The logistics of visiting every railway station in Great Britain

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For those who know me, you'll be aware that I'm on a mission: to visit every railway station in Great Britain. Whether it's by stepping onto the platform or simply calling at the station while onboard a train, my goal is to tick off every station across the network.

My love for rail travel has been lifelong, but this challenge officially started on 2 April 2021, when I boarded my first solo train journey from Faversham to Shepherdswell. I remember the excitement (and nervousness!) of setting off on my own for the first time. What began as a personal interest soon turned into more of a personal mission: how many stations could I visit? How far could I go?

With every trip, my list of visited stations has grown, taking me to places I might never have otherwise considered. Some stations are bustling cities and large towns, whereas others are remote halts where all you can hear is nature – like, aside from that station, there is no evidence of anything ever really existing. Each visit creates a new story to bring home, and more than anything, this challenge has given me an excuse to travel – an incentive to get out of my local area and explore places I might never have otherwise ventured to. Whether it’s a seaside town, a rural request stop, or a major city, every journey brings something new.

Shuttles and 'Flying Visits'

One of the more peculiar experiences along the way has been travelling on shuttle routes that terminate and spin, often leaving Train Managers (or insert equivalent job title here!) looking puzzled as I get off and return on the very next train. I’ve had more than a few curious looks and questions, with some TMs wondering why I was visiting just to come straight back. My default response? “Flying visit!”

I’ve also had my fair share of confusion when it comes to my TOC travel passes or rover/ranger tickets. Some Train Managers have been so perplexed by the latter that they’ve taken photos for future reference, which does show how complex the world of rail ticketing can be!

Making the most of ticketing

Train travel can be expensive and confusing, but with a staff ‘Priv’ discount, the cost is much more manageable. However, even before I had that, split ticketing was a game-changer, allowing me to save money on journeys by breaking them down into multiple tickets instead of buying a single through fare. I used this a lot before I joined the railway.

Now that I work for an Arriva TOC, I also benefit from free CrossCountry travel, which has been a lifesaver in getting right across the country efficiently and cost-effectively. However, for those without any staff benefits, I’d highly recommend:

Split ticketing: Check different combinations to find cheaper fares.
Using a Railcard where possible: These can save up to 1/3 off fares – or 1/2 if you are 16-17.
Considering purchasing a Ranger or Rover for your travel: These unlimited travel passes offer great value in specific regions, over a day or multiple days or even weeks. I used to use these, and still do, all the time!

The rules

To keep track of my progress, I follow these simple rules:

CALL: A station counts as ‘called’ at if my train was scheduled to stop there, even if I didn’t step onto the platform.
PLAT: A station counts as ‘platformed’ if I physically stood on the platform, whether arriving or departing by train or via another mode of transport.
A train passing through non-stop does not count.
Rail replacement buses count as ‘CALL’ if scheduled to stop.
A visit by train always overrules visits by other modes.

It makes a lot more sense in practice than it sounds – and I track special notes and dates visited through Google Sheets to help with auditing and double-checking progress in the future. Google Photos is also really useful for tracking progress. I also have a Google My Maps to track progress in simpler, visual way – helping me to identify gaps and plan future trips.

My progress and experience so far

At the time of writing, I have 335 stations remaining to visit. The challenge has taken me all over the country, from remote Scottish Highlands to bustling cities across particularly the North of England, and I have no intention of stopping anytime soon.

What happens when I finish? Well, the railway is always changing. New stations open, and I’d love to eventually physically visit every station – not just call at them.

So far, I’ve restricted myself to England, Wales, and Scotland. However, Ireland and Northern Ireland are now integrated into my map, and it’s my ambition to do some trips over there to tick off the (much smaller!) network. My biggest gaps in Great Britain however are now in Scotland, the North West and Yorkshire and Humber!

And one of the most incredible aspects of this journey is seeing how small this island really is. You can go from the heart of central London to middle-of-nowhere stations, quiet places with no background noise, in just a matter of hours. The contrast is something special.

My favourite parts of the experience

I have developed fondness to particular journeys and rolling stock throughout my mission – particularly in terms of journeys:

My longest and most memorable: Aberdeen to Penzance – a 13-hour journey of people and places, which I wrote about here.
First class journeys: Hereford to London Paddington was a fab first class experience with ‘great’ Great Western Railway staff, as was Rugby to Edinburgh in Standard Premium with Avanti West Coast.
Standard class journeys: Weymouth to London Waterloo is a solid journey, on brilliant time-tested trains, the Class 444.
The views out the window: Particular great journeys for views included my trip from Newcastle to Edinburgh, Plymouth to Gunnislake, Penzance to Exeter, Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh and Cardiff to Milford Haven.
A special mention to the sleeper: London to Inverness was a fantastic experience on the Caledonian Sleeper. Mixed opinions from others but I loved it, even in classic, and just £51.25 with my Priv rate discount.

And then in terms of rolling stock:

Class 444: Now it might just be that I’m writing this blog post from one, but I absolutely love when I have the opportunity to travel on these trains, a great hybrid between regional and intercity. The ride of smooth, comfortable seats, and a great overall experience.
Class 221: I’ve always had a bit of a dislike for Voyagers, but I’ve developed a newfound appreciation for them especially considering their age (and the bond I had to build with one on my journey from Aberdeen to Penzance!) They’re still not my favourite but I can respect them a bit more now.
Class 168: I’d have words with my employer if I didn’t mention the 168s – incredible trains that have stood the test of time with Chiltern’s rolling stock being the oldest on average on the National Rail network. Really comfortable and a great ambience especially on the refurbished units.
Class 745: These might be my overall favourite. The step free access is an incredible advancement and a much needed one at that. The seats are comfortable, the passenger information is fab, and the ambience is good for a new train.
Class 390: I enjoy travelling on Pendo’s for their tilt functionality and great ambience – and always go Standard Premium! After a long day in London I love reclining and watching the world go by at 125mph (even if its only to Rugby!)
Class 395: Javelin’s hold a special place in my heart – the rolling stock from my childhood in Kent – and I’m always amazed by their speed and comfort as they role into the Kent countryside. Excellent trains, both unrefurbed and refurbed, all round.

In terms of my favourite station – picking a favourite is impossible! Britain has such a diverse railway, and every place has its own charm. That said, I’m keen to revisit some places I only called at or didn’t get enough time to explore – particularly in the South West and Scotland, two of my favourite regions. Dawlish and Bruton in the South West stand out, and I’d love to revisit Truro, a beautiful city I last visited properly in 2021 (and now, it even has a Greggs – the only one in Cornwall!)

Track my progress (and join me!)

If you’re curious to see how my journey is going, you can follow my progress through my Google My Map on the Enroute website: https://enroutecic.com/team/board/harry-burr/. This map is updated regularly and gives a visual representation of the stations I’ve visited so far.

I’m not the only one attempting this challenge – many others are on similar journeys. If you’re doing something similar or just fancy a day out visiting some new stations, let me know! I still have stations to visit in almost every region, and I’m always happy to have some company along the way.

This challenge is far from over, but that’s the joy of it—there’s always another station to visit, another train to catch, and another story to tell when I get home (good or bad!)