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Stations to avoid and why

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alexjames10

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Bordesley needs to be on the list.

There is a material risk of succumbing to Florence syndrome shortly after arrival there.
 
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davidknibb

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Extending the range to Europe, I've had the misfortune to change trains several times at Bad Kleinen in Germany (near Lubeck). There is no station in the UK that presents itself as such a derelict dump. It used to be in East Germany, and whilst many station in the old East have been magnificently restored, Bad Kleinen has been totally overlooked - it's dreadful. And it's a major interchange. (At least was about 2 years ago - maybe the renovations has caught up by now)
 

61653 HTAFC

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Bordesley needs to be on the list.

There is a material risk of succumbing to Florence syndrome shortly after arrival there.
It's certainly not festooned with facilities, but it is convenient for the football ground which is of course the only reason it's still open. When there's a game on there's plenty of others also using it, so it doesn't have the usual issues that quiet, edge-of-city stations usually have.
 

ATW Alex 101

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It's certainly not festooned with facilities, but it is convenient for the football ground which is of course the only reason it's still open. When there's a game on there's plenty of others also using it, so it doesn't have the usual issues that quiet, edge-of-city stations usually have.

Reminds me of Manchester United FC railway station, which was in use on match-days up until fairly recently. According to Wikipedia, the club requested the station not be used due to safety concerns and overcrowding on what is a relatively small platform.

Not that anybody should go to Old Trafford, supposedly they play ‘football’ there.;)
 

Mikey C

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Reminds me of Manchester United FC railway station, which was in use on match-days up until fairly recently. According to Wikipedia, the club requested the station not be used due to safety concerns and overcrowding on what is a relatively small platform.

Not that anybody should go to Old Trafford, supposedly they play ‘football’ there.;)
South Bermondsey has a similar roll (for fans going to Millwall) as Bordesley, albeit it's a station with a decent regular service all the time.

But it is also grim, with a narrow platform and tight staircase and the experience for away fans after a match is especially grim o_O
 

ATW Alex 101

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South Bermondsey has a similar roll (for fans going to Millwall) as Bordesley, albeit it's a station with a decent regular service all the time.

But it is also grim, with a narrow platform and tight staircase and the experience for away fans after a match is especially grim o_O

Add to that, going to see Milwall, also grim!
 

Trainfan2019

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Ardwick. Passed through many times - the rusty bridge looks like a death trap in the making and coupled with the uninviting platform complete with overgrown grass at the platform end doesn't mix well. Plus, the approaching narrow path into the station is definitely not inviting even in daylight.
 

Statto

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Ardwick. Passed through many times - the rusty bridge looks like a death trap in the making and coupled with the uninviting platform complete with overgrown grass at the platform end doesn't mix well. Plus, the approaching narrow path into the station is definitely not inviting even in daylight.

Also the entrance to Ardwick is very unappealing, down a lane having to go under the railway first, which still has cobbles laid down, & the platforms themselves look a bit of a hike from the entrance, in an industrial area, coupled with there's only 1 train a day each direction
 

Dave W

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It's really quite nice on a warm sunny day - lots of birdsong, and nearby traffic hardly audible if you're on the low-level platforms.

I’m glad someone has spoken in its defence. Not much fun to be had on the high level platforms, but certainly the down end of the up low level platform offers an excellent point to photograph trains as they come around the curve.

And I quite agree, its location in the cutting gives it a rather more remote feel than is actually the case.
 

godfreycomplex

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Hathersage - extremely dark, unsafe feeling, urine stains on the platform, one of the platform benches gave me diabetes

Warrington Bank Quay - Gateline staff KILLED MY HUSBAND

Charlbury - still bears the scars of the turf war with the Finstock Mandem. Battles to the death with sharpened forks were not uncommon

Kilburn High Road - infested by cannibal weevils

Mortlake - make sure you bring a sacrifice to the local tribe of Goat People or else

Frizinghall - stay on the platform for more than 4 minutes and get hallucinations that you killed Stalin. Very poor bus links.

Roughton Road - NOT THE BEES AHHH MY EYES

Prestbury - tbh just no

Liss - A pigeon looked at me funny

Yoker - here who’s he he’s no fae Yoker he’s got nae business being on this bus get his heid kicked man

Clunderwen - took two hours for my pizza to arrive it was cold and they failed to make my son’s anchovies gluten free. Won’t be using your business again
 
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Sprinter107

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Hathersage - extremely dark, unsafe feeling, urine stains on the platform, one of the platform benches gave me diabetes

Warrington Bank Quay - Gateline staff KILLED MY HUSBAND

Charlbury - still bears the scars of the turf war with the Finstock Mandem. Battles to the death with sharpened forks were not uncommon

Kilburn High Road - infested by cannibal weevils

Mortlake - make sure you bring a sacrifice to the local tribe of Goat People or else

Frizinghall - stay on the platform for more than 4 minutes and get hallucinations that you killed Stalin. Very poor bus links.

