Britain's 10 worst stations named and shamed...

[andysine]

Its a few days old, but I found this today at guardian.co.uk

Off the rails: Britain's 10 worst stations named and shamed

I'm surprised that Birmingham New Street isn't on there, but I gather the original report was to earmark the stations most in need of major improvements; improvements that New Street has coming its way.

I don't think I've been to any on the list apart from Clapham Junction. Didn't think it was too bad, but I was distracted by the immense variety of trains passing through!

[JamieLei]

Everyone always lambastes Birmingham New Street, but in reality it's not nearly as bad as everyone makes out. It's incredibly busy, and there's a distinct lack of anywhere to sit, but apart from that it's ok. It's completely sheltered throughout which is more than can be said about most stations (inc. Manchester Vic with holes in the roof!), at least they tell you the platforms an hour before (unlike Euston where there's a mad rush 5 mins before departure), the announcements are loud and clear, it has a good police presence late at night and is pretty safe, and is actually not that cold even ona winter's day.

My biggest problem with the station as a regular user is that there are so many departures that the 2 rows of PIS information (20 displays) doesn't stretch more than 20 mins into the future! It could also do with a "Next CrossCity North and South" display since they're every 10 mins and it truly is like a metro line, although passengers are usually accustomed enough to march straight to platform 11 (south) and 9 (north) if they're regulars. It's not the prettiest thing, but it does its job considering that twice as many passengers use it as meant to be, and are kept dry and safe in the process.

[Kevo00]

Wakefield Kirkgate, commonly agreed to be the country's worst station, was missed out. http://kdtennent.blogspot.com/2009/11/s ... worst.html

[Badger]

I agree with everything in that link. Kirkgate is served by 12 services an hour yet it's a s***-hole. Oh well.

[61653]

Many of the stations on the list aren't that bad. Preston's not too bad at all, could be smartened up a bit maybe. And sure, New Street is cramped, but the refurbishment over the last 10 years or so prove that you can polish a turd!

I've expressed my opinion of Wakefield Kirkgate before on here, and it remains a deeply unpleasant place to be, and has been so for as long as I can remember. It's a real shame, because if it was refurbished there's some fine, solid and rather nice buildings there. A refurbished Kirkgate coupled with the GC 'West Riding' services next year would go a long way to improving and regenerating the bottom end of Wakefield, which even by Wakefield standards is a bit of a dive. Unfortunately, it seems the folks of the '5 towns' area served by trains to/from Kirkgate (Castleford, Normanton, Pontefract, Knottingley & Featherstone) must not be viewed as important by councillors on Metro, otherwise something would have been done by now...

[Dave]

The inclusion of Preston is a joke compared to some places I've been.

[JamieLei]

The inclusion of Preston is a joke compared to some places I've been.

Like Rowley Regis?

[XeryusTC]

The inclusion of Preston is a joke compared to some places I've been.

Preston wasn't that bad AFAIK. It seemed a bit confusing which platform to go to when I left but that might also have been the huge amount of leftover alcohol

[Kevo00]

I agree with everything in that link. Kirkgate is served by 12 services an hour yet it's a s***-hole. Oh well.

Admittedly that's my own blog, but I thought I highlighted well that this basically the '10 worst stations that people use a lot' list rather than the real 10 worst stations.

There are many worse stations in the London area than Clapham Junction. CJ may need a lick of paint here and there, but there is not much that could be done to improve it. Perhaps the underpass could be replaced by a motorway services style bridge, with a restaurant (oyster bar? geddit?) built along one side. The main problem with it is that it lacks a central concourse, but most people going through it are probably changing trains there. But the money would be better spent IMHO on improving small neglected inner city stations like Bethnal Green, where I used to live, or South Bermondsey, which are both so lonely the locals avoid them; SB probably only gets much use when Millwall are playing.

[JamieLei]

I've never actually exited Clapham Junction station actually, but changed trains there numerous times. The PIS is generally good and the overhead bridge spanning the platforms is of a comparable quality to any good suburban station. Of course Clapham Junction's main fault is its underpass which I've been fortunate enough never to venture into. Indeed, the station could do with lift and escalator access if possible. It certainly is a busy station, and wouldn't be surprised if far more people change there than enter or exit.

[Dave]

The inclusion of Preston is a joke compared to some places I've been.

Like Rowley Regis?

