Trivia: Stations with more than 1 route between

[Kite159]

I'm afraid I'm confused by this. Your example appears to count Glasgow Queen Street and Glasgow Central as the same station, but then you appear to exclude London for exactly that reason. So what are you counting as a 'station' for the purposes of this thread?

Also, do routes have to be direct routes, or are reasonable routes that involve a change of train but which passengers would reasonably nevertheless take count? (Example: Greenwich to Lee - you could do it without changing, but it'd probably be quicker to change either at London Bridge or via DLR changing at Lewisham).

Two routes that I suspect would be hard to beat in terms of literal same-station-to-same-station choices would be London Bridge to Dartford and London Bridge to Slade Green: For both of those there would normally be 4 direct routes (although not while the London Bridge reconstruction works are going):
via Greenwich and Woolwich
via Lewisham and Woolwich
via Lewisham and Bexleyheath
via Lewisham and Bexley
There's also the possibility of a 5th route - via Lewisham-avoiding line and Bexley, although I'm not sure whether in practice any trains were or will be actually timetabled to take that route.

There is probably one or two services in the evening peak which goes via the avoiding line and via Bexley, although I think they might swing up via bexleyheath rather than Slade Green.

 

[RichardN]

The odd few that go via Cobham still use the normal main line until/from just west of Surbiton. (Are both diverging routes there described as Hampton Court Junction?)

The basic reason it is done for up trains is to make use of the grade separated junction there to avoid the flat crossing at Woking.

Sorry, I meant that the odd few that go via Cobham probably don't stop at Clapham Junction due to being at peak times.

 

[PHILIPE]

London Paddington to Exeter St. Davids via:-

(1) Reading, Berks & Hants & Taunton
(2) Reading Bristol Parkway & Bristol Temple Meads
(3) Reading, Bath & Bristol Temple Meads
(4) Reading, Chippenham, Melksham, Westbury & Taunton
(5) Either of the above to Westbury, Yeovil Pen Mill, Yeovil Jn and the Mule via Exeter Central.

The following are relatively short variations:-
(1) and (4) could also go via Frome or Avoider
(1) could go via Westbury Avoider or Westbury Station.

Another route that has been used for Engineering Work would be:-

(2) or (3) to Bristol thence via Westbury, Castle Cary and Taunton. The Sleeper has used it on occasions. The Night Riviera Sleeper has so much time built into it to enable it go, well any of the routes above, for Engineering Work that it can start up to 90L and arrive at destination RT.

 

[DerekC]

Sorry, I meant that the odd few that go via Cobham probably don't stop at Clapham Junction due to being at peak times.

Yes, you are right. (At least I haven't been on one that did).

In case it's worth mentioning there is at least one Waterloo - Basingstoke which goes via East Putney - could be an addition to somebody's list.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Although not an end to end like the OP's examples, you can go from Epsom to Clapham Junction by two different routes.

 

[crispy1978]

York to Leeds via Harrogate/Micklefield was my starting point!

Think you have to look at each station separately - otherwise you aren't really comparing like with like in my eyes.

Wigan Wallgate to Manchester is a separate journey than Wigan North Western to Manchester.

 

[6Gman]

I have travelled from Crewe to Bristol (on through trains) via the following routes:

1. Shrewsbury, Maindee Junctions, Severn Tunnel @
2. Stafford, Wolverhampton, New Street, University, Cheltenham
3. as 2 but via Worcester
4. as 2 to New Street, then via Kidderminster, Worcester #
5. as 2 to New Street, then via Camp Hill, Cheltenham
6. Stafford, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Sutton Park, Saltley, Camp Hill, Cheltenham @

@ summer services
# engineering diversion

There are several other options involving Bescot, the Soho Loop etc but six ain't bad!

Especially since Crewe - Bristol trains are pretty few and far between these days.

