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

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ANDREW_D_WEBB

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London Waterloo to Waterloo Merseyside

London Waterloo > Clapham Junction > Sutton > Wimbledon > Clapham Junction > Milton Keynes via Shepherds Bush > Crewe > Liverpool South Parkway > Waterloo Merseyside
Is the spur used by Eurostar ECS workings from Waterloo to North Pole via Olympia still extant?
 

adrock1976

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What's it called? It's called Cumbernauld
Bootle (Cumbria/Cumberland) - Bootle (Lancashire/Merseyside) using a former curve:

Bootle> Upperby Jct> Lancaster> Preston> Burscough North Curve> Burscough Bridge> Meols Cop> Southport Station curve> Hightown> Bootle (either New Strand or Oriel Road).
 

southern442

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Would Warlingham -> Purley -> Clapham J -> Pouparts/Longhedge - Brixton - Herne Hill - Tulse Hill - Crystal Palace - Norwood Junction - East Croydon - Purley - Upper Warlingham be possible?

Or the alternative is a trip through London Bridge, Thameslink tunnel, Cricklewood, South Acton, Kew Bridge, Barnes, Clapham J -> Pouparts/Longhedge - Brixton - Herne Hill - Tulse Hill - Crystal Palace - Norwood Junction - East Croydon - Purley - Upper Warlingham
The line through Upper Warlingham splits from the BML at South Croydon, not Purley. However if you removed Purley these would still be correct.
 

Bigman

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About 25 years ago I took the Euston - Fort William sleeper service. We went into Glasgow Central, and after a bit if shunting around to get the Glasgow portion removed and 37's coupled, we then came out via Polmadie and then turned North on the Rutherglen curve and then headed out through Glasgow Central Low Level. This must be the winner in this category?
 

sleeper fan

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Dorchester West to Dorchester South

Dorchester West to Trowbridge to Swindon to Scours Lane Junction to Reading West Junction to Oxford Road Junction to Basingstoke to Dorchester South
 

adrock1976

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What's it called? It's called Cumbernauld
Another West Midlands Region historical route:

Wolverhampton (GWR)> West Bromwich> Birmingham Snow Hill> Shirley> Stratford-upon-Avon> Honeybourne> Worcester Shrub Hill> Droitwich Spa> Camp Hill> Birmingham New Street> Smethwick Rolfe Street> Wolverhampton (LNWR).
 

Ianno87

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London Waterloo to Waterloo Merseyside

London Waterloo > Clapham Junction > Sutton > Wimbledon > Clapham Junction > Milton Keynes via Shepherds Bush > Crewe > Liverpool South Parkway > Waterloo Merseyside

There is no track connection at Liverpool South Parkway to go from Crewe towards Liverpool Central, you'd need to go from Crewe via Manchester Piccadilly and Warrington Central to South Parkway.

About 25 years ago I took the Euston - Fort William sleeper service. We went into Glasgow Central, and after a bit if shunting around to get the Glasgow portion removed and 37's coupled, we then came out via Polmadie and then turned North on the Rutherglen curve and then headed out through Glasgow Central Low Level. This must be the winner in this category?

You can similarly do Liverpool Lime Street High Level to Low Level via Runcorn, Helsby, Hooton and Birkenhead Hamilton Square.
 

Chris M

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Edgware Road (Bakerloo) → Harrow & Wealdstone → Watford Junction → Rugby → Birmingham New Street → Worcester → Stroud → Didcot → Oxford → Bletchley → High Wycombe → Harrow-on-the-Hill → Baker Street → Aldgate → Edgware Road (Circle)

West Ruislip → Greenford → Acton Main Line → Acton Wells Junction → Neasden Junction → Harrow-on-the-Hill → Ruislip
Int he other direction, I think this would require a much longer journey as you get access the Chiltern line from the Uxbridge branch at Harrow:
Ruislip → Harrow-on-the-Hill → Baker Street → Aldgate → Wimbleedon → New Maldon → Strawberry Hill → Clapham Junction → Mitre Bridge Junction → Acton Wells Junction → West Ealing → Greenford → West Ruislip

As a passenger: Canary Wharf (Jubilee) → Canning Town → Canary Wharf (DLR).
Although you change from an eastbound to a westbound train at Canning Town, you arrive heading north and depart heading north.

Historically:
North Woolwich -> Stratford → Willesden Junction → Wandsworth Road→ Nunhead → Lewisham → Woolwich Arsenal
 

Ianno87

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Edgware Road (Bakerloo) → Harrow & Wealdstone → Watford Junction → Rugby → Birmingham New Street → Worcester → Stroud → Didcot → Oxford → Bletchley → High Wycombe → Harrow-on-the-Hill → Baker Street → Aldgate → Edgware Road (Circle)

1) Presume you mean Bicester rather than Bletchley?

