Random 15 Championship 2024/25: Round 1

[tangy]

We are back for the new 2024/25 Random 15 Championship season.

If you are new to all of this:
Welcome to the Random 15 Championship. I am your host (commonly known to regulars as the BERC when I am hosting Random 15 challenges). The Random 15 challenge is just that, visit 15 randomly selected stations that feature on the Tube Map (usually within zones 1-2 and using the Underground network only). There will be certain rounds within the championship that are a variation of this such as adding an extra zone or network e.g. DLR onto the challenge. So are you ready to take on the Random 15 championship?

The rules and scoring are unchanged from previous seasons but if anyone is not familiar with them, or needs a refresh, you can view them here: http://www.explorerticket.co.uk/tubecha ... 5rules.htm

We start the new season with the now customary Champion's Twist as provided by the winner of last's season's championship- which was myself.

When: Saturday 21st September 2023 12:30 UK local time.
Variant: We will be expanding our horizons into zone 3 this round using the LU and LO networks.
Meet up: Paddington (Bishop's Road). Meet on the concourse, street side of ticket barriers. For those who are not familiar with the terminology, this is the station served by the Circle / Hammersmith and City lines via King's Cross at the far end of the mainline platforms NOT the Underground station accessed from the concourse of the mainline station.
Post challenge pub: Pub now confirmed: we will be meeting at The Carpenters Arms, 12 Seymour Place, W1H 7NE. Less than five minutes walk from Marble Arch and the Edgware Road.
Time limit to complete: Twist round, so 6 hours.

Closures affecting this challenge (correct at time of posting):
Piccadilly: No service Acton Town - Uxbridge
Waterloo & City: Usual weekend closure

Other closures to be aware of:
Southern: No service London Bridge - Streatham via Peckham Rye (Overground not affected).
Thameslink : No service Blackfriars - Sutton loop (both directions).

The leaderboard is wiped clean and everyone starts again on zero.

As usual this is an open invitation event but advance notice would be welcome - so that I know who I am expecting at the start and also how many envelopes to prepare.

Thanks.
Tangy.

[RJSRdg]

I presume Bishop's Road is one of the 15 (or is that another twist?)

I've often thought Brunel's statue on Platform 4 of the main line station would be a good starting point for a Challenge as it gives the option of Hammersmith & City, Bakerloo, District, Circle, or Elizabeth Line as a starting move (or even running down to Lancaster Gate for the Central Line!)

[RJSRdg]

And yes, intending to attend. Nice easy starting point to get to for me!

[miklcct]

Sorry I can't attend. I'll be out of the country for orienteering.

[Lunaticonthegrass]

Attending: RJSRdg, Lunaticonthegrass

[Oggm]

Attending: RJSRdg, Lunaticonthegrass, Oggm

[JamesWright]

Attending: RJSRdg, Lunaticonthegrass, Oggm, Jameswright

[Going Underground]

Attending: RJSRdg, Lunaticonthegrass, Oggm, Jameswright, GU
parkrun: TBCF (may be different venues)
Spoons; TBCF (may be different locations)

[The Raven]

Would it possible to get some clarification on the rules regarding "same track". Can Southern services be used for between Shepherds Bush and Clapham Junction? And New Cross Gate and Crystal Palace?

[RJSRdg]

As I understand it, you have to use the same platforms at the station that is on the list.

So if Shepherd's Bush was on the list, it is fine to catch a Southern service to Clapham Junction as it uses the same platforms at Shepherd's Bush.

However if Clapham Junction is on the list, visiting it on a Southern train from Shepherd's Bush would not count, as the Southern services use a different platform to the Overground at CJ.

[greatkingrat]

Some Overground trains do use platform 17 at Clapham, so I think you are fine to catch a Southern to Clapham.

[Oggm]

Additionally, from NXG to Sydenham the same track rule does apply. However, not for Crystal Palace, as Southern uses different tracks to LO

[tangy]

Additionally, from NXG to Sydenham the same track rule does apply. However, not for Crystal Palace, as Southern uses different tracks to LO

The Southern London Bridge - London Victoria via Sydenham trains can be used to visit Crystal Palace provided you do so to/from the Sydenham direction (which share the same track with LO services) but NOT to/from the Gipsy Hill direction as no same track would be traversed.

Same track, not necessarily same platform (a bit like the arrangement at Richmond with District line and Overground services where you can use an Overground train on a LU only challenge despite leaving from different platforms).

[Lunaticonthegrass]

FYI; This twist adds over 100 stations into the draw, nearly doubling the size of the available pool.

I've done some trial runs with a generator and the list is invariably very spread out. It looks like we'll be in for a fun afternoon!

[RJSRdg]

Additionally, from NXG to Sydenham the same track rule does apply. However, not for Crystal Palace, as Southern uses different tracks to LO

The Southern London Bridge - London Victoria via Sydenham trains can be used to visit Crystal Palace provided you do so to/from the Sydenham direction (which share the same track with LO services) but NOT to/from the Gipsy Hill direction as no same track would be traversed.

Same track, not necessarily same platform (a bit like the arrangement at Richmond with District line and Overground services where you can use an Overground train on a LU only challenge despite leaving from different platforms).

What about Battersea Park?