Random 15 Championship 2024/25: Round 5

[Oggm]

My route was thus:

Seeing that something on the list existed further West; I dived into the w/b train at St. James's Park; I got off at South Kensington (unplanned; just in time; without door position) and up to HPC for a smooth double back down to Hammersmith (omitting West Kensington). Up to Goldhawk Road, before seeing a 7 min wait; I chose to run back down to Hammersmith and almost got squashed by a car running accross the road for the 295 (I mistakenly told Tangy it was the 297 but he knows every bus route which I find remarkable). Luckily, this bus took me where I wanted to; I simply dived for the first bus going in the right way. Down again to Hammersmith; District to West Kensington. 306 bus to Fulham B'way (painful). The shocking thing here was that EVERY connection I made so far (even onto a bus) was at least from doors open; in total; I ran into closing doors 5 times (and got hit quite badly by them on occasion).

At Fulham B'Way I think I met up with James (whom I tied with) and some others. Down the district line through Parsons Green (where Muadh joined us taking a bus all the way from Goldhawk Road). I ended up going to Wimbledon, even though everyone left for Putney, I saw that the trains were due in at the same time for Waterloo so took the gamble to do whatever they don't do. It turns out this was the wrong call and I ended up 5 mins behind at Waterloo.

I ran for Lambeth North, down to Elephant. Up to London Bridge, before getting on the Jubilee to Canada Water (via Bermondsey). I double backed for Southwark before running/taking the 139 to Charing X. Northern line to TCR via Leicester Square. Central line to Bond Street (4 min wait). Jubilee up to Swiss Cottage and double back to Baker Street. Onto the sub surface (as the doors were closing). Run Euston Square to Euston. 5 min wait for an Edgware branch train. Up to Chalk Farm, annother 5 min wait for a return service to Camden. Then, annother 4 min wait up to Archway. It seemed that my luck regarding timings ran out in the latter stages of my run. Stopwatch held at 03:11.55. I really should get better at out of station runs and not rely so much on buses.

[miklcct]

I double backed for Southwark before running/taking the 139 to Charing X.

What do you think about the Thameslink route from London Bridge to Blackfriars? Why is it only me using this service every time doing an R15?

[Lunaticonthegrass]

I should start by saying that I only visited 14 stations on this round, on account of me being a pillock and marking down the wrong station on the map, but more of that later. Apart from that, I have a great time with this challenging round.

As soon as I passed through the ticket barriers at ST. JAMES'S'S PARK, I saw a westbound train pulling in. In all the trial generations I'd done, I would have headed west first, so I ran down to the platform and opened the envelope, hoping there would be something for me to aim for. In the nick of time I spotted Hype Park Corner, so jumped on the train and was off.

One stop to Victoria, where I got out and ran to HYDE PARK KORNER then took the Picc to Earl's Court, changed to the District for a 2 minute wait and headed through WEST KENSINGTON to HAMMERSMITH (D&P), then run across the road to the other Hammersmith. Met other James here and we went one stop to GOLDHAWK ROAD.

Now then...

The other station in the west was Parsons Green, but for some reason I believed that I need Putney Bridge. I planned to take a 220 bus there from Goldhawk Road, which was a mistake in itself, as those who took the tube back to West Kensington and ran to Fulham Broadway got ahead of me on this section. So I had a long bus ride down to Putney Bridge, just missing a southbound train there, then went one stop to East Putney.

Looking on live train times I saw that there was a train out of Putney for Waterloo in 1 minute, one in 2 minutes, and one in 23 minutes. I really didn't want to wait 23 minutes for a train, and I had no other plan for getting out of the area, so I ran like hell to Putney, making the 2 minute train just as it pulled into the platform.

Met Andy getting on this train. He then got off at Vauxhall. I carried on the Waterloo (NR), then ran to LAMBETH NORTH. Few minutes for a train here, but then a near perfect connection at E&C. Getting off the train at London Bridge I encountered other James again, Ed, Josh, Muadh and friends, and we all headed through BERMONDSEY to CANADA WATER and had a 1 minute doubleback.

