Curious thought

[JamieLei]

Was just discussing how London-centric the UK is with a few mates over a sneaky G&T, and a thought popped up, - is there any station in the UK where you can't get to London with 1 change of train (or direct, before someone makes a smartarse comment). It seems as if there should be loads, but I'm actually struggling to think of any at all. Even the obvious ones like Stourbridge Junction, highlands of Scotland, the west coast of Wales, and the Looe Valley Line, are all connected to London with just 1 change...

Edit: just discovered one - the Whitby - Middlesborough Line. But I'm surprised it took me that long to find one...

[orudge]

Technically, going from London to Fort William (or anywhere on the West Highland Line) without using the sleeper train requires two changes (to change from Glasgow Queen Street to Glasgow Central, and then to get onto the connecting train). I can't really think of anything else myself, though.

[Kevo00]

Ummm...Whitby-Middlesborough is the best I can think of at the minute...

[EXTspotter]

Island line? You need to get off at Ryde Pier Head, ferry to Portsmouth Harbour and train for there - 2 changes.

Found another: Barton on Humber line.

[Badger]

I believe the Barton-on-Humber branch, and also Grimsby Docks and New Clee require a change at Grimsby, then another onto a London train at Doncaster. (Unless Grimsby has a direct London train of course!)

[Geo Ghost]

What about Thurso?

[JamieLei]

What about Thurso?

Thurso can be done with one change at Inverness I believe - even without using the Sleeper - whether or not it's possible in one day is another matter!

[Geo Ghost]

Ah bugger!

I'm going to cheat and say Shankiln. Although one of the two changes is by boat...

Guess that shows how well-connected London is with places in the country.

[Gord]

Pre-Beeching there would have been loads of examples. So many issues that you can read into that about what Beeching was thinking.

Also, there would be more if it wasn't for peak time extensions. For example, it would be two changes from Stourbridge Town if Chiltern didn't do their morning and evening runs from Kidderminster.

[Kevo00]

Would depend on time of day, but I think Stranraer trains normally terminate at Ayr, requiring another train to Glasgow before heading onto London. There's only an occasional through train from Glasgow and I think that's under threat.

[audigex]

In fairness to the original question though, you have to admit that the ECML and WCML are very long lines by comparison to the rest of the country, if it wasn't for the fact that two of the major cities are in scotland, a lot more places would be 2+ changes away. Those lines are more there for Glasgow+Edinburgh than to connect London - as proven by the reduced number of connections planned to HS2

[61653]

I Got one: Anywhere South of Southport or Ormskirk, or West of Kirkby on the Merseyrail Northern Line: Requires either Southport/Ormskirk/Kirkby & Wigan/Preston changes, indeed Wigan would involve a short walk between Wallgate & North-Western. Or, you'd change at Moorfields & Lime Street for London.

[Nawdic]

Stourbiridge Town may be a good one.

[Sacro]

The whole of Northern Ireland?

[JamieLei]

Stourbiridge Town may be a good one.

Peak hour trains from Stourbridge Junction to London by Chiltern

[Badger]

Stourbiridge Town may be a good one.

Peak hour trains from Stourbridge Junction to London by Chiltern

As already mentioned....

[Ploes]

The whole of Northern Ireland?

HA! Thats a good one!

[Dave]

Stourbiridge Town may be a good one.

Pretty sure with the people from round Stourbridge if they knew it wasn't the case they'd say so.

[welshdragon]

In Wales it'd be Pembrokeshire... You'd have to change at Carmarthen and Swansea.

[Dave]

In Wales it'd be Pembrokeshire... You'd have to change at Carmarthen and Swansea.

Can you not go up the other way to Shrewsbury and get a W&S?