Trivia: Stations within same postcode area where you have to leave and re-enter

[adrock1976]

With some of the recent discussions regarding the reopening of the Borders Railway to Tweedbank, it got me thinking in that the stations at the reopened southern section (Stow, Galashiels, and Tweedbank) are in the TD postcode area. Berwick-upon-Tweed is also TD, however, the only way to travel between Berwick-upon-Tweed and Stow, Galashiels, and Tweedbank solely by rail is to leave TD, go through EH, and re-enter TD.

Furthermore, there are some more examples I can think of thinking about it some more. Some others in Scotland are Renfrewshire and Inverclyde (PA1 to PA19) to points between Dalmally and Oban (PA33 to PA37), where it is only possible to travel through G and FK. Also Stanraer to everywhere else in DG, you have to travel through KA at least. The 2 Tyndrum stations and Crianlarich (FK) to everywhere else in FK, you have to travel through G. Likewise, Carrbridge to Gleneagles inclusive (PH) to Rannoch to Mallaig inclusive (PH) is only possible by travelling through FK, G, FK, and PA (Bridge of Orchy) to get there.

In the North West of England, Preston to Southport (both PR) is only possible by going through L (although on Sundays due to there being no service between Preston and Ormskirk, this would also additionally involve going through WN).

Along the London & Birmingham Railway, Leighton Buzzard (LU) to Midland Railway stations, you have to travel through MK (or HP, WD, and AL) to get there.

Are there any other examples similar to this?

I would like to note that I would exclude starting and finishing in the London compass point postcodes e.g. Euston to St Pancras and Kings Cross (all NW). Recognised out of station interchanges such as Ash Vale and North Camp, and the 2 St Albans stations are acceptable.

Have fun coming up with some more

 

[najaB]

I was going to make a comment about this being such an anorak question that nobody would possibly answer... then I remembered what forum I'm a member of.

I need to get out more. :cry:

 

[Bletchleyite]

I'd imagine this will be common, because postcode areas have nothing to do with actual geography and everything to do with the Royal Mail's delivery processes and depot locations. They have been picked up for satnavs for convenience, but that is not how they are designed nor maintained.

 

[najaB]

I'd imagine this will be common, because postcode areas have nothing to do with actual geography and everything to do with the Royal Mail's delivery processes and depot locations.

Full postcodes I agree, but the letter part of the outcode (which the OP seems to be referring to) is definitely based on geography.

Edit: Since this is RailUK, this excludes the special-purpose outcodes and a handful of non-geographic ones.

 

[adrock1976]

I was meant to clarify it is indeed the letter part of the postcode.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

It's not a journey many would choose to make by rail, but Blackpool North to Blackpool South (both FY) requires change at Kirkham and Wesham (PR).

 

[IrishDave]

The postcode area LL actually has three separate bits of railway in it - to get from Barmouth to Bangor, both in LL, via Wrexham, also in LL, one has to travel via Shrewsbury (SY) and Chester (CH).

Another few examples from a quick look at the map:
- Derby to Alfreton (both DE) via either Chesterfield (S) or Long Eaton and Nottingham (both NG)
- Moreton-in-Marsh to Gloucester (both GL) via Worcester (WR)
- Ascot to Windsor (both SL) via either Staines (TW) or Reading (RG)
- Buxton to Glossop (both SK) via Manchester (M)
- Altrincham to Warrington (both WA) via Manchester (M), or via Northwich (CW) and Chester (CH)

There are clearly quite a few of these.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Full postcodes I agree, but the letter part of the outcode (which the OP seems to be referring to) is definitely based on geography.

Sorry, I worded it badly. They are based on geography i.e. would be defined on a map, but their positioning is everything to do with where the Royal Mail wants them, and nothing to do with any other definition of location.

 

[Ash Bridge]

The Stockport to Stalybridge service travels from SK3 through two other postcode areas (M & OL) before reaching the SK15 area on arrival, a journey of approximately 8m.

 

[mlambeuk]

York To whitby (both YO) You travel through DL and TS areas
York to Selby (YO) via Sherburn (LS).

 

[SeanG]

How about Daisy Hill (BL5) to Bolton (BL1), either change at Hindley (WN) or Salford Crescent (M)

Similarly Bolton (BL1) (or indeed Westhoughton or Daisy Hill (both BL5) or Horwich Parkaway or Blackrod (both BL6) to Bury (BL0) which requires passing through Manchester (M).

 

[causton]

Easy in the south-east with many routes going out of London and not many going across!

Hatfield to St Albans (AL) - to Kings Cross and back out of St Pancras
Leighton Buzzard to Luton (LU) - to Euston and back out of St Pancras
Northampton to Kettering (NN) - to Euston and b... okay you get the point! (or across via Bletchley)

 

[yorkie]

It's not a journey many would choose to make by rail

understatement!

but Blackpool North to Blackpool South (both FY) requires change at Kirkham and Wesham (PR).

Perhaps the results should only be ones for which a fare is available.

http://www.brfares.com/#!fares?orig=BPS&dest=BPN

Origin 2739 BLACKPOOL NORTH BPN
Destination 2740 BLACKPOOL SOUTH BPS
No fares available.

