Thirsk ✅
2 platforms on the outside with 2 fast lines through the middle. Unfortunately I had to wait an extra hour here as the train was too full to get on.
Exton ✅
Station 391/2574
A request stop right next to the estuary. Whilst that does make it scenic, today it makes it really windy.
I walked here from Lympstone Village as apparently Lympstone Commando was closed?
Stafford ✅
Station 794/2579
Just a quick change here from a CrossCountry onto an Avanti to Euston. Even in this short wait there’s still lots to see here!
No option for a super off peak ticket at the TVM at Waterloo, so went to the ticket office and saved £5.20.
Unfortunately that did mean I got a bog roll ticket but well worth it for the saving.
#SaveTicketOffices
Heathrow Terminal 5 ✅
Station 634/2578
Ended my first, and probably last, journey on the Heathrow Express here before changing to the Piccadilly line back to Hatton Cross
The platforms here are numbered 3, 4, 5 and 6, but there’s no 1 or 2.
A trip to Scotland isn’t complete without a HST! 🏴
Sadly only had time for the short hop to Haymarket, but I happily took the first class upgrade for 30p!
Very rare to get a pair of 319s this far north, usually they’re just singles.
Unfortunately the rear set was locked because of all the short platforms.
Ely ✅
Served by 4 TOCs and I managed to get them all in one photo! 😁
Time for a 755 towards Peterborough now, been a while since I’ve been on one of these
Ardwick ✅
Station 696/2578
Only served by two trains per day and the only way in is via a steep set of stairs and an entrance that takes a while to find. Great views of passing trains here.
Chester-le-Street ✅
A relatively new station, reopened in 1999. A lot more trains pass through than stop here, only gets one train every 2 hours stopping.
Lakenheath ✅
Station 340/2574
Least-used Station in Suffolk ✅
A very awkward station only served by a couple of trains per day on weekends. Although today it’s getting a lot more trains than it normally would.
Farringdon ✅
Station 322/2574
A very busy station with 96tph just on national rail at it’s max. It’s also the point where southbound Thameslink trains change from AC to DC.
Breich ✅
Used to be the 10th least-used station in the UK, with just 2 trains per day, and 96 passengers per year. The station was then rebuilt, service upgraded to hourly and it now gets over 4000 passengers per year!
Drem ✅
Prestonpans ✅
North Berwick ✅
Heading back to Edinburgh now after I missed a connection at Wallyford. Now moving on to the Bathgate line! 🏴
Sadly it’s my last day in Scotland today, so I’ve got up early to make the most of it.
Starting off with this 158 along the Shotts line for a bit of rare track! 🏴
Battersea Park ✅
Station 564/2578
Most of the time it’s just Southern that call here, but this morning there are some orange trains too.
5 platforms here, but 1 has no track and no trains are scheduled to stop on 5.
📍 Carlisle
Already ticked this one off, but might as well come here again instead of waiting 90 mins at Langwathby.
Had 20mins here to stock up on Greggs and be envious of all the trains going to Scotland. 🏴
Bricket Wood ✅
By far the nicest station on the line!
Last one of the day as I can’t be bothered to spend an hour doing St Albans. Easy to come back to another day.
Pilning ✅
Least-used station in Gloucestershire ✅
Just 2 trains a week stop here, in Saturdays only. I don’t fancy waiting a week for the next train so time for a bus to Patchway!
New Brighton line next:
Wallasey Grove Road ✅
Wallasey Village ✅
New Brighton ✅
Conway Park ✅
It seems I’ve done every station in Cheshire, but not every Cheshire’s best-kept station! 😂
Machynlleth ✅
This is the point where most trains split with one half to Aberystwyth and the other to Pwllheli. Had an hour here to look round the lovely town and get chips 😁
Royston ✅
Station 795/2579
Two bidirectional platforms which are sometimes used for overtaking when there’s delays. My train back from Cambridge a year ago got stuck here for over an hour but as I left on the same train I couldn’t tick it off 😂
Liverpool Lime Street ✅
Station 765/2579
The main station in Liverpool, with National Rail terminating upstairs, and the Wirral line running underneath.
Cheltenham Spa ✅
Aschurch for Tewksbury ✅
Cam & Dursley ✅
Gloucester ✅
Earlier connection made thanks to a late XC and now it’s time for Wales! 🏴
Polesworth ✅
Station 816/2579
A very awkward station, just 1tpd stops here!
There’s limited lighting on the platform so the conductor had to make sure I left the station before they could safely dispatch.
Finstock ✅
Station 470/2575
Least-used Station in Oxfordshire ✅
A very tiny platform in the middle of nowhere with just 2 trains per day. It’s only about half an hour’s walk from Charlbury.
Good morning! I’m starting slightly later than planned today because I overslept, and then missed a connection at Edinburgh 😂
Now heading east on 380102 to do some stations on the North Berwick line! 🏴