Grubbiest or most dilapidated station on the network in 2023

[sk688]

It couldn't contrast more with say Germany, where you have lots of U- and S-Bahn stations and the likes which look very dated (as they were last fully refurbished in the 70s or 80s) but are in excellent condition because they are maintained and cleaned properly, and a refurb is only therefore needed to improve accessibility or because you want to lose the dated look.

I've found stations in cities and HBfs to be very clean and maintained in Germany , but some of the the smaller rural stations definitely have a very uncared for feel to them , aside from the DB signage which looks smart , a fair few tend to be very overgrown with weeds and graffiti everywhere, although it does vary state-by-state

 

[urbophile]

Broad Green even more so.

except that the original building was destroyed many years ago (and its successor desperately needs to be replaced, which I think is about to happen). Edge Hill doesn't quite date back to the beginning of the Liverpool and Manchester but even the 'new' buildings must be one of the oldest stations in Europe.

 

[DarloRich]

I don't care much for Rugby as it's the constant noise of passing Pendalinos with not much actually stopping there. Facilities not great.

I get that - but at least the statin itself is clean and brightly lit if a bit dull - i wish they would use the buildings in the centre platforms better. A cafe would be nice!

I find Nuneaton similar. Fine if dull.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Has Smethwick G B been mentioned yet? The building where the stairs are is horrible. Dirty glass windows you couldn’t see out of with a monocle.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Has Smethwick G B been mentioned yet? The building where the stairs are is horrible. Dirty glass windows you couldn’t see out of with a monocle.

I sort of understand why cleaning windows on OHLE lines is a challenge, as you can't have the bloke waving his stick with a brush on the end around where OHLE is present. However, stations should be designed to ease this, e.g. with inward opening windows for cleaning purposes (I seem to recall some of the new design Network Rail footbridges have this).

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I sort of understand why cleaning windows on OHLE lines is a challenge, as you can't have the bloke waving his stick with a brush on the end around where OHLE is present. However, stations should be designed to ease this, e.g. with inward opening windows for cleaning purposes (I seem to recall some of the new design Network Rail footbridges have this).

The material is also really cheap by the look of it and from memory, the windows look the same colour as a cheap rubber phone case after too long on the phone, you know when they go yellowy? I reckon it’s plastic.

 

[James H]

I dont get the lack of upgrade at Elephant and Castle that I would have expect to have been insisted upon as a planning condition of the huge new development around it. Am I missing something? Google doesn’t seem to help with any answers. It should be on the way to becoming one of the shiniest stations in London by now.

Basically all the money from the Elephant development has gone in to the new tube station (with escalators to replace the current lifts) - and even then there's a funding gap.

The tube station was the political priority - and Network Rail weren't the easiest body to deal with so far as the council was concerned - so the rail station was just put in the 'too difficult' category.

That said, things are now stirring. Thameslink is currently running a survey about improvements to E&C station:

​

Survey link https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CP2RGNG

 

[robert thomas]

Birmingham New Street is still the most unwelcoming station in Britain at platform level

 

[Peter0124]

Birmingham New Street is still the most unwelcoming station in Britain at platform level

I would disagree and say Glasgow Central's lower level platforms are worse.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I would disagree and say Glasgow Central's lower level platforms are worse.

Manchester Victoria without doubt is. At least New St has only a few DMU services.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Manchester Victoria without doubt is.

Platforms 3, 4, 5 and 6 certainly.

Platforms 1 + 2 at Manchester Victoria not quite so bad.

 

[John Luxton]

Green Lane actually had a makeover 10+ years ago. Still a dismal hole. It is neither green or adjacent to anyone's idea of a lane.

Well there are traces of green - moss / ferns on the stone work in places

Come to think of it Conway Park which is very much a modern version of Green Lane isn't much better either - another dismal station.

 

[Amos]

Bletchley has a few things going for it. Lots of parking, good cycle storage with cameras all over it and undercover, and a building open all the time because there's no other entrance. As a wayside station it's much better than say Wolverton, though I guess that's no accolade.

Plus you do get a lovely view of the concrete/tarmac yard

 

[Birstall John]

Bradford interchange is an horrific place.

 

[Birkonian]

I don't care much for Rugby as it's the constant noise of passing Pendalinos with not much actually stopping there. Facilities not great.

