Interesting to know, thanks.
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How would you Rate your Local Station?
- Thread starter J-2739
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Interesting to know, thanks.
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RailUK Forums
There can't be many worse stations in the UK.
You've done well to find any redeeming feature.
My Local: PRESTON
Setting: It is at the entrance to Preston City Centre, Fishergate. Bus station is at the other end, but the bus stop is right outside. Straight into shops / pubs / short walk to university campus (9/10)
Architecture: A classic Victorian architecture with stand out features, particularly the slope down to the Station from the North end. Large platforms especially the central 3/4 pen. (8/10)
Services: Pretty busy with regular services to London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham, Blackpool, Windermere, Barrow, York, Leeds and anywhere en-route. Preston is a key strategic station. (10/10)
Rolling Stock: Pendolino's, Voyagers for Virgin services, 350's for TPE (occasionally 185s), 319's for Northern and 142/150/156/158 for local services. Cannot complain unless going to Ormskirk on a 142. (10/10)
Facilities: Very good with ticket office, pub, eateries, Starbucks, multiple options (9/10)
Overall: Excellent. Can't ask for a better station. I just wish they never closed the old East-Lancs platforms and we had a rail service to Preston Docks area where so many people work (9/10)
Setting: It is at the entrance to Preston City Centre, Fishergate. Bus station is at the other end, but the bus stop is right outside. Straight into shops / pubs / short walk to university campus (9/10)
Architecture: A classic Victorian architecture with stand out features, particularly the slope down to the Station from the North end. Large platforms especially the central 3/4 pen. (8/10)
Services: Pretty busy with regular services to London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham, Blackpool, Windermere, Barrow, York, Leeds and anywhere en-route. Preston is a key strategic station. (10/10)
Rolling Stock: Pendolino's, Voyagers for Virgin services, 350's for TPE (occasionally 185s), 319's for Northern and 142/150/156/158 for local services. Cannot complain unless going to Ormskirk on a 142. (10/10)
Facilities: Very good with ticket office, pub, eateries, Starbucks, multiple options (9/10)
Overall: Excellent. Can't ask for a better station. I just wish they never closed the old East-Lancs platforms and we had a rail service to Preston Docks area where so many people work (9/10)
Mordac
Established Member
My Local: Kings Norton (KNN)
Setting: Cutting just off Cotteridge town centre, in the southern suburbs of Birmingham. Has got an entrance via a footbridge on the opposite site as well. (7/10)
Architecture: Pretty bad. Unused island platform makes the whole place look abandoned. Even though there is a footbridge at the Western end of the station, in addition to the main entrance on the East, on Southbound trains you have to go back all the way almost to the East entrance to exit the fence on the side, then double back along the car park to the footbridge. Put a damn gate on the other end! (4/10)
Services: 6 tph down to New Street, continuing North on the Cross City line. Same trains go down the other way to either Bromsgrove or Redditch (some terminate at Longbridge). No long distance services, but very good S-Bahn like service. (9/10)
Rolling Stock: Only 323s stop. HSTs, 221 and 220 from XC, 170 from WMT and XC, and 153s from WMT run through non-stop. Never seen a freight go past, but that doesn't mean there are never any, haven't really looked into this. Average. (6/10)
Facilities: One ticket machine and manned ticked office during most of the day. For the type of station, can't really complain. (8/10)
Overall: Alright station for commuter service, but needs someone to give a thought to basic usability. (6/10)
Setting: Cutting just off Cotteridge town centre, in the southern suburbs of Birmingham. Has got an entrance via a footbridge on the opposite site as well. (7/10)
Architecture: Pretty bad. Unused island platform makes the whole place look abandoned. Even though there is a footbridge at the Western end of the station, in addition to the main entrance on the East, on Southbound trains you have to go back all the way almost to the East entrance to exit the fence on the side, then double back along the car park to the footbridge. Put a damn gate on the other end! (4/10)
Services: 6 tph down to New Street, continuing North on the Cross City line. Same trains go down the other way to either Bromsgrove or Redditch (some terminate at Longbridge). No long distance services, but very good S-Bahn like service. (9/10)
Rolling Stock: Only 323s stop. HSTs, 221 and 220 from XC, 170 from WMT and XC, and 153s from WMT run through non-stop. Never seen a freight go past, but that doesn't mean there are never any, haven't really looked into this. Average. (6/10)
Facilities: One ticket machine and manned ticked office during most of the day. For the type of station, can't really complain. (8/10)
Overall: Alright station for commuter service, but needs someone to give a thought to basic usability. (6/10)
My Local: Isleworth - West London
Setting: Part of loop service that goes round via Richmond and Twickenham. . (8/10)
Architecture: Not brilliant. Some time since the station had a make-over. It is situated between 2 bridges so the platform isn't easy to extend, consequently with the longer trains the last 3 coaches hang off the end of the platform. Could really do with lift access but the geography of the station probably makes that impractical. Shelter on London bound side pretty cramped when the weather's not clement.