 

[PHILIPE]

I have travelled from Crewe to Bristol (on through trains) via the following routes:

1. Shrewsbury, Maindee Junctions, Severn Tunnel @
2. Stafford, Wolverhampton, New Street, University, Cheltenham
3. as 2 but via Worcester
4. as 2 to New Street, then via Kidderminster, Worcester #
5. as 2 to New Street, then via Camp Hill, Cheltenham
6. Stafford, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Sutton Park, Saltley, Camp Hill, Cheltenham @

@ summer services
# engineering diversion

There are several other options involving Bescot, the Soho Loop etc but six ain't bad!

Especially since Crewe - Bristol trains are pretty few and far between these days.

Crewe - Bristol trains are less than few and far between, in fact nil, except for Charters.

 

[crispy1978]

Lancaster to Carlisle via Barrow and via Oxenholme/Penrith is another I'm assuming.

 

[childwallblues]

The 'veg' way???

Route not via Chat Moss!

 

[6Gman]

Crewe - Bristol trains are less than few and far between, in fact nil, except for Charters.

0639 Crewe - Bristol 0910

Early start though!

 

[mm333]

York to Leeds via Garforth
York to Leeds Via Harrogate

...and the overnight TPX diversions via Castleford.

Speaking of TPX diversions:

Manchester Piccadilly-Sheffield via Wakefield Kirkgate and Huddersfield, in addition to
Manchester Piccadilly-Sheffield via Stockport and
Manchester Piccadilly-Sheffield via Marple

 

[PHILIPE]

0639 Crewe - Bristol 0910

Early start though!

Yes, your'e right. Never thought of XC via Brum but only Marches route in my head as in days of yore.

 

[Bevan Price]

Will be hard to match Glasgow/Edinburgh, but I'd imagine there are loads of stations with two routes between them, especially if you allow more than one station at either end.
Fewer options have three routes.

Three routes between Wigan and Manchester. I think the 5 permutations of stations & routes are:

• Man Picc - Wigan NW via Patricroft
• Man Picc - Wigan Wallgate via Bolton
• Man Vic - Wigan Wallgate via Bolton
• Man Vic - Wigan Wallgate via Atherton
• Man Vic - Wigan NW via Atherton

.[/i]

Man Picc - Wigan NW via Bolton is used during engineering work, and at one time there were regular timetabled trains that way on sundays.

And several other Manchester - Wigan options disappeared in the 1960s.

 

[Trainfan344]

Stafford to Crewe - direct via WCML or via Stoke.

Hitchin to Letchworth, Via the crossovers or via the flyover.

Alexander Palace to Stevenage via ECML or Via Hertford loop.

 

[nottinghamcity]

Birmingham New Street to Walsall, via Aston or Soho jn.

A couple of occasionals presumably for route currency:

Birmingham International to New St via Perry Barr jn (rather than Grand jn)

Sheffield to Nottingham via Attenborough jn rather than direct via Mansfield jn.

 

[Dr_Paul]

Clapham Junction to Highbury and Islington via Hampstead Heath.
Clapham Junction to Highbury and Islington via Whitechapel.

 

[swt_passenger]

Clapham Junction to Highbury and Islington via Hampstead Heath.
Clapham Junction to Highbury and Islington via Whitechapel.

However the latter no longer runs through since last December, the trains only run to Dalston Jn now. Something to do with giving the 8 tph through New Cross Gate more of a clock face timing

 

[cactustwirly]

Leamington Spa to Birmingham New St

1.) WCML via Coventry & Birmingham International

2.) Chiltern Mainline via Camp Hill

 

[imagination]

London Marylebone to Aylesbury via Amersham or Princes Risborough
Carlisle to Lancaster via Cumbrian coast or via WCML
Barking to Southend Central via Basildon or Tilbury
Cardiff to Shrewsbury via Heart of Wales line or Welsh Marches line

 

[AndyNLondon]

Alexander Palace to Stevenage via ECML or Via Hertford loop.

