[TRIVIA] What is the longest timed service on the GB network?

[Royston Vasey]

It's not active yesterday or today, but a booked path exists for 6S00 Ernesettle MOD GBRf to Glen Douglas MOD GBRf departing at 1012, running via Exeter, Bristol, Hereford, Shrewsbury, Acton Bridge, Settle, Carlisle, Carstairs, Mossend and Helensburgh Upper, arriving at 0850 the following day.

Ernesettle is a munitions depot on the banks of the Tamar, Glen Douglas is a munitions depot between Loch Lomond and Loch Long.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:H54588/2025-11-11/detailed

Does it ever run?

Is there a longer booked path, can anyone beat 22 hours and 38 minutes? Regular or otherwise?

 

[_toommm_]

Realtime Trains | 3J11 1100 Carlisle Yard Colas Rail to Carlisle Yard Colas Rail | 11/11/2025

Real-time train running information for 3J11 1100 departure from Carlisle Yard Colas Rail to Carlisle Yard Colas Rail on 11/11/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

3J11 Carlisle Yard Colas Rail to Carlisle Yard Colas Rail (Railhead Treatment Train) comes close at 20 hours and 39 minutes. That one definitely runs and is a strong contender of ones that actually run.

 

[AlexRail575]

Does it ever run?

AFAICS there's no recent record (in open rail data feeds) of that headcode being activated, nor of a train of any description running to/from Ernesettle MOD. Looking up from various other sources last time a train ran to the sidings appears to be more than 10 years ago, with the short stretch of track being in effect mothballed since. The opposite end, Glen Douglas, does see an occasional train once in a while.

 

[Royston Vasey]

AFAICS there's no recent record (in open rail data feeds) of that headcode being activated, nor of a train of any description running to/from Ernesettle MOD. Looking up from various other sources last time a train ran to the sidings appears to be more than 10 years ago, with the short stretch of track being in effect mothballed since. The opposite end, Glen Douglas, does see an occasional train once in a while.

How interesting, thanks for the insight, yet someone has gone to the trouble of setting up a FSSuX path for five weeks between October and November.

Given the role of both sites, maybe we shouldn't ask why!

 

[j37401]

3S71 Coleham RHTT is also quite a long one. Starts at 2113 and ends 1549 the following day.

 

[trainmania100]

3W90 is just under 15 hours. Obviously an RHTT

 

[Royston Vasey]

Realtime Trains | 3J11 1100 Carlisle Yard Colas Rail to Carlisle Yard Colas Rail | 11/11/2025

Real-time train running information for 3J11 1100 departure from Carlisle Yard Colas Rail to Carlisle Yard Colas Rail on 11/11/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

3J11 Carlisle Yard Colas Rail to Carlisle Yard Colas Rail (Railhead Treatment Train) comes close at 20 hours and 39 minutes. That one definitely runs and is a strong contender of ones that actually run.

3S71 Coleham RHTT is also quite a long one. Starts at 2113 and ends 1549 the following day.

3W90 is just under 15 hours. Obviously an RHTT

I wonder how many driver changes are involved in a 15/18/21 hour circuit?

 

[trainmania100]

I've heard one crew change on 3W90. So works out about 8-9 HR shift per half when you consider checking over the RHTT etc.

I don't know what happens when there's a problem (eg 3W90 tends to return to Tonbridge early sometimes 2-3 hours in) and replaced with another for the rest of the circuit. Guessing due to Tonbridge being a half way point it probably doesn't change by much , the first crew just takes out a new set