RMweb Gold Joseph_Pestell Posted August 14, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 14, 2017 I'm not sure what the current answer is. Traditionally, the shortest distance was on the Alston branch where there were stations just 1/4 mile apart on either side of a viaduct. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Joseph_Pestell Posted August 14, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 14, 2017 People often seem to discount the amount of walking you need to do between the tube train entrance and the platforms. In some places you seem to be walking miles and as Network rail's retail parks - oh sorry stations get bigger and bigger, with longer platforms, rail travel requires an increasing level of fitness and that's even without considering the railway companies' expectation that passengers should regard standing on trains as an acceptable mode of travel. Kings Cross is a nightmare in the morning rush when they instigate a one-way system. Last time I used it, I entered at the old Kings Cross Met and must have walked for nearly ten minutes before coming back very close to where I started on the Victoria Line southbound platform. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewartingram Posted August 14, 2017 Share Posted August 14, 2017 Not national rail and not perhaps the shortest but I believe that the most common single fare (as opposed to oyster/travelcard/contactless etc) on London Underground, at £4.90, is Covent Garden to Leicester Square. Presumably brought by tourists who don't realise it's only a couple of hundred yards and far quicker (and probably shorter) to walk than get the tube From my (official LU) database, Covent Garden to Leicester Square is 0.25km. (eastbound Piccadilly). Also close, Embankment to Charing Cross is 0.27km (Bakerloo northbound). Charing Cross to Embankment is 0.31km (southbound Northern). Cannon Street to Mansion House is also 0.31km(westbound District). The eastbound direction is 0.32km. Without looking too closely, there are around another 10 that fall into the "0.5km or less" category. Interestingly, one or more are on the former East London line, which has now morphed into London Overerground. On that line, we now access it through NR procedures, though whether it is truly NR/mainline I am unclear. Stewart Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewartingram Posted August 14, 2017 Share Posted August 14, 2017 Kings Cross is a nightmare in the morning rush when they instigate a one-way system. Last time I used it, I entered at the old Kings Cross Met and must have walked for nearly ten minutes before coming back very close to where I started on the Victoria Line southbound platform. There are ways around that! Stewart Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewartingram Posted August 14, 2017 Share Posted August 14, 2017 People often seem to discount the amount of walking you need to do between the tube train entrance and the platforms. In some places you seem to be walking miles and as Network rail's retail parks - oh sorry stations get bigger and bigger, with longer platforms, rail travel requires an increasing level of fitness and that's even without considering the railway companies' expectation that passengers should regard standing on trains as an acceptable mode of travel. Working on the tube, I have been told that when Crossrail/Elizabeth Line opens, you will be able to purchase a travel ticket (£4.90?) which will give you access through the barrier at Tottenham Court Road. If you then descend to platform level, you will be able to walk the length of the platform and exit the barrier at the other end. You can then return to the surface....at Oxford Circus! Bargain fare, and cheaper by Oyster...... Stewart Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Joseph_Pestell Posted August 14, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 14, 2017 There are ways around that! Stewart I'm sure that there are. But I am a boringly law-abiding person. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Huw Griffiths Posted August 14, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 14, 2017 Not strictly on national rail, but aren't the first two stops on the Docklands light railway about five meters apart? The trains end one platform, cross a canal and then the next platform starts and its quite possible for people standing on two different train stations to have a conversation without shouting Mornington Crescent!!!! Sorry, wrong thread.... Rule 455 subsection 3 (as updated) states that there can be no direct substitution for National Rail by Transport for London. So sorry, but your challenge is disallowed. I'd also have thought that not naming the station(s) concerned might also invalidate a challenge. However, I can't be sure, as I've never seen the rules written down anywhere ... . It's at the centre of the system, between Canary Wharf and West India Quay. This photo taken from the platform at WIQ shows that it's hardly more than a train's length. The distance to Heron Quays on the other side of Canary Wharf could be even shorter. DLR 29 between Canary Wharf & West India Quay 14 10 2006.jpg I'd wondered about Canary Wharf and either West India Quay or Herons Quay. Meanwhile, I believe that some former "full size" railway stations might actually have been omitted when the DLR was built - albeit ones that had been forgotten about for a very long time, like Leman St., slightly east of Minories (aka Tower Gateway) on the one-time London & Blackwall Railway. Huw. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
D854_Tiger Posted August 14, 2017 Share Posted August 14, 2017 Manchester Exchange to Manchester Victoria must have been pretty close, not that I'm aware that there were any trains between the two. