Smartest and shabbiest stations

[Gathursty]

Smartest: Manchester Piccadilly, Stansted Airport, all Heathrow Termini, Birmingham Moor Street, Rotherham Central.
Shabbiest: Wigan North Western, Coombe (Oxon), Pontypool & New Inn, Coventry, Stafford.

 

[Alistair G.]

I personally think Leicester is one of the best. Always cleans and tidy and despite having modern items fitted (ticket barriers for example) it's original grand entrance is still all there is one piece and is amazing to look at... Google it and have a look for yourselves, I'm sure you'll agree

I also quite like carnforth, it's odd, because one side/platform is completely... We'll... Nothing really, just a wall (with a holding line and west coast railways yard behind it) but the "middle" platform has a lovely coffee shop, the museum/heritage centre to look around and of course the 19th century clock which featured in the film brief encounters... And it still works!. (Happens to be a fantastic place for freight as well!)

As for shabby, well im sure we could all name plenty of stations. Crewe for me is one of worst, it just looks unloved and is in disrepair (or dispair!!!). Clapham junction is another one I think is in need of a bit of tlc, nothing a bit of paint wouldn't fix!

For me though, some of the station on "the clockwork orange" (Glasgow subway) are just nasty. Places like west street, it feels small and narrow, it's always cold, I constantly see what look like mini streams running through the platform and I have no idea how many rats I've now spotted down there.

For those who will point out the London Underground, yes, there are many poor tube stations, but at least they feel "bigger" and more spacious, on the glasgow subway it just feels small, tiny and shabby and with no new upgrades in sight, doubt that will improve anytime soon

 

[ivanhoe]

Stafford station sadly suffers from 1960's architecture but does have the benefit of staff that really take care of what they have to work with. Spotlessly clean the station is a great place to commute from. The staff are also amongst the most customer friendly in the UK.

Like Crewe, Runcorn and Wolverhampton Virgins Colour Scheme does little to enhance the appearance. I know you cant make a silk purse out of a sows ear but brighter colours can help. Agree about Stafford in that the staff enhance the passenger experience.

 

[Smethwickian]

Haven't 'Centenary' opened refreshment rooms or kiosk at Snow Hill recently too?

Yes, replacing the Costa kiosk inside the barriers (Costa having opened a larger outlet at the front of the building off Colmore Row)

 

[kevconnor]

Split into two Larger and smaller stations.

Smartest of the Larger stations would be Manchester Piccadilly (with the already acknowledged exception of platforms 13/14). My other option would be Sheffield, this maybe due to having spent far longer than i care to remember in it before it was refurbished although the wind still manages to find you and go right through you no matter where you are on the platform.

Worst of the larger stations that I have been to are Birmingham New Street (although I hold out hope with the refurb it will no longer have the feeling of descending into the seven levels of hell going from the bullring to platform level). Also dont fancy the still present 1960's WCML stations but worst of the bunch is Warrington Bank Quay only by virtue of having the ugly edifice of the soap worst to stare at whilst waiting for the train to arrive.

for small stations nicest would be Stalybridge also do like the architecture of the CLC buildings on the mid-cheshire line.

Worst smaller station would be Liverpool James Street it has the feeling of an industrial sized abattoir and every time I have to catch a train from there I can't help but feel a small part of some grim forced march or mass sacrifice.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

Smartest: All the stations between Arundel and Horsham.
Shabby: Wakefield Kirkgate, Bradford Interchange and Forster Square.

 

[Rich McLean]

The best Stations out of the larger ones I have been to are Sheffield, Manchester Pic and Birmingham International

The worst for me out of the Larger Stations, has to be Plymouth, Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton

 

[Hyphen]

I'd have to agree with others putting Sheffield on the smartest list. It's been a while since it was properly done up (other than splashing it in EMT colours) but it's still a great station to use and isn't looking bad at all. I'd also put Derby's refurbishment in the smart list, although since the ticket barriers went in, I don't like how unnecessarily claustrophobic the concourse feels.

