Rules of the Random 15 Challenge

Last updated: 13th July 2019

Stations to be visited:

Introduction:

1. The Random 15 challenge consists of visiting 15 randomly generated stations within London selected using certain criteria before the challenge commences. To avoid being sent all over the system, stations drawn are generally kept within Zones 1 and 2 (except during certain twist rounds).
2. There are two variations of the Random 15 challenge, a “normal” round and a “twist” round. A “normal” round is 15 randomly generated stations within Zones 1 and 2 using the London Underground network only. A “twist” round includes a normal round plus something added onto it such as an extra zone/s, stations split into two lists or another transport network i.e. the DLR or Overground.
3. There is six rounds per season, at roughly two monthly intervals (exact dates will be published at least a month before each individual round). Each season will have three normal R15s and three “twist” R15s. All R15 challenges will commence at 12:30 UK local time (unless otherwise stated).
4. The Random 15 championship is attempted at weekends, usually on a Saturday. Therefore challengers should expect parts of the network closed for engineering work and be prepared to take these into account when on the challenge. Any stations that are on the closed section (hence cannot be visited by the network/s for that particular round) will be excluded from the draw.
5. Unlike other tube challenges with a fixed set of stations, the Random 15 challenge is different in that there is no way to pre plan a route until you see the full list of 15 stations. This means all challengers need to think of a route there and then (which can have interesting results).

During the Challenge:

1. All challengers are requested to be at the meeting point/station in good time prior to the 12:30 start time in order to receive the list of stations from the Organiser (person in charge) and for the prompt start of the challenge. This is generally outside the station entrance or on the street side of the ticket barriers at the first station on the randomly generated list and will form 1 of the 15 stations needed to be visited. At large stations or those with multiple entrances a specific meeting point will be advised by the Organiser.
2. The Random 15 challenge may be attempted solo (as an individual) or as part of a small team.
3. The randomly generated stations for that particular round will be handed to your team in sealed envelopes, which must remain sealed until the start of the challenge as advised by the Organiser. In the case of a two lists “twist” round, list 2 must be kept secure and unopened by your team until all stations on list 1 have been visited.
4. The start of challenge begins as soon as the envelopes are starting to be opened whilst still at the meeting point. Here your team can choose to just have a cursory glance and head off or have a few minutes to plan before heading off (though remember the stopwatch has already started)
5. Although the challenge starts at station 1 on the randomly generated list, challengers are NOT required to depart from it straightaway by the network/s included in that particular round. Challengers can choose (if they wish) to run or use another network not included in that particular round to a nearby station and visit station 1 later in the challenge.
6. In line with the official GWR (Guinness World Records) rules for Tube Challenging, a visit is defined as arriving or departing the required stations by the network/s defined for that particular challenge. Challengers are not required to get off the train but can do so if they wish to change lines or transfer to another station. If a station is temporarily closed (to ALL lines at that station) for any reason e.g. security alert, rebuilding etc. then a "pass through" of the station is accepted.
7. In the event that a station has some line/s serving that station that are open for traffic and other line/s that are "passing through" non-stop then only a visit on the lines still stopping at that station will count. A pass through on the "closed" platforms will NOT be counted as a visit.
8. Challengers are advised to check carefully the 15 stations they have to visit, especially those which have the same or similar name to a nearby station to avoid visiting the wrong one (of which can cost you a penalty or disqualification from that particular round). To assist you the list of stations will specify which station needs to be visited i.e. Paddington (H&C) or Canary Wharf (DLR) for example.
9. Again in line with the GWR rules, challengers may transfer between lines or stations only on foot or by using scheduled public transport i.e. by bus, National Rail, Tramlink, DLR etc. Challengers must not use any form of private transport in their challenge i.e. car, taxi, cycle, motorbike etc.
10. There may be occasions, due to the nature of the engineering works, that a line is in effect marooned from the rest of the network e.g. the whole of the Victoria Line closed bar Seven Sisters- Walthamstow. In the event of a station being on the list in this section (e.g. Blackhorse Road) it will still need to be visited in line with GWR rules.
11. Different networks running over the SAME tracks as each other count as a visit of that station by either network, commonly known as the “shared tracks rule.” Therefore a visit of say Kenton on a London Underground only round on an Overground train is permitted, similar on a London Overground included round a visit of Brockley is permitted on the all station Southern trains.
12. Some stations serve trains from different networks but running on DIFFERENT tracks to each other, it is important to visit the station “legally” using the correct network for that particular challenge. One example is West Brompton whereby on a LU only round, this station would only be legally visited if you arrived or departed using LU trains. There is a penalty or disqualification if a station is not visited using the correct network as listed.
13. The stopwatch cannot be stopped until one of your team stands on the platform of your 15th station. If however, you arrived at your 15th station on foot or by another network you must keep your watching running until you reach your next station (in any direction), the same applies if you 15th station is a “pass through” and you couldn’t alight.
14. There is a time limit for a “normal” Random 15 challenge of 4 hours. If you are still challenging once 4 hours has ticked by then stop the clock at the next station the train you are on stops at (or if you are at a station, then stop straightaway) and head to the post challenge meet point. “Twist” rounds will have an applicable amount of extra time added, as advised by the Organiser in advance of the challenge.
15. Unlike the full Tube Challenge there is not the requirement to log down times or obtain train running numbers, although you can if you wish. Your team will however be asked for a journey log of your route (to ensure all stations were correctly visited) and of your final time.

Post Challenge:

1. Once you have completed the Random 15 challenge then please head to the post challenge meet up point. This should be a pub within Zone 1 (which Tube challengers regularly frequent). This pub will be advised by the Organiser in advance with the event details or at the pre challenge meet up point.
2. Challengers are respectfully reminded not to discuss their time or route to other teams until the official results have been read out by the Organiser.
3. When your team reaches the pub (or when the Organiser arrives at the pub, as of course the Organiser will be challenging too), all teams will be invited on a one-to-one basis to the Organiser to reveal their time and to verify the route taken. Once all the results have been collated an official announcement will be read out by the Organiser and the winning team will detail the route they took to the other teams.

Scoring:

1. Within a season (six rounds) the maximum score any challenger can obtain is 60. Within each individual round the maximum score that can be obtained is 12, this means that if you compete in all six rounds of one season you have a little bonus, you can discount your worse score. If you cannot attend all six rounds in a season then in effect your worst score will be a zero (i.e. you will have no points deducted).
2. Within each round the scoring is as follows: 12 points for a win, 10 for second and 8 for third and then in descending order down to one, this means that should 10 teams compete then all teams are guaranteed a points position. If fewer than 10 teams compete the scoring will descend down the points order as far as necessary.
3. All points are awarded on an individual basis; this means if a team of two challengers win then both members of that team will score 12 points. In the event of a tie of two or more teams then all teams are regarded as equal.
4. The Organiser’s decision is final. Please beware that a breach of During the Challenge rule 7 or 11 (see above for details) will result in disqualification from that particular round with zero points being awarded. With regard to During the Challenge rule 13, if you failed to visit all the stations within the time limit due to reasons beyond your control e.g. line suspension, signal failure, adverse weather affecting trains or sudden illness then the Organiser will award points on a case by case basis.
5. At the final round of the season, the top three challengers in the overall championship will receive a prize (and certificate) from the Organiser. A £1.00 "fare" from each challenger who competes in each round will be used to assist in the purchase of the prizes.

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 Underground 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 depart and wait for them to catch up.
3. By entering yourself into the Random 15 challenge you abide by these rules..

Any questions or clarifications? If so, please email the webmaster via email.
Tangy (Webmaster).