tubechallenge.com

Yes, I know, surprised me too. Anyway, besides the W12 bus from Milton Keynes, they talk about 'Parliamentary Trains'. Specifically, one I didn't know existed - the 0942 from Shepherds Bush (Overground) to Wandsworth Road. I knew that curve existed, you can see it from the line out of VIC to CLJ, but why must they run a passenger service on it?

Anyway, watch this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12945892

What on earth are SPB and WWR? Could we start using the full names again, to benefit new forum members and the passer-by, and to make posts easier to read?

It did used to run from Olympia to Wandsworth Road, now seems it runs Shepherds Bush at 0923 arriving at Wandsworth Road at 0938 and then a return working from Wandsworth Road at 1612 arriving at Kensington Olympia at 1629.

The plan is to extend this service to Ealing Broadway but Network Rail keep blocking plans due to pathing issues or something!

Starkey7 wrote:What on earth are SPB and WWR? Could we start using the full names again, to benefit new forum members and the passer-by, and to make posts easier to read?

SPB = Shepherds Bush
WWR = Wandsworth Road

All you have to do is type them into the National Rail website, and it saves some typing

I'm with Starkey on this one - I've seen station abbreviations on this forum which I haven't recognised. Though it would be possible to search for them, usually I just don't bother, and sometimes that means not taking part in a discussion at all. But that's off-topic...

That reporter was really worked up about it, wasn't he? Interesting, I thought. Considering how difficult it seems to be, I'm amazed any lines or stations ever get closed at all.

You can't (in theory) just stop runing trains over a piece of track or to a station, a formal closure process has to be gone through, including advertising the fact in advance and offering the opportuinity for the closure to be objected to.

NR have been accused of being a bit cavalier with regards this obligation in recent times. Some stations have a permanent bus replacement (such as Norton Bridge, Barlaston and Wedgewood) in lieu of the train service which is unlikely to ever return. There was a bus put on from Wandsworth Road after NR were reminded about the closure process following withdrawl of the XC service to Brighton, before the train service in the OP.

Others have a once a week train service to avoid the formal closure process (the so called parliamentary trains at places like Reddish South and Denton).

Ah, the good old Stockport to Stalybridge.

If like me, you like visiting or travelling alone these rail routes with an infrequent service you may be interested in the Passenger Services over Unusual Lines website (commonly known as PSUL). You do however need some railway knowledge as the data is often shown by junction names rather than actual stations.
http://www.psul4all.free-online.co.uk/intro.htm

If however you are confused by your WMW or WHC, I refer you to this post to which you can contact me to get a copy:
http://www.tubeforum.co.uk/forum/index. ... =viewtopic