(5/10)
Services: Plenty of buses outside the station including a night bus into central London from Heathrow. (9/10)
Rolling Stock: 448s I believe with quite frequent goods trains and the weekly steam tour service (8/10)
Facilities: Two ticket machines. Could probably do with a station attendant. (8/10)
Overall: Alright for daily commute but needs a bit of modernising, seems to be the only well used station.on the route that hasn't had some major work done on it (6/10)
Setting: Part of loop service that goes round via Richmond and Twickenham. . (8/10)
Architecture: Not brilliant. Some time since the station had a make-over. It is situated between 2 bridges so the platform isn't easy to extend, consequently with the longer trains the last 3 coaches hang off the end of the platform. Could really do with lift access but the geography of the station probably makes that impractical. Shelter on London bound side pretty cramped when the weather's not clement.
(5/10)
Services: Plenty of buses outside the station including a night bus into central London from Heathrow. (9/10)
Rolling Stock: 448s I believe with quite frequent goods trains and the weekly steam tour service (8/10)
Facilities: Two ticket machines. Could probably do with a station attendant. (8/10)
Overall: Alright for daily commute but needs a bit of modernising, seems to be the only well used station.on the route that hasn't had some major work done on it (6/10)
Don't you mean the Class 458?
My Local: Trowbridge
Setting: Between a skatepark and an old demolished factory. However, only a relatively short walk to the town centre and accessible for most of the town so 7/10.
Architecture: Original buildings were pulled down in the 80s and replaced with a small building and more recently, two metal bus shelters. 4/10
Services: Various, 2tph at least in both directions towards Bristol and Westbury and 1tp2h direct to Swindon via Melksham. Also 4 extra trains to/from London Waterloo. Also direct services to Cardiff Central, Great Malvern, Weymouth, Portsmouth and Brighton. Not bad really. 7/10
Rolling Stock: Class 150, Class 158, Class 159, Class 165 and Class 166s. Most trains are running as two or three carriages and generally the line is very busy/overcrowded. There are some 4 or 5 carriage services that run/are planned to run but they are very much the minority at the moment. Regularly failed aircon in 158s, 159s and 166s. Until recently, Class 153s were also common, as well as a daily HST. 4/10.
Facilities: A ticket office with toilets and an indoor waiting room when the office is open. Otherwise, outdoor bus shelters for you! Also two fairly new ticket machines. Before, there was nothing due to repeated vandalism. Also no announcement speakers away from the centre of the platforms. Probably an 8/10 when the office is open and a 3/10 when it is closed, probably a 5/10 overall.
Overall: 5.5/10 - If you want to go to a nicer station nearby, go to Bradford on Avon or Westbury.
Setting: Between a skatepark and an old demolished factory. However, only a relatively short walk to the town centre and accessible for most of the town so 7/10.
Architecture: Original buildings were pulled down in the 80s and replaced with a small building and more recently, two metal bus shelters. 4/10
Services: Various, 2tph at least in both directions towards Bristol and Westbury and 1tp2h direct to Swindon via Melksham. Also 4 extra trains to/from London Waterloo. Also direct services to Cardiff Central, Great Malvern, Weymouth, Portsmouth and Brighton. Not bad really. 7/10
Rolling Stock: Class 150, Class 158, Class 159, Class 165 and Class 166s. Most trains are running as two or three carriages and generally the line is very busy/overcrowded. There are some 4 or 5 carriage services that run/are planned to run but they are very much the minority at the moment. Regularly failed aircon in 158s, 159s and 166s. Until recently, Class 153s were also common, as well as a daily HST. 4/10.