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DY444 Posted August 14, 2017 Share Posted August 14, 2017 It's at the centre of the system, between Canary Wharf and West India Quay. This photo taken from the platform at WIQ shows that it's hardly more than a train's length. The distance to Heron Quays on the other side of Canary Wharf could be even shorter. DLR 29 between Canary Wharf & West India Quay 14 10 2006.jpg Canary Wharf to West India Quay is 199m, Canary Wharf to Heron Quays is 280m Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold DaveF Posted August 14, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 14, 2017 Invershin to Culrain on the Highland Railway line from Inverness to Wick and Thurso is usually considered to be one of the shortest journeys on Network Rail. It takes one minute and costs around £1-17. By road the journey is 16 miles. I'm not sure if locals still walk across the viaduct between the two stations. David 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edge Posted August 14, 2017 Share Posted August 14, 2017 I'd also have thought that not naming the station(s) concerned might also invalidate a challenge. However, I can't be sure, as I've never seen the rules written down anywhere ... . I'd wondered about Canary Wharf and either West India Quay or Herons Quay. Meanwhile, I believe that some former "full size" railway stations might actually have been omitted when the DLR was built - albeit ones that had been forgotten about for a very long time, like Leman St., slightly east of Minories (aka Tower Gateway) on the one-time London & Blackwall Railway. Huw. I just remembered it from the Model rail DDV they shot there - I've never been here in my life, i've got no idea what the stations are called Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeithHC Posted August 14, 2017 Share Posted August 14, 2017 Rule 455 subsection 3 (as updated) states that there can be no direct substitution for National Rail by Transport for London. So sorry, but your challenge is disallowed. Which version are you using and have you had a letter from Mrs Trellis from North Wales yet......... Keith Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dagworth Posted August 14, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 14, 2017 Invershin to Culrain on the Highland Railway line from Inverness to Wick and Thurso is usually considered to be one of the shortest journeys on Network Rail. It takes one minute and costs around £1-17. By road the journey is 16 miles. I'm not sure if locals still walk across the viaduct between the two stations. David they don't need to, there is a footbridge alongside it https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@57.9245191,-4.4004034,3a,50.8y,218.45h,93.8t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s6IM5dW3c2-R0Qoc_LSVO_g!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D6IM5dW3c2-R0Qoc_LSVO_g%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D276.0289%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656 Andi Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold DaveF Posted August 14, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 14, 2017 they don't need to, there is a footbridge alongside it https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@57.9245191,-4.4004034,3a,50.8y,218.45h,93.8t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s6IM5dW3c2-R0Qoc_LSVO_g!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D6IM5dW3c2-R0Qoc_LSVO_g%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D276.0289%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656 Andi That's a nice new footbridge. When I was on holiday up there in the early 70s you just walked along the track. David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold TheSignalEngineer Posted August 14, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 14, 2017 (edited) Canary Wharf to West India Quay is 199m, Canary Wharf to Heron Quays is 280m It does start getting a bit silly when you get into LRT territory. In Manchester, Piccadilly Gardens to Market Street is about 170 metres between platform ends and just over 200 metres between stopping points Edited August 14, 2017 by TheSignalEngineer Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wollastonblue Posted August 14, 2017 Share Posted August 14, 2017 IIRC Smethwick Galton Bridge to Smethwick Rolfe Street is 33 chains. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted August 14, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 14, 2017 what about shotton high level to hawarden bridge? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewartingram Posted August 14, 2017 Share Posted August 14, 2017 I'm sure that there are. But I am a boringly law-abiding person. And they are legal! Stewart Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Jonboy Posted August 14, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 14, 2017 In a similar vain what is the shortest journey, where you cannot see both the origin and destination platforms, e.g. Reading to Reading West? (Excluding underground) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liam Posted August 14, 2017 Share Posted August 14, 2017 Birmingham New Street to Five Ways is 74 chains, though there are the tunnels between them and there's probably a shorter distance somewhere. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zomboid Posted August 14, 2017 Share Posted August 14, 2017 How long is Ryde Pier? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jjb1970 Posted August 14, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 14, 2017 On London and close station spacing, if you're reasonably confident about where you are and how to get to where you want to go it can be quicker or not much longer to walk within the central zone than to take the tube. London is a great walking city, there are so many great walking routes and things you see when walking, it's cheaper and it gets you a little exercise. When I worked in Victoria I used to walk between Euston and Victoria twice a day (that did take longer than using the tube), the walk down to Covent Garden/seven dials, Trafalgar Square and down the Mall was a wonderful walk. I often have to go to the South Bank near Lambeth bridge and the walk was down Whitehall and past Parliament. Now my office is in the City and I walk between Euston and the area of the Gherkin twice a day, it takes about 50 minutes which is longer than using the Circle/Metropolitan line from Euston square but not really that much longer (about 50 minutes versus heading towards 30). 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Kazmierczak Posted August 14, 2017 Author Share Posted August 14, 2017 Indeed, When I worked on the South Bank near Waterloo and living in Belsize Park, in the mornings I'd jump on a 68 at Chalk Farm (Routemasters in those days). But in the evening I'd generally walk back and drop in at King's Cross to watch the Deltics. Seems a long time ago now..... 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 4630 Posted August 14, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 14, 2017 City Thameslink to Blackfriars, allegedly 14 chains Andi And not only is it a short distance between the two, it's also a steep gradient. Around 1 in 37 I believe. 319443 stationary on the incline. It had 'sat down' between City Thameslink and Blackfriars and was about to work back north. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Kazmierczak Posted August 14, 2017 Author Share Posted August 14, 2017 Yes, because back in the day the line crossed over Fleet Street. Hence the steep gradient to go beneath. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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