Would you ever try the London Tube Challenge?

[Seeker]

Would you ever try the London Tube Challenge?

I saw this on a television program a couple of weeks ago, at first I didnt think it was real but after some checking I found it to be true and it's also in the Guinness Book of World Records. Its a challenge to visit all 270 london underground stations in 1 day and is currently held by Martin Hazel, Andi James and Steve Wilson with a time of 16 hours, 44 minutes and 16 seconds, which was set on the 14 December 2009.
All they had to do is visit each station once. Each one had to be visited by either departing from, arriving at or stopping on them on a London Underground train.

Would YOU ever think about trying to break the record?

[JamieLei]

Since the East London Line is now no longer part of the Tube, then would that mean it's now easier to complete it?

Personally I wouldn't - but then for me, the Tube is merely a way of getting from A to B. I get bored after spending more than 15 mins on a tube train!

[teccuk]

Yeah I agree.... underground is a bit dull. Surface trains though. I like.

[JamieLei]

I remember the time of my A2 Geography project, where I did spend 2 days exclusively travelling round London on trains (to get to various places). At the end of it, I couldn't stand the tube any longer!

[Kevo00]

Yep, the novelty of the tube soon wears off! The actual stations are more interesting than the lines as well.

I believe the tube challenge has now changed since the ELL is no longer part of the network. It would still take the whole day to do, however!

[Chrill]

I love riding the tube. It's by far the most comfortable way to get around. As long as I travel under a city I already know, I feel like I am not missing out on much. Yeah, I like the underground trains


A few weeks ago when I visited Los Angeles, we used the metro to get around. It was annoying because I wanted to see the town, so we decided to take a bus from Hollywood to downtown Los Angeles. It is one ugly run-down city. I realised the metro just kept you away from the creepier areas...

[Ameecher]

Yep, the novelty of the tube soon wears off! The actual stations are more interesting than the lines as well.

I believe the tube challenge has now changed since the ELL is no longer part of the network. It would still take the whole day to do, however!

I suppose technically Oyster works like that.

[JamieLei]

Yep, the novelty of the tube soon wears off! The actual stations are more interesting than the lines as well.

I believe the tube challenge has now changed since the ELL is no longer part of the network. It would still take the whole day to do, however!

I suppose technically Oyster works like that.

Edit: Relevance?

(If you were referring to my post in the other thread, then it's slightly different. For a start, the NR lines still have roving conductors and have the right to kick you off if you're making stupid journeys, ie: touched in at Elephant and Castle, but travelling on a train from East Croydon to London Bridge. Secondly, when transferring between NR and Tube you're expected to touch to signify a connection, else you may be charged far more so it's not quite the open system it seems. Finally, there's a 2 hour or so time limit which I would believe would be too short for Griff).

[orudge]

A few weeks ago when I visited Los Angeles, we used the metro to get around. It was annoying because I wanted to see the town, so we decided to take a bus from Hollywood to downtown Los Angeles. It is one ugly run-down city. I realised the metro just kept you away from the creepier areas...

Los Angeles is a bit of a dump; I remember being quite excited when I visited it on a brief trip in June 2006. While it was fun to see the various landmarks, the city itself really wasn't anything special.

Anyway, I suppose that's all a bit off-topic. In answer to the original question: personally, I have no particular desire to sit on a Tube train for hours. But I'd probably happily drive the length of every pathetic motorway in the UK, so each to their own, I guess.

[Ameecher]

Yep, the novelty of the tube soon wears off! The actual stations are more interesting than the lines as well.

I believe the tube challenge has now changed since the ELL is no longer part of the network. It would still take the whole day to do, however!

I suppose technically Oyster works like that.

Edit: Relevance?

(If you were referring to my post in the other thread, then it's slightly different. For a start, the NR lines still have roving conductors and have the right to kick you off if you're making stupid journeys, ie: touched in at Elephant and Castle, but travelling on a train from East Croydon to London Bridge. Secondly, when transferring between NR and Tube you're expected to touch to signify a connection, else you may be charged far more so it's not quite the open system it seems. Finally, there's a 2 hour or so time limit which I would believe would be too short for Griff).

Yeah it was meant to be in the other thread...

[Kevo00]

Anyway, I suppose that's all a bit off-topic. In answer to the original question: personally, I have no particular desire to sit on a Tube train for hours. But I'd probably happily drive the length of every pathetic motorway in the UK, so each to their own, I guess.

I'm slowly ticking off the pathetic motorways one by one. The M45 and M50 are real delights and I've done the Tring Bypass one as well.

[orudge]

I can currently count the M32, M48, M53, M73, M90, M876, M898, A58(M), A64(M) and A823(M). I wouldn't personally argue that they are all "pathetic", although they all do have pathetic elements about them...

[Kevo00]

I've done the A48(M), M73 and parts of the M90 too, as well as some of the A1(M) segments...I've done some of the others as a passenger, but I don't think that really counts! The M50, which goes from nowhere to nowhere and includes a T-junction is possibly my favourite.

[JamieLei]

I'm surprised that the A38(M) is listed there - I love that road, just for its significance as stating that I'm finally home from university and a Gateway to Birmingham*.

*This claim also contested by Coventry.

[orudge]

I'm surprised that the A38(M) is listed there

It's a single carriageway motorway, though, so it qualifies. OK, it's a rather unique single carriageway motorway, but still single carriageway.

I love that road, just for its significance as stating that I'm finally home from university and a Gateway to Birmingham*.

I don't think pathetic motorways are decided based upon how much we use and feel about them, somehow. Otherwise, most motorways south of about Manchester would be "pathetic" to me, most of the time.

[Kevo00]

Lol, to be fair he even admits that its not that pathetic. But it qualifies for a listing as its short and quite unusual, I guess!

[EirikhO]

I'd do the Tube Challenge if there was no need to run!

[supermop]

When I was unemployed I considered do the the equivalent run on the NYC subway. Trying looking right now, but couldn't find the record time - I seem to recall it being longer than one day.

[teccuk]

I can't believe how sad we all are...

Yeah I always try and detour to a pathetic motorway when I can too. M32, M49, M50 (amazing), A38M, M69, A329M (wonderfully over engineered then just crashes into normal roads), A404M, few others...

Managed a few of the 'Pathetic Railways' too.

[jvassie]

When I was unemployed I considered do the the equivalent run on the NYC subway. Trying looking right now, but couldn't find the record time - I seem to recall it being longer than one day.

22nd January 2010 Matt Ferrusu and Chrus Solarz - 22 hours, 52 minutes, 36 seconds

According to ze wiki..