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Trivia — Shortest Routes Between Stations of the Same Name (For Example: Catford to Catford Bridge)

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Dr_Paul

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I don't know if we've had this one before, but here goes anyway. Let's use our imaginations working out the shortest route between two stations on different lines that share the same basic name, such as Catford and Catford Bridge. There are to be no reverses, but crossing over the route is permitted. Historical (say, 1900) and present-day examples are permitted, but please state which it is.

Here are some to start with (please correct me if I'm wrong anywhere).

Catford to Catford Bridge: Catford > Peckham Rye > Wandsworth Road > Clapham Junction > Barnes > Kew Bridge > Acton Central > Dudden Hill > Cricklewood > Kentish Town > Blackfriars > London Bridge > New Cross > Ladywell > Catford Bridge. This is present day and historical, although it was impossible when the line was removed between Blackfriars and Farringdon Street.

Kew Bridge to Kew Gardens: Kew Gardens > Richmond > Twickenham > Hounslow > Kew Bridge. Not possible now because the junction from the NLL/District to the Southern at Richmond has been removed. Another route, possible (I think) historically and definitely today, would be: Kew Gardens > Acton Wells > Mitre Bridge Junction > Olympia > Clapham Junction > Barnes > Kew Bridge.

Hampton Wick to Hampton Court: Hampton Wick > Twickenham > Clapham Junction > Wandsworth Road > Brixton > Herne Hill > Streatham > Wimbledon > Surbiton > Hampton Court. Historical and present day.

Penge East to Penge West: Herne Hill > Brixton > Wandsworth Road > Clapham Junction > Balham > Tooting > Wimbledon > Sutton > West Croydon > Norwood Junction > Penge West. Present day; not possible historically as the line from Wimbledon to Sutton was only built in the 1930s; there was no link between the Brighton line and Wandsworth Road at Longhedge Junction; a route might have been possible via Clapham Junction > Twickenham > Kingston > Wimbledon > Tulse Hill >Peckham Rye > New Cross Gate > Penge West, but this is predicated on direct running through the Old Kent Road Spur (Queens Road to New Cross Gate) and I'm not sure that was possible.
 
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zwk500

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For physical route rather than service, Windsor and Eton Central > Slough > Acton Main Line > Acton Wells Jn > Mitre Bridge Jn > Kensington (Olympia) > Clapham Jn > Barnes > Staines > Windsor & Eton Riverside.
 

Alex365Dash

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Wembley Stadium to Wembley Central: Wembley Stadium > Neasden Jn > Acton Central > Kew East Jn > Chiswick > Barnes > Clapham Junction > Kensington (Olympia) > Mitre Bridge Jn > Wembley Central. Possible present-day and historical (I think?).

St Albans Abbey to St Albans City: St Albans Abbey > Watford Junction > Wembley Central > Mitre Bridge Jn > Kensington (Olympia) > Clapham Junction (Plats 16-17) > Balham > Streatham Hill > Tulse Hill > Herne Hill > Elephant & Castle > Blackfriars > Kentish Town > St Albans City. Possible present-day and historical (I think) except for when the Snow Hill tunnel was closed. An alternative route avoiding it would be St Albans Abbey > Watford Junction > Wembley Central > Kensal Green Jn > Kensal Rise > Gospel Oak Jn > Crouch Hill > Harringay Park Jn > Harringay > Alexandra Palace > Peterborough > Stamford > Melton Mowbray > Syston > Leicester > Bedford > St Albans City, but that's quite the diversion!
 
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30907

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Penge East to Penge West: Herne Hill > Brixton > Wandsworth Road > Clapham Junction > Balham > Tooting > Wimbledon > Sutton > West Croydon > Norwood Junction > Penge West. Present day; not possible historically as the line from Wimbledon to Sutton was only built in the 1930s; there was no link between the Brighton line and Wandsworth Road at Longhedge Junction;
...otherwise you could have gone via Selhurst!
Penge - (Otford-) Tonbridge (or Ashford-Hastings) - Lewes - Three Bridges -Penge, though the choice of route would depend on whether the LCDR and SER were on good terms that year; the shortest option (no brackets) in from 1904.
Exeter Central> Exeter St David’s
I think these are on the same line (see OP, first sentence)?


