Outside Greater London, what's the best maintained (a) large (b) smaller station

[Snow1964]

Is there a category for tiny stations, if so I would nominate Freshford. No buildings but always spotless with well manicured shrubs at back of platforms

 

[Bletchleyite]

Is there a category for tiny stations, if so I would nominate Freshford. No buildings but always spotless with well manicured shrubs at back of platforms

Crewe really should get a Reading style rebuild for HS2. Sure, it's historic, but it's hardly nice.

 

[yorksrob]

Crewe really should get a Reading style rebuild for HS2. Sure, it's historic, but it's hardly nice.

Oh no.

Whilst it needs some TLC, is dispute the idea that it's not a pleasant space. It's actually quite light and airey.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Oh no.

Whilst it needs some TLC, is dispute the idea that it's not a pleasant space. It's actually quite light and airey.

It's really not. It's got a low roof, it stinks of fumes when DMUs are around, yet it's draughty, cold and leaky. An awful station. On a par with the old Manchester Victoria, which was worse than the new one which is itself pretty horrid.

Rip it out and build a proper, modern interchange in its place, with modern features like escalators to the footbridge (which needs to be twice the width), more lifts, quality toilet facilities etc. Something like London Bridge or Reading, or even Leeds main trainshed. It's primarily an interchange, but is utterly awful at the job, with narrow stairways, poor facilities and is generally a nasty place to wait, which people who are changing will spend more time doing than people who have gone to that place.

 

[Amos]

I haven’t been for many years (and I suspect it is no longer as nice), but I always used to admire the architecture at Rhyl.

 

[delt1c]

Weymes Bay definitely. But at the other end of the country Penzance , although haven’t been there for over 10 years.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I haven’t been for many years (and I suspect it is no longer as nice), but I always used to admire the architecture at Rhyl.

Rhyl is a lovely station building which was let to go to rack and ruin by the awful Arriva Trains Wales and remains, if I recall, quite scruffy under TfW.

Scotland really does lead the way in keeping pretty much all their stations spick and span.

 

[ian1944]

As the town of Rhyl needs all the help it can get, I'm glad to hear that the station is well-preserved. Re Scotland, I've always liked Dumfries and Lockerbie stations, but haven't been for a while so can't say how well they're being looked after.

Rhyl is a lovely station building which was let to go to rack and ruin by the awful Arriva Trains Wales and remains, if I recall, quite scruffy under TfW.

Scotland really does lead the way in keeping pretty much all their stations spick and span.

 

[MikeWM]

Wymondham is nice, worth a look if you're in the Norwich area.

At least it was, not got off the train there for a couple of years, but it still looks nice when passing through.

 

[mmh]

Rhyl is a lovely station building which was let to go to rack and ruin by the awful Arriva Trains Wales and remains, if I recall, quite scruffy under TfW.

Neither is true, I'm afraid. It is actually well kept, and has been for many years before TFW.

Scotland really does lead the way in keeping pretty much all their stations spick and span.

I'm going to presume you don't go to Glasgow suburban stations much?

 

[Ken H]

Quick shout for Bingley. Nice canopies still intact.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

If was being completely biased, I'd suggest Huddersfield as someone did upthread... however it is far nicer from the outside than the inside. The facilities have really suffered under lockdowns, and with preparations for the rebuild:- in particular the closure of the gents toilets on the island platform is a disgrace, given the cramped and decrepit state of the ones on platform 1 which are now the only ones. Thankfully The Kings Head pub has decent facilities, as long as you buy a drink. It also loses points for the barrier staff who have a habit of standing in front of the gates while chatting among themselves.

For larger stations, I'll add to the votes for York. Very much a cathedral of trains, with the added bonus of a pub that you can actually see the trains from!

For the small/medium category, it's a toss-up between Dewsbury and Hebden Bridge. Both have attractive buildings and canopies, well-appointed refreshment rooms, and a fair amount of greenery. The lack of toilet facilities works against Hebden (Dewsbury also lacks them in the station itself, but the pub has you covered), but Dewsbury loses points for being in Dewsbury!

If we're doing tiny stations, my familiarity bias brings me to Denby Dale:- nothing much in terms of facilities but it manages to feel like it's in the countryside whilst only being a few minutes walk from the heart of the village.
Honourable mention to Dawlish (as it was 12-15 years ago, I haven't been back since) purely for the location. Bridgwater has very attractive buildings, but IIRC most are disused or not accessible to the public unfortunately.

 

[yorksrob]

It's really not. It's got a low roof, it stinks of fumes when DMUs are around, yet it's draughty, cold and leaky. An awful station. On a par with the old Manchester Victoria, which was worse than the new one which is itself pretty horrid.

Rip it out and build a proper, modern interchange in its place, with modern features like escalators to the footbridge (which needs to be twice the width), more lifts, quality toilet facilities etc. Something like London Bridge or Reading, or even Leeds main trainshed. It's primarily an interchange, but is utterly awful at the job, with narrow stairways, poor facilities and is generally a nasty place to wait, which people who are changing will spend more time doing than people who have gone to that place.

I agree, a wider footbridge and escalators would help for interchange, however the rest just needs doing up.