Facilities: A ticket office with toilets and an indoor waiting room when the office is open. Otherwise, outdoor bus shelters for you! Also two fairly new ticket machines. Before, there was nothing due to repeated vandalism. Also no announcement speakers away from the centre of the platforms. Probably an 8/10 when the office is open and a 3/10 when it is closed, probably a 5/10 overall.
Overall: 5.5/10 - If you want to go to a nicer station nearby, go to Bradford on Avon or Westbury.
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Bedwyn
Service: ok for eastbound, absolutely useless for westbound! Nothing until about 1825!
Cleanliness is good, facilities limited to a shelter and ticket machine. Parking available but too limited, could really do with additional parking spaces. I believe this could be suppressing demand.
Service: ok for eastbound, absolutely useless for westbound! Nothing until about 1825!
Cleanliness is good, facilities limited to a shelter and ticket machine. Parking available but too limited, could really do with additional parking spaces. I believe this could be suppressing demand.
My Local: Chester-le-Street (CLS)
Setting: Roughly in the middle of town, short walk up a shallow hill and most of town is close (8/10).
Architecture: Main building on southbound platform is Victorian brick. Looks tired but well maintained. Shelter on Northbound platform is post-privatisation, metallic (7 to 8/10).
Services: OK in the peaks if travelling to Newcastle, gaps of up to two hours (longer in evenings after 6.15pm southbound) contra-peak and off-peak. Poor given the number that pass through but would fit without SDO (3.5/10). A particular pity as it is the nearest station for a lot of Washington, and quite a few other settlements that lack stations where at least part of the town in question is within 5 miles (Washington, Stanley) and has easier road access for others (the Hettons and Houghton-le-Spring). Service improvements would also relieve some strain from Durham station.
Rolling Stock: Mostly Class 185s at present. Wondering what the arrangements will be when they are replaced (7/10).
Facilities: Minimal. Shelters available on both platforms and two TVMs (card and promise-to-pay) on southbound platforms (7/10).
Overall: OK, but very few services for the line in question drags it down (4 to 5/10).
Setting: Roughly in the middle of town, short walk up a shallow hill and most of town is close (8/10).
Architecture: Main building on southbound platform is Victorian brick. Looks tired but well maintained. Shelter on Northbound platform is post-privatisation, metallic (7 to 8/10).
Services: OK in the peaks if travelling to Newcastle, gaps of up to two hours (longer in evenings after 6.15pm southbound) contra-peak and off-peak. Poor given the number that pass through but would fit without SDO (3.5/10). A particular pity as it is the nearest station for a lot of Washington, and quite a few other settlements that lack stations where at least part of the town in question is within 5 miles (Washington, Stanley) and has easier road access for others (the Hettons and Houghton-le-Spring). Service improvements would also relieve some strain from Durham station.
Rolling Stock: Mostly Class 185s at present. Wondering what the arrangements will be when they are replaced (7/10).
Facilities: Minimal. Shelters available on both platforms and two TVMs (card and promise-to-pay) on southbound platforms (7/10).
Overall: OK, but very few services for the line in question drags it down (4 to 5/10).
Furryanimal
Member
Cwmbran
Setting -just off the town centre about a four minute walk away.9/10
Modern ticket office and waiting room on the northbound platform (with a cafe)and a shelter with seats on the southbound.9/10
Large car park but despite being called a passenger interchange no buses pull into the station.
Services-Hourly to Manchester,two hourly to North Wales.West to Cardiff,Carmarthen,Milford Haven and the odd Maesteg ,Fishguard and Tenby.
Needs a northbound service from Cardiff around 11pm to facilitate attending theatre/Concerts in Cardiff.And a Sunday southbound that gets to Cardiff by 10 am would be very handy.9/10
Rolling stock-Mainly 175s now but the odd 158 or 150.A 150 ran from Cardiff to Holyhead last week.8/10
Overall -very good!
Setting -just off the town centre about a four minute walk away.9/10
Modern ticket office and waiting room on the northbound platform (with a cafe)and a shelter with seats on the southbound.9/10
Large car park but despite being called a passenger interchange no buses pull into the station.