Quite. Or Snow Hill. Or pretty much any station on that route.

WHY is Preston included. Does it say?

I can think of a couple of updates, it does look a tiny bit grotty (and there are nets to protect the overall roof there as well).

The roof being removed was always mooted as being cheaper at Preston than replacing it. But Preston without a roof would be awful.

[Ameecher]

Hasn't Snow Hill got itself some nice new shelters and lifts?

[JamieLei]

Hasn't Snow Hill got itself some nice new shelters and lifts?

Only at the end that the trains conveniently don't pull into. Probably little use for the majority of the commuters who exit up at the Colmore Row end. I haven't used the station for at least half a year - Dave would know more about that

[Dave]

Hasn't Snow Hill got itself some nice new shelters and lifts?

Only at the end that the trains conveniently don't pull into. Probably little use for the majority of the commuters who exit up at the Colmore Row end. I haven't used the station for at least half a year - Dave would know more about that

Ooooh. Snow Hill.. Not been for ages and ages. Pointless additions to the station, anyway, who gets off at the top end?

[audigex]

With preston that footbridge is in a silly place - not too awful, as the trains tend to stop at the same end, but the station in general is a bit grotty and dark.

Manchester Oxford Road's nearly as bad as Victoria though - it's leaky, cold and it takes bloody ages to get in or out half the time.

They seem to just be focusing on the high-passenger-numbers stations, though - personally I think most rural stations could do with a bit of investment. I'd rather spend an hour on Preston or Crewe than Dalston.

[JamieLei]

With preston that footbridge is in a silly place - not too awful, as the trains tend to stop at the same end, but the station in general is a bit grotty and dark.

Manchester Oxford Road's nearly as bad as Victoria though - it's leaky, cold and it takes bloody ages to get in or out half the time.

They seem to just be focusing on the high-passenger-numbers stations, though - personally I think most rural stations could do with a bit of investment. I'd rather spend an hour on Preston or Crewe than Dalston.

But in the end it's most cost effective to focus on the busiest stations as the most people are affected. I highly doubt anyone would say "No, you shouldn't have redeveloped Birmingham Moor Street, but instead do a renovation of Bordesly which is an absolute s*** (and one train a week stops there...)

[Ploes]

Just for a lighter side of this news story look at this going to picture 8.

[Gord]

I very rarely use Snow Hill...i find Moor Street more convienent when i go into Birmingham. Only problem with that coming from this end is that the train can sit for a long time in Snow Hill before it carries on to Moor Street.

Sometimes i even change at Smethwick and go into New Street. Really depends on what part of the city I need.

The stations around here aren't great, they all serve their purpose. Stourbridge Town does it's job as a one platform halt and Stourbridge Junction has the best parking facilities I've ever used at a station. The station staff at Junction are always friendly and helpful too. It's getting off at Stourbridge Town and going to catch a bus I hate because the adjacent bus station is horrible. Thankfully, its about to be renovated. So i'd rather the money went into that than our stations.

Having once been a student in Bangor and parents in Lowestoft, i had to use a few stations inbetween. (Or different combinatons of them, depending on which way i was going

Norwich: Not that bad...just silly people holding things up who don't know the difference between London Liverpool Street and Liverpool Lime Street.
Ely: Cold and bleak...but fairly clean.
or Peterborough: Busy and chilly
Nottingham: Not too bad. But i always had friends there i could meet for a pint.
Birmingham New Street: Almost got escorted off the platforms there one night as the station staff thought i was homeless and was kipping the night. Was about -8c outside if i remember. This was back when a class 37 would take the first northwestern service from Birmingham to Holyhead
or Crewe: Never liked Crewe. The only time in my life i smoked a cigarette outside of a pub was in Crewe station i was that fed up at having to wait there. I don't smoke at all now, I didn't really back then to be honest.

So basically, if i didn't fall asleep on the platforms and had a heavy coat and wolly hat, the stations i used weren't that bad!

Anyway, look up pictures of Amtrak stops in the Midwest...although admittedly some of them only get 2-3 trains a week.

[Kevo00]

Just for a lighter side of this news story look at this going to picture 8.

I lol'ed!

Indeed, US stations are truly dire. Heres a couple of pics from Cleveland, Ohio, the one US Mid-West city I've been to.

[teccuk]

Luton, really, really, really deserves to be here...

Cleveland metro looks weird.