Central Stations (Trivia)

[Ianno87]

Another consideration is that a lot of stations were built where they were because of restrictions on where the railway could go.

The one that I can think of straight away (although not, I accept, named "Central") is Oxford, which is quite a way from the centre of the city. There must be others ... any thoughts?

Cambridge, for one.

 

[morrisobrien]

Another consideration is that a lot of stations were built where they were because of restrictions on where the railway could go.

The one that I can think of straight away (although not, I accept, named "Central") is Oxford, which is quite a way from the centre of the city. There must be others ... any thoughts?

Bristol Temple Meads.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Manchester Central closed in the late 1960s and is currently a Nightingale hospital (!)

As regards stations with the 'Central' moniker, which are still open as stations, Liverpool Central (mentioned upthread) has all the ambiance of a central area London Underground station.

Warrington Central is busy enough in normal times but certainly nothing special.

Any thoughts anyone as regards Redcar Central, Hyde Central or Birkenhead Central?

 

[Poolie]

Can't get much more central than the Central station that has the Wembley prefix!!!

 

[route101]

Southampton Central, not so central to me.

 

[BrettSy96]

Can't get much more central than the Central station that has the Wembley prefix!!!

Funnily enough I totally forgot there was a Wembley Central when I visited a friend there, so I walked to and from the hotel (which was 5 mins max to central station) to Wembley Park which was about a 20/25 min walk!

 

[route101]

Southampton Central, not so central to me.

 

[Purple Orange]

I like the name ‘central’, especially Italian central stations: “Mee-lah-no Chen-trah-ley”. I can listen to that accent all day.

 

[OuterDistant]

Sinfin Central would probably be have been up there with those least deserving of the title.

 

[JRT]

Many stations in Hungary (and other former Soviet bloc countries) are on the edge of town, rather than in the actual centre. Apparently this was a deliberate policy, not to do with topology, not sure of the exact reason.

 

[Djgr]

Another aspect of this is where a station is named "Central" because when it was built, it was in (or near to) the centre of the town or city. However, in some cases, over the years the "centre" of the place has moved away from the station, thus making the name sound wrong. I haven't been to many of the stations quoted in this thread, but could that apply to any of them?

An alternative is where the station has been re-named "Central". One example is Cardiff Central, which was Cardiff General from 1924 until being renamed in 1973. It's located on Central Square, but is that the actual centre of the city? I don't really think so - Cardiff Queen Street is nearer to what I'd call the centre.

Without going completely off topic I don't think that there are any General stations left?

 

[40129]

Without going completely off topic I don't think that there are any General stations left?

Wrexham General

 

[Kingston Dan]

Leith Central was both quite grand and quite central. It is also possibly the only central station that is an inspiraton for a novel and film.

 

[LSWR Cavalier]

Perhaps stations could be renamed appropriately: Central, Exchange, International, Parkway etc

The Innere Ringbahn in Berlin has Suedkreuz, Ostkreuz, Westkreuz but no Nordkreuz
Gesundbrunnen carries the suffix 'Nordkreuz' in small letters

 

[Djgr]

Birkenhead Central-

Manchester Central closed in the late 1960s and is currently a Nightingale hospital (!)

As regards stations with the 'Central' moniker, which are still open as stations, Liverpool Central (mentioned upthread) has all the ambiance of a central area London Underground station.

Warrington Central is busy enough in normal times but certainly nothing special.

Any thoughts anyone as regards Redcar Central, Hyde Central or Birkenhead Central?

Birkenhead Central- bit old and neglected, plenty of Victoriana (just like the town).1 million passengers a year. Exact opposite of MKC.

 

[JRT]

Without going completely off topic I don't think that there are any General stations left?

Wrexham General remains the only "General" station on the National Rail network, and other "General" stations, including Shrewsbury General and Chester General, were simply renamed. Because of the continued presence of two stations serving Wrexham, the other being titled Wrexham Central, the "General" suffix was retained.

 

[yorksrob]

Wrexham General remains the only "General" station on the National Rail network, and other "General" stations, including Shrewsbury General and Chester General, were simply renamed. Because of the continued presence of two stations serving Wrexham, the other being titled Wrexham Central, the "General" suffix was retained.

Strangely Reading General is no longer so called, even though there is still a Reading West !

 

[Glenn1969]

How central are Warrington Central, Dumbarton Central and Helensburgh Central?