I then debated the various ways of sensibly getting to Charing Cross without going through Waterloo. Most people eneded up running between Southwark and Embankment on this round, which I was seriously conteplating, but as we pulled back into London Bridge I made a snap decision to go via Bank. So run back to the Northern line and one to stop to Bank, where I find that I can't run though to Monument, so make use of the new(ish) exit and run to Cannon Street instead, just as a train is pulling in. Another great connection at Embankment, then through CHARING CROSS and LEICESTER SQUARE to TCR, then Central line to Bond Street and Jubilee to SWISS COTTAGE.

Met Peter (I was meeting everyone this round!) doubling back here and we both went to Baker Street and changed to to Sub-Surface. Coming up to the Met platforms someone said "Hello" to me - I didn't see them but I think was Kevin. Missed an eastbound train waiting in the platform here because I only glanced at it and thought it was in the adjacent - northbound - platform. Ah well, not my biggest mistake today. Across to the Circle Line eastbound platform, and Peter heads to the wetsbound one. I head 2 stops to EUSTON SQUARE then run to Euston.

Went to the Bank branch platforms first as they should be faster to get to Camden Town, but the next train is for Mill Hill East, then nothing for 15 minutes after that. Run to the Charing X platforms and the first train is also the High Barnet branch. Get on that one anyway, then realise, once past Mornington Crescent, that I should have waited for the Edgware train 1 minute behind to avoid the change at Camden Town.

So I change at Camden Town anyway and make it to CHALK FARM where I encounter Ed and Josh again, and also Tangy. We all went back to Camden Town, then Ed, Josh and I headed up to ARCHWAY for them to finish and me to watch them.

I found out about my mistake in the pub at about half past 5. There was still time for me (probably) to leg it to Parsons Green to complete but I was very confident that it wouldn't change my placing, so I didn't bother. Explaining to those there how I visited Putney Bridge but not Parsons Green was rather interesting!

I'm not going to be able to make the final round of this championship (or the Zone 1 day for that matter). Good luck to everyone taking part, thanks to Tangy for organising everything, I look forward to reading the write-ups, and I'll see you all again come September.

[Oggm]

I double backed for Southwark before running/taking the 139 to Charing X.

What do you think about the Thameslink route from London Bridge to Blackfriars? Why is it only me using this service every time doing an R15?

Personally, I thought about making a service between Waterloo East and Charing X; but decided not to go for it as I was unfamiliar with whether the timings would be favourable. Generally, I have trust issues with Thameslink being reliable and I thought that it was not worth the extra run at London Bridge and then having to go from Blackfriars. I guess it does surprise me that I have never used a Thameslink train on an R15 though (except during the NR twist).

[JamesWright]

Seeing a collection of stations in the West/Southwest, I went west from St James' Park to Victoria, where I got out and ran to Hyde Park Corner (run #1). Getting out of Victoria LU station took a bit of time because of heavy crowds going in the opposite direction, but I think I was still a train up leaving HPC compared to those who had doubled back at South Ken.

I took the Piccadilly all the way to Hammersmith D&P, crossed the road to Hammersmith H&C, got on the first train to Goldhawk Road (which was actually the first train to leave). I doubled back there to Hammersmith, re-crossed the road, and jumped onto an eastbound District line train that was already in the platform.

Took this to West Kensington and ran to Fulham Broadway (run #2). I was looking over my shoulder for a bus at every stop but in the end I ended up catching up with some buses that were stuck in traffic on the way. Had a 4-minute wait at FB for a District line through Parsons Green to East Putney.

Changed there to Putney NR station (a distance long enough to count as run #3), in plenty of time to catch either the 13:38 or the 13:41 to Waterloo. There was a bit of a kerfuffle here: with the 13:38 running late (and delaying the second train), it got a platform alteration from P2 to P1, while announcements were made implying the 13:41 would skip its booked stops at Wandsworth Town and Queenstown Road, possibly allowing it to overtake the first train. I opted for the 13:38, which turned out to be correct.

At Waterloo I ran (#4) to Lambeth North, then Elephant & Castle, London Bridge, Bermondsey, Canada Water, and double-back to Southwark. I planned to run to Embankment before remembering that Southeastern services exist, so I wasn't too thrown off when Waterloo East turned out to be closed - it just meant run #5.