 

[CyrusWuff]

Edmonton Green to Angel Road (both N) - If you were actually making such a journey, you'd take the 192 bus which (almost) links the two. To do it by rail involves going via Cheshunt (EN).

Would Hanger Lane to Park Royal count (or North Ealing to West Acton for that matter), all in W? Less than half a mile on foot, but by tube you have to go all the way to Holborn (WC) to change between the two lines.

Or how about Slough and Gerrards Cross (both SL), which involve going via Kings Sutton/Banbury (OX), or Marylebone and Euston (both NW) which involve a trip via Banbury and Coventry?

 

[Michael.Y]

Pye Corner to Newport involves going NP-CF-NP.

 

[Envy123]

Edgware and Canons Park. Both HA8, but to make a tube journey between them, you would need to go all the way to deep Central London and change. The quickest route is a bus journey.

This happens a lot further south, because there are some areas where both the Northern and Jubilee Lines exist in the same post-code.

 

[Edward101]

Another one I can think of is Peterborough to Kings Lynn, both in PE postcode area, which requires travelling through Ely (in CB postcode area). Or Chelmsford to Stansted Airport, both in CM postcode area, which involves a change at either Stratford or Liverpool Street?

 

[DeeGee]

A trip from Skegness to Peterborough (both PE) requires travel via Sleaford (NG) as a minimum. When continuing on to change at Newark, does it also cross into LN, perhaps?

 

[backontrack]

A trip from Skegness to Peterborough (both PE) requires travel via Sleaford (NG) as a minimum. When continuing on to change at Newark, does it also cross into LN, perhaps?

Do you mean Grantham? Grantham's in NG, as well as Ancaster and Rauceby.

 

[DeeGee]

Do you mean Grantham? Grantham's in NG, as well as Ancaster and Rauceby.

Sorry, yes, Grantham. Was thinking NG, my mind said Nottinghamshire and so I picked Newark instead of Grantham.

 

[Springs Branch]

A couple more examples in the north-west:-

• Travelling on one of Northern's hourly stopping trains between Crewe & Manchester via Manchester Airport, you stop at:
  - Wilmslow (SK9)
  - Manchester Airport (M90)
  - back to SK at Heald Green & Gatley (both in SK8)
  - then back into M from East Didsbury (M20) into the city.
  
  
• St Helens Junction (WA9) and St Helens Central (WA10) via Huyton in L36.
  
  
• Widnes (WA8) and Runcorn (WA7) via Liverpool S. Pkwy in L19.
  

Admittedly you'd be better using buses than the train for both the latter two, but there are published fares and rail itineraries on the NRE planner.

 

[cuccir]

Both Dent and Garsdale are in the LA postcode area - to get to the rest of that district you'd have to travel via either BD (Settle/Hellifield) or CA (Carlisle).

 

[hassaanhc]

Surprisingly, Virginia Water is GU. Which means if going to Woking, another GU area, you have to travel via KT (between Chertsey and West Byfleet, via any side of the Weybridge triangle).

 

[34D]

I think that Ilkley (LS29) to Leeds (LS1) passes briefly through BD18 in the approx area of Thackley Junction.

 

[causton]

Edgware and Canons Park. Both HA8, but to make a tube journey between them, you would need to go all the way to deep Central London and change. The quickest route is a bus journey.

This happens a lot further south, because there are some areas where both the Northern and Jubilee Lines exist in the same post-code.

I guess the same could be Watford (Met) and Watford Junction, where the closest would either be to Euston Square and Euston (NW) or Northwick Park and Kenton (HA I guess!)

 

[causton]

I think that Ilkley (LS29) to Leeds (LS1) passes briefly through BD18 in the approx area of Thackley Junction.

Looks like it!

 

[pemma]

Absoutely loads in my area. Knutsford, Altrincham and surrounding villages have WA postcodes, yet to get to any other town with a WA postcode by rail you must go via both SK and MA or both CW and CH. Other towns with WA postcodes include Warrington, Frodsham, Helsby, St Helens, Widnes, Newton-le-Willows and Earlestown.

 

[Andyjs247]

Bicester Town to Bicester North (both OX26) will require a trip to Haddenham & Thame Parkway (HP17) if you want to go by train. Or you could wait for the service to Oxford to be restored and change there and at Banbury to stay within OX. In reality you would probably walk between the two.

 

[backontrack]

The postcode area LL actually has three separate bits of railway in it - to get from Barmouth to Bangor, both in LL, via Wrexham, also in LL, one has to travel via Shrewsbury (SY) and Chester (CH).

Of course, you could stay in LL by routing it via the Ffestiniog Railway between Minffordd and Blaenau Ffestioniog.

 

[maniacmartin]

Tattenham Corner (KT) to Epsom (KT) via CR, SE and SW
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Full postcodes I agree, but the letter part of the outcode (which the OP seems to be referring to) is definitely based on geography.

Edit: Since this is RailUK, this excludes the special-purpose outcodes and a handful of non-geographic ones.

Postcodes were introduced when a significant part of the postal system was operated by rail, with many postal depots being near to principal stations. Often postcode areas are centred on these depots, and thus centred on railheads.

So, in a way postcode area are related quite strongly to the railway's layout, and this thread will find less examples than it otherwise would.