Trivia - Shortest Journey Requiring Two Changes

[xotGD]

It occurred to me that the rail journey from Ardwick to Salford Central isn't very far, but requires two changes. Pic and then Vic or Salford Crescent.

Over here in West Yorkshire, Baildon to Burley Park is the best I can think of. Change at Shipley and Leeds.

In London, Cannon Street to Vauxhall. Change at London Bridge and Waterloo East/Waterloo.

Any other examples?

Note - I am not looking for stations close in terms of the straight line distance, but in terms of the distance travelled to get between them.

 

[185143]

Ardwick to Salford Central?

Change at Manchester Piccadilly and Salford Crescent/Victoria

 

[PaulHarding150]

If you’re after practical journeys that someone might actually undertake Cardiff Bay to Newport or Cardiff Bay to Pontyclun.

 

[Howardh]

Lostock to Daisy Hill is about 3 miles direct, Lostock to Bolton, Bolton to Hindley, Hindley to Daisy Hill.

 

[185143]

If you’re after practical journeys that someone might actually undertake Cardiff Bay to Newport or Cardiff Bay to Pontyclun.

You'd be surprised how many people I've heard at Piccadilly asking staff for Salford Central and then seem surprised when they have to change. Admittedly I'd bet most of them don't come from Ardwick!

 

[D6975]

Ardwick to Salford Central?

Change at Manchester Piccadilly and Salford Crescent/Victoria

Try reading the OP

 

[Farigiraf]

Lostock to Daisy Hill is about 3 miles direct, Lostock to Bolton, Bolton to Hindley, Hindley to Daisy Hill.

You can do it with one change at Salford Crescent

Kennett to Lakenheath while quite far apart makes you go much further than usual changing at Bury and Ely (and good luck with finding an actual train)

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Lostock to Daisy Hill is about 3 miles direct, Lostock to Bolton, Bolton to Hindley, Hindley to Daisy Hill.

As a journey it can be done with only 1 change at Salford Crescent, however a normal ticket for Daisy Hill - Lostock wouldn't be valid for it, and it would require split tickets (or a Greater Manchester Rail Ranger)

 

[185143]

Try reading the OP

Ah.

Managed to completely skip past the first two lines.

 

[urbophile]

Liverpool Central to Edge Hill?

 

[Howardh]

You can do it with one change at Salford Crescent

As a journey it can be done with only 1 change at Salford Crescent, however a normal ticket for Daisy Hill - Lostock wouldn't be valid for it, and it would require split tickets (or a Greater Manchester Rail Ranger)

Yes, Salford Crescent is possible but possibly longer time and distance wise. Some ticketing allows Bolton > Daisy Hill via Hindley otherwise the Ranger must be used.

Think there's a Parlimentary that does Heysham docks to Carnforth, but other than that Carnforth > Lancaster > Morecambe > Heysham unless you are on the very scarce Lancaster > Heysham "boat" train?

 

[zwk500]

Note - I am not looking for stations close in terms of the straight line distance, but in terms of the distance travelled to get between them.

Imperial Wharf/Wandsworth Road/Wandsworth Town to Brixton? Change at Clapham Junction and Victoria.

 

[Farigiraf]

Imperial Wharf/Wandsworth Road/Wandsworth Town to Brixton? Change at Clapham Junction and Victoria.

Wandsworth Town-Vauxhall-Brixton
Imperial Wharf-Highbury & Islington-Brixton (Google suggests me to take the boat for this one!)
Wandsworth Road-Highbury & Islington-Brixton

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Slaithwaite to Sowerby Bridge- the two are quite close as the crow flies (yes, I know that's not what the OP was after) and the journey is quite a popular walk. If you wanted to walk one way and come back by train you'd have to change at Brighouse or Mirfield and again at Huddersfield.

Darton to Fitzwilliam is two changes, Wakefield Kirkgate and Westgate. You could do it with one change at Leeds (or Meadowhall) but would either be a permitted route?

 

[zwk500]

Wandsworth Town-Vauxhall-Brixton
Imperial Wharf-Highbury & Islington-Brixton (Google suggests me to take the boat for this one!)

Ah, I'd forgotten about the tube. @xotGD were you including or excluding the tube?

