Inconveniently Sited Stations

[lxfe_mxtterz]

Horwich Parkway and Blackrod: Despite having Horwich in its name, Horwich Parkway station is situated relatively far away from Horwich town centre. Infact, Blackrod station is much closer to the town centre. Thus I think it'd make more sense to rename Blackrod to Horwich Parkway & Blackrod and the current Horwich Parkway to Middlebrook to better reflect the areas they both serve. Not really a case of moving stations as such, but it'd provide better clarity for the geographical location of both stations.

 

[Midnight Sun]

Cambridge needs a entrance on the east side, same with Cambridge North. Peterborough could also do with a entrance on the West side it aready has a bridge in place.

 

[Warwick]

Dorking(Deepdene) is an appalling station. I use it as an interchange for Dorking (Main) when traveling to Horsham from Penzance. I'm 72 but fortunately still able bodied. Would a lift be too much to ask for?

 

[stut]

Cambridge needs a entrance on the east side, same with Cambridge North. Peterborough could also do with a entrance on the West side it aready has a bridge in place.

These things invariable get vigorously opposed by local residents, fearing that their precious parking will become overrun by commuters - dropping off informally if restrictions are in place.

It took years of argument to get the Loves Farm entrance to St Neots station built.

 

[JamesT]

Out of interest, how would that work? Looking at Google maps, and assuming it remained on the existing railway line (as specified in the starting post), wouldn't that make it harder, rather than easier, to get to the town centre, and to get any public transport access to the station?

The expected location would be roughly where the ice rink currently is, I'd probably call that as a draw for getting to Carfax. Bus routes from the East currently loop round the Westgate using Castle Street, it wouldn't be that different to send them along Thames Street to the ice rink. You'd probably have enough space to build a decent bus interchange, rather than the hodge-podge of city centre stops currently.

 

[swt_passenger]

The expected location would be roughly where the ice rink currently is, I'd probably call that as a draw for getting to Carfax. Bus routes from the East currently loop round the Westgate using Castle Street, it wouldn't be that different to send them along Thames Street to the ice rink. You'd probably have enough space to build a decent bus interchange, rather than the hodge-podge of city centre stops currently.

“Near the ice-rink”? Didn’t that early proposal effectively ignore through XC and freight services to the north, and the anticipated Chiltern Bicester route? I once saw a fairly ridiculous plan that basically provided for a London facing terminus station at Oxpens, not exactly what was needed.

 

[gordonthemoron]

Seascale station would be much handier if it were moved to the back of my mum's house (the line goes past)

 

[JamesT]

“Near the ice-rink”? Didn’t that early proposal effectively ignore through XC and freight services to the north, and the anticipated Chiltern Bicester route? I once saw a fairly ridiculous plan that basically provided for a London facing terminus station at Oxpens, not exactly what was needed.

I can't find a plan of the Oxpens proposals. The council did at one point suggest a London facing bay built on top of the current car park, but that would have been an extension to the current station.
You might need a little bit of realignment as Gibbs Crescent and the cemetery get in the way of centring on the current route, but I don't see why you couldn't build something as large as the proposals for the current site https://www.oxford.gov.uk/info/20182/regeneration_and_development/949/oxford_station_masterplan in Osney. You wouldn't need to put the bus station on the other side of a bridge if it was there.

 

[sprunt]

Teesside Airport-so inconvient only one train a week stops there.

Similarly, Dyce - zero yards, and an hour's walk from Aberdeen Airport. Although the fix to this would need to be with the airport, not the station.

 

[TheGrew]

Salford Crescent could be a better station if it was moved 600m northwest to the triangle between Frederick Road and the junction between the Atherton and Bolton lines.

At this point, both lines are double tracked. From what I can see, there is an unused bridge span to the west of the current Atherton alignment, adjacent to Strawberry Rd, so there is space for a platform over there for the westmost line, or that line could be moved to make space for an island platform.

The Bolton lines have less space around them, but possible enough for a platform on the east side.

The triangle in between the lines is about 10 times the area of the street-level part of the current station.

