Trivia: Doubling back to save time

[mike57]

An example: Potters Bar to York, two possible journeys: Potters Bar - Kings X - York or Potters Bar - Stevenage - York, maybe with another change at Peterborough. Timewise this seems like a borderline case

So what is the furthest point from London where doubling back is quicker. (this assumes you have the right tickets...) on any route

 

[greatkingrat]

Ashford International - Paris. Quicker via St Pancras as there aren't any Eurostars any more! Even pre-Covid Ashford calls were fairly sporadic, so doubling back could still be the quickest option.

 

[zwk500]

MK to York could be quicker via London than either Birmingham, Tamworth, or Manchester depending on connections. About 50 miles in the 'wrong' direction.

 

[NSE]

With the recent EMR changes, something like Bedford/Luton/St. Albans to Sheffield (or Derby, Leicester etc), not sure where the line is drawn. St Albans for sure as you now have to go St. Albans - Luton - Kettering - Leicester - Sheffield. Or, St Albans - St. Pancras - Sheffield.

There’s a poster on here that has such utter contempt for doubling back he’d spend extra ensuring he doesn’t, despite it taking far, far longer.

 

[Deafdoggie]

If we're taking delays and cancellations into account, then rather than wait for Avanti to actually run a train Milton Keynes-London, you could go Milton Keynes-Crewe-Manchester-Leeds-Kings Cross far faster
(For those struggling with the joke, I know you could go with LNR)

 

[Birmingham]

Not doubling back through a station, but London Paddington [PAD] to Cheltenham Spa [CNM] can be quicker changing at Bristol Parkway [BPW] than the direct service which goes via Gloucester — the journey via Bristol Parkway doubling back between Bristol Parkway and Westerleigh Jn

This is due to the PAD - BPW and the BPW - CNM sections being very fast compared to the trundle through the Golden Valley, and the good connection between the two at BPW

e.g. Looking now:
12:32 PAD - CNM 14:29
(1h 57m)

12:48 PAD - BPW 14:03
14:10 BPW - CNM 14:38
(1h 50m)

 

[70014IronDuke]

Harling Rd & Eccles Rd to KX/Liverpool Str would surely only be possible via Wymondhom during the morning, wouldn't it?