service without changing: Sheffield-Carlisle and Carlisle-Nottingham.
Although these workings seem to be more to do with avoiding knock on delays from winter weather than actually to be of use to the public.

 

[gazthomas]

Exeter to Okehampton?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

On Sundays local trains via Addlestone run to Woking in lieu of Weybridge, meaning that that is the only possible day to do Woking, West Byfleet and Byfleet & New Haw to Addlestone-Staines-the Hounslow loop direct.

 

[Tom]

On Sundays local trains via Addlestone run to Woking in lieu of Weybridge, meaning that that is the only possible day to do Woking, West Byfleet and Byfleet & New Haw to Addlestone-Staines-the Hounslow loop direct.

0527 Woking to London Waterloo SuX runs via Addlestone: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/W90413/2013/02/06/advanced

 

[ValleyLines142]

On Sunday Southport and Chester via Altrincham services are combined. Don't know whether its stopped though.

 

[tractakid]

Edit- Adderley Park has one direct service to Euston a week. Pairings occur beyond Coventry, the train calls at all stations except Apsley, Kings Langley, Bushey, Harrow and Wealdstone and Wembley Central.

 

[telstarbox]

On Sunday Southport and Chester via Altrincham services are combined. Don't know whether its stopped though.

There are still Southport - Manchester - Chester services on Sunday:

http://www.opentraintimes.com/schedule/Y36839/2013/2/17

 

[SprinterMan]

Fridays only Telford Central/Wellington to Manchester:
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/P41020/2013/02/15/advanced

Saturdays only Shippea Hill to Ely & Cambridge:
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y12774/2013/02/16/advanced

Adam

 

[overthewater]

Are these classes as Ghost Trains?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18644343

 

[SprinterMan]

Are these classes as Ghost Trains?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18644343

No, just normal trains with unusual stopping patterns, or the amalgamation of 2 services for operational convenience.

Adam

 

[tractakid]

Are these classes as Ghost Trains?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18644343

Some of them could be. The Stockport to Stalybridge most people know about fits the criteria and is a 'ghost train' or parliamentary service. Lots of parliamentarys actually run daily, though, so don't meet the criteria. So, it's not a no, but it most certainly isn't a yes.