I must say I really do like the new Birmingham New Street concourse, and I do like the work they've done so far on brightening the platforms. I realise there's still a long way to go, but colour me impressed. (That said, I always did like New St, although for reasons I don't entirely understand myself)

As for shabby, I'm going to put in a few stations that have had work done quite recently, but have done seemingly nothing to improve the experience of using them - Newport (Gwent), Bridgend and Grimsby Town. Perhaps it's a little unfair to Newport as the concourse is now fairly shiny, but the bridge feels very cheaply constructed to me and they've done almost nothing with the existing platforms. I realise all these stations needed work doing to improve accessibility, but at the latter two all they did was stick a bridge in.

What does Nottingham look like these days? I haven't been up since the station was remodelled.

I was there on the 27th and it's a mess at present. The booking hall is still completely out of use. The bridge at that end is being used seemingly as storage and only has one small departures board. The temporary ticket office feels as though it's a several mile walk away from the front entrance.

I don't believe they're doing a lot of work to the existing platforms, although I note that Pumpkin on the (new numbering) 5/6 island has been renovated.

I REALLY do not like the new platform 4 and quite how far away it is from everything else. I've had to catch a Cardiff service from it a couple of times now and it takes an age to reach it. Luckily it's been nice enough weather each time but I'd hate to need to use it in driving wind and rain.

The few glimpses I've caught of the new tram area makes it seem like it should be nice, though.

 

[Lrd]

Shabby: Southampton Central

Hey! They've done some painting recently (past year or so) so it doesn't look as bad as it did.

 

[badger1badger]

Wakefield Kirkgate has to win this, hands down no questions asked.

Brighouse is... basic, but functional. I wouldn't call it shabby, it's simply absolutely no frills - which is due to it being reinstituted relatively recently and having to justify its existence with as much profit as possible.

Brighouse is purely functional yet clean nothing really wrong

Kirkgate is being refurbished so let's keep the jury out on this one

Bradford interchange is pretty low on my list

 

[BravoGolfMike]

My other option would be Sheffield, this maybe due to having spent far longer than i care to remember in it before it was refurbished although the wind still manages to find you and go right through you no matter where you are on the platform.

Agree about Sheffield. I think the reason why it still looks smart a good few years on from it's refurbishment is the way the architects and designers managed to blend old with new very well. As long as it is kept clean then I expect it will still look smart in another ten years time.

 

[Morgsie]

Hey! They've done some painting recently (past year or so) so it doesn't look as bad as it did.

Nothing major has changed in over 10 years, the paint job is minor but it is still bad.

I have heard there is a major refurb planned which should improve things

 

[pitdiver]

My suggestion for smartest and shabbiest is without doubt Berney Arms.
It is so quirky it can't help being smart and shabby.

Quickly removes tongue from cheek and orders a taxi!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

*Puts neck on the line* I love Coventry station, it's a lot better than many post-1960s builds: huge, airy, somewhat spacious building and generally good station facilities.

I also rather like Stoke-on-Trent (lovely trainshed and tastefully modern); Manchester Victoria (the traditional booking office, tiled map, destination canopy, bar ceiling etc - it should look wonderful when the roof is finished); Portsmouth & Southsea (I've never been to another station quite like it) and Brighton.

Some I'm not too keen on are London Victoria, Wolverhampton, Warrington Bank Quay and Wigan North Western.

 

[Gathursty]

My suggestion for smartest and shabbiest is without doubt Berney Arms.
It is so quirky it can't help being smart and shabby.

Quickly removes tongue from cheek and orders a taxi!

Berney Arms versus Portsmouth Arms. There's only one way to find out... FIGHT!!!

 

[cactustwirly]

I would say Reading is a pretty smart station, so is Leeds.
Wokingham station is quite shabby.

 

[Cambo_flyer]

Wokingham station is brand new!!

Whitton is shabby - leaky footbridge, generally grubby and unkempt with no facilities other than a nice little café.

 

[sheff'd victoria]

St Pancras is stunning from the dog hole it was in the 1980's

I have to say that our very own Gainsborough Central is a contender for the worse, weeds growing everywhere that Alan Titmarsh would be proud off and the Sheffield Midland bound platform that is suffering from servere subsidence

 

[cactustwirly]

I would say Reading is a pretty smart station, so is Leeds.
Wokingham station is quite shabby.

