Trivia: Journeys between stations that are quicker to walk

[London Trains]

Epsom Downs to Tattenham Corner - going by train would involve a long journey going to West Croydon, catching a tram/walking to East Croydon and getting another train to Tattenham Corner. The walk is very nice and more than an hour shorter!

 

[xotGD]

There are a lot more examples where if you've just missed a train it is quicker to walk than wait for the next one. Basically, anywhere less than 3 miles apart with an hourly service.

 

[Jamesrob637]

St Budeaux Ferry Road to St Budeaux Victoria Road?

(Does the direct train between the two still run?)

I'm sure there's a Gunnislake to Liskeard or Penzance. Maybe not under COVID though.

 

[ANDREW_D_WEBB]

Hanwell to Drayton Green

 

[satisnek]

There are a lot more examples where if you've just missed a train it is quicker to walk than wait for the next one. Basically, anywhere less than 3 miles apart with an hourly service.

Indeed there is, and I thought about this after submitting my post upthread. What about the 'if you've just missed the last train' scenario? In theory, that's any 2 stations within 15-20 miles of each other. Has anyone ever actually done this?

 

[xotGD]

Indeed there is, and I thought about this after submitting my post upthread. What about the 'if you've just missed the last train' scenario? In theory, that's any 2 stations within 15-20 miles of each other. Has anyone ever actually done this?

I once missed the last bus and walked about 7 miles home.

 

[vlad]

Indeed there is, and I thought about this after submitting my post upthread. What about the 'if you've just missed the last train' scenario? In theory, that's any 2 stations within 15-20 miles of each other. Has anyone ever actually done this?

I'm not entirely sure this satisfies your criteria - but EMT had a habit of curtailing Derby to Crewe trains at Stoke, with onward passengers advised to continue on with London Midland. However, the latter didn't stop at Longport. I always found it was quicker to walk home from Stoke than to wait for the next train to Longport then walk home from there.

I wonder if this still happens in EMR/LNR days.

 

[Cambus731]

Ash Vale to North Camp. in fact no fare exists between the two stations

 

[satisnek]

I once missed the last bus and walked about 7 miles home.

That beats my 4 miles under the same circumstances (Stourport town centre to my house in Kidderminster).

I'm not entirely sure this satisfies your criteria - but EMT had a habit of curtailing Derby to Crewe trains at Stoke, with onward passengers advised to continue on with London Midland. However, the latter didn't stop at Longport. I always found it was quicker to walk home from Stoke than to wait for the next train to Longport then walk home from there.

I wonder if this still happens in EMR/LNR days.

If only Etruria had remained open, the LM train would have got you a bit closer to home (or wouldn't it have stopped there either?).

 

[MontyP]

Esher to Thames Ditton? Just over a mile to walk so probably less than 20 minutes. Train journey via Surbiton could theoretically be less than that with a quick connection at Surbiton but unlikely ....

 

[johntea]

Not walking, but from Manchester Piccadilly to Victoria is the tram quicker than the train? (The train having to stop off at Oxford Road in between)

Although talking of walking, I think the train that goes this route always departs from Platform 14 which is quite a walk in itself from the main concourse at Piccadilly!

 

[vlad]

That beats my 4 miles under the same circumstances (Stourport town centre to my house in Kidderminster).

If only Etruria had remained open, the LM train would have got you a bit closer to home (or wouldn't it have stopped there either?).

Longport is a veritable metropolis compared with Etruria - I can't see any "fast" trains stopping there!

 

[317 forever]

Kenton to Northwick Park.
Any combination involving Wembley Central, Wembley Park or Wembley Central.
I walked from Wembley Central to Alperton once, but was confident that it was quicker than by train or Underground.

Similarly, Ruislip to West Ruislip.

Also, Birmingham New Street to Moor Street. You'd have to go via Galton Bridge or even Leamington Spa by train.

 

[scotrail158713]

Depending on train times Newcraighall to Musselburgh is probably either equal between walking and train, or slower. As there’s 2tph between Newcraighall and Edinburgh whilst it’s 1tph between Musselburgh and Edinburgh.