2) You can't get from High Wycombe to Harrow on the Hill - they are different Chiltern branches.

I can't think of a route that works. Until East West Rail opens up Bletchley-Aylesbury, I don't think there is a way to get onto the Subsurface lines from most of the Network Rail network.
 

rob.rjt

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1) Presume you mean Bicester rather than Bletchley?

2) You can't get from High Wycombe to Harrow on the Hill - they are different Chiltern branches.

I can't think of a route that works. Until East West Rail opens up Bletchley-Aylesbury, I don't think there is a way to get onto the Subsurface lines from most of the Network Rail network.
I think it may be do-able.

Most of the first suggested route works, though there may be shorter ways from what I suggest below. I think it's only possible via Wimbledon without a reversal to get onto the Sub-Surface lines.

Edgware Road (Bakerloo) > Harrow & Wealdstone > Watford Junction > Rugby > Birmingham New Street > Cheltenham > Swindon > Didcot West Curve > Oxford > Bicester > Wembley Stadium > Neasden Jn > Acton Wells Jn > Kew East Jn > Old Kew Jn > Hounslow > Feltham > Virginia Water > Weybridge > Wimbledon > Southfields > Earls Court > High Street Kensington > Edgware Road (Circle)
 

Railcar

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Streatham to Streatham Hill: Streatham > Streatham Common > Selhurst Depot > Norwood Junction > Crystal Palace > Streatham Hill

If Selhurst Depot was not allowed it would mean a bigger loop
Streatham > Tulse Hill > Herne Hill > Brixton > Clapham Junction > Balham > Streatham Hill

Clapham Junction is also needed for West Croydon to East Croydon: West Croydon > Crystal Palace > Tulse Hill > Herne Hill > Brixton > Clapham Junction > Balham > East Croydon

West Dulwich to North Dulwich is another that needs CLJ : West Dulwich > Herne Hill > Brixton > Clapham Junction > Balham > Streatham Hill > Leigham Spur > North Dulwich

It's CLJ again for Carshalton to Carshalton Beeches: Carshalton > Balham > Clapham Junction > Brixton > Herne Hill > Tulse Hill > Crystal Palace > West Croydon > Carshalton Beeches
 
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papageno

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Bearing in mind the OP's comments above about routes through industrial sites, I suspect it would once have been possible to get from Whitchurch, Cardiff to Newport without reversing by going through Cardiff docks.

It would therefore have been possible to do Whitchurch Cardiff - Newport - Bath(GWR) - Salisbury - Whitchurch Hampshire - Basingstoke - Reading West - Oxford - Birmingham Snow Hill - Wolverhampton Low Level - Shrewsbury - Whitchurch Shropshire
 

30907

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I think it may be do-able.

Most of the first suggested route works, though there may be shorter ways from what I suggest below. I think it's only possible via Wimbledon without a reversal to get onto the Sub-Surface lines.

Edgware Road (Bakerloo) > Harrow & Wealdstone > Watford Junction > Rugby > Birmingham New Street > Cheltenham > Swindon > Didcot West Curve > Oxford > Bicester > Wembley Stadium > Neasden Jn > Acton Wells Jn > Kew East Jn > Old Kew Jn > Hounslow > Feltham > Virginia Water > Weybridge > Wimbledon > Southfields > Earls Court > High Street Kensington > Edgware Road (Circle)
Rugby-Bicester is much shorter if you turn right at Stechford and round into New Street via Perry Barr and Soho.
When Calvert-Aylesbury was open you could then get straight onto the Met and round the Circle.
 

Dr_Paul

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Barking to Barkingside: Historical -- not possible these days: no connection at Stratford between the Central Line and Lea Valley line; and to scotch any 'long way round' efforts, no through ex-GC to Central Line connection at West Ruislip.

Barking > South Tottenham > Cricklewood > Acton Wells > Kew Bridge > Clapham Junction > Willesden Junction > Gospel Oak > Camden Road > Stratford > Leytonstone > Hainault > Barkingside.

Not sure if this one was possible: depends on whether one could go directly eastbound from the Widened Lines to the Met between Kings Cross and Moorgate: Barking > South Tottenham > Kentish Town > Kings Cross (Widened Lines) > Farringdon Street > Liverpool Street > Stratford > Leytonstone > Hainault > Barkingside.

Barking > West Ham > Bow Road > Aldgate East > South Kensington > Kensington High Street > Farringdon Street > Liverpool Street > Stratford > Leytonstone > Hainault > Barkingside.