As a daily user of the station I am not sure I would entirely agree with that as a lot of the traffic is for the University (or interchange between Vic and Picc/Oxford Road). I think I would be more tempted to move it south of the bridge split into 4 platforms (on the two lines) as you suggested. I think this would then release more space north of the station to then put in a flying junction (probably with a dive under rather than over).

 

[Aictos]

Cambridge needs a entrance on the east side, same with Cambridge North. Peterborough could also do with a entrance on the West side it aready has a bridge in place.

There was room for a purpose built entrance with bus interchange on the west side which ought to have be built on the site of the old bakery/dairy at Peterborough which might go some way to resolve the congestion at the east side at the front of the station especially in the peaks with the buses, people setting down, taxis and delivery vehicles all fighting to get though however the wonderful clowns in City Hall decided they rather put more housing on the site instead.

These things invariable get vigorously opposed by local residents, fearing that their precious parking will become overrun by commuters - dropping off informally if restrictions are in place.

It took years of argument to get the Loves Farm entrance to St Neots station built.

I remember Loves Farm being built and being turned from farmland to a housing estate, so not surprised it took years for the entrance to the station to be built.

 

[mushroomchow]

Not an inconveniently sited station, so to speak, but the lack of a footbridge at the far end of Nottingham station makes any connection shorter than 10 minutes far more stressful than it should be, as you have to walk a fair distance to go back on yourself in order to change platforms.

Easily the most inconvenienced I've been on any sort of regular basis on the UK rail network, and it has happened to me connecting to pretty much every non-intercity service I've had to catch there, to the point that I've given up and now allow an extra hour's journey time whenever I'm travelling through the station to the likes of Lincoln, Sheffield or Skegness. It's a good thing there are some decent pubs nearby!

Maybe something for a different thread titled "crap station layouts" though, for which I apologise.

 

[camflyer]

Cambridge needs a entrance on the east side, same with Cambridge North. Peterborough could also do with a entrance on the West side it aready has a bridge in place.

The long term plan for Cambridge is to redevelop the Clifton Rd area on other side of the station where the Royal Mail depot and industrial park currently are to open up the east side. Apparently the Royal Mail have said that they would be willing to move out as long as the redevelopment paid their relocation costs.

As for Cambridge North, given the amount of housing and commercial development planned for the area they will have to look at improving local road access as Cowley Rd won't have the capacity.

 

[Whistler40145]

I've always thought that Watford Junction wasn't designed very well, the St Albans branch platforms don't feel like they're part of the main station.

 

[Altnabreac]

Keith station is a bit out of the way - the Keith and Dufftown's station Keith Town is closer to the village centre.

Dent station is a considerable distance and uphill from Dent.

Alnmouth station might be more accurately renamed Hipsburn.

It could equally be renamed Bilton as the village to the west of the tracks is Bilton and is as close to the station as Hipsburn is to the East. But the Football and Cricket Club both use Alnmouth as their name despite being in Hipsburn (although the school is Hipsburn Primary) so the station is as well remaining as Alnmouth.

 

[Altnabreac]

Williamwood station could use a new access heading east over the disused railway bridge from the old EK chord line. This would provide convenient, level access to the new Eastwood Health and Care Centre.

 

[greyman42]

Oxford and Cambridge - both sited well away from the respective city centre because of the Universities' opposition to a more convenient location in case it encouraged loose behaviour from the students.

Oxford is not that far out but I agree about Cambridge and it is not a pleasant walk either.

 

[Ken H]

I've always thought that Watford Junction wasn't designed very well, the St Albans branch platforms don't feel like they're part of the main station.

where they not moved when the branch was electrified?

 

[Tracked]

Chesterfield
Just outside the town centre, but the most direct route goes up a steep hill, including a tiny footbridge over the ring road. Doesn't often get treated in winter for ice, so quite slippy around this time of year til about feb/march.

Telford
Seem to remember this being near a couple of office buildings, with a long walk over a car park to the shopping centre and bus station.

Derby
Similar, a long trek to the actual town centre

 

[Dr Hoo]

where they not moved when the branch was electrified?

Earlier than that. It was to allow construction of the car park, accessed by a new ‘subway’ driven under the main line.

 

[duffield]

Not an inconveniently sited station, so to speak, but the lack of a footbridge at the far end of Nottingham station makes any connection shorter than 10 minutes far more stressful than it should be, as you have to walk a fair distance to go back on yourself in order to change platforms.