 

[Old Yard Dog]

Travelling from Euston to St Pancras International to catch a Eurostar is a pain by tube. By the time you've gone through the barriers, lugged your luggage down stairs and through all the passages, on to the train, and up again at the other end, it may very well have been quicker to walk.

I usually catch the bus eastbound as there are lots of routes from Euston bus station. But its a bit of a pain westbound as you have to cross the very busy Euston Road and wait for a 59 to stop if you don't want to have to cross the road again. The 476 used to run through to Euston where it terminated. But it was very difficult to flag one down at St Pancras as the drivers didn't expect waiting passengers to be making such a short journey.

 

[eoff]

Depending on train times Newcraighall to Musselburgh is probably either equal between walking and train, or slower. As there’s 2tph between Newcraighall and Edinburgh whilst it’s 1tph between Musselburgh and Edinburgh.

I presume it is a nice walk as well.

In a similar vein between Edinburgh Park and South Gyle you would be hard pressed for the train to beat the walk, it might just be possible but mostly the walk will be faster.

 

[Ken H]

Settle - Giggleswick. national rail routes you via skipton, but you could change at Hellifield or Long Preston.
Its about a mile.
581 bus does it too.

 

[scotrail158713]

I presume it is a nice walk as well.

In a similar vein between Edinburgh Park and South Gyle you would be hard pressed for the train to beat the walk, it might just be possible but mostly the walk will be faster.

Yeah it’s a nice enough walk. Not spectacular, but it’s not awful either.
And good point about Edinburgh Park to South Gyle, it’s much the same.

 

[sjm77]

Not walking, but from Manchester Piccadilly to Victoria is the tram quicker than the train? (The train having to stop off at Oxford Road in between)

Although talking of walking, I think the train that goes this route always departs from Platform 14 which is quite a walk in itself from the main concourse at Piccadilly!

The train can be quicker only if there are no red signals encountered, so if I were you I would take the tram definitely.

Whilst we are in Manchester how about Oxford Road to Deansgate if we are judging street level to be Whitworth Street West? There are a few on Metrolink around Salford Quays too;
Wharfside - Exchange Quay
Imperial War Museum - Media City UK

Also walking from Anchorage & Harbour City to Broadway is quicker evenings and Sundays to avoid to reversal at Media City.

 

[4F89]

Reddish North and Reddish South....

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Reddish North and Reddish South....

Can't argue with that!

 

[4F89]

The two Bicesters

 

[philthetube]

How about Colne to Skipton, 11.2 miles over the moors, 3.80 seems to be the quickest by train, anyone able to walk at 4mph could beat that.

Raises another question, which 2 stations the furthest apart can be walked quicker than travelling by train

 

[Old Yard Dog]

Teesside Airport to Reddish South? About 100 miles but you have six days to do the walk.

 

[BrettSy96]

Oulton Broad South to Oulton Broad North is quicker if you walk, even if you do find yourself popping into one of the takeaways you walk past which I usually do

 

[4F89]

The newarks

 

[lancastria]

Crofton Park is served exclusively by Thameslink trains via Elephant and Castle. It's quicker to walk from any of the neighbouring stations served by Southern, TfL and Southeastern to Crofton Park, these include Honor Oak, Forest Hill, Brockley, New Cross Gate, Ladywell, St Johns and New Cross.

 

[Tim_UK]

Not walking, but from Manchester Piccadilly to Victoria is the tram quicker than the train? (The train having to stop off at Oxford Road in between)

It is quicker to walk than get the tram.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Tulloch to Dalwhinnie? about 20 miles cross country. Best time by rail is about 8 hours.

At the other extreme, Hampton Court to Hampton Wick, 34 minutes by train: 2.8 km on foot.

 

[317 forever]

Crofton Park is served exclusively by Thameslink trains via Elephant and Castle. It's quicker to walk from any of the neighbouring stations served by Southern, TfL and Southeastern to Crofton Park, these include Honor Oak, Forest Hill, Brockley, New Cross Gate, Ladywell, St Johns and New Cross.

In that area, it must be quicker to walk from New Cross to New Cross Gate, from Catford to Catford Bridge, and from Bromley North to Bromley South than do the complete journey by train.