Trivia: - Most changes needed

[GrimsbyPacer]

After seeing Middlesbrough being promised a direct London service I wondered...

Which journey between two rail connected UK stations would need the most changes in total?

Also which stations are the most changes away from a big city? (Metropolitan counties, London, Glasgow, Belfast, Cardiff and Edimburgh)

 

[higthomas]

I would have thought that Shanklin to Oban would be a contender at 5 minimum as far as I can tell.
(Shanklin-Ryde-Portsmouth Harbour-Waterloo-Euston-Crainlarich-Oban)

I would also guess Shanklin is the most changes away from a major UK city at 2, although I doubt it's the only one.

 

[SeanG]

Shanklin - Ryde - Potsmouth Harbour - Waterloo - Kings X - York - Middlesbrough - Whitby

6 Changes.

 

[greatkingrat]

But if you avoid London you can do

Shanklin - Ryde - Portsmouth - Southampton - Manchester - Middlesbrough - Whitby

 

[tsr]

I raise you Shanklin - Douglas (Isle of Man) - this can involve 7 changes without the ferry... 8 with it!

If I were being daft, I could suggest "rail connected" to include heritage railways with mainline interchanges, and thus think about something involving an interchange at Smallbrook Junction...

 

[SeanG]

And then in Douglas you have the horse tram to Derby Castle and the MER to Ramsey

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

I meant rail connected to include all heritage lines and light rail.

But the passenger trains have to link up with all the others until the final destination with no breaks.

I didn't want ferry or bus type services.

The railways on the Isle of Man don't stop at the ferry terminal so aren't connected anyway.

If a change onto a seperate system like Nottingham Express Transit it needs to be at an actual interchange, not just a short walk away.

 

[thenorthern]

Stourbridge Town to Whitby requires 6 minimum as far as I can see.

 

[Statto]

Stourbridge Town to Whitby requires 6 minimum as far as I can see.

Stourbridge Town-Stourbridge Junction-Smethwick Galton Bridge-Birmingham New Street-Leeds or York-Middlesbrough-Whitby.

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

Pickering is allowed too as trains run from Whitby now.

 

[thenorthern]

Stourbridge Town-Stourbridge Junction-Smethwick Galton Bridge-Birmingham New Street-Leeds or York-Middlesbrough-Whitby.

Thats one way, I was doing Stourbridge Town-Stourbridge Junction-Worcester Forgate Street-Birmingham New Street-Darlington-Middlesbrough-Whitby

I have discovered however it is possible in the other direction with 5 with an overnight stop in Middlesbrough although I would still rather take the 6

Whitby-Middlesbrough-Liverpool Lime Street-Smethwick Galton Bridge-Stourbridge Junction-Stourbridge Town.

 

[swt_passenger]

I meant rail connected to include all heritage lines and light rail.

Yes, you usually have to spell out exactly what you mean with these sort of questions.

IMHO though, 'rail connected' definitely ruled out ferries anyway. :roll:

 

[Trainfan344]

Tunbridge Wells- Eridge-East Croydon-New Cross Gate-Highbury&Islington- Finsbury Park- Stevenage-Doncaster-Darlington-Middlesborough-Grosmont-Pickering A total of 11 changes and do-able on the 16th February 2015 for only £64....

 

[higthomas]

Tunbridge Wells-Eridge-London Bridge-Guildford-Darlington-Middlesbrough-Grosmont-Pickering
7 Changes

 

[Trainfan344]

Tunbridge Wells-Eridge-London Bridge-Guildford-Darlington-Middlesbrough-Grosmont-Pickering
7 Changes

I put avoiding London and it gave me my route.

 

[higthomas]

Tunbridge Wells- Eridge-East Croydon-New Cross Gate-Highbury&Islington- Finsbury Park- Stevenage-Doncaster-Darlington-Middlesborough-Grosmont-Pickering A total of 11 changes and do-able on the 16th February 2015 for only £64....

Tunbridge Wells-Eridge-London Bridge-Guildford-Darlington-Middlesbrough-Grosmont-Pickering
7 Changes

I put avoiding London and it gave me my route.

I was just pointing out that it can be done in less, not that that is the most sensible option.

 

[Hophead]

Tunbridge Wells- Eridge-East Croydon-New Cross Gate-Highbury&Islington- Finsbury Park- Stevenage-Doncaster-Darlington-Middlesborough-Grosmont-Pickering A total of 11 changes and do-able on the 16th February 2015 for only £64....

Are we not restricting this to trains only? The last train from Tunbridge Wells to Eridge departed some time ago. While some would like the line reopened, it seems unlikely that it can be achieved in 10 weeks or so. For now, you'll need the 29 bus.

Aaah - that's a misprint, isn't it? That should be Tonbridge, shouldn't it? Personally, I'd not be changing at all if I were travelling from Tunbridge Wells to London

 

[SeanG]

The railways on the Isle of Man don't stop at the ferry terminal so aren't connected anyway.

The horse tram terminates at the Sea Terminal

 

[Kite159]

Also which stations are the most changes away from a big city?