Services-Hourly to Manchester,two hourly to North Wales.West to Cardiff,Carmarthen,Milford Haven and the odd Maesteg ,Fishguard and Tenby.
Needs a northbound service from Cardiff around 11pm to facilitate attending theatre/Concerts in Cardiff.And a Sunday southbound that gets to Cardiff by 10 am would be very handy.9/10
Rolling stock-Mainly 175s now but the odd 158 or 150.A 150 ran from Cardiff to Holyhead last week.8/10
Overall -very good!
Closet_Railfan
New Member
Station: Polesworth (PSW, London Northwestern Railway)
Setting: In a housing estate. When I tried to find it, every turn was the wrong turn. You can't see a sniff of anything remotely commercial. There is only a small nervous sign pointing to it. No arrows of indecision, no advertising, nothing. 1/10
Architecture: nonexistant. 1/10
Services: The contractors removed the footbridge during the '05 modernisation work so now we haven't got any service apart from one train at 7am. Not even a return service because of the lack of footbridge, which I don't understand. There is a great big road bridge right next to it. Why can't they just use that, like Barrow-on-Soar? 1/10
Rolling stock: The only good things about this station are the modern Desiros serving it. 8/10
Facilities: No benches, no shelter, no permit to travel, no easy access and yet for some reason LNWR feel the need to put up new signs when they can't even do that for the Bletchley line! 1/10
Overall: just bring me Polesworth Parkway already
Setting: In a housing estate. When I tried to find it, every turn was the wrong turn. You can't see a sniff of anything remotely commercial. There is only a small nervous sign pointing to it. No arrows of indecision, no advertising, nothing. 1/10
Architecture: nonexistant. 1/10
Services: The contractors removed the footbridge during the '05 modernisation work so now we haven't got any service apart from one train at 7am. Not even a return service because of the lack of footbridge, which I don't understand. There is a great big road bridge right next to it. Why can't they just use that, like Barrow-on-Soar? 1/10
Rolling stock: The only good things about this station are the modern Desiros serving it. 8/10
Facilities: No benches, no shelter, no permit to travel, no easy access and yet for some reason LNWR feel the need to put up new signs when they can't even do that for the Bletchley line! 1/10
Overall: just bring me Polesworth Parkway already
Peregrine 4903
Established Member
Station: New Southgate
Setting: Its well located, right next to Princes Park Manor and Betstyle Circus as well as being a short walk from Arnos Grove. The surrounding area is a little bit scrabby but nothing too bad. The station could be easy to miss if you don't know the area. 7/10
Architecture: Run-down and very unremarkable, certainly not a very nice station to look at. 3/10
Services: 4 tph in the off peak to Moorgate and Welwyn Garden City. A very good service. In the peak the addition of a direct train service to London Kings Cross is excpetionally handy and if that service were present during off-peak times I would give New Southgate a 10/10. The lack of a direct train service to London Kings Cross in the off peak and less train services to change to at Finsbury Park for Kings Cross due to Thameslink, means I will give it a slightly lower rating. 8/10.
Rolling Stock: Awful, dirty class 313's and amazing, brilliant class 700s and 717s operate all services to the station. Luckily the 313's will soon be gone. A wide range of sock can be seen passing through the station including, 12 car class 700s, 365, 387, 180, HSTs, 91s and Mark 4s and IEPs. Freight also occasionaly passes through. Overall very good and will be 10/10 when the 313's are finally gone. 8/10.
Facilities: Very bad, no disabled to access to any of the platforms at the station. A ticket office that is never open. Access to the station is through a metal overbridge that could be very scary to users at night. The stairs feel slightly unsafe at points. The station is also rather shabby and dirty. There is also a distinct lack of signage. The platforms are nice though. Overall could be way better, hopefully will receive an upgrade soon. 3/10
Overall: 6/10. The poor state of the station and its lack of facilites as well as the lack of a direct service to London Kings Cross bring the score down. I actually really like the station but it does suffer from serious flaws.