 

[geoffk]

St. Helens Central was renamed from Shaw Street in 1987 and it's pretty much in the centre of town. The name was previously used by the former GCR station which, seeing the location on Google maps, was on the periphery of the town centre although one of the nearby streets is still called Central Street! When I lived in Worcester there was a discussion about renaming Foregate Street station as Worcester Central, which it certainly is.

 

[yorksrob]

How central are Warrington Central, Dumbarton Central and Helensburgh Central?

Warrington is about two minutes walk from the town centre.

It has some rather nice buildings and platform canopies, if you look beyond the modern developments.

 

[XAM2175]

Are there any Central stations anywhere in the world misleadingly named after an operator or line (ie on the Great Central or operated by Grand Central as theoretical examples), rather than in terms of their geography?

Melbourne Central is technically named for the shopping centre above it - although geographically it can be said to be quite close to the centre of the city proper. It's misleading in the Australian sense of a "central station" being like a Hauptbahnhof, which Melbourne Central is anything but.

 

[Djgr]

Wrexham General remains the only "General" station on the National Rail network, and other "General" stations, including Shrewsbury General and Chester General, were simply renamed. Because of the continued presence of two stations serving Wrexham, the other being titled Wrexham Central, the "General" suffix was retained.

Indeed, and what I should have written is that there are no Exchange stations left, as the last one was renamed Wrexham General (or became part of it, if you prefer!)

 

[snookertam]

How central are Warrington Central, Dumbarton Central and Helensburgh Central?

Helensburgh Central is very much deserving, especially when compared to Helensburgh Upper, which is up the hill on the way out of the town! Station is fairly grand for a suburban terminus, typical of similar coastal locations.

Dumbarton Central is certainly more central than Dumbarton East and Dalreoch, also is quite long and has an extra platform with loop. Hamilton Central is fairly central but is just two platforms. Greenock Central isn’t that central I believe, nothing grand about it and there’s a third platform too. However they are more due to the presence of other stations in those towns.

As the original poster points out, Glasgow Central is likely the most deserving of the moniker.

 

[Whisky Papa]

Burnley Central is a little nearer the town centre than Manchester Road, but has been overtaken in recent years by the latter in terms of service and facilities. Before Manchester Road was staffed, Central did at least offer facilities for doing advance bookings which would otherwise have been absent in the area.

 

[Parallel]

Exeter Central is less grand than Exeter St David’s but definitely more central. I believe it was originally called Exeter Queen Street.

 

[greyman42]

Milton Keynes Central acts quite well as a 'Hauptbahnhof', with the bus station outside, and easy walk to the Business District.

It is a fair walk to the shopping centre.

 

[Doctor Fegg]

But others maybe do not quite live up to expectations – Wrexham C, Redcar C and Burnley C are all pretty much down at heel and are short on staff and facilities.

Hm. Called "Central", short on staff, short on facilities...

Central Trains?

 

[Flange Squeal]

Acton Central is a pretty 'functional' 2 platform affair!

Acton must be up there in a list of places with the most prefixes and suffixes to differentiate its local stations.

Acton Central (Overground)
Acton Main Line (TfL Rail)
Acton Town (Piccadilly line)
North Acton (Central line, built by GWR)
East Acton (Central line, built by GWR)
South Acton (Overground)
West Acton (Central line, built by GWR)

Additonally, the current Chiswick Park station on the District line was opened as 'Acton Green'.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Acton must be up there in a list of places with the most prefixes and suffixes to differentiate its local stations.

There's also Clacton-on-Sea of course, but think we're maybe now drifting a tad off-topic.

 

[MadMac]

Helensburgh Central is very much deserving, especially when compared to Helensburgh Upper, which is up the hill on the way out of the town! Station is fairly grand for a suburban terminus, typical of similar coastal locations.

Dumbarton Central is certainly more central than Dumbarton East and Dalreoch, also is quite long and has an extra platform with loop. Hamilton Central is fairly central but is just two platforms. Greenock Central isn’t that central I believe, nothing grand about it and there’s a third platform too. However they are more due to the presence of other stations in those towns.

As the original poster points out, Glasgow Central is likely the most deserving of the moniker.

Clydebank Central, the suffix of which vanished without being formally removed, is reasonably worthy of the name. It was the most "central" of the seven stations in the Burgh of Clydebank at one time.