tubechallenge.com

...Meaning everything on the network south of Craven Arms junction...

Wed 2nd March - Start at 9:43am
Tenby to Pembroke Dock --- (Bus to Milford Haven)
Milford Haven to Haverfordwest --- (A couple of hours' break)
Haverfordwest to Clarbeston Rd
Clarbeston Rd to Fishguard Harbour
Fishguard Harbour to Clarbeston Rd
Clarbeston Rd to Carmarthen --- (Have a meal)
Carmarthen to Tenby

Thu 3rd March --- Rest! I was on holiday...

Fri 4th March
Tenby to Swansea
Swansea to Bridgend
Bridgend to Maesteg
Maesteg to Bridgend
Bridgend to Barry
Barry to Barry Island
Barry Island to Barry Docks --- (Brief break)
Barry Docks to Cardiff Central
Cardiff Central to Penarth --- (Have a meal)
Penarth to Cardiff Central
Cardiff Central to Cwmbran
--- (Lift to Sebastopol where I stayed with a friend for a few nights)

Weekend off! (Included a trip down the 'Big Pit')

Mon 7th March
--- (Lift to Cwmbran)
Cwmbran to Ludlow --- (brief break)
Ludlow back to Leominster --- (brief break)
Leominster to Craven Arms --- (brief break)
Craven Arms to Church Stretton --- (Delicious lunch break, before:)
Church Stretton to Llanwrtyd Wells --- (The Heart-of Wales Line is wonderful!)
--- (Stretch legs whilst waiting for other train)
Llanwrtyd Wells to Swansea
Swansea to Cardiff Central
Cardiff Central to Radyr (via Fairwater)
Radyr to Queen St
Queen St to Cardiff Bay --- (brief break)
Cardiff Bay to Queen St
Queen St to Cardiff Central
Cardiff Central to Cwmbran --- (Lift to Sebastopol)

Tue 8th March - Rest! I needed to...

Wed 9th March
--- (Bus from Sebastopol to Ebbw Vale)
Ebbw Vale Town to Cardiff Central
Cardiff Central to Coryton
Coryton to Queen St
Queen St to Caerphilly --- (Brief break to explore)
Caerphilly to Rhymney ---(Bus to Merthyr Tydfil)
Merthyr Tydfil to Pontypridd --- (Brief break)
Pontypridd to Aberdare
Aberdare to Pontypridd
Pontypridd to Treherbert
Treherbert to Pontypridd --- (Have a meal)
Pontypridd to Cathays --- (Lift off my friend back to Sebastopol)

Thu 10th March
--- (Bus to Newport)
Newport to Chepstow - arriving 1:50pm, FINISHED!

Total time taken: 8 days, 4 hours, 7 minutes.

Well, that's what I've just done! Refer to the Arriva Trains Wales Network map to trace the route in more detail.

Just one disclaimer - I didn't stop at all these stations, (many are request stops, so tricky!), but I did pass through them all.

Now, I know it's not an unbreakable time, and it's probably possible to do it in three days. But if you want to combine a holiday with a challenge, why not give it a go? It's a lovely area to explore, and all whilst doing a challenge! What more could you want?

The 'Explore South Wales' Rover gives you four days of train travel in an eight-day period, and is valid on buses for all eight days. A good combination.

So, who's going to be next to break my (probably) current record time? The playing field is open...

Good luck!

Doing all the stations west of Carmarthen is something I've wondered about doing for about 25 years! (My parents live in Saundersfoot).

'On the network' presumably excludes the Gwili, Teifi Valley, Barry and Pontypool & Blaenavon railways.

Sorry, as your friend gave you are lift you are disqualified for using private transport!

RJSRdg wrote:'On the network' presumably excludes the Gwili, Teifi Valley, Barry and Pontypool & Blaenavon railways.

Yes, just the National Rail ones.

greatkingrat wrote:Sorry, as your friend gave you are lift you are disqualified for using private transport!

True - that's now two disqualifications/disclaimers if this were to be playing officially by the rules!

So, will the next person take on the challenge (1) without using any private transport, and (2) stopping at every request stop?!

RJSRdg - ''Doing all the stations west of Carmarthen is something I've wondered about doing for about 25 years! (My parents live in Saundersfoot).''

So that's how you knew where Saundersfoot was - I only know because I went on a 3 day residential there in Y6!