Unusual routes.

The best unusual diversion route I've managed was when Darlington was closed some time in the late 90s - York to Durham via Yarm, rejoining the ECML at Ferryhill. I've also done the south side of the loop at Newcastle, to correct a reversed formation.

There used to be a weekly service from Stockport to Stalybridge via Reddish South worked by Cl.101 DMU. Last time I took that route was when I went train spotting at Guide Bridge in 1980 prior to the Woodhead line closing & that service ran hourly from Stockport out of the north end bay platform.

Geoff - I missed those! They are repeating this coming Easter in 2013 if your interested. Routes will be:

- HST's diverted via Banbury again and down the Chilterns
- The Salisbury route will repeat but this time they will now go via Wimbledon rather than the Richmond/Windsor route. There is talk of using Platforms 20/21 too but I don't know if this will happen



James.
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" said:

" said:

I believe that 1 or 2 of the London Overground services per day are running from Highbury and Islington - Battersea Park instead of Clapham Junction in order to retain route knowledge.

I understand these are parliamentary trains to avoid closing some of the curves and junctions between Wandsworth Road and Battersea Park now that Southern’s South London Line services have had to be withdrawn (Southeastern services do not call at Battersea Park – they use an alternative route between Wandsworth Road (where they do not stop) and Victoria).

It is new route knowledge for the LOROL drivers. I think Southern are running very few empties this way to retain their route knowledge. And yes, it's the standard "cheaper to run a few services than to close the line to passenger services"; this being the Up & Down Atlantic lines from Factory Junction to Battersea Park.

I did hear a rumour that the a few SouthEastern services may have begun stopping at Wandsworth Road and Clapham High Street to get some service to Victoria. Need to confirm this though. Probably peak flow only.

And regarding the LOROL East London Line services:
One in the morning: Empties to Battersea Park, Passenger service from BP to the ELL. (06:20 ish depart BP)
One in the evening: Passenger service from the ELL to BP and Empties back. (23:00 ish arrive BP)

Not sure whether this counts or not, but it's very unusual to be able to catch a train to Hertford North on a Sunday. However, on odd occasion this is possible, when the usual rail replacement bus service is itself replaced by a train! ;)