Roughton Road - NOT THE BEES AHHH MY EYES

Prestbury - tbh just no

Liss - A pigeon looked at me funny

Yoker - here who’s he he’s no fae Yoker he’s got nae business being on this bus get his heid kicked man

Clunderwen - took two hours for my pizza to arrive it was cold and they failed to make my son’s anchovies gluten free. Won’t be using your business again
Superb !!!
 

bussnapperwm

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London St. Pancras - a shopping mall which just happens to host trains.
London Kings Cross - when I tried to get onto Platform 9 3/4, Dobby shut the barrier on me!
Bognor Regis - last time I visited, it was a wet weekend!
Birmingham Snow Hill - talk about depressing! Even the station statue looked suicidal.
Sandwell and Dudley - The station code described me perfectly!
Walsall - Hiking Boots and poles required to get from the ticket office to platforms. Valium also required
 
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Ardwick. Passed through many times - the rusty bridge looks like a death trap in the making and coupled with the uninviting platform complete with overgrown grass at the platform end doesn't mix well. Plus, the approaching narrow path into the station is definitely not inviting even in daylight.
I definitely agree about Ardwick, I used to work along side it at Great universal stores. I wished to get a train but seeing the entrance down the back alleyway and how deserted it was I decided to walk, No wonder no one uses it- Even if there were more trains.
 

zuriblue

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12 Oct 2014
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Baden Switzerland
Hathersage - extremely dark, unsafe feeling, urine stains on the platform, one of the platform benches gave me diabetes

Warrington Bank Quay - Gateline staff KILLED MY HUSBAND

Charlbury - still bears the scars of the turf war with the Finstock Mandem. Battles to the death with sharpened forks were not uncommon

Kilburn High Road - infested by cannibal weevils

Mortlake - make sure you bring a sacrifice to the local tribe of Goat People or else

Frizinghall - stay on the platform for more than 4 minutes and get hallucinations that you killed Stalin. Very poor bus links.

Roughton Road - NOT THE BEES AHHH MY EYES

Prestbury - tbh just no

Liss - A pigeon looked at me funny

Yoker - here who’s he he’s no fae Yoker he’s got nae business being on this bus get his heid kicked man

Clunderwen - took two hours for my pizza to arrive it was cold and they failed to make my son’s anchovies gluten free. Won’t be using your business again

Paul’s not going to be very happy with you.
 

Tomos y Tanc

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That's true about Colwyn Bay. They've been repair it (and the town) for as long as I can remember!

I think Colwyn Bay is beyond repair! The town was always going to struggle after the A55 separated the town from its beach. It's difficult to see which other route the road could have followed but essentialy it destroyed Colwyn Bay as a resort and, as a town, it never had any other reason for existing.
 

gazthomas

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I think Colwyn Bay is beyond repair! The town was always going to struggle after the A55 separated the town from its beach. It's difficult to see which other route the road could have followed but essentialy it destroyed Colwyn Bay as a resort and, as a town, it never had any other reason for existing.
Agreed, even more so after the pier went. That said, you can see the sea in Colwyn Bay unlike Rhyl!
 

Llandudno

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I think Colwyn Bay is beyond repair! The town was always going to struggle after the A55 separated the town from its beach. It's difficult to see which other route the road could have followed but essentialy it destroyed Colwyn Bay as a resort and, as a town, it never had any other reason for existing.
In fairness Colwyn Bay has improved over the past year or two.

There has been significant investment in the promenade area since the Pier collapsed/demolished. A new water sports and posh bistro have opened plus extra sand has been ‘imported’ and the beach is fabulous.
Very pleasant seafront walk from Colwyn Bay to Rhos on Sea, then via the Little Orme (view the seals) to Llandudno - allow 2-3 hours.

Conwy County Council have relocated at huge expense to posh new offices in the centre of town, five minutes walk from the station, this has spurned a range of new coffee shops, bars (including the excellent Bay Vaults micropub!) and restaurants. The remainder of the shopping options are very limited with people choosing Llandudno or Chester instead.
 

gazthomas

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In fairness Colwyn Bay has improved over the past year or two.

There has been significant investment in the promenade area since the Pier collapsed/demolished. A new water sports and posh bistro have opened plus extra sand has been ‘imported’ and the beach is fabulous.
Very pleasant seafront walk from Colwyn Bay to Rhos on Sea, then via the Little Orme (view the seals) to Llandudno - allow 2-3 hours.

Conwy County Council have relocated at huge expense to posh new offices in the centre of town, five minutes walk from the station, this has spurned a range of new coffee shops, bars (including the excellent Bay Vaults micropub!) and restaurants. The remainder of the shopping options are very limited with people choosing Llandudno or Chester instead.
The new council buildings are somewhat controversial locally, along with the leased buildings now being repurposed as "light" mortuaries in Mochdre. But that's for a complete different forum!
 

nimbus21

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Bradford Interchange.
No bogs.
2 out of the 4 platforms have no canopy or waiting shelter.
No screens showing advertised connections from Forster Square.
Tiny areas at both sides of ticket barriers.
No station public drop off pick up apart from taxis.
The narrowest escalator in the world from the bus station.
But nice planters!
 

61653 HTAFC

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Another planet...
Bradford Interchange.
No bogs.
2 out of the 4 platforms have no canopy or waiting shelter.
No screens showing advertised connections from Forster Square.
Tiny areas at both sides of ticket barriers.
No station public drop off pick up apart from taxis.
The narrowest escalator in the world from the bus station.
But nice planters!
There are toilets at BDI, they're in the lobby area opposite the stairs to the bus station.

A departure board for Forster Square (and one for Interchange at BDQ) would be useful, though it might be awkward to arrange as you'd need to make sure it was clear what was being indicated (to the uninitiated, that those services were from the other station) and to remove them 8-10 minutes before their scheduled departure time.
 

Requeststop

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21 Jan 2012
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Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
My worst experience was Chinley.

During my coverage of all UK passenger rail lines I took the line from Manchester Piccadilly via New Mills Central to Chinley, with the expectation of a 15 minute wait for the chance to cover the line from Chinley to Stockport. It was a cold windy and showery late February morning. Chinley looked bleak but there was a sheltered area to protect myself from the wind and rain. No chance. Some filthy human had done a dump in the shelter and it stank. There was nowhere else to shelter. The fifteen minute wait became 25 minutes due to a delay. then 35 minutes, and another service ran straight through the station. Eventually the train arrived 40+ minutes late and I was wet and freezing. I have never been so pleased to board a train.
 
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