Setting: Its well located, right next to Princes Park Manor and Betstyle Circus as well as being a short walk from Arnos Grove. The surrounding area is a little bit scrabby but nothing too bad. The station could be easy to miss if you don't know the area. 7/10
Architecture: Run-down and very unremarkable, certainly not a very nice station to look at. 3/10
Services: 4 tph in the off peak to Moorgate and Welwyn Garden City. A very good service. In the peak the addition of a direct train service to London Kings Cross is excpetionally handy and if that service were present during off-peak times I would give New Southgate a 10/10. The lack of a direct train service to London Kings Cross in the off peak and less train services to change to at Finsbury Park for Kings Cross due to Thameslink, means I will give it a slightly lower rating. 8/10.
Rolling Stock: Awful, dirty class 313's and amazing, brilliant class 700s and 717s operate all services to the station. Luckily the 313's will soon be gone. A wide range of sock can be seen passing through the station including, 12 car class 700s, 365, 387, 180, HSTs, 91s and Mark 4s and IEPs. Freight also occasionaly passes through. Overall very good and will be 10/10 when the 313's are finally gone. 8/10.
Facilities: Very bad, no disabled to access to any of the platforms at the station. A ticket office that is never open. Access to the station is through a metal overbridge that could be very scary to users at night. The stairs feel slightly unsafe at points. The station is also rather shabby and dirty. There is also a distinct lack of signage. The platforms are nice though. Overall could be way better, hopefully will receive an upgrade soon. 3/10
Overall: 6/10. The poor state of the station and its lack of facilites as well as the lack of a direct service to London Kings Cross bring the score down. I actually really like the station but it does suffer from serious flaws.
Peregrine 4903
Established Member
Surely this has to be in contention for one of the worst train stations in the country that receives a service, although barely one at that.
My Local: Surbiton
Setting: Centre of Surbiton town centre, loads of bus routes outside or across the road to Kingston etc. 10/10.
Architecture: Grade 1 listed, Southern art deco concrete masterpiece, recently repainted so sparkles in sunshine 10/10
Services: London is almost turn up and go, non stops at peak. Otherwise Hampton Court, Guildford, Alton and Basingstoke, or change at Woking for anywhere else 9/10
Rolling Stock: All SWR stock stops or passes through. 455s a trusty workhorse but lack of air conditioning mean a furnace once outside temps go beyond 25 degrees 7/10.
Facilities: Ticket office, toilets on platforms, lifts. Always staffed. Has two Cafe Neros and an artisan coffee place and Sainsburys local in outside frontage. Recent losses of flower stall, cobbler, and traditional newspaper kiosk on platform 1/2 though. Major problem that fixed staircase is too narrow on platforms 3/4 with long, slow queues to exit platform at evening peak 7/10.
Overall: 9/10
Setting: Centre of Surbiton town centre, loads of bus routes outside or across the road to Kingston etc. 10/10.
Architecture: Grade 1 listed, Southern art deco concrete masterpiece, recently repainted so sparkles in sunshine 10/10
Services: London is almost turn up and go, non stops at peak. Otherwise Hampton Court, Guildford, Alton and Basingstoke, or change at Woking for anywhere else 9/10
Rolling Stock: All SWR stock stops or passes through. 455s a trusty workhorse but lack of air conditioning mean a furnace once outside temps go beyond 25 degrees 7/10.
Facilities: Ticket office, toilets on platforms, lifts. Always staffed. Has two Cafe Neros and an artisan coffee place and Sainsburys local in outside frontage. Recent losses of flower stall, cobbler, and traditional newspaper kiosk on platform 1/2 though. Major problem that fixed staircase is too narrow on platforms 3/4 with long, slow queues to exit platform at evening peak 7/10.
Overall: 9/10
Tomos y Tanc
Member
- Joined
- 1 Jul 2019
- Messages
- 646
My Local: Waun-gron Park, Cardiff (Cityline TfW)
Setting: West Cardiff suburb. There's been talk of building a bus interchange on a ajacent land but nothing much has happened. No car parking. 3/10
Architecture: Two concrete platforms and two rusting bus shelters painted in Arriva blue (lovely) 0/10
Services: 2 tph to Coryton via Cardiff Central & Queen Street + 2 tph to Radyr. 5/10
Rolling Stock: Pacers! 0/10.
Facilities: Zero, although there happens to be a newsagent next to the station entrance 2/10.
