Rules of the London Overground Challenge

Last updated: 31/07/2022
Updated to include Barking Riverside

Stations to be visited:

All 113 stations served by London Overground trains, including Battersea Park.

General rules:

  1. The aim is to visit all 113 stations on the London Overground network. This challenge does include Battersea Park (which is not shown on a standard Tube Map) and Watford Junction where special Oyster fares apply.
  2. To "visit" a station means to arrive at or depart from (or both) all 113 stations on a London Overground train or trains using the SAME tracks as the Overground trains. You are NOT required to get off at every station but you can of course alight at any station to change lines/branches or transfer to a nearby station. If a station is temporarily closed for any reason e.g. security alert, rebuilding etc. then a "pass through" of the station is accepted.**See also rule 7 below**.
  3. Transfers between stations must only be undertaken on foot or by scheduled, timetabled public transport (bus, Underground, DLR, Tramlink or other operators NR trains). The use of private transport such as cars, bicycles, taxis or roller skates are not permitted.
  4. Challengers may compete in the London Overground challenge as an individual (solo) or in a small team.
  5. Your time starts when the train doors are locked closed ready for departure on the first train you board at the start station and the challenge ends when the first member of your team physically sets foot on the platform at your finishing station. The stopwatch must be continuously counting between your start and finish stations. Timings must be noted down in hours, minutes and seconds.
  6. If you finish by running/transferring to or departing from your last required station, or if your last required station is a "pass through" closed station, you must keep the stopwatch going until you arrive at the NEXT station in any direction.
  7. Even though this is the London Overground challenge, you may use trains run by other operators that run on the SAME tracks as those used by Overground trains and calling at the SAME stations. For example, it permitted to visit Queen's Park- Harrow & Wealdstone on the Bakerloo line or use Southern Trains between New Cross Gate and Crystal Palace/West Croydon.
  8. In order to verify your attempt (and for your time to appear on the leaderboard) it is requested that challengers keep a journey log of their challenge showing your start and finish stations, route and interchange points with arrival and/or departure times for each as appropriate. The logging of arrival and departure time at every intermediate station is not required (but can do so if you wish).
  9. This is not an official record as such, but is fully recognised by the Tube Challenge community.

General Advice:

  1. Although this is a race against time (and each other) and I know you want to do your best but please be vigilant when doing inter-station runs along corridors and escalators, other members of the public may not be as easy on their feet or know the system as well as we do!
  2. Please do not hold the train doors open for an excessive amount of time, if your team mates are too far behind, let the train go and wait for them to catch up.
  3. By entering yourself into the London Overground challenge you abide by these rules..

For any questions, clarifications or to submit a time for the leaderboard, please contact the webmaster via email.
Tangy (Webmaster).