The Entire LU Tube Map Challenge

[xcooler123]

As I'm sure some people have realised and considered on this forum, the Night Tube has opened up the possibility of a monster challenge. Therefore, I am sticking my head above the parapet and announcing that next year I will attempt to visit the ENTIRE LU Tube Map (for reference, this one) + Battersea Park in one go. So that's all LU, LO (inc. Battersea Park), DLR, Tram, EAL and TfL Rail stations as quickly as possible. Obviously this is a completely stupid and ridiculous challenge likely to take in the region of 35-40 hours but that's exactly why I want to attempt it. Much planning has to go on between now and then.

The Entire LU Tube Map Challenge
Dates - Sometime from June...
Start Location - TBC (ATM Chesham at 05:12:30)

Anyone is more than welcome to join me on this challenge, either part or all of the way. I will definitely be grateful for some people as support crew as well and some people to provide counselling afterwards . PM if interested.

[Tube Geek]

Dang, got excited when I saw people could join. Then I saw the dates.... August would be good for me. But I'm there for 3 days so might do it myself!...

[The Orange One]

Obviously this is a completely stupid and ridiculous challenge likely to take in the region of 30-40 hours but that's exactly why I want to attempt it.

I'd be surprised if you could knock it off that fast!

[xcooler123]

Obviously this is a completely stupid and ridiculous challenge likely to take in the region of 30-40 hours but that's exactly why I want to attempt it.

I'd be surprised if you could knock it off that fast!

It's going to be closer to 40 but we shall wait and see

[Tube Geek]

(rough, going by records:)

TUBE 15hr 45min +
DLR 1hr 53min +
LO 10hr 15 min +
TRAMS 1hr 35min +
TfL Rail 0hr 42min (journey time) +
EEA 0hr 10min (rough time) =

1 day 6 hours 20 mins (30hr 20mins), plus seconds, plus added as xcooler does not hold all these records. Around 35 I reckon

[The Orange One]

(rough, going by records:)

TUBE 15hr 45min +
DLR 1hr 53min +
LO 10hr 15 min +
TRAMS 1hr 35min +
TfL Rail 0hr 42min (journey time) +
EEA 0hr 10min (rough time) =

1 day 6 hours 20 mins (30hr 20mins), plus seconds, plus added as xcooler does not hold all these records. Around 35 I reckon

A couple of points:

- Tramlink is isolated from the rest of the network
- The near-complete network shutdown at night
- Track closures on the Saturday that have to be polished off on Friday
- That 15 hours and 45 minutes is a massive anomaly in Tube Challenge completion times

40 hours, I reckon!

At least Battersea Park isn't on the list though, because it's not on the tube map.

[Iain]

In what sense is Tramlink isolated? It connects up at both Wimbledon and West Croydon.

[xcooler123]

(rough, going by records:)

TUBE 15hr 45min +
DLR 1hr 53min +
LO 10hr 15 min +
TRAMS 1hr 35min +
TfL Rail 0hr 42min (journey time) +
EEA 0hr 10min (rough time) =

1 day 6 hours 20 mins (30hr 20mins), plus seconds, plus added as xcooler does not hold all these records. Around 35 I reckon

A couple of points:

- Tramlink is isolated from the rest of the network
- The near-complete network shutdown at night
- Track closures on the Saturday that have to be polished off on Friday
- That 15 hours and 45 minutes is a massive anomaly in Tube Challenge completion times

40 hours, I reckon!

At least Battersea Park isn't on the list though, because it's not on the tube map.

Although it is not on the map, I will be visiting it as it is still visited by LO services. It surprisingly fits in well to my rough plan which has also started laying out the night tube section (Piccadilly line timings dependant) which, despite only 5 lines open, covers the "graveyard shift" (12am-5am) fairly well

[greatkingrat]

Planning the night section will be the key. The problem is the bits of line not served, eg Mill Hill East, Heathrow Terminal 4, Hainault-Woodford, which restricts your options a fair bit.

[xcooler123]

I have updated the OP with some more information

[Tube Geek]

Your starting at a Chesham cash machine? But random, innit?

[The Orange One]

In what sense is Tramlink isolated? It connects up at both Wimbledon and West Croydon.

I guess - but New Addington, Elmers End and Beckenham Junction are very off piste from the classic Tube Map haunts!

Planning the night section will be the key. The problem is the bits of line not served, eg Mill Hill East, Heathrow Terminal 4, Hainault-Woodford, which restricts your options a fair bit.

Given the challenge seems to be a Chesham start, I'm guessing he's aiming for the Friday night Battersea Park service. I'm guessing he's probably going to kill off a couple more stations in the Zone One area, then head down and grab the Victoria and Northern Lines at Morden, then up to Edgware, run to Canons Park (no buses at that time) then pick off some of the Jubilee, head into town and perhaps then up the Piccadilly Line to Cockfosters. The first 307 bus calls at Bramley Road at 0503, which I'd guess he'd be on time for. The reason I'd think he'd grab Morden early is that as Iain pointed out, Wimbledon (with which Morden is usually paired) will be connected with Tramlink, so he'd need to make a separate trip for Morden.

I reckon the key to the challenge, as much as planning the night section, is knocking off all the bits closed on the weekend on Friday! I'd guess a possible sequence we could see would be District Line eastbound Upminster Romford Shenfield Maryland Manor Park Woodgrange Park GOBLIN westbound on Friday - especially as all of these are highly likely to get weekend closures!

Unfortunately, we as a community have probably had enough documentary related drama to last us for years - which is a pity, because I think this could make quite good TV!

[Tube Geek]

Unfortunately, we as a community have probably had enough documentary related drama to last us for years - which is a pity, because I think this could make quite good TV!

I'm sure Geoff would be up to it...

[GuyBarry]

Your starting at a Chesham cash machine? But random, innit?

Took me a while to work out that "ATM" was "at the moment"...

I'm not really qualified to comment since I've never attempted a full Tube Challenge, but is there any particular advantage to starting this one early in the morning? Given that it runs for more than 24 hours, I'd have thought it'd be better to start it later in the day when there's a fuller service.

[The Orange One]

Your starting at a Chesham cash machine? But random, innit?

Took me a while to work out that "ATM" was "at the moment"...

I'm not really qualified to comment since I've never attempted a full Tube Challenge, but is there any particular advantage to starting this one early in the morning? Given that it runs for more than 24 hours, I'd have thought it'd be better to start it later in the day when there's a fuller service.

It'll be pushing to complete it before end of service on Saturday and you really don't want to have to start on a second night shift...