Trivia: Station that can reach most stations within a county.

[GrimsbyPacer]

It is (or was) my area too! I don't suppose it matters whether we're discussing ceremonial or administrative counties, as Humberside is neither. Interestingly, reading further (here and here), it seems that Royal Mail has finally abolished the use of Humberside as a former postal county - my emphasis being on 'former', as the inclusion of a county hasn't been necessary for many years now when addressing mail!

Sorry the county status round here is a bit silly but I still believe Grimsby is not in Lincolnshire except or ceremonial purposes. Grimsby Town can reach the most in ceremonial Lincolnshire with 23. Lincoln can reach 16. Sleaford can reach 18.

Beverley can reach all East Riding stations but Rawcliffe.

 

[Tomnick]

Sorry the county status round here is a bit silly but I still believe Grimsby is not in Lincolnshire except or ceremonial purposes.

I agree that it's not in Lincolnshire administratively (but it's not in Humberside either!). It's all very silly - it was much easier (and sensible) before 1974 .

 

[Chris M]

I think Bristol Temple Meads can reach more NR stations in Somerset than any station in Somerset can. Taunton is probably the most connected "native" station, especially if you include the West Somerset.

In London I think you'd have a difficult job beating King's Cross St. Pancras. For only NR stations though, Waterloo would probably be my guess.

 

[Starmill]

Whatever happened to the evening Leeds to Sheffield via Huddersfield :/ Shame that appears to have been binned. Doesn't the Marsden and Slaithewaite to Leeds serivce still run weekdays, just only in that direction. Once again, a shame, but ought to be rectified soon throughout the day

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

I know it is not a county, but Laxey station can get to more than anywhere else on the Isle of Man.
Carmarthen can reach all in Dyfed.
Edinburgh W or Mid-Lothian.
Dundee for Angus.
Clapham Junc. looks to be connected to most in Surrey.
Peterborough for Cambridgeshire ceremonial.

 

[GazUk]

As far as I know, Birmingham new street can reach 42 stations within the West Midlands county, but not all the stations within the county (moor street reaches the rest which is 24)

 

[adrock1976]

Birmingham New Street connects (or has historically connected) all Warwickshire stations, with the exception of Polesworth and Atherstone on the Trent Valley Railway. I also refer to pre-1974 when Birmingham was in Warwickshire as well as the present day West Midlands metropolitan area.

In the second half of the 1990s, I remember the Stourbridge services to Leamington Spa and Stratford-upon-Avon were diverted away from Snow Hill and Moor Street on Sundays and ran via New Street instead. Nowadays, they all run via Snow Hill and Moor Street daily.

Cheers

Adam

 

[Rapidash]

Exeter St Davids has direct services to most of Devon I think with the possible exception of Devonport Dockyard. Although there is that horrific Exeter -Penzance stopper on a 150 that might cover that.

Ah! Nothing goes down the Gunnislake branch though! There goes that idea!

 

[thenorthern]

For the West Midlands Stourbridge Town is the only one or one of a very few number that can't be reached from Birmingham New Street or Snow Hill.

For Cheshire I am not sure what the answer is I would say its either Crewe or Chester but I think it might be Chester.

 

[Parallel]

Exeter St Davids has direct services to most of Devon I think with the possible exception of Devonport Dockyard. Although there is that horrific Exeter -Penzance stopper on a 150 that might cover that.

I've seen a single 153 depart Exeter St Davids for Penzance before, but it was only stopping at the larger stations IIRC. Still, can't be a fun journey.

 

[O L Leigh]

Ipswich for Suffolk.

I am not aware of any direct service to Sudbury. Perhaps someone could check...?

O L Leigh

 

[AndyNLondon]

In London I think you'd have a difficult job beating King's Cross St. Pancras. For only NR stations though, Waterloo would probably be my guess.

Clapham Junction would beat Waterloo - anywhere you can reach from Waterloo is covered (I think), plus everywhere on Southern from Victoria & on the London Overground routes.

 

[mister-sparky]

There can't be many stations in Kent you can't reach from Tonbridge.

All stations from Dartford to Margate via Medway. Sheerness branch. Swanley to Ashford via Otford and Maidstone. Faversham to Dover.

So quite alot really.
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Although to be fair, you can reach quite a nice chunk if Sussex from there !

Only stations between Tunbridge Wells and Hastings. So not very much of Sussex either...

 

[Busaholic]

All stations from Dartford to Margate via Medway. Sheerness branch. Swanley to Ashford via Otford and Maidstone. Faversham to Dover.

So quite alot really.
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Only stations between Tunbridge Wells and Hastings. So not very much of Sussex either...

There used to be a morning peak journey from Tonbridge to Strood via Maidstone West, which I used regularly. May no longer exist though.

 

[Cherry_Picker]

Birmingham New Street connects (or has historically connected) all Warwickshire stations, with the exception of Polesworth and Atherstone on the Trent Valley Railway. I also refer to pre-1974 when Birmingham was in Warwickshire as well as the present day West Midlands metropolitan area.

In the second half of the 1990s, I remember the Stourbridge services to Leamington Spa and Stratford-upon-Avon were diverted away from Snow Hill and Moor Street on Sundays and ran via New Street instead. Nowadays, they all run via Snow Hill and Moor Street daily.