Overall: 3/10
Setting: West Cardiff suburb. There's been talk of building a bus interchange on a ajacent land but nothing much has happened. No car parking. 3/10
Architecture: Two concrete platforms and two rusting bus shelters painted in Arriva blue (lovely) 0/10
Services: 2 tph to Coryton via Cardiff Central & Queen Street + 2 tph to Radyr. 5/10
Rolling Stock: Pacers! 0/10.
Facilities: Zero, although there happens to be a newsagent next to the station entrance 2/10.
Overall: 3/10
NSVX
Member
My Local: Brookmans Park
Setting: South East of England, North of London, In Hertfordshire, and is 14 Miles from Kings Cross
Architecture: The only actual building is a tiny walking through area, and then there is a rusty, worn, blue bridge, leading down to platform's 1,2 and 3,4 with only platforms 1 and 4 in regular use.
Rolling Stock: The stopping rolling stock that passes the station are 717's and 313's, but in passing there are 800's, 387's, 800's, 365's, 700's, 180's, 90's, 91's and 43's,
Facilities: There is a small ticket office housed beneath the cover at the opening of the station, opposite is one self service machine, and as you walk towards the stairs, on the right is a bicycle rack, and there are also two contactless 'Oyster' readers, as well as two Smartcard readers which are soon to be removed.
Setting: South East of England, North of London, In Hertfordshire, and is 14 Miles from Kings Cross
Architecture: The only actual building is a tiny walking through area, and then there is a rusty, worn, blue bridge, leading down to platform's 1,2 and 3,4 with only platforms 1 and 4 in regular use.
Rolling Stock: The stopping rolling stock that passes the station are 717's and 313's, but in passing there are 800's, 387's, 800's, 365's, 700's, 180's, 90's, 91's and 43's,
Facilities: There is a small ticket office housed beneath the cover at the opening of the station, opposite is one self service machine, and as you walk towards the stairs, on the right is a bicycle rack, and there are also two contactless 'Oyster' readers, as well as two Smartcard readers which are soon to be removed.
richieb1971
Established Member
- Joined
- 28 Jan 2013
- Messages
- 1,975
Bedford has limited toilets. Trains are parked all day long in the station, the car park is bursting and it lacks inter City trains in the Peak. One of the lifts is often broken.
I only use it for pleasure which is OK. But the commuters are suffering.
I only use it for pleasure which is OK. But the commuters are suffering.
I believe it's a Health & Safety issue.
My Local: Kingham, Cotswold Line
Setting: Cotswold Line, around 1 mile from the nearest town/village (and that isn't Kingham), nice views down the straight tracks which curve beyond the station 710
Architecture: Two concrete platforms (recently extended for 9-car services), 1970s/80s (can't remember) ticket office, modern footbridge 6/10
Services: 1tph to London Paddington, then trains throughout the day to Moreton, Worcester, Grt. Malvern, and Hereford 7/10
Rolling Stock: GWR Class 166s, GWR Class 800s, 802s 5/10 (rubbish now we don't have HSTs)
Facilities: Ticket Office, Waiting Room, Toilets (only accessible with key from ticket office), Timetable Boards, no Ticket Machines. 7/10
Overall: 7/10
The station was really good before the branches from it were closed by Beeching (never experience that though), and ever since the withdrawal of the HSTs, the stock going through the station is rubbish for someone needing legroom and wanting something interesting.
-Peter
Setting: Cotswold Line, around 1 mile from the nearest town/village (and that isn't Kingham), nice views down the straight tracks which curve beyond the station 710
Architecture: Two concrete platforms (recently extended for 9-car services), 1970s/80s (can't remember) ticket office, modern footbridge 6/10
Services: 1tph to London Paddington, then trains throughout the day to Moreton, Worcester, Grt. Malvern, and Hereford 7/10
Rolling Stock: GWR Class 166s, GWR Class 800s, 802s 5/10 (rubbish now we don't have HSTs)
Facilities: Ticket Office, Waiting Room, Toilets (only accessible with key from ticket office), Timetable Boards, no Ticket Machines. 7/10
Overall: 7/10
The station was really good before the branches from it were closed by Beeching (never experience that though), and ever since the withdrawal of the HSTs, the stock going through the station is rubbish for someone needing legroom and wanting something interesting.
-Peter
Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
Prestbury still has station waiting rooms of architectural note on both of its platforms.