A short trip on the Northern line took me through Charing Cross and Leicester Square to Tottenham Court Road, where I exited to get a bus towards Euston Road. I hadn't accounted for roadworks which were causing the buses to be on diversion (and in a big traffic jam), so I had an unplanned run (#6) all the way to Euston Square. Taking the Piccadilly to KXSP would have been about 3 minutes faster.

Circle or H&C (unfortunately not a Metropolitan) to Baker Street, and Jubilee to Swiss Cottage. My legs were finished by this point, the fastest I could run being a very light jog (#7) to Chalk Farm. I spent the whole run looking over my shoulder for a 31 bus but none came. Then it was a simple change at Camden Town to finish at Archway.

Those last two runs especially did not at all feel like the fastest way to run a tube challenge, so I was very pleasantly surprised to nab a podium position.

Distance run: 8.0km.
Buses caught: 0.

[JamesWright]

Why is it only me using this service every time doing an R15?

In general: (1) it's a long run from London Bridge LU to the Thameslink platform which costs time; (2) the journey itself is not very fast: it's scheduled to take 5 minutes; (3) risk of disruption causing the train to be delayed (in the worst case, delayed with you on the train waiting for the platform at Blackfriars); (4) lower frequency than LU services (on Saturday there were 2x 15-minute timetable gaps per hour), so there's a big risk if you just miss a train.

Specifically on this challenge I didn't actually think of using it but if I had then it would have been slower than my run direct from Southwark to Embankment - I would have been at least one Northern line train down leaving there, maybe more depending on how long I'd've had to wait at Blackfriars for a Circle/District.

[miklcct]

Why is it only me using this service every time doing an R15?

In general: (1) it's a long run from London Bridge LU to the Thameslink platform which costs time; (2) the journey itself is not very fast: it's scheduled to take 5 minutes; (3) risk of disruption causing the train to be delayed (in the worst case, delayed with you on the train waiting for the platform at Blackfriars); (4) lower frequency than LU services (on Saturday there were 2x 15-minute timetable gaps per hour), so there's a big risk if you just miss a train.

Specifically on this challenge I didn't actually think of using it but if I had then it would have been slower than my run direct from Southwark to Embankment - I would have been at least one Northern line train down leaving there, maybe more depending on how long I'd've had to wait at Blackfriars for a Circle/District.

Southwark to Embankment is a long run, 1.5 km on the surface, so I only thought of taking trains, and I decided that to get the Thameslink, if one didn't come in a short time, a train to Cannon Street.

[RJSRdg]

Looking at Google Maps today, I realise that once I got to Cannon Street (LU) and found it shut, I would have probably been better going round the corner to the Old War Office and getting a 12, 159 or 453 to Lambeth North, than going via Monument.

I'm afraid Lambeth North is one of those stations where I'm only really familiar with where it is on the Tube map, not on the surface!

[Capelblue]

I should start by saying that I only visited 14 stations on this round, on account of me being a pillock and marking down the wrong station on the map, but more of that later. Apart from that, I have a great time with this challenging round.

As soon as I passed through the ticket barriers at ST. JAMES'S'S PARK, I saw a westbound train pulling in. In all the trial generations I'd done, I would have headed west first, so I ran down to the platform and opened the envelope, hoping there would be something for me to aim for. In the nick of time I spotted Hype Park Corner, so jumped on the train and was off.

One stop to Victoria, where I got out and ran to HYDE PARK KORNER then took the Picc to Earl's Court, changed to the District for a 2 minute wait and headed through WEST KENSINGTON to HAMMERSMITH (D&P), then run across the road to the other Hammersmith. Met other James here and we went one stop to GOLDHAWK ROAD.

Now then...

The other station in the west was Parsons Green, but for some reason I believed that I need Putney Bridge. I planned to take a 220 bus there from Goldhawk Road, which was a mistake in itself, as those who took the tube back to West Kensington and ran to Fulham Broadway got ahead of me on this section. So I had a long bus ride down to Putney Bridge, just missing a southbound train there, then went one stop to East Putney.

Looking on live train times I saw that there was a train out of Putney for Waterloo in 1 minute, one in 2 minutes, and one in 23 minutes. I really didn't want to wait 23 minutes for a train, and I had no other plan for getting out of the area, so I ran like hell to Putney, making the 2 minute train just as it pulled into the platform.