 

[Taunton]

We sometimes travel from South Quay on the DLR to Star Lane, probably about 2 miles, a journey which needs three changes (and thus four trains). Two are cross-platform, but the third needs two escalators, a big set of steps, and quite some walking.

 

[Farigiraf]

deleted

 

[Purple Train]

Langley to Datchet requires two changes, including a walk through Windsor. (I'd count that as two changes, though NRE counts it as three!)

Hythe to Chappel & Wakes Colne usually requires two changes on a weekday, though there are direct services from the Sunshine Coast Line to Marks Tey in the morning peak and on Sundays.

Flowery Field to Ashton-under-Lyne also requires changes at Piccadilly and Stalybridge, or Guide Bridge and Stalybridge if you get the Denton Flyer. That can't be far as the crow flies.

 

[Llandudno]

Liverpool Central to Edge Hill?

One change at Hunts Cross

Albeit there are only a handful of trains that call at Hunts Cross AND Edge Hill

 

[D6130]

Kelvindale to Jordanhill....changing at Anniesland and Hyndland.

 

[yorkie]

One change at Hunts Cross

Albeit there are only a handful of trains that call at Hunts Cross AND Edge Hill

Also not a real/sensible journey, as any prospective passenger would simply walk to Lime Street.

 

[Cherry_Picker]

Stourbridge Town to Sandwell and Dudley. Probably five miles as the crow flies, maybe seven by road and a change at Stourbridge Junction and Smethwick Galton Bridge by rail.

 

[yorkie]

Kelvindale to Jordanhill....changing at Anniesland and Hyndland.

I think we have a winner; it does actually come up as a suggested itinerary on Google if you specify less walking.

 

[London Trains]

It occurred to me that the rail journey from Ardwick to Salford Central isn't very far, but requires two changes. Pic and then Vic or Salford Crescent.

Over here in West Yorkshire, Baildon to Burley Park is the best I can think of. Change at Shipley and Leeds.

In London, Cannon Street to Vauxhall. Change at London Bridge and Waterloo East/Waterloo.

Any other examples?

Note - I am not looking for stations close in terms of the straight line distance, but in terms of the distance travelled to get between them.

Does the journey have to be the shortest route possible, and is the tube included?

If the tube is included then Cannon Street to Vauxhall can be done in one change at Victoria (District/Circle Line > Victoria Line).

 

[yorkie]

Does the journey have to be the shortest route possible, and is the tube included?

The original post simply said 'rail'....

If the tube is included then Cannon Street to Vauxhall can be done in one change at Victoria (District/Circle Line > Victoria Line).

...and gave this as an example, which is contradictory.

Unfortunately a common theme with trivia threads is that the question is not always consistently defined, which can result in many posts debating how to interpret the question and/or talking at cross-purposes. (It could have been worse; at least counties weren't mentioned! )

But I don't think anyone can beat @D6130's suggestion; at least not if it is deemed to be NR services only, and for a genuinely sensible journey someone may actually make.

 

[chrisdoward]

West Dulwich to North Dulwich changing at Herne Hill and Tulse Hill. I did actually use this route in the past but was heading to London Bridge rather than North Dulwich.

 

[London Trains]

Heathrow to Windsor and Eton Central (Heathrow > Hayes & Harlington > Slough > Windsor)

 

[yorkie]

West Dulwich to North Dulwich changing at Herne Hill and Tulse Hill. I did actually use this route in the past but was heading to London Bridge rather than North Dulwich.

If you really don't want to walk or bus it, only one change is required at Beckenham Jn.

Heathrow to Windsor and Eton Central (Heathrow > Hayes & Harlington > Slough > Windsor)

This journey is much further than previous examples.

 

[RetroCrowe]

Greenbank to Hartford? The two are about a mile apart as the crow flies but to get between them by train you'll need to go from Greenbank to Chester, Chester to Crewe and Crewe to Hartford. Admittedly this shouldn't really count because it isn't a remotely practical journey

 

[D6130]

Kelvindale to Jordanhill is 1.5 km (just under a mile) as the crow flies - and only very slighytly longer by road. TBH, unless it's raining heavily - which is not unknown in Glasgow - I would probaly walk it.