New rules governing the closure of Heathrow Terminal 4 were released by Guinness in March 2005. The basic point is - it still has to be done if you want to attempt it, meaning that you have to use the bus service!

Guinness explain themselves by saying:

We have given this situation due consideration and have decided that anyone interested in breaking this record during the Terminal 4 closure period will still need to visit the terminal using the replacement bus service.

Although some may argue that this will make the record more difficult to break, we feel that this outcome - which will last for less than two years - is more desirable than the alternative, which is to create a new record with a two-year lifespan. It is our standard practice to create records for the long term, and we never therefore create records that have a built-in redundancy.

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The new rules are as follows, significant changes HIGHLIGHTED.

TRAVELLING THE LONDON UNDERGROUND IN THE SHORTEST TIME

The following act as a guide to the specific considerations and undertakings, in addition to the general requirements, for any potential attempt on the Travelling the London Underground in the shortest time record. They should be read and understood by all concerned – organisers, participants and witnesses – prior to the event.

This record is for the fastest time to cover all networks of the London Underground. The (SW Trains) Waterloo and City line, the (West Anglia) Finsbury Park to Moorgate line and the Docklands Light Railway are not included.

1. All of the stations served by London Underground trains must be visited.

To `visit' a station, the challenger must arrive and/or depart by an underground train in normal public service, but where a service is shared by underground and British Rail trains travelling over the same tracks it is permissible to use the British Rail trains. It is necessary for a through train to stop at the station for the visit to count, although the challenger does not need to get out.

Certain stations are normally only open at certain times of the day, and this must be taken into account in planning. Attempts can only be made during the week as certain stations are shut at weekends. Only if a station is temporarily closed (e.g. for rebuilding, or in an emergency), or if it closes earlier or opens later than normal as a result of rebuilding work, will a non-stop pass through a station be acceptable.

2. Stations which are geographically separate and not linked but which have the same name must each be visited.

This applies to Shepherds Bush, Edgware Road, Paddington and Hammersmith. [All on the Hammersmith & City line!]

3. Feet or public service transport may be used to transfer from one underground line to another.

The use of private motor vehicles, taxis or any other form of privately arranged transport (bicycles, skateboards etc) is not acceptable.

4. It is not necessary to cover every stretch of track on the network.

Thus, for example, if you have visited Green Park on the Victoria line, Piccadilly Circus on the Bakerloo line, and Leicester Square on the Northern line, you do not have to take the Piccadilly line from Green Park to Leicester Square, although of course you can if you want. On the Bakerloo line you are expected to go as far as Harrow and Wealdstone.

5. A logbook detailing every stage of the journey

i.e. the time of arrival and departure from each station, line changes, commutes between lines and stations, etc. must be maintained. This book should illustrate clearly the route followed. The number of each train caught must be recorded in the logbook for cross referencing with London Underground records.

6. It is not necessary to have an independent witness accompany the record attempt at all times.

However, it is necessary to have an independent person witness the beginning and the end of the record attempt, and confirm the exact time of each. Although it is preferable, it is not necessary for the same person to serve as witness at both the start and the finish. However, a ‘master’ stopwatch must be started by the witness at the beginning of the event, and should be stopped by the witness at the end of the event. If the same person cannot be a witness at start and finish, arrangements must be made for it to be transferred between the start and finish witnesses. This ‘master’ stopwatch may not be carried by the participants on their journey. However, a separate stopwatch may be carried by the participants for their own reference if required.

7. The clock must start the moment the doors close on the first train taken by the challengers.

It must stop the moment the challengers set foot on the platform at the last station.

8. Other independent witnesses should be sought at regular intervals during the course of the event.

These people may include fellow passengers, London Underground staff, etc. Each witness should sign in a witness book, providing their name (clearly spelt out), contact telephone number or e-mail address, and confirmation of the time and place. At least one such witness statement should be obtained every hour. This witness book may take for form of pre-printed sheets with spaces for the relevant information.

9. Note that the proof requirements listed above are the minimum required.

We would strongly advise challengers to collect as much additional proof as possible to help corroborate the facts of the claim. This may include video footage, tickets for buses used to commute between lines, photographs at various recognisable points (perhaps in front of clocks) etc.

HEATHROW TERMINAL 4 CLOSURE 2005/2006

Note that while Heathrow Terminal 4 is closed to accommodate construction work at the airport, it remains necessary to visit Terminal 4, using the replacement bus service provided by London Underground for at least one leg of that journey (i.e. to travel to the terminal from Hatton Cross or to travel to Hatton Cross from the terminal, or both). It is not necessary to disembark, although the challenger may wish to do so and continue using other means of public transport, as described in Rule 3 above.

This is the OLD set of rules, prior to the closure of Heathrow Terminal 4.

The record is for the fastest time to cover all stations of the London Underground system. The Docklands Light Railway & National Railway lines shown on the tube map are not included.

1. All of the stations served by London Underground trains must be visited

To `visit' a station, you must arrive and/or depart by an underground train in normal public service, but where a service is shared by underground and National Rail trains travelling over the same tracks it is permissible to use the National Rail trains.

It is necessary for a through train to stop at the station for the visit to count, although you do not need to get out. Certain stations are normally only open at certain times of the day, and this must be taken into account in your planning.

Attempts can only be made during the week as certain stations are shut at weekends. Only if a station is temporarily closed (e.g. for rebuilding, or in an emergency) will a non-stop pass through a station be acceptable.

2. Stations which are geographically separate and not linked but which have the same name must each be visited

This applies to Shepherds Bush, Edgware Road, Paddington and Hammersmith. [All on the Hammersmith & City line!]

3. Feet or public service transport may be used to transfer from one underground line to another

The use of private motor vehicles, taxis or any other form of privately arranged transport (bicycles, skateboards, etc) is not acceptable.

4. It is not necessary to cover every stretch of track on the network

Thus, for example, if you have visited Oxford Circus on the Victoria line, Piccadilly Circus on the Piccadilly line, and Charing Cross on the Jubilee line, you do not have to take the Bakerloo line from Charing Cross to Oxford Circus, although of course you can if you want.

On the Bakerloo line you are expected to go as far as Harrow and Wealdstone.

5. A log book should be kept throughout the whole journey

This records:

(a) The number on the front of each train travelled on.

(b) The stations and time that the train stopped there, as well as those which were passed through.

(c) Photographs of the station names wherever possible. Actually underground this will not be feasible, but on overground stretches some photographs should be taken and submitted with the claim.

(d) A map highlighting the route in the order taken.

6. Two independent witnesses should sign a statement giving their name, address and telephone number and confirming the start and finish of your record attempt

It is important to arrange for suitable people to be present at the first and last stations.

7. Any press coverage in the form of local or national newspaper cuttings, prior to and after the event, if successful, should be supplied

8. A clearly labeled video and photographs or transparencies of the record claimant/s in action, if possible of reproducible quality and preferably in colour, should be sent with the claim

NB. WE MUST STRESS THAT WE CANNOT PROVIDE PERSONNEL TO INVIGILATE RECORD ATTEMPTS - THERE ARE FAR TOO MANY. YOU ARE ADVISED TO CHECK WITH US JUST BEFORE YOUR ATTEMPT TO CONFIRM DETAILS OF THE LATEST RECORD.

Publication Guinness World Records is likely only to publish records which represent improvements on existing records. We may very occasionally publish an inaugural best performance if we consider it to be of a kind which is likely to become the subject of widespread and, preferably, international competition.

However in no circumstances will we undertake to publish any record and reserve the right to determine in our sole discretion the records to be published. Please send all documentation clearly marked with your name, address and telephone number and exactly which record has been attempted.

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