What is the most indirect permitted route between any two stations?

[S&CLER]

Some years ago an American friend of mine was travelling from Holyhead to Southport. When she arrived at Chester she asked how to get to Southport and for some reason was told to board the then through train via Altrincham, Stockport and Manchester instead of using Merseyrail. As this was a through train, it was of course permitted, but it meant she arrived hours later than I was expecting her. What other permitted routes can match this? Kirkby to Blackburn via Todmorden comes to mind, and on Sundays Southport to Blackburn.

 

[Watershed]

Some years ago an American friend of mine was travelling from Holyhead to Southport. When she arrived at Chester she asked how to get to Southport and for some reason was told to board the then through train via Altrincham, Stockport and Manchester instead of using Merseyrail. As this was a through train, it was of course permitted, but it meant she arrived hours later than I was expecting her. What other permitted routes can match this? Kirkby to Blackburn via Todmorden comes to mind, and on Sundays Southport to Blackburn.

I think you'll need to clarify your question a little bit more, otherwise you'll get some silly answers

Are you just looking for the longest permitted route, relative to the shortest permitted route? I presume you're not interested in the ratio to the distance as the crow flies, otherwise something like Dalwhinnie to Corrour or Mallaig to Kyle would probably an easy winner!

Are you allowing routes which aren't ordinarily permitted routes, but which are permitted by virtue of a specific routing on a ticket (e.g. via London)?

 

[miklcct]

Cricklewood / Hendon - Woodgrange Park via Gospel Oak

Permitted via West Hampstead Thameslink - St Pancras - Euston - Willesden Junction - West Hampstead (!) - Gospel Oak before heading to the destination via Harringay Green Lanes or Stratford.

And this is the only ticket which works the barrier at West Hampstead (Overground) - those shorter ones to e.g. Gospel Oak only don't work.

 

[S&CLER]

I think you'll need to clarify your question a little bit more, otherwise you'll get some silly answers

Are you just looking for the longest permitted route, relative to the shortest permitted route? I presume you're not interested in the ratio to the distance as the crow flies, otherwise something like Dalwhinnie to Corrour or Mallaig to Kyle would probably an easy winner!

Are you allowing routes which aren't ordinarily permitted routes, but which are permitted by virtue of a specific routing on a ticket (e.g. via London)?

Longest permitted relative to shortest permitted is what I had in mind. I agree I should have been more specific. I think via London should be eligible.

 

[Wallsendmag]

Berwick to Lockerbie or Chathill?

 

[Merseysider]

Not a good idea to start posting “loopholes” or tickets which have “generous” permitted routes unless you want them to disappear overnight.

 

[RJ]

I was about to say, is the OP on the RDG’s payroll or something?

 

[CyrusWuff]

Long since fixed, but in the early days of the Routeing Guide, it was possible to trace a mapped route from Finsbury Park to Liverpool Street via Cambridge (and optionally Stansted Airport) when using a Finsbury Park - London Terminals ticket.