In terms of London connections, the stations on the Barton-on Humber line require 2 changes, I can't think of any other lines which require 2 changes to get to London

 

[30907]

Marlow in the peak ☺. Whitby line. Merseyrail Southport line, ditto some Glasgow suburban stations. Bolton-Clitheroe.
Are there any that require more than 2, though?

 

[Deerfold]

Tunbridge Wells- Eridge-East Croydon-New Cross Gate-Highbury&Islington- Finsbury Park- Stevenage-Doncaster-Darlington-Middlesborough-Grosmont-Pickering A total of 11 changes and do-able on the 16th February 2015 for only £64....

Not the smallest number of changes, even taking that route. There are direct trains Highbury and Islington to Stevenage and Stevenage to Darlington.

If you put in a crap time you can get lots of connections on many journeys...

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

The horse tram terminates at the Sea Terminal

sorry I always forget those horse trams.
On the Isle of Man all connected stations look to be one change away from the electric railway. Making two changes possible from Snaefell peak to Sea Terminal, but not three. Unless the steam railway is very close to the tram??
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Marlow in the peak ☺. Whitby line. Merseyrail Southport line, ditto some Glasgow suburban stations. Bolton-Clitheroe.
Are there any that require more than 2, though?

Are you sure about the Merseyrail services? I was under the impression that a change onto Virgin from all Northern line trains could be made at Liverpool South Parkway.

If you can't think of stations 3 changes away from London there's the other 'big cities' I named. Remember heritage and light rail counts.

 

[tsr]

Are we not restricting this to trains only? The last train from Tunbridge Wells to Eridge departed some time ago. While some would like the line reopened, it seems unlikely that it can be achieved in 10 weeks or so. For now, you'll need the 29 bus.

Indeed, but Tunbridge Wells West has direct trains to Eridge, although possibly not on 16 February 2015 (a bit off-season, so I don't know if anything will run, unless there's a heritage railway staff train, which is pushing things somewhat, although perhaps still valid).

Aaah - that's a misprint, isn't it? That should be Tonbridge, shouldn't it?

Not sure why it's a misprint! I'm curious - Tonbridge-Eridge definitely can't be done directly.

Personally, I'd not be changing at all if I were travelling from Tunbridge Wells to London

Same for Tonbridge!

 

[tractakid]

Are you sure about the Merseyrail services? I was under the impression that a change onto Virgin from all Northern line trains could be made at Liverpool South Parkway.

Virgin don't stop at Liverpool South Parkway.

 

[Starmill]

Marlow in the peak ☺. Whitby line. Merseyrail Southport line, ditto some Glasgow suburban stations. Bolton-Clitheroe.
Are there any that require more than 2, though?

There's a Piccadilly - Clitheroe train (http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y76609/2014/12/01/advanced) Would have to be an overnight connection though!

And you can a change out of take the Whitby line - it has direct trains from Darlington when the Sunday services run in summer.

 

[SeanG]

sorry I always forget those horse trams.
On the Isle of Man all connected stations look to be one change away from the electric railway. Making two changes possible from Snaefell peak to Sea Terminal, but not three. Unless the steam railway is very close to the tram??

About 3 minutes walk along the harbour

 

[Oxfordblues]

I recall working at the Telephone Enquiry Bureau in Ladywell House, Preston in 1974 and dealing with a lady's request for a Sunday train to Portsmouth. The cross-country journey required changes at Crewe, Birmingham New Street, Reading, Basingstoke, Eastleigh and Fareham. I suggested an easier itinerary would be via Euston and Waterloo. She was worried that so many connections would be too stressful, but the Forces Travel Warrant stated "Not via London". It was for her son who was serving on a submarine based at Pompey. He was a navigator!

 

[Andyjs247]

Stourbridge Town-Stourbridge Junction-Smethwick Galton Bridge-Birmingham New Street-Leeds or York-Middlesbrough-Whitby.

You could do that journey with 4 changes. Change at Leamington instead of Smethwick Galton Bridge and Birmingham New Street...

Stourbridge Town - Stourbridge Junction - Leamington Spa - Leeds / York / Darlington - Middlesbrough - Whitby

Or just 3 changes on a Sunday changing at Stourbridge Jn, Leamington, Darlington

 

[Trainfan344]

Are we not restricting this to trains only? The last train from Tunbridge Wells to Eridge departed some time ago. While some would like the line reopened, it seems unlikely that it can be achieved in 10 weeks or so. For now, you'll need the 29 bus.

Aaah - that's a misprint, isn't it? That should be Tonbridge, shouldn't it? Personally, I'd not be changing at all if I were travelling from Tunbridge Wells to London

Not a misprint, that was using the Spa Valley Railway..

Not the smallest number of changes, even taking that route. There are direct trains Highbury and Islington to Stevenage and Stevenage to Darlington.

If you put in a crap time you can get lots of connections on many journeys...

I put 09:00 monday morning avoiding london.

 

[Tony2215]

The West Coast ML to have direct service to Inverness or Aberdeen.