• Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

Ridiculous routes suggested by journey planners

Status
Not open for further replies.
M

mr_jarhead

Member
Joined
13 Feb 2013
Messages
44
While checking via National Rail Enquires to see if services were running between Limehouse and Fenchurch St this weekend, I received the following route suggestion for the journey.

9dorLp6_d.jpg


Wouldn’t you pass by, or very closely to, Fenchurch St on your way to Paddington and that’s before you head off to Reading?

Has anyone had anything so extreme when using an online journey planner?
 
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R

RailUK Forums

TheGrew

TheGrew

Member
Joined
31 Jul 2012
Messages
334
In London I would generally think that CityMapper > National Rail Journey Planner
 
S

s_null

Member
Joined
20 Aug 2017
Messages
9
Can also confirm I receive the same routing on a fresh NRE session with no via points specified.
 
S

southernyoshi

Member
Joined
12 Sep 2014
Messages
156
The greatest thing about that is that it takes nearly 4 hours. You could literally walk it quicker o_O
 
Silver Cobra

Silver Cobra

Member
Joined
4 Jun 2015
Messages
868
Location
Bedfordshire
I imagine the reason why this routing is given is due to the DLR being closed between Bank/Tower Gateway and Poplar/West India Quay alongside the closure from Fenchurch Street to Barking, so the most logical alternative route (DLR from Limehouse to Tower Gateway and walk to Fenchurch Street) is not available, which is 'confusing' the NRE journey planner. I tested West Ham to Fenchurch Street and it correctly offered a routing using the Jubilee Line to Stratford and onward train to Liverpool Street to then walk to Fenchurch Street.
 
M

Master29

Established Member
Joined
19 Feb 2015
Messages
1,970
It makes for an interesting thread this. The daftest journeys offered. I understand the via part but something like Liverpool Street to Shenfield via Inverness and Wick springs to mind, and I know for sure that can be bettered.
 
Y

yorkie

Forum Staff
Staff Member
Administrator
Joined
6 Jun 2005
Messages
67,830
Location
Yorkshire
Master29 said:
.. something like Liverpool Street to Shenfield via Inverness and Wick springs to mind, and I know for sure that can be bettered.
Click to expand...
I doubt that was possible without entering any via points. Did you get a screenshot?
 
P

peterinsurrey

Member
Joined
31 Mar 2009
Messages
28
just tried it on the iOS app, same result, on the return it's tube to Moorgate, GTR to Highbury & Islington, Overground to Shadwell, then 15min walk to Limehouse.
 
D

DanTrain

Member
Joined
9 Jul 2017
Messages
753
Location
Sheffield
I’ve had NRE take me from Chesterfield to Bletchly with about 7 changes. Took me via West Hampstead at least twice along the way :lol:.

In fairness I was trying to get it to go via Bedford...think that might have confused it!
 
M

Master29

Established Member
Joined
19 Feb 2015
Messages
1,970
yorkie said:
I doubt that was possible without entering any via points. Did you get a screenshot?
Click to expand...
It was only a suggestion to see if anyone had something similar. I suppose if you went via York or Edinburgh it might be possible in this case and there must be more bizarre route options than this. Would make a good screenshot though.
 
L

londonboi198o5

On Moderation
Joined
28 Dec 2010
Messages
449
Master29 said:
It makes for an interesting thread this. The daftest journeys offered. I understand the via part but something like Liverpool Street to Shenfield via Inverness and Wick springs to mind, and I know for sure that can be bettered.
Click to expand...

Somehow I doubt the ever appeared
 
S

superjohn

Member
Joined
11 Mar 2011
Messages
531
Not in the UK but Deutsche Bahn‘s planner is currently returning some interesting routings to Hook of Holland. It recognises Hook as a destination but doesn’t acknowledge the current substitute bus service between there and Schiedam. This means it plans journeys from Germany via Brussels or Paris, Eurostar to London, train to Harwich and ferry back over to Hook. This adds at least twenty hours to the journey time compared to using the thirty minute replacement bus.

Hopefully this will be sorted when the Metro link finally opens!
 