Met Andy getting on this train. He then got off at Vauxhall. I carried on the Waterloo (NR), then ran to LAMBETH NORTH. Few minutes for a train here, but then a near perfect connection at E&C. Getting off the train at London Bridge I encountered other James again, Ed, Josh, Muadh and friends, and we all headed through BERMONDSEY to CANADA WATER and had a 1 minute doubleback.

I then debated the various ways of sensibly getting to Charing Cross without going through Waterloo. Most people eneded up running between Southwark and Embankment on this round, which I was seriously conteplating, but as we pulled back into London Bridge I made a snap decision to go via Bank. So run back to the Northern line and one to stop to Bank, where I find that I can't run though to Monument, so make use of the new(ish) exit and run to Cannon Street instead, just as a train is pulling in. Another great connection at Embankment, then through CHARING CROSS and LEICESTER SQUARE to TCR, then Central line to Bond Street and Jubilee to SWISS COTTAGE.

Met Peter (I was meeting everyone this round!) doubling back here and we both went to Baker Street and changed to to Sub-Surface. Coming up to the Met platforms someone said "Hello" to me - I didn't see them but I think was Kevin. Missed an eastbound train waiting in the platform here because I only glanced at it and thought it was in the adjacent - northbound - platform. Ah well, not my biggest mistake today. Across to the Circle Line eastbound platform, and Peter heads to the wetsbound one. I head 2 stops to EUSTON SQUARE then run to Euston.

Went to the Bank branch platforms first as they should be faster to get to Camden Town, but the next train is for Mill Hill East, then nothing for 15 minutes after that. Run to the Charing X platforms and the first train is also the High Barnet branch. Get on that one anyway, then realise, once past Mornington Crescent, that I should have waited for the Edgware train 1 minute behind to avoid the change at Camden Town.

So I change at Camden Town anyway and make it to CHALK FARM where I encounter Ed and Josh again, and also Tangy. We all went back to Camden Town, then Ed, Josh and I headed up to ARCHWAY for them to finish and me to watch them.

I found out about my mistake in the pub at about half past 5. There was still time for me (probably) to leg it to Parsons Green to complete but I was very confident that it wouldn't change my placing, so I didn't bother. Explaining to those there how I visited Putney Bridge but not Parsons Green was rather interesting!

I'm not going to be able to make the final round of this championship (or the Zone 1 day for that matter). Good luck to everyone taking part, thanks to Tangy for organising everything, I look forward to reading the write-ups, and I'll see you all again come September.

Hi Lunatic, out of interest, what was your time please ?

[Capelblue]

I was flying solo today, and with the nature of the twist I decided that I would take the time at St James's Park to plan my route in it's entirety, and so it was about 8 minutes before I headed through the barriers to the westbound platform to find Michael still there already looking unhappy with his day (I guess that was the 7 minute wait !), so after a 4 minute wait my stopwatch was showing 12 minutes before I even pulled out of the start station, this though was my worst wait of the day.

I changed at Victoria to the southbound Vic, changing at Stockwell, and then again at Elephant & Castle for the one station double back to Lambeth North, back at E&C I changed back to the Northern line to London Bridge and changed to the Jubilee Line, exchanging hellos with Andrew C as we hurtled past each other going in the opposite direction. I was out of LB 2 minutes after arriving and passed through Bermondsey to Canada Water where I had a 2 minute double back, changing again at London Bridge (no Andrew this time - though I would see him again later) to the Northern Line to Bank, through the tunnels to Monument, and onto the Northern Line again through Charing Cross to Leicester Square where I changed to the Picc. At KCStP I headed for the Northern line platforms, and finding a High Barnet train first headed up to Archway and shot through the cross passage for the double back where I had a tap on the back and turned to find Rhys, we would be together for a fair while now, though he was a station up on me. Down to Camden Town, a quick double back at Chalk Farm, a good connection onto a Charing Cross branch train and we both got off at Warren Street and ran to Euston Square (I was really starting to struggle at this point with all the running, but still made the same train as Rhys), off to Baker Street on a Met line train that was first in, down to the Jubilee and another good double back at Swiss Cottage, back to Baker Street where I had to walk the change to the Circle line, but summoned enough energy to catch the same train as Rhys down through Goldhawk Road to Hammersmith. Across the road and straight onto the District line at the other Hammersmith, and through West Kensington. This was where Rhys left me as he only had one station to go, I changed at Earl's Court to a Piccadilly line train up to Hyde Park Corner, got a ridiculous double back of about 20 seconds between doors opening and closing and back to Earl's Court. I got up to the street to find no sign of any bus stops, so programmed Google maps to get me to Fulham Broadway, I ran/walked following the route, only to find my path blocked by the locked gates of the London Oratory school, thanks Google ! I managed to navigate myself through an estate to the station, and found a train on the platform with it's doors closed but the buttons illuminated, I pressed and they opened, so I got on, sat down and Andrew Chilcraft then shot on too. We went the one stop to Parsons Green to complete in a time of 3:18:55.

