06 March 2024 , 14:04
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A mega-train fan embarked on an 18-hour journey to experience the shortest rail journey in the UK.
Neil Hughes, 62, travelled from his home in Scotland to Stourbridge, simply to ride a six-minute shuttle. Using planes, trains, and cars, he accomplished this epic trip, only to ride Europe's shortest branch line on a Parry People Mover.
This tiny line, which links Stourbridge Junction to the town centre, is just 0.8 miles long and takes about three minutes each way. Neil managed this great feat last Tuesday, covering a 1,127.2 miles within a day. After finishing his crazy quest, Neil said cheerfully: "I didn't really have high expectations, I just wanted to do it and now I have. My only regret is that I didn't meet the station cat called George but maybe next time I will."
As a retired air traffic controller, Neil has a deep, life-long fascination with plane and train travel. His inspiration for this journey was sparked when he read about the Stourbridge Shuttle's status as the shortest branch line in Europe.
The line is thought to be the shortest in Europe (No credit)"It's reportedly the shortest branch line in Europe and the Parry People Mover shuttle is run on flywheel technology. That part of it stirred my curiosity and I just wanted to see it and ride on it myself," Neil said. "It was a comfortable ride and I filmed the entire journey. I also filmed the shuttle coming in so I missed the first one but I caught the next one."
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Neil spent about £90 on his trip, which began with a car ride early in the morning and included a short flight, a bit of waiting, and some train rides. He went from Glasgow to Belfast, then to Birmingham, and took a train to Stourbridge. After all that, he flew straight back to Glasgow, getting home at about 11pm.
Neil, who has two grown-up kids, said: "Some people may find it a dull thing to do but I had to do it. I'm certainly glad I did it because it is unique. I'd been wanting to do it for a number of years and I finally got my chance. I like oddities and strange things - I'll travel places to go up funicular railways and things like that."
A branch line like this one is a smaller railway line that connects to a bigger main line. This particular route was built back in 1879 to link the canal basin in Stourbridge to the main railway network.
Neil is already planning his next adventure, a train trip to Paris with his wife Elaine, 61, to see an aviation museum. Elaine, who has been Neil's partner for 38 years, added: "To most people an 18-hour trip to travel on something for just six minutes sounds barmy but that's an average day out for Neil."
Neil's journey
- He started at 5am by driving from Troon to Glasgow Airport, which is 53 miles.
- At 7am, he flew from Glasgow to Belfast, covering 132 miles.
- Then at 10.40am, he took another flight from Belfast to Birmingham, which is 347 miles.
- By 11.34am, he was on a train from Birmingham International Airport to Stourbridge Junction, travelling 30 miles.
- At 12.10pm, he hopped on the Shuttle from Stourbridge Junction to Stourbridge, just 0.8 miles.
- And at 12.13pm, he went back the same way on the Shuttle from Stourbridge to Stourbridge Junction, another 0.8 miles.
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