Least popular journeys made between two stations served by a direct train? Based on tickets sold?

[RobertsN]

I have walked from the A Road where the Dovey Junction totem pole is to the station along the footpath. A wonderful but chilly walk at about 2am

 

[peteb]

Must have been a really special train to warrant that walk at 2am? Or was that where the rail replacement bus left you? Actually there must be some request halts along that stretch between Macynllyth and Tywyn that get very few travellers going between them.

 

[Essexman]

I bought a single from Forsinard to Altnabreac a few years ago when staying at the now sadly closed Forsinard Hotel.

 

[Gathursty]

Must have been a really special train to warrant that walk at 2am? Or was that where the rail replacement bus left you? Actually there must be some request halts along that stretch between Macynllyth and Tywyn that get very few travellers going between them.

Haha no. When I used to bag stations outside of the North West, I used to drive through the night and bag them and recreate at nearby spots such as a beach, landmark or even an open McDonald's.

It's a useful tactic when in scenic or busy parts of the country. I was able to time the Cambrian Coast bagging session to finish just as the Costa Coffee opened in Pwllheli the following morning to perk me up.

 

[Y Ddraig Coch]

Haha no. When I used to bag stations outside of the North West, I used to drive through the night and bag them and recreate at nearby spots such as a beach, landmark or even an open McDonald's.

It's a useful tactic when in scenic or busy parts of the country. I was able to time the Cambrian Coast bagging session to finish just as the Costa Coffee opened in Pwllheli the following morning to perk me up.

Isn't driving to bag stations a little out of the spirit of the idea?

 

[Gathursty]

Isn't driving to bag stations a little out of the spirit of the idea?

I'm not reopening that can of worms but I'm revisiting the network again by riding all the lines in full which I've nearly done apart from the Inverness-Aberdeen-Perth circle and various Network South East lines.

 

[Ianno87]

Isn't driving to bag stations a little out of the spirit of the idea?

Depends on what rules you impose on yourself and your own sense of enjoyment from it.

 

[Gathursty]

Depends on what rules you impose on yourself and your own sense of enjoyment from it.

Indeed, we could be having another Geoff and Vicki debate which even I'm bored to tears by.

 

[peteb]

Haha no. When I used to bag stations outside of the North West, I used to drive through the night and bag them and recreate at nearby spots such as a beach, landmark or even an open McDonald's.

It's a useful tactic when in scenic or busy parts of the country. I was able to time the Cambrian Coast bagging session to finish just as the Costa Coffee opened in Pwllheli the following morning to perk me up.

Seems a good idea as you can explore the station and its environs rather than simply set foot on the platform and then rejoin the train. I reckon I've done almost as much of the network by car than train and like you I'm trying to eventually travel the lines I visited via car eg on holidays to Scotland etc.

 

[Gathursty]

Seems a good idea as you can explore the station and its environs rather than simply set foot on the platform and then rejoin the train. I reckon I've done almost as much of the network by car than train and like you I'm trying to eventually travel the lines I visited via car eg on holidays to Scotland etc.

Indeed. The best moment would be waking up in a quiet lane near Amesbury and walking across a very quiet (thankfully) A303 and watching Stonehenge as morning broke after ticking off stations nearby.

 

[unlevel42]

I'd say the likelihood of someone buying a train ticket for their walk is pretty small.

Stations on boundaries of some PTEs, Rover Zones etc offer opportunities for lovely country side walks
which need a single back over the border.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Stations on boundaries of some PTEs, Rover Zones etc offer opportunities for lovely country side walks
which need a single back over the border.

Agreed. For example, Greenfield->Marsden (on foot) has its moments.

 

[Lloyds siding]

Chassen Road to somewhere westwards like Glazebrook, Sankey or Hough Green maybe.
Some intermediate points on the Southport line to/from New Lane, Bescar Lane and Hoscar such as Gathurst (me), Hag Fold or Moorside.

I've bought a few returns from Hough Green to Chassen Road. I expect that I'm not alone. The Merseyside MPTE area ends at Hough Green, so travel passes end there.

 

[4REP]

Swaythling to St denys?
Millbrook to Redbridge?
Ashurst new forest to beaulieu?

 

[frodshamfella]

I can't imagine many people do the full length Liverpool to Norwich (or more local stations towards each end, such as Widnes to Attleborough)?

I've done it several times, you would be surprised people do do the who!e journey.


I'd have thought no one goes Ince and Elton to Stanlow and Thornton.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I'd have thought no one goes Ince and Elton to Stanlow and Thornton.

I bet some enthusiast or other has done. Any route with a Parly or almost-Parly service is going to end up like that, though expect the security guards at Stanlow to be very interested and to either escort you off or watch that you do leave by train (if possible).

 

[Esker-pades]

I bet some enthusiast or other has done. Any route with a Parly or almost-Parly service is going to end up like that, though expect the security guards at Stanlow to be very interested and to either escort you off or watch that you do leave by train (if possible).

What security guards? I walked all the way along Oil Sites Road to the station and got stopped by nobody. (This was in Feb 2020.)