Rugeley Trent Valley is another one that seems particularly cold, although it's your standard no-frills, 2 platform station.

At least there a few pubs within walking distance of Rugeley TV with excellent beers.

 

[Ken H]

Bradford interchange is an horrific place.

and they demolished this to make Interchange. http://disused-stations.org.uk/b/bradford_exchange/bradford(c1912)exchange_old13.jpg

 

[modernrail]

and they demolished this to make Interchange. http://disused-stations.org.uk/b/bradford_exchange/bradford(c1912)exchange_old13.jpg

Yep that is a real heart breaker. The brief for both Bradford stations appears to have been ‘make uninviting, with confusing access and the least amount of ‘city gateway feel possible’.

They have nailed it.

 

[gazzaa2]

At least there a few pubs within walking distance of Rugeley TV with excellent beers.

Yeah, depends how long you've got if you're changing trains as it's still a bit of a walk.

 

[dangie]

…….Rugeley Trent Valley is another one that seems particularly cold, although it's your standard no-frills, 2 platform station.

Actually 3 platforms but that’s splitting hairs. Cold, sparse & often windy.

At least there a few pubs within walking distance of Rugeley TV with excellent beers.

Depends on your idea of walking distance. The Yorkshireman pub which was at the bottom of the station drive is now a private dwelling. Nearest now is either a 1 mile walk in one direction into Rugeley or a 1+ mile walk in the other to Colton.

Note: You’ll see from my profile I live in Rugeley…..
Note 2: Apart from the Rusty Barrel Micro Pub where are those pubs with excellent beers…..??

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Depends on your idea of walking distance. The Yorkshireman pub which was at the bottom of the station drive is now a private dwelling. Nearest now is either a 1 mile walk in one direction into Rugeley or a 1+ mile walk in the other to Colton.

Of course, if the beer is any good, one might well be using a "beer scooter" on the way back to the station.

But yes, "Ice Station Rugeley Trent Valley" is a somewhat cold and windswept station, as I noted the last time I stopped off there, which was on a sunny May afternoon.

 

[N/100]

On a positive note , and I can't say I'm familiar with all of these candidates but of the ones I do know there is nothing to match the state that in the past eg Manchester Victoria pre rebuild, Wakefield Kirkgate or going a bit further back Broad Street got into.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Bradford interchange is an horrific place.

and they demolished this to make Interchange. http://disused-stations.org.uk/b/bradford_exchange/bradford(c1912)exchange_old13.jpg

Yep that is a real heart breaker. The brief for both Bradford stations appears to have been ‘make uninviting, with confusing access and the least amount of ‘city gateway feel possible’.

They have nailed it.

Bradford Interchange isn't great for sure, but it isn't as bad as certain other stations such as Wakefield Kirkgate. I'd diplomatically describe it as "functional".
The old Exchange station was more architecturally pleasing, but far too large for the level of service in the 1980s and 1990s.

 

[urbophile]

Bradford Interchange isn't great for sure, but it isn't as bad as certain other stations such as Wakefield Kirkgate. I'd diplomatically describe it as "functional".
The old Exchange station was more architecturally pleasing, but far too large for the level of service in the 1980s and 1990s.

I remember the old Forster Square. The last time I was there (a few years ago now) it seemed to consist of one platform (maybe two) between a dismal car park and a grubby stone wall which must once have been a splendid part of the original station.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I remember the old Forster Square. The last time I was there (a few years ago now) it seemed to consist of one platform (maybe two) between a dismal car park and a grubby stone wall which must once have been a splendid part of the original station.

The old Forster Square stood derelict alongside the current one for several years, I never used or went inside the old one but remember seeing it in its abandoned state. Much like Exchange it was much larger than needed once pretty much everything was multiple units.

 

[GoneSouth]

Off topic, but when I went to Cheltenham for a football match years ago I was surprised how rough a place it was, particularly around the Whaddon Road football ground. I guess the word "Spa" does a lot of heavy lifting!

I’ve spent a bit of time in Cheltenham and a lot of it is very nice, but very very expensive to buy housing… ridiculously so, it’s not Chelsea for gods sake. It did used to have the Chelsea Building Society HQ in the town now I think about it, which obviously confused the Chelsea tractor 4 wheel drive brigade into thinking it was London.

You are right about Whaddon though, horrible.