_toommm_

_toommm_

Established Member
Joined
8 Jul 2017
Messages
5,855
Location
Yorkshire
superjohn said:
Not in the UK but Deutsche Bahn‘s planner is currently returning some interesting routings to Hook of Holland. It recognises Hook as a destination but doesn’t acknowledge the current substitute bus service between there and Schiedam. This means it plans journeys from Germany via Brussels or Paris, Eurostar to London, train to Harwich and ferry back over to Hook. This adds at least twenty hours to the journey time compared to using the thirty minute replacement bus.

Hopefully this will be sorted when the Metro link finally opens!
Click to expand...

I'd love to see the reaction of a British guard with that itinerary :D
 
E

Essexman

Established Member
Joined
15 Mar 2011
Messages
1,380
In the days when you had to phone National Rail Enquiries and were put through to someone in India I was once told to travel from Upminster to Romford by:

Upminster to Barking
Barking to Woodgrange Park
Walk to Forest gate
Forest Gate to Romford

The operator refused to accept that there was a direct train from Upminster to Romford that took 8 minutes and all I wanted to know was the time it left.
 
M

Mugby

Established Member
Joined
25 Nov 2012
Messages
1,926
Location
Derby
I was looking recently for times from Derby to Loughborough. I know there is a direct train every hour but I wondered if there were any viable connections at Beeston onto a service from Nottingham to Loughborough.

I was surprised when the results suggested getting the non stop train from Derby to Leicester and then another one back from Leicester to Loughborough. I don't think it would have gone down well with a ticket examination!
 
W

whhistle

On Moderation
Joined
30 Dec 2010
Messages
2,636
Mugby said:
I was surprised when the results suggested getting the non stop train from Derby to Leicester and then another one back from Leicester to Loughborough. I don't think it would have gone down well with a ticket examination!
Click to expand...
It may well be a valid connection though, however strange it seems.


Looking at the original journey on another railway journey planner shows me:

Limehouse - Shadwell (DLR)
Shadwell - New Cross (LO)
New Cross - Cannon Street (SE)
Cannon Street - Tower Hill (LU)
£4.90 / 1hr

Maybe I have got something wrong here.... or they fixed it.
If I force a change at Reading, it shows no fares. Forcing a change at Waterloo makes it:

Limehouse - Shadwell (DLR)
Shadwell - Clapham Junction (LO)
Clapham Junction - Waterloo (SWR)
Waterloo - Tower Hill (LU)
£4.90 / 1hr 54.


Strange though.
 
Y Ddraig Coch

Y Ddraig Coch

Established Member
Joined
1 Nov 2013
Messages
1,298
During some sort of line closure east of me on the North wales coast I remember being sent via Holyhead - Dublin - Belfast - Stranraer - Glasgow- Warrington Bank quay. A 43hr trip I believe it was
 
ForTheLoveOf

ForTheLoveOf

Established Member
Joined
7 Oct 2017
Messages
6,416
FelixtheCat said:
London to Bordesley:
  • London Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street
  • Birmingham Moor Street to Tyseley
  • Tyseley to Bordesley

I went through Bordesley thrice that day.
Click to expand...
An entirely permitted route, and as far as I can tell it's the fastest route.
 
S

Sabre999uk

Member
Joined
6 Apr 2012
Messages
40
Location
Havant
I got this last week when searching for Portsmouth Harbour to Waterloo on the 14th April, it suggested Havant-Waterloo walk to Waterloo East then to London Bridge and back to Waterloo on the tube. I've no idea why as I never need to enter via points.

Steve

nre1.jpg nre2.jpg
 
zuriblue

zuriblue

Member
Joined
12 Oct 2014
Messages
536
Location
Baden Switzerland
It’s not just the railway that does this. Swiss once quoted me Zürich-Manchester. The routing was Zürich- Newark New Jersey -New York JFK - Manchester. I declined.
 
CarltonA

CarltonA

Member
Joined
22 Apr 2012
Messages
710
Location
Thames Valley
Marlow - High Wycombe is fairly amusing. The obvious thing would be to get a bus, though if you go early enough you can make use of Chiltern's once a day West Ealing to High Wycombe service.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top