It was a thoroughly fun day, I made a ridiculous 23 changes, and none was worse than the 4 minutes at the very start. I really must try to improve my running ability ! The twist was great, it did make some real challenges, several stations were approachable from one direction or on foot only, and West Brompton being banned entirely severed the Wimbledon branch. Thanks to Tangy for organising as usual.

[Rhys1995]

And here's my write up of another run around the tube!

Started at St James's Park, decided to run to the Eastbound platform before realising it wouldn't make any sense to go east. Missed one train going west, got on the next one. Headed to South Kensington where I saw A2 and Kev as we ran down to the Piccadilly Line to visit Hyde Park Corner, this would be the last time I'd see them as they got on a bus, or at least tried to. I decided to run through Hyde Park all the way up to Marble Arch, and what a lovely run it is! Got on the Central Line and off to Tottenham Court Road I went, then southbound on the Northern Line to Embankment. Alighted at Embankment and ran to Lambeth North, again another scenic run even if a bit stop and start going over the bridge. Managed to go from tube to tube in 12 and a half minutes, as I arrived at Lambeth North an Elephant and Castle train was just arriving, lucky for me as the next train wasn't due for another 10 minutes.

One stop to E+C, then onto the Northern Line where a train was waiting for me on the platform to go northbound to London Bridge. Double back from London Bridge - Canada Water, average transfer time in the region of 2 minutes. Excellent. Made my way back to the Northern Line from London Bridge and went up to Archway. As I arrived in Archway I bumped into Ian and we would be following each other for quite a while. Off to Camden Town, up to Chalk Farm, back down to Warren Street, run to Euston Square following each other's path as we went, then onto the Circle Line to Baker Street. Raced each other down the stairs to get a Jubilee Line to Swiss Cottage for another double back, I think he beat me this time. Once we got back to Baker Street I unleashed my inner Gladiator and hammered up to the H+C platforms, wondering if I would see Ian on the same train again. He made it with a few seconds to spare and so off we went to Hammersmith.

It was at this point he told me he had one extra station to do but otherwise we were doing the same route. Got to Hammersmith onto the District Line where we said our goodbyes at West Kensington. I did debate running to Fulham Broadway but opted for the 28 bus as it was due in one minute. About half way towards Fulham Broadway I got stuck in traffic and thought 'if this is where I drop time, of course it'll be on this bus!' With that said I did get a chance to see an advert for some banana spring rolls being a thing at one of the pubs en route, I must admit I won't rush to try them as they sound bizarre. Anyway, I bailed out at the penultimate stop and ran the rest of the way to Fulham Broadway, got on the District Line finishing at Parsons Green with a time of 02:59.57.

I won the round and I am elated writing that! Unsure whether I can attend the final round so if I don't see any of you before, have a great Summer and see you next season!

[penguin]

Does anyone have the final standings of this round and the season so far? I missed the results on the day.

[tangy]

The results of round 5 of the 2024/25 Random 15 Championship held on Saturday 12th April 2025.

This was a twist round in which as well as trying the usual 15 stations, there were a further 10 stations that were banned and challengers could not board, alight or pass through these stations.