London Road > Brighton > Redhill > Guildford > London Road
Sorry, reversals not allowed by OP :(

Bromley N to S: Lee Spur, Strood, Tonbridge (post 1904, previously via Dover assuming the two companies connected at Rochester Bridge - I can't remember!).

Coulsdon N to S before Longhedge Jn was remodelled wasn't too bad: Horsham, Shoreham, Preston Park.

Radstock or Midsomer Norton N to S would have been via Bristol (or Frome), Exeter and Templecombe.

Bodmin N to General would not have been possible - and I suspect there are others in that category.
 

flitwickbeds

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Because you've banned a reversal at Preston... Blackpool North to Blackpool South:

Blackpool North > Kirkham and Wesham > Preston > Blackburn > Bolton via Hall I' Th' Wood > Preston via Lostock and Chorley > Kirkham and Wesham > Blackpool South

Here's an amazing one for stations which are so close together (the closest two stations on the network??). Normally a simple reversal at Plymouth.

St Budeaux Victoria Road to St Budeaux Ferry Road:

Ferry Road > Plymouth > Exeter > Taunton > Bristol > Bath > Salisbury > Romsey > Loop back to Romsey via Southampton and Chandlers Ford > Salisbury > Bath > Bristol > Taunton > Exeter > Plymouth > Victoria Road

(Although whether or not you consider the two stations to be on a different line is debatable - you certainly can't travel directly between the two on one train!)
 
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scrapy

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Because you've banned a reversal at Preston... Blackpool North to Blackpool South:

Blackpool North > Kirkham and Wesham > Preston > Blackburn > Bolton via Hall I' Th' Wood > Preston via Lostock and Chorley > Kirkham and Wesham > Blackpool South
That would involve reversals at Blackburn and Bolton. It would be possible to continue from Blackburn to Bolton via Todmorden and Manchester Victoria then onto Preston via Chorley without reversal.
 

flitwickbeds

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That would involve reversals at Blackburn and Bolton. It would be possible to continue from Blackburn to Bolton via Todmorden and Manchester Victoria then onto Preston via Chorley without reversal.
You are, of course, correct.
10 points for spotting the, err, deliberate mistake
 

Dr_Paul

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... otherwise you could have gone via Selhurst!
I wondered about that. I've never been sure whether one could go directly from Selhurst to Norwood Junction (or vice versa).
 

flitwickbeds

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If Helensburgh Upper and Helensburgh Central are considered different lines, then:

Helensburgh Central > Glasgow Central via Exhibition Centre > Motherwell via Hamilton Central and Airbles > Glasgow Queen Street via Cambuslang > Helensburgh Upper
 

DC21

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If Helensburgh Upper and Helensburgh Central are considered different lines, then:

Helensburgh Central > Glasgow Central via Exhibition Centre > Motherwell via Hamilton Central and Airbles > Glasgow Queen Street via Cambuslang > Helensburgh Upper
No direct train from Helensburgh to Glasgow Central or Queen Street via Cambuslang.

You could go Helensburgh Central > Glasgow QS > Helensburgh Upper.
 

Dr_Paul

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Another circuitous one comes to mind -- Oulton Broad North to Oulton Broad South.

Historical: Oulton Broad North > Norwich (Trowse) > Thetford > Ely > Cambridge > Haverhill > Sudbury > Marks Tey > Ipswich > Beccles > Oulton Broad South.

The opening of the curve north of Ipswich for the Felixstowe traffic makes today's journey a fair bit shorter: Oulton Broad North > Norwich (Trowse) > Stowmarket > Woodbridge > Beccles > Oulton Broad South. After the line was cut short at Sudbury, and before the curve at Ipswich was opened, one would have had to go from Cambridge down to Stratford and then through Chelmsford to Ipswich.
 
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306024

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Enfield Lock to Enfield Town is a fairly short trip via Stratford, Channelsea, High Meads and South Tottenham.

For a tour of East Anglia Hackney Central to Hackney Downs, via Stratford, Ipswich and Cambridge. Or you could just use the walkway between the two.

And if feeling lucky Seven Kings to Seven Sisters, via High Meads and South Tottenham again.

Just about to do the Oulton Broad one so you’ve saved me some typing :)

So instead, Southend Airport to Southend Central, via Stratford, Willesden, Kew East, Clapham Jn, Gospel Oak, South Tottenham and Barking.

Must be loads of these but which will be the shortest.
 