Though the stoppers on the ECML from Alexandra Palace terminate at Welwyn Garden City, so you have to go south to Finsbury Park to have a direct service to Stevenage via both routes.

 

[Dr_Paul]

However the latter no longer runs through since last December, the trains only run to Dalston Jn now. Something to do with giving the 8 tph through New Cross Gate more of a clock face timing

Thanks for that, I've not noticed that the route has been truncated. I haven't travelled on that line for several months.

 

[Deepgreen]

Although not an end to end like the OP's examples, you can go from Epsom to Clapham Junction by two different routes.

Make that at least five routes - via Earlsfield, via East Putney (infrequent diversionary route), via Carshalton and Mitcham Junction, via Carshalton Beeches and Selhurst and via Carshalton Beeches and Norwood Junction.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

In an idle hour one morning a colleague and I worked out that there were - if memory serves correctly - about twenty ways to get to London's Victoria station from Sutton without reversing.

Although not on through trains for most of them...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Sorry, I meant that the odd few that go via Cobham probably don't stop at Clapham Junction due to being at peak times.

There is a half-hourly service all day from Waterloo to Guildford via Cobham, and there is only one down train on the route that omits Clapham Junction - the 1848 from Waterloo. In the up direction, the 0716 and 0807 from Guildford omit Clapham Junction.

 

[RichardN]

Make that at least five routes - via Earlsfield, via East Putney (infrequent diversionary route), via Carshalton and Mitcham Junction, via Carshalton Beeches and Selhurst and via Carshalton Beeches and Norwood Junction.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Although not on through trains for most of them...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


There is a half-hourly service all day from Waterloo to Guildford via Cobham, and there is only one down train on the route that omits Clapham Junction - the 1848 from Waterloo. In the up direction, the 0716 and 0807 from Guildford omit Clapham Junction.

I think that the quoting dropped the fact we were talking about services that continue to Portsmouth.

I also forgot that on Sunday the Southern services are booked to run via Hove, which make it six routes for Pompey <-> London direct services. (5 routes to/from CLJ if you are being picky about wanting a single London station)

 

[W230]

London Bridge - Sutton via Wimbledon (limited)
London Bridge - Sutton via Hackbridge (limited)
London Bridge - Sutton via West Croydon

Only three but a start!

 

[CatfordCat]

There is probably one or two services in the evening peak which goes via the avoiding line and via Bexley, although I think they might swing up via bexleyheath rather than Slade Green.

The current off peak service pattern via the Sidcup line is 2 tph Charing Cross - Dartford - Gravesend which use the Lewisham avoiding line, and 2 tph Cannon Street - Lewisham - Sidcup - Crayford - Slade Green curve - north Kent line - Cannon Street (and vice versa)

There are also off peak 'circles' that are out via Bexleyheath line and back via north kent line (and vice versa)

There are peak hour trains London - Barnehurst via Sidcup and Crayford - London via Bexleyheath. Traditionally, I am fairly sure these only ran in service as far as the last station on the 'right' line then were 'ecs' via the curve between Crayford and Barnehurst. Off peak services via Sidcup avoiding Lewisham is a relatively recent.

There was a set of headcodes for each possible route

40+ : via Sidcup (avoiding Lewisham)
50+ : via Lewisham and Sidcup
60+ : via Lewisham and Woolwich
70+ : via Lewisham and Bexleyheath
80+ : via Greenwich and Woolwich

 

[eastwestdivide]

Ramsgate-London?
1 Victoria via Chatham (via Kent House or Catford routes - does that count as two?)
2 Cannon St via Canterbury+Tonbridge (peak times)
3 St Pancras via Chatham
4 St Pancras via Ashford
5 Charing Cross via Canterbury+Tonbridge
6 Cannon Street via Chatham+Chislehurst in the peaks, in the up direction they now start further up the line, Dumpton Park or Broadstairs, but there's still a 1730 Cannon St-Ramsgate via Chatham.

Do they still extend the CX-Dartford-Gillinghams to Ramsgate in the summer??