Cheers

Adam

That would still leave Bearley and Claverdon, wouldn't it?

(and Bedworth, Bordesley, Moor Street and Snow Hill!)

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

Cleveland, Humberside, London, Avon, Sussex have all been split for ceremonial counties which is apparently what is used on this question.
That means Darlington is best connected for County Durham.
Lewes for East Sussex.
Brighton for West Sussex.
I do not know if Victoria or Piccadilly are connected to tge most ib Greater Manchester.

 

[Chris M]

City of London is a ceremonial county. Bank-Monument has services to all other stations in the City except City Thameslink and Tower Gateway.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Leeds can't reach the Penistone line

It could up until the May timetable change, as one Huddersfield stopper (at around 1740 from LDS) was extended to Sheffield. Technically this still happens, as the 1656 Ex-Leeds terminates in Huddersfield platform 1 to immediately form the next Sheffield service.

The only West Yorkshire stations that can't be reached directly from Leeds are Baildon and Pontefract Baghill*, though Slaithwaite and Marsden have just one through service on Sunday evenings only- and of course the Penistone line does bend the rules a little.

EDIT: Forgot the small matter of Streethouse, Featherstone and Pontefract Tanshelf! That'll teach me not to read the whole thread!

 

[Andyjs247]

Hereford can reach all stations in Herefordshire - the 3 others being Colwall, Ledbury and Leominster.

 

[TheWalrus]

Westbury can reach: Trowbridge, Bradford On Avon, Avoncliff, Melksham, Chippenham, Swindon, Pewsey, Bedwyn (very limited service), Dilton Marsh, Warminster and Salisbury - It serves every station in Wiltshire with the exception of Tisbury. That's quite high for a county that doesn't have that many stations!

EDIT: Trowbridge is the same, except there is only one direct train from Trowbridge to Pewsey a day.

You also can't get from Westbury to Dean, or Trowbridge to Bedwyn.

 

[backontrack]

If Scotland counts, then we can have:

Aberdeenshire - Aberdeen, Dyce and Inverurie
Moray - Forres, Elgin and Keith

How about stations that serve all stations in another country? Stamford, Melton Mowbray and Corby would count. So would Dumbarton Central and Dalmuir, as well as Inverness, Nairn, Forres, Elgin, Keith, Insch, Inverurie and Aberdeen.

 

[Parallel]

You also can't get from Westbury to Dean, or Trowbridge to Bedwyn.

Ah, I always forget Dean exists.

 

[swcovas]

Shrewsbury can reach every station in Shropshire. Not really relevant but it can also reach every station in Powys.

 

[marks87]

If Scotland counts, then we can have:

Aberdeenshire - Aberdeen, Dyce and Inverurie
Moray - Forres, Elgin and Keith

How about stations that serve all stations in another country? Stamford, Melton Mowbray and Corby would count. So would Dumbarton Central and Dalmuir, as well as Inverness, Nairn, Forres, Elgin, Keith, Insch, Inverurie and Aberdeen.

Note that Inverness only serves all stations in Moray and Aberdeen City - the 1tpd to Edinburgh via Aberdeen doesn't stop at Portlethen, so Aberdeenshire doesn't make the list. Neither does Perth & Kinross because Invergowrie just sneaks in there.

But the two areas it does serve in full makes Inverness a good example of a station that serves every station in at least one other county, but doesn't serve every station in its own (thanks to the West Highland Line).

(I'm using "council area" in Scotland as synonymous with "county". Again we could look at the old local government regions or even the former lieutenancies).

 

[smudga331]

I make it 36 in West Sussex from Gatwick Airport
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or 44 in Essex from Shenfield...

 

[cuccir]

An interesting addition to this is that (when the Waverley line is built) all stations in the Scottish Borders council area will be able to reach each other.

 

[Rich McLean]

Unless already mentioned. Exeter St Davids you can get to every station in Devon using a direct train except St Beadaux Victoria Road, Bere Ferres, Bere Alston, Calstock and Gunnislake.

If you board a train there, you can get to around 30+ stations in Devon with no changes
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I've seen a single 153 depart Exeter St Davids for Penzance before, but it was only stopping at the larger stations IIRC. Still, can't be a fun journey.

I have twice done a 150/1 stopping at all stations from Weston-Super-Mare all the way to Plymouth, which continued all shacks to Penzance

 

[paul1609]

There used to be a morning peak journey from Tonbridge to Strood via Maidstone West, which I used regularly. May no longer exist though.

No still exists I reckon Tonbridge can reach 45 stations in Kent just pipping Ashfords 43, however when HS goes round robin next year that will bring a lot of North Kent stations under Ashfords wing and push it up to 59.

 

[Hophead]

Lewes for East Sussex.
Brighton for West Sussex.

Brighton is not, and has never been, part of West Sussex. It can probably score more for East Sussex (of which it is historically part) than Lewes, as it gets Preston Park and Hove.

Barnham may get you a good result for West Sussex, although I see there is a vote for Gatwick which may be hard to beat.

 

[IanXC]

Beverley can reach all East Riding stations but Rawcliffe.

Beverley also doesn't have a service to Snaith.

Goole has services to every East Riding destination other than Eastrington, Howden and Wressle. Although rail replacement buses operate between Goole and How den when Selby is closed.