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southern442

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Coulsdon Town to Coulsdon South:
Clapham Junction - Wandsworth Road - Brixton - Medway - Margate - Ashford - Tonbridge - Redhill - Coulsdon South.

Falkirk High > Queen Street/Waverley > Grahamston
Reversing isn't allowed. I'll have a think now and see what I can come up with.
EDIT: Falkirk High - Croy - Bishopbriggs - Ashfield - Anniesland - Partick - Glasgow Central Low Level - Newton - Hamilton - Motherwell - Cumbernald - Falkirk Grahamston. I'm pretty sure this works?
 

Dr_Paul

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Maidstone East to Maidstone West: Maidstone East > Otford > Swanley > Chiselhurst > Grove Park > Lee > Dartford > Strood > Maidstone West. Both today and historical, I think.

Canterbury East to Canterbury West: Canterbury East > Faversham > Strood > Dartford > Lee > Chiselhurst > Tonbridge > Ashford > Canterbury West. That's today; historically there was a shorter route: Canterbury East > Kearsney > Deal > Sandwich > Minster > Canterbury West; not possible now with the removal of the north to east curve to the north of Dover Priory.
 
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London Trains

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Ewell East to Ewell West: Ewell East > Sutton > Mitcham Jct > Streatham > Herne Hill > Brixton > Wandsworth Road > Clapham Jct > Barnes > Southfields > Wimbledon > Motspur Park > Ewell West

Epsom Downs to Epsom: Epsom Downs > Sutton > Mitcham Jct > Clapham Jct > Wandsworth Road > Brixton > Herne Hill > Streatham > Mitcham Jct > Sutton > Epsom

Coulsdon Town to Coulsdon South:
Clapham Junction - Wandsworth Road - Brixton - Medway - Margate - Ashford - Tonbridge - Redhill - Coulsdon South.
Coulsdon Town > Clapham Junction > Wandsworth Road > Brixton > Tulse Hill > Selhurst OR Crystal Palace > East Croydon > Coulsdon South
 

D6130

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Pontefract Baghill to Pontefract Monkhill (or Tanshelf) via Milford Junction, Church Fenton, York, Harrogate, Leeds, Hambleton West and South Junctions, Doncaster, Gainsborough Lea Road, West Holmes Junction, Boultham Junction, Newark Castle, Nottingham, Trowell Junction, Chesterfield, Sheffield or Beighton Junction, Masborough Station Junction, Swinton, Doncaster (again!), Shaftholme Junction, Askern and Knottingley West Junction.
 

topydre

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Waterloo to Waterloo East via Denmark Hill and Queens Rd Peckham is quite short and doesn't involve reversals
 

rob.rjt

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Birmingham New Street to Birmingham Moor Street: WCML south to Willesden - Acton Canal Wharf Jn - Acton Wells Jn - Acton West Jn - Reading - Oxford - Banbury - Leamington - Birmingham Moor Street
 

Mag_seven

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Reversing isn't allowed. I'll have a think now and see what I can come up with.
EDIT: Falkirk High - Croy - Bishopbriggs - Ashfield - Anniesland - Partick - Glasgow Central Low Level - Newton - Hamilton - Motherwell - Cumbernald - Falkirk Grahamston. I'm pretty sure this works?

I think I can better that : Falkirk High - Croy - Bishopbriggs - Springburn - Cumbernauld- Greenhill Lower Jn - Camelon - Falkirk Grahamston.

Falkirk High to Falkirk Grahamston is impossible I think, at least without going into England!

You don't have to go into England - see above.
 

Ianno87

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Hertford North to Hertford East.

Hertford North > Finsbury Park > Canonbury > Stratford > Tottenham Hale > Broxbourne > Hertford East


Beckenham Hill to Beckenham Junction:

Nunhead > Factory Jn > Pouparts Jn > Balham > Crystal Palace > Beckenham Jn

Beckenham Hill to New Beckenham: Same as the Catfore example in the OP. A loop via outer Kent will also be possible.
 

Western 52

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Heath Low Level to Heath High Level was possible until recently via the Aberthaw Power Station loop, but maybe not possible now?
 

Ianno87

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Bradford Interchange - Manchester Victoria- Preston- Lancaster- Skipton- Bradford Forster Square.

Shorter would be Halifax-Brighouse-Healey Mills-Wakefield Kirkgate-Woodlesford-Whitehall Curve-Shipley.
 
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