Easily the most inconvenienced I've been on any sort of regular basis on the UK rail network, and it has happened to me connecting to pretty much every non-intercity service I've had to catch there, to the point that I've given up and now allow an extra hour's journey time whenever I'm travelling through the station to the likes of Lincoln, Sheffield or Skegness. It's a good thing there are some decent pubs nearby!

Maybe something for a different thread titled "crap station layouts" though, for which I apologise.

Plafrom 4A/B at Nottingham is a 'step-out' platform at the East end and is intrinsicly inconvenient, but Nottingham's inconvenience is multiplied by the fact that lots of services from the West of the station stop about as far down the East ends of platforms 1 & 3 as possible, for no apparent operational reason. These platforms are split in to A, B and C with C furthest away from the overbridge and lifts. C seems to be used even when there is nothing due in on A or B in the next 30+mins. I've tried to imagine what operational purpose this serves but I can't see it - maybe someone can explain?

 

[Ken H]

Plafrom 4A/B at Nottingham is a 'step-out' platform at the East end and is intrinsicly inconvenient, but Nottingham's inconvenience is multiplied by the fact that lots of services from the West of the station stop about as far down the East ends of platforms 1 & 3 as possible, for no apparent operational reason. These platforms are split in to A, B and C with C furthest away from the overbridge and lifts. C seems to be used even when there is nothing due in on A or B in the next 30+mins. I've tried to imagine what operational purpose this serves but I can't see it - maybe someone can explain?

Its the same with southbound cross city trains at Brum New St. The drive right up to the signal rather than stopping a coach length back where the passengers wait out of the wet. (Or used to. not been there for 2 years now since i moved away)

 

[The Ham]

Farnborough Main could do with a Northern access, either to the Farnborough Road or to the Park. As there's a LOT of people who head north towards the 6th Form College, as well as other locations in that direction.

Likewise Hook could do withan access which connects to the East towards the major employment areas to the south east as well as benefiting a large area of the residential provision.

 

[geoffk]

The new station at Apperley Bridge, near Shipley, has been designed to make it accessible only by car users. A direct walking route along a cul-de-sac called Little Park has been blocked with a high wooden fence, apparently a planning condition.

 

[6Gman]

Chesterfield
Just outside the town centre, but the most direct route goes up a steep hill, including a tiny footbridge over the ring road. Doesn't often get treated in winter for ice, so quite slippy around this time of year til about feb/march.

Telford
Seem to remember this being near a couple of office buildings, with a long walk over a car park to the shopping centre and bus station.

Derby
Similar, a long trek to the actual town centre

Chesterfield - yes, it's pretty grim too. Definitely not the best face of the town.
Telford - one hell of a walk, and poorly signposted.
Derby - not too far if you know the shortest route, there is a reasonably scenic route along the riverside (if you disregard the thundering Ring Road overhead!).

 

[swt_passenger]

It could equally be renamed Bilton as the village to the west of the tracks is Bilton and is as close to the station as Hipsburn is to the East. But the Football and Cricket Club both use Alnmouth as their name despite being in Hipsburn (although the school is Hipsburn Primary) so the station is as well remaining as Alnmouth.

I think I’d agree, Bilton was also probably significantly bigger than Hipsburn when the station was newly opened. In old maps it looks as if Hipsburn was then just a single farm west of the present roundabout, everything else came after the railway. Alnmouth was something of a commercial port in the 19th century, probably a better known place than using the then parish name of Lesbury.

 

[6Gman]

Dyfi Junction which has no road access

Quite well placed for the junction though.

 

[Stewart2887]

Kirkby Stephen is a fair walk from the town, especially uphill to catch a train. And in doing so, passing the old Town station on the way

 

[dcbwhaley]

Platforms 13 and 14 at Manchester Piccadilly are a long walk from the concourse. Almost as if they were a separate station
Does my memory fail me but ISTR that you used to be able to access these platforms directly from under the bridge on Travis Street.

 

[Ken H]

Kirkby Stephen is a fair walk from the town, especially uphill to catch a train. And in doing so, passing the old Town station on the way

not many busses into town either.

Appleby isnt much better