 

[gazr]

Late to this party, so don't know if mentioned already:

Newhaven Harbour - Newhaven Town

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Late to this party, so don't know if mentioned already:

Newhaven Harbour - Newhaven Town

Be a few Gold Card Annual seasons sold for that flow.

 

[allaction]

Birchgrove to Ty Glas on the City Line in Cardiff.... you could throw a cricket ball between the two.

 

[Jamiescott1]

South Croydon to Purley

 

[Mcr Warrior]

South Croydon to Purley

Why would there not be any tickets sold for that flow? Not as if there's not many trains calling at both stations.

 

[MrEd]

Cant imagine that many tickets between Duncraig to Plockton on the Kyle Line are sold!!!

Not sure about that one, but an Inverness conductor I know tells me that Plockton to Duirinish is a lot more common than you’d think (with local residents, occasionally kids going back from Plockton High School and a good number of walkers staying in Plockton going to do the Duirinish coast walk, as well as enthusiasts who enjoy the apparent novelty of such journeys). Apparently this one gets sold at least once per shift in the height of summer.

Duncraig serves much less of a community than Duirinish, of course. But again, it might occasionally be used by the odd walker who’s walked from Plockton to Duncraig Castle and wants a quick way back. I suspect, too, that this is the kind of ‘novelty’ journey much prized by enthusiasts.

I‘d say that in rural Scotland, a ticket like Loch Eil Outward Bound-Beasdale, Ardlui-Tulloch, Lochluichart-Attadale, or Fearn-Scotscalder (possibly even Dunkeld-Carrbridge) stands much more of a chance of never being sold, as such journeys are of little use to any community and are probably too long/expensive for enthusiasts merely looking for the novelty factor.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I‘d say that in rural Scotland, a ticket like Loch Eil Outward Bound-Beasdale, Ardlui-Tulloch, Lochluichart-Attadale, or Fearn-Scotscalder (possibly even Dunkeld-Carrbridge) stands much more of a chance of never being sold, as such journeys are of little use to any community and are probably too long/expensive for enthusiasts merely looking for the novelty factor.

Quite possibly. I'd venture that most "odd" journeys on the Far North sold to enthusiasts involve one or both of Altnabreac and Dunrobin Castle. Scotscalder is in the middle of nowhere but nowhere near as quirky as either of those.

 

[peteb]

I know a lot of people travel to Corrour, but I'm also wondering how many tickets are sold as a single from Corrour to another really remote place? Eg Berney Arms? But that'll have to be another thread as it's not a direct route........! But actually Corrour to somewhere direct on the West Highland line that's remote might be a rare single from Corrour?

 

[warwickshire]

Bearley to clevedon. On the Hatton to Stratford upon avon line.

 

[mtmikethom]

Dovercourt - Harwich Town?

 

[Requeststop]

Surely the most pointless journey has to be from Lelant Saltings to Lelant? The only service is now the 07:53 ex St Erth. arriving at Lelant at 07:52. By the time you have asked for the train to stop at the request stop at Lelant and paid for your ticket, the train would have arrived. Then you have an hour and twenty six minutes wait for the 1.30 minute ride back.

 

[big_rig]

Are there fares available for that? I'd assume there aren't without splitting or using a Waterloo to e.g. Kingston return, though the journeys are possible on a Z1-6 Travelcard. Probably a fair few enthusiasts and track or shack bashers who will do it each year.

Fares are available from Earlsfield to Wandsworth Town (£3.40 adult anytime single) and valid without a change via Kingston, but changing at Clapham Junction gives a 17-20min journey as opposed to 54m direct via Kingston. I suppose persons of reduced mobility might go direct to avoid the longish walk along the bridge or subway at CLJ, but in that case the no. 44 bus is probably the better option (though even that is a 20min journey right now according to TfL).

Mortlake to Barnes Bridge is another one on this route which must be quite an uncommon journey - 39 minutes direct on the loop or a 15 minute walk (or 7 minutes on the bus)!

 

[CEN60]

Not sure about that one, but an Inverness conductor I know tells me that Plockton to Duirinish is a lot more common than you’d think (with local residents, occasionally kids going back from Plockton High School and a good number of walkers staying in Plockton going to do the Duirinish coast walk, as well as enthusiasts who enjoy the apparent novelty of such journeys). Apparently this one gets sold at least once per shift in the height of summer.

Duncraig serves much less of a community than Duirinish, of course. But again, it might occasionally be used by the odd walker who’s walked from Plockton to Duncraig Castle and wants a quick way back. I suspect, too, that this is the kind of ‘novelty’ journey much prized by enthusiasts.

I‘d say that in rural Scotland, a ticket like Loch Eil Outward Bound-Beasdale, Ardlui-Tulloch, Lochluichart-Attadale, or Fearn-Scotscalder (possibly even Dunkeld-Carrbridge) stands much more of a chance of never being sold, as such journeys are of little use to any community and are probably too long/expensive for enthusiasts merely looking for the novelty factor.

I am well aware of the Duirnish to Plockton footfall!!! Mainly used to visit the Plockton Inn around 1700 hours! Plockton - Duinish is commonly used now to visit the newly opened Croft Cafe in Duirnish with a walk back to burn off the calories