 

[satisnek]

Great Malvern has already been mentioned, Evesham is also a neat little station, although it has been a while since I've been there and don't know how well it has been maintained. The two stations in Worcester retain their Victorian buildings but are rather shabby. Stourbridge Junction has original buildings and canopies (well, canopy supports at least), which have recently been refurbished, and Hagley is a stunning example of a Victorian village station (still staffed), complete with Grade 2 listed Hornby footbridge, although it has a modern bus shelter on the Down side.

Apart from the imposing street level buildings at Leicester and Nottingham, the Midlands has little to offer in terms of pre-WW1 big city stations.

 

[DustyBin]

In terms of small stations, Chathill is a nice, fairly well looked after example. The main building and signal box are Grade II listed. It’s not the easiest station to visit by rail however……

 

[Wolfie]

A few suggestions, considering the OP is looking for intact architectural features:

Large London station - St Pancras, Marylebone, Paddington, Kings Cross

Large Non-London - York, Newcastle, Huddersfield, Bristol Temple Meads, Glasgow Central, Norwich

Small Non-London - Wemyss Bay, Hebden Bridge, Kings Lynn, Settle & Carlisle line as mentioned above

I think that l would have included Waterloo and not Kings Cross personally. The latest refurb/rebuild of the latter produced a nice, practical station but there doesn't seem that much of the original left.

 

[Benjwri]

I'd say Bath Spa is also well maintained, and has an interesting combination of new and old architecture at the exit.

 

[Purple Orange]

So many to pick, but I’ll stick my neck out. I’m including London too.

The best maintained large station would be Newcastle Central

The best maintained small station would be Knaresborough

I’ll go one further:

The worst maintained large station would be London Euston

The worst maintained small station would be Ardwick

 

[davetheguard]

Glenfinnan on the Fort William to Mallaig line?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Wow. All of the WHL stations other than FW itself (which is a bit tatty and old fashioned) seem to be well maintained, though. And I find the colour added by Scottish red sandstone ballast makes it all look better.

 

[urbophile]

Skipton has an oddly-designed but attractive main building, and lovely platform canopies. I believe it won awards some years ago, when it was newly restored, and it has been well-maintained ever since as far as I know. On the same line, I like Keighley and Bingley but I'm not sure if their maintenance is up to the same standards. It may well be but I haven't been to either for a while.

 

[Ken H]

Skipton has an oddly-designed but attractive main building, and lovely platform canopies. I believe it won awards some years ago, when it was newly restored, and it has been well-maintained ever since as far as I know. On the same line, I like Keighley and Bingley but I'm not sure if their maintenance is up to the same standards. It may well be but I haven't been to either for a while.

Keighley has lost its canopies, as has Shipley. But Bingley still has its canopies. Often full of tweeting birds (feathered variety) till a train comes.
Horrid dual carriageway running behind the up platform.

 

[ANDREW_D_WEBB]

Bournemouth is very nice

 

[railfan99]

If you like classic traditional station architecture ther'es some really nice intermediate ones on the branches from Norwich out to Sheringham, Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft. Acle's one of my favourites.

https://c8.alamy.com/comp/B2TK9D/platform-buildings-at-acle-railway-station-norfolk-england-uk-B2TK9D.jpg

What a classic design, thank you. I plan to travel to Sheringham (and Holt) but unfortunately won't have time to do the others, much as they're tempting. East Anglia is the major area to which I've yet to venture.

 

[Mikey C]

Apart from the imposing street level buildings at Leicester and Nottingham, the Midlands has little to offer in terms of pre-WW1 big city stations.

Birmingham Moor Street?

 

[Southsider]

Neither is true, I'm afraid. It is actually well kept, and has been for many years before TFW.

I'm going to presume you don't go to Glasgow suburban stations much?

Whilst I’d agree with you on the north Clyde stations, south of the river and the Cathcart circle and East Kilbride lines in particular are well kept

 

[Watershed]

Birmingham Moor Street?

Agreed - a real gem of a station; beautifully restored.

The platform experience is a stark contrast to the dingy, fume-filled equivalent over at New Street and Snow Hill.

The failure to improve New Street at platform level - despite a 6-year refurbishment programme - is unforgivable.

 

[davetheguard]

The failure to improve New Street at platform level - despite a 6-year refurbishment programme - is unforgivable.

And quite how when Snow Hill was re-opened (hurray!) we managed to make the same mistakes as we'd made just up the road at New Street in the 60s is beyond me. Was it really necessary to build that multi-storey car park over the top of the platforms?

Luckily for Birmingham, Chiltern Railways got it right at Moor Street.

 

[greyman42]

I think that l would have included Waterloo and not Kings Cross personally. The latest refurb/rebuild of the latter produced a nice, practical station but there doesn't seem that much of the original left.

Regarding Kings Cross, I would say all of the original was left but extensions have been added.

The best maintained large station would be Newcastle Central

I would say York is better maintained than Newcastle as Newcastle has glass missing from the train shed.

 

[DustyBin]

I would say York is better maintained than Newcastle as Newcastle has glass missing from the train shed.

It leaks like a sieve to be honest! It’s a nice station but it isn’t that well maintained.