Basically all the money from the Elephant development has gone in to the new tube station (with escalators to replace the current lifts) - and even then there's a funding gap.

The tube station was the political priority - and Network Rail weren't the easiest body to deal with so far as the council was concerned - so the rail station was just put in the 'too difficult' category.

That said, things are now stirring. Thameslink is currently running a survey about improvements to E&C station:

View attachment 129470​

Survey link https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CP2RGNG

Is it just me that has a deep mistrust of QR codes and would never scan one like that

Yep that is a real heart breaker. The brief for both Bradford stations appears to have been ‘make uninviting, with confusing access and the least amount of ‘city gateway feel possible’.

They have nailed it.

But they’re joining them up soon with a tunnel, and it’s going to have HS2…

Contrary to earlier posters, it feels to me most stations are better maintained than they were in the 80s, certainly here in London where what I recall historically was threatening subways and an overpowering smell of urine. The Tube is also transformed in the past 30 years too. Both the arrival of the Overground and addition of disabled access facilities have had an impact on some of the worst stations. Brixton and Elephant mainline stations remain pretty grim places with no sense of any ownership from the railway or anyone else, South Bermondsey and Essex Road as desolate as ever too.

Brixton and Elephant aside (they’re poor areas of London so the authorities pretend they don’t exist), the Mayor has massive influence on investment and makes a lot of noise about it, seemingly always getting what he wants. The folk of Southport, Crewe, Bradford, Wakefield etc have no voice when it comes to investing in their transport future and don’t have a hope of anything but living off the crumbs from the London table

I think much of the railway follows that typical British disease of "do it up once in a while but don't do any meaningful basic maintenance nor proper cleaning in the meantime" and has for ages.

Back to the Britain has no pride anymore point, it’s becoming a recurring theme

I will offer up any of the 1960's horrible stations on the WCML south. A few examples:

Tamworth: horrible, awful, horrible, awful, cold, no facilities, awful, awful. awful.

Bletchley: horrible, awful, horrible, awful, cold, no facilities, awful, awful. awful. Cold. Microclimate. cold. cold. cold. Awful.

I found Bletchley and MKC both incredibly cold inhospitable places, the former worse for its thunderous Pendolinos passing every 30s whilst you knew you had another 35 minutes to wait in the cold.

Neither can top the coldest station in the uk though. The West end of Leeds is just constant arctic winds, even in a August

 

[yorksrob]

The

The old Forster Square stood derelict alongside the current one for several years, I never used or went inside the old one but remember seeing it in its abandoned state. Much like Exchange it was much larger than needed once pretty much everything was multiple units.

There was an episode of "Minder" with the main characters running around the old station trying to find a racing pigeon.

 

[DarloRich]

I found Bletchley and MKC both incredibly cold inhospitable places, the former worse for its thunderous Pendolinos passing every 30s whilst you knew you had another 35 minutes to wait in the cold.

at least MKC has waiting rooms on each platform to shelter form the cold!

 

[Joey Beauchamp]

To be fair, I could point to several stations in Italy or France which are similarly neglected. I've only used a couple of trains in Poland but the smaller stations there were abysmal.

I stopped (in a very modern 2 car DMU) at one Polish station where all but a metre of the platform had disintegrated into rubble with only a leaning bus stop style sign informing anyone it was a station at all.

 

[bramling]

Well there are traces of green - moss / ferns on the stone work in places

Come to think of it Conway Park which is very much a modern version of Green Lane isn't much better either - another dismal station.

Have to say I don’t get the dislike for Green Lane. I find it quite spectacular in its own way. Agree about Conway Park though, quite depressing to use.

 

[sprinterguy]

At least New St has only a few DMU services.

At least a dozen an hour, which can see around 25 750hp engines rumbling away under the roof at the same time* (The Cummins 'dawn chorus' following multiple pre-morning peak arrivals from Central Rivers can be quite, ahem, atmospheric), and several hourly services (Shrewsbury, Hereford, Stansted and Leicester) that turn around in the station, with the potential for longer dwells or engine startups.

*XX:51 - XX:01 Bournemouth - Manchester,
XX:56 - XX:03 Manchester - Bournemouth,
XX:55 - XX:03 Plymouth - Edinburgh
And certain Avanti services that use pairs of 221s can easily see several multiple-Voyager formations in the station at the same time.