Oxford General (GWR) to Oxford Rewley Road (LNWR): Historical -- latter station closed in 1951: Oxford General > Leamington Spa > Small Heath > Birmingham New Street > Perry Bar > Aston > Stetchford > Rugby > Bletchley > Bicester > Oxford Rewley Road.

Banbury Merton Street to Banbury General: Historical -- former station closed in 1960s: Banbury Merton Street > Verney Junction > Aylesbury > Princes Risborough > Greenford > Hanwell > Reading > Oxford > Banbury General.
 
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61653 HTAFC

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Another planet...
Brighton to New Brighton: BML, Clapham Junction, WLL, WCML to Crewe, Chester, Rock Ferry, Hamilton Square, one circuit of the Liverpool Loop, back through Hamilton Square, New Brighton.
 

Ianno87

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Brighton to New Brighton: BML, Clapham Junction, WLL, WCML to Crewe, Chester, Rock Ferry, Hamilton Square, one circuit of the Liverpool Loop, back through Hamilton Square, New Brighton.

You could also go via Manchester Piccadilly, Warrington Central, Hunts Cross, Liverpool Central then the Stock Interchange Line to James Street.
 

Dr_Paul

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Great Yarmouth Beach to Great Yarmouth Vauxhall -- historical, latter station closed: Yarmouth Beach > Melton Constable > South Lynn > Saxby > Syston > Leicester > Kettering > Cambridge > Sudbury > Marks Tey > Ipswich > Norwich (Trowse avoiding line) > Yarmouth Vauxhall.

Great Yarmouth Beach to Great Yarmouth South Town -- historical, both stations closed: same route as above to Ipswich, then Beccles > Yarmouth South Town.

Cirencester Town to Cirencester Watermoor -- historical, both stations closed: Cirencester Town > Kemble > Swindon > Didcot West Curve > Oxford > Evesham > Worcester Shrub Hill > Worcester Foregate > Great Malvern > Ashchurch > Cheltenham Spa > Andoversford > Cirencester Watermoor. If a through connection from the GWR westwards to the Midland at Evesham was ever put in, then one could go directly from Evesham to Ashchurch.
 

traingeek97

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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.

Maidstone Barracks to Maidstone Maidstone East. Even shorter distance between the two stations.
 

sleeper fan

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Wandsworth Common to Wandsworth Town.

Wandsworth Common to Horsham to Havant to Eastleigh to Basingstoke to Reading to Virginia Water to Wandsworth Town
 

Cdd89

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Are there any shorter routes (historical or modern) from West Hampstead Thameslink to West Hampstead than Blackfriars - Denmark Hill - Clapham Junction?
 

zwk500

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Are there any shorter routes (historical or modern) from West Hampstead Thameslink to West Hampstead than Blackfriars - Denmark Hill - Clapham Junction?
Neasden Jn / Acton Wells Jn / Clapham Jn / Kensington Olympia?

EDIT: Or, if you count the physical but blocked off connection at Highbury & Islington, WHT - Blackfiars - Denmark Hill - ELL - NLL.
 

gg1

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Another West Midlands Region historical route:

Wolverhampton (GWR)> West Bromwich> Birmingham Snow Hill> Shirley> Stratford-upon-Avon> Honeybourne> Worcester Shrub Hill> Droitwich Spa> Camp Hill> Birmingham New Street> Smethwick Rolfe Street> Wolverhampton (LNWR).

There was a shorter option:

Wolves Low Level > Dudley > Old Hill > Halesowen > Longbridge > Kings Norton > Kings Heath > New Street > Smethwick RS > Wolves High Level

EDIT: Just realised that wouldn't work without a reversal as the Halesowen and Dudley branches both face the same direction at Old Hill, this should though:

Wolves Low Level > Dudley > Old Hill > Smethwick RS > New Street > Duddeston > Bescot > Wolves High Level
 
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gg1

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Stand to be corrected but the shortest route from London Marylebone to London Liverpool Street is rather circuitous:

Marylebone > High Wycombe > Banbury > Warwick > Small Health > Saltley > Nuneaton > Leicester > Melton Mowbray > Peterborough > Ely > Cambridge > Liverpool Street

An historic alternative, although mileage probably isn't that much less:

Marylebone > Aylesbury > Calvert > Bletchley > Bedford > Cambridge > Newmarket > Ipswich > Liverpool Street
 
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zwk500

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Stand to be corrected but the shortest route from London Marylebone to London Liverpool Street is rather circuitous:

Marylebone > High Wycombe > Banbury > Warwick > Small Health > Saltley > Nuneaton > Leicester > Melton Mowbray > Peterborough > Ely > Cambridge > Liverpool Street
Is Marylebone > Oxford > GWML> Acton Wells Jn > NLL > Stratford > Ldn Liverpool St not slightly shorter?
 
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