But the OP wasn't asking about slow services that are good value, just trains that are indirect. You'll notice in the Liverpool-Edinburgh example he compared the cost of the Off-Peak Returns (one set by LNER, the other by TPE) not the cost of Advances.If cheap Advances are offered then it will be used, as are a number of other cheaper longer services such as WMT Liverpool-Euston vice Avanti or Waterloo-Exeter instead of Paddington.
How are we defining most indirect? is it the overall length of the detour? or the length of the detout in proportion to the passenger's journey?
SPT to MIA is about 7 miles by road, I don't have a track atlas handy, but I am pretty sure it's more than double that by train.
How about Earlsfield to Clapham Junction via Kingston & Richmond? Or is that not allowed on a Earlsfield to Clapham Junction ticket?
So, not a "through train" then...Fort William to Kyle of Lochalsh
Rail (via Glasgow QS and Inverness): 123 + 112 + 80 = 315 miles
Yep. Leeds - Harrogate - York - Hull. Early (ish) morning.Last year I'm sure there was an early morning Leeds - Hull service which went via York, calling at nearly all the stations along the way.
I am discounting circular services like Blackburn to Blackburn via Bolton, Manchester and Rochdale - or services via the Cumbrian coast as the WCML provides a more sensible route for non-enthusiasts.
A couple years ago before the timetable changed, you used to get Lincoln - Adwick/Scunthorpe services which went via Sheffield, compared to changing at Retford for Doncaster.
Maybe the saturdays Waterloo - Weymouth via Salisbury & Yeovil [compared to the 'direct' Weymouth trains]
Liverpool Lime Street to Crewe via Manchester Airport. 75 1/4 miles, direct route via Runcorn is 35 1/4 miles.
From May, if travelling from Liverpool Lime Street to Glasgow Central, there's a direct train at 16.12, arriving into Glasgow at 19.38.
If you just miss it, fear not - there's another direct train to Glasgow Central a mere 12 minutes later, at 16.24. This one arrives into Glasgow Central slightly later - at 21.54! An extra 2 hours and 4 minutes journey time, because it runs via Newcastle and Edinburgh!
This latter train must certainly be a strong contender for most indirect service.
Would be much quicker although the train would lose the bulk of its purpose and patronage.The XC service from Aberdeen to Penzance: By quick addition using fingers thumbs and toes and Google Earth Measurement: 773 miles by rail, 505 and a bit as the crow does it.
I suppose all XC services that plough their way from Birmingham New Street to Edinburgh via Sheffield, Leeds York and Newcastle could have a much shorter and quicker run via Preston and Carlisle.
IIRC There was a Leeds to Hull via Harrogate and York one year but I cant think when it was.Last year I'm sure there was an early morning Leeds - Hull service which went via York, calling at nearly all the stations along the way.
Not when there is a direct service from New Street to either Edinburgh or Glasgow every hour by whoever took over from Virgin. OK, run the XC's to Newcastle but whats the point of sending all these passengers so far out their way to get from the south and south west to Scotland? Privatisation and ticketing again working against the public interest?Would be much quicker although the train would lose the bulk of its purpose and patronage.