Now realising wokingham has new station (the old one was quite shabby) I would say Sunningdale station is shabby

 

[VauxhallandI]

I personally think Leicester is one of the best. Always cleans and tidy and despite having modern items fitted (ticket barriers for example) it's original grand entrance is still all there is one piece and is amazing to look at... Google it and have a look for yourselves, I'm sure you'll agree

I also quite like carnforth, it's odd, because one side/platform is completely... We'll... Nothing really, just a wall (with a holding line and west coast railways yard behind it) but the "middle" platform has a lovely coffee shop, the museum/heritage centre to look around and of course the 19th century clock which featured in the film brief encounters... And it still works!. (Happens to be a fantastic place for freight as well!)

As for shabby, well im sure we could all name plenty of stations. Crewe for me is one of worst, it just looks unloved and is in disrepair (or dispair!!!). Clapham junction is another one I think is in need of a bit of tlc, nothing a bit of paint wouldn't fix!

For me though, some of the station on "the clockwork orange" (Glasgow subway) are just nasty. Places like west street, it feels small and narrow, it's always cold, I constantly see what look like mini streams running through the platform and I have no idea how many rats I've now spotted down there.

For those who will point out the London Underground, yes, there are many poor tube stations, but at least they feel "bigger" and more spacious, on the glasgow subway it just feels small, tiny and shabby and with no new upgrades in sight, doubt that will improve anytime soon

I was on the Subway on the 27th. St Enoch inner circle to Kelvingrove.

There were posters up regarding the recent upgrade of five stations and the plans to do the rest.

 

[yorksrob]

When I was at Crewe last year, it looked reasonably tidy and well cared for. Moreso than in the late 90‘s when I used to pass through it regularly.

 

[8J]

Ive just remembered a terrible station. Green Lane on the Merseyrail network is atrocious! Google it or if you want to go to a damp dark, dingey station, visit it yourself!

 

[dysonsphere]

Try Longton , on a viaduct just a basic shelter and thats it nothing else. And when the wind blows its bleak, but at least it still has proper signals.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

When I lived down South, I always liked Surbiton for the architecture (and the fact it wasn't all 455s unlike Kingston!) but felt the platform buildings needed some TLC, though this was over 10 years ago so they've probably been repainted since then at the very least. My local was Hampton Court which also had the faded glamour of an East Coast seaside resort rather than the station serving a major tourist attraction in the capital! Of others in the area, Twickenham was a bit of a dump, really. Strawberry Hill and Staines on the other hand both brought a bit of rural charm to suburbia!

 

[thenorthern]

Try Longton , on a viaduct just a basic shelter and thats it nothing else. And when the wind blows its bleak, but at least it still has proper signals.

There is also a massive billboard for some sort of fifty shades of grey thing at Longton, that can't be a sign of a good station.

 

[Strathclyder]

Smartest: Partick (Both National Rail & the Subway), Glasgow Central (High Level), Pollokshaws West, Ayr, Dumfries, Hillhead, Garscadden, Maxwell Park, Crosshill & Glasgow Queen Street (Low Level).

Shabbiest: The only two that really stand out for me are Anderston and High Street, Anderston being the worse out of the two.

 

[dysonsphere]

There is also a massive billboard for some sort of fifty shades of grey thing at Longton, that can't be a sign of a good station.

And here hopefully are the pics

And the signal for those intrestred

 

[Uzair]

Smart: London Waterloo, London St Pancras, all Heathrow stations, and borderline Leeds.
Shabby: Southampton Central, London Bridge, West Croydon, East Dulwich, Wakefield Kirkgate and Wimbledon is really starting to annoy me.

 

[class303]

Smartest: Partick (Both National Rail & the Subway), Glasgow Central (High Level), Pollokshaws West, Ayr, Dumfries, Hillhead, Garscadden, Maxwell Park, Crosshill & Glasgow Queen Street (Low Level).

Shabbiest: The only two that really stand out for me are Anderston and High Street, Anderston being the worse out of the two.

central low level looks dated these days. like being back in the 80s imo

 

[whizzylizzy]

I would say Ashburys on the way into Manchester Piccadilly looks a right dump, probably because of the lovely view of the rubbish dump and the overgrown platforms. The rubbish dump been the recycling plant and not The Etihad.

Ardwick also looks pretty poor but might get spruced up if there are more stoppers there when the Network Rail ROC opens.