Parliamentary Trains - examples

■ Goole to Leeds - Mon-Sat 0742 and 1944, return 1758, via the Pontefract line (Northern).

■ Stalybridge to Stockport via Denton - Saturday only at 1013 from Stalybridge, return 1043 (Northern).

■ Lancaster to Morecambe, via Carnforth (reverse) and the Morecambe to Hest Bank

line - Mon-Sat 0530, no return. Later forms the daily service to Heysham Port, Mon-Fri 1249, return 1320 (Northern).

■ Sheffield to York via Pontefract Baghill - three trains per day to York and three to Sheffield, Mon-Sat ‘at times not favourable to commuters’, two trains each way on Sundays. Pontefract Baghill is the least used of Pontefract’s three stations (Northern).

■ Wolverhampton to Rugeley Trent Valley via Walsall - Sat only, very inconveniently timed at 0542 from Wolverhampton, one way only. Only service to go directly between Wolverhampton and Walsall, between Darlaston Junction and Pleck Junction ( West Midlands Trains).

■ Sheffield to Cleethorpes - three trains on Saturday 0755, 1156 and 1555, return 1112, 1509 and 1915, via Kirton Lindsey and Brigg. Became a ‘Parly’ when weekday services withdrawn in 1993. Regular services now operating between Sheffield and Gainsborough (Northern).

■ Knottingley to Goole - described as mostly used by freight with ‘an infrequent passenger service’, which is two trains from

Goole, Mon-Sat, with one return (Northern).

■ Gillingham to Sheerness - departing very inconveniently from Gillingham at 0456 and returning at 0624 and 0700 (these both go to Victoria, so convenient for London commuters). Service runs Monday to Friday. Also 1712 and 1812 services from London Victoria to Sheerness, via Gillingham.

All other services require a change at Sittingbourne (Southeastern).

■ Polesworth to Crewe - 0723 one way only, Mon-Sat. This is the service between Northampton and Crewe and is the only train to stop at Polesworth station. There are a number of other examples of stations that have a ‘parliamentary service’ while the line itself is still in regular use (London North Western Railway).

■ South Ruislip to West Ealing - one return train per day (Mon-Fri) via the Greenford line, 1055 outbound from South Ruislip, 1147 return (non-stop) to High Wycombe (Chiltern Railways). ■ Bristol Parkway to Bath Spa (no return) - afternoon journey only at 1603 (Mon-Fri) via the Bristol West Curve, the only public service that uses this curve (Great Western Railway).

■ Norwich to Manchester (no return) - Sunday afternoon service (1554) using the Queen Adelaide loop, north of Ely. The only public service using this loop (East Midlands Railway). ■ Battersea Park to Dalston Junction - two trains Mon-Fri (0633 and 2303) with one return (2204); Highbury & Islington (one train, Sun, 0726 outbound, no return). Commenced December 2012 (London Overground).

■ Liverpool Street to Enfield Town - one train, Sat 0530, no return, via South Tottenham (where it does not call). Seems to have ceased August 2018 (London Overground).

■ London Charing Cross to Tunbridge Wells - 0015 Thu-Sun only via Beckenham Junction, with return from Tonbridge to Charing Cross 0445 but Mon-Fri. Uses curve between Beckenham Junction and New Beckenham (Southeastern).

■ Streatham Hill to London Bridge - afternoon service, one way only (Mon-Fri, 1617) via Tulse Hill and Leigham Junction (Southern).

■ London Victoria to Ashford International - Mon-Fri at 0550, via

Factory Junction, Stewarts Lane Junction and Grosvenor Bridge Junction, calling at Wandsworth Road and Clapham High Street, no return (Southeastern).

■ Reading to Birmingham New Street - Mon-Fri 2202, no return, using curve between Soho South Junction and Perry Barr South Junction (CrossCountry).

■ Derby to Birmingham New Street via Lichfield Trent Valley (High Level) and Wichnor Junction - Mon-Fri 2156, Sat 2156 (return 2030), Sun 0930 (CrossCountry).