The stations that needed to be visited were:

--St. James's Park (start)
--Archway
--Hyde Park Korner
--Goldhawk Road
--Canada Water
--Parsons Green
--Lambeth North
--Chalk Farm
--Euston Square
--West Kensington
--Bermondsey
--Leicester Square
--Swiss Cottage
--Charing Cross (LU)
--Hammersmith D&P

In addition to trying to visit the above, the following stations were banned and had to be avoided:

--Liverpool Street (LU) (low level XR platforms also banned as within same barriers).
--Notting Hill Gate
--Waterloo (LU)
--Green Park
--Finchley Road (LU)
--Goodge Street
--Ravenscourt Park
--West Brompton (Overground Mildmay line also banned)
--Edgware Road (Bakerloo)
--Shepherd's Bush (LU)

There were 17 challengers in 14 teams:

14th: James Ramsbottom who only visited 14 stations.
13th: Michael Tsang - 04:09:38 at Archway.
12th: Andy JS - 04:01:29 at Archway.
11th: Kevin Brown and Andrew Baker - 03:59:29 at Parsons Green.
10th: Tangy - 03:56:17 at Canada Water.
9th: Richard Standing - 03:43:28 at Canada Water.
8th: Peter Smyth - 03:35:24 at Parsons Green.
=6th: Andrew Chilcraft - 03:18:55 at Parsons Green.
=6th: Ian McIntyre - 03:18:55 at Parsons Green.
5th: Edward Hill and Josh Valdez - 03:17:08 at Archway.
=3rd: Milo Ogidel - 03:11:55 at Archway.
=3rd: James Wright - 03:11:55 at Archway.
2nd: Vincent Karthaus and Rob Lomas - 03:11:10 at Canada Water.
1st Rhys Jackson - 02:59:57 at Parsons Green.

The leaderboard after round 5 is as follows, for those who have attended all 5 rounds thus far, I have indicated your worse score going into round six).

1st: Andrew Chilcraft (44 points) [5 rounds] (worst score: 3)
2nd: Peter Smyth (36) [5] (worst score: 3)
3rd: James Wright (33) [5] (worst score: 1)
4th: James Ramsbottom (27) [5] (worst score: 0)
5th: Vincent Karthaus (23) [4]
6th: Rhys Jackson (18) [3]
=6th: Milo Ogidel (18) [4]
8th: Ian McIntyre (17) [5] (worst score: 1)
9th: Edward Hill (14) [3]
=9th: Josh Valdez (14) [3]
11th: Glen Bryant (13) [2]
=11th: Tangy (13) [5] (worst score: 1)
13th: Hugo Marrow (12) [1]
=13th: David Edwards (12) [1]
=13th: Richard Smith (12) [1]
16th: Rob Lomas (10) [1]
17th: Maudh Zeroual (8) [2]
=17th: Ian Imrie (8) [2]
=17th: Tom Hardy (8) [2]
=17th: Pascal (8) [2]
21st: Kevin Brown (7) [4]
=21st: Andrew Baker (7) [5] (worse score: 0)
23rd: Daxon Phillips (5) [1]
=23rd: Nick Badley (5) [1]
=23rd: Natt Rea (5) [1]
26th: Stephen Moore (4) [1]
=26th: Rhys Benjamin (4) [2]
=26th: Richard Standing (4) [2]
29th: Michael Tsang (1) [2]
30th: Andy JS (0) [5]
=30th: David JS (0) [2]
=30th: Myles Swaine-Gray (0) [2]
=30th: Das Stevens (0) [2]
=30th: Adam U (0) [1]
=30th: Michael D (0) [1]
=30th: Simon Hawthorne (0) [1]
=30th: Emily Pettitt (0) [1]
=30th: James Beck (0) [1]
=30th: Sam Beck (0) [1]
=30th: Emma Copeland (0) [1]
=30th: Susie Carter (0) [1]
=30th: Amanda Ng (0) [1]
=30th: Andrew Ng (0) [1]

Our next and final round of the season takes place on Saturday 31st May 2025. This is the day after Zone 1 Challenge Cup on Friday 30th May.

[Lunaticonthegrass]

Hi Lunatic, out of interest, what was your time please ?

I "finished" with Ed and Josh, so a time of 3:17:08.

If I'd visited Parsons Green (potentially by a double back from Putney Bridge), most likely I would have got the train out of Putney (NR) 20 minutes after the one I did. Which would mean I would have finished about 20 minutes after I did, possibly more as I had several good connections later one. So my time would have been around 3h40, which would have put me 8th.