Ted172
Member
My Local: Great Malvern (GMV)
Setting: Short walk to Great Malvern town centre, residential area. 7/10
Architecture: 1860s Gothic Revival 8/10
Services: Great Western Railway to London Paddington, Hereford, Worcester, Bristol, Brighton, Weymouth. West Midlands Railway to Birmingham New Street, Birmingham Snow Hill, Birmingham Moor Street, Hereford, Stratford-upon-Avon, Whitlocks End, Dorridge, Worcester. 8/10
Rolling Stock: GWR: 150/158/165/166/800/802/2+4 HSTs WMR: 153/170/172 8/10
Facilities: Waiting Room, Ticket Office, Ticket Machine, Help Point, Lady Foley's Tea Room, bicycle racks, passenger information system, benches 9/10
Overall: 8/10
Setting: Short walk to Great Malvern town centre, residential area. 7/10
Architecture: 1860s Gothic Revival 8/10
Services: Great Western Railway to London Paddington, Hereford, Worcester, Bristol, Brighton, Weymouth. West Midlands Railway to Birmingham New Street, Birmingham Snow Hill, Birmingham Moor Street, Hereford, Stratford-upon-Avon, Whitlocks End, Dorridge, Worcester. 8/10
Rolling Stock: GWR: 150/158/165/166/800/802/2+4 HSTs WMR: 153/170/172 8/10
Facilities: Waiting Room, Ticket Office, Ticket Machine, Help Point, Lady Foley's Tea Room, bicycle racks, passenger information system, benches 9/10
Overall: 8/10
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mike57
Established Member
My Local: Bempton
Setting: About 200m SE of the edge of the village. Footpath available so walking, even in the dark is possible. 10 minutes walk home (6/10)
Architecture: Station building is in private hand,s a small shelter and one seat. But Northern are in the process of upgrading this. Shelter will be shiny and new until sea air works its magic. Abandoned overgrown 2nd platform (4/10)
Services: Improved to 1tph (including Sundays) in May 2019 timetable. Usage has increased partly as a result of this and also because local bus service was severely curtailed last year. Hull is 55 minutes, Scarborough 30 mins. Probably the best service we will ever get (or have ever seen) Population and being in the middle of long single track section would preclude improvements (8/10 up from 4/10 a year ago)
Rolling Stock: 15x and occasional 170's since May. Fortunately there seems to be a problem with 14x going north of Bridlington.
Adequate except on busy Saturdays in summer. (7/10)
Facilities: None. Not even passenger information system (0/10), However, a ticket machine has just been installed, but seems to be temperamental and a PIS is being fitted. Step free disabled access, but slopes and non NR access to village would preclude all but the most intrepid of wheelchair users. Also see architecture, so could be a 5/10 soon
Overall: An improving picture, and is competitive with driving time to Hull and Scarborough, connections at Seamer are currently dire (and TPE at Seamer are unreliable as well). At Hull connections to London and inbetween available.. As a small rural station we are much better off than those places that lost their rail connection (8/10)
Setting: About 200m SE of the edge of the village. Footpath available so walking, even in the dark is possible. 10 minutes walk home (6/10)
Architecture: Station building is in private hand,s a small shelter and one seat. But Northern are in the process of upgrading this. Shelter will be shiny and new until sea air works its magic. Abandoned overgrown 2nd platform (4/10)
Services: Improved to 1tph (including Sundays) in May 2019 timetable. Usage has increased partly as a result of this and also because local bus service was severely curtailed last year. Hull is 55 minutes, Scarborough 30 mins. Probably the best service we will ever get (or have ever seen) Population and being in the middle of long single track section would preclude improvements (8/10 up from 4/10 a year ago)
Rolling Stock: 15x and occasional 170's since May. Fortunately there seems to be a problem with 14x going north of Bridlington.
Adequate except on busy Saturdays in summer. (7/10)
Facilities: None. Not even passenger information system (0/10), However, a ticket machine has just been installed, but seems to be temperamental and a PIS is being fitted. Step free disabled access, but slopes and non NR access to village would preclude all but the most intrepid of wheelchair users. Also see architecture, so could be a 5/10 soon
Overall: An improving picture, and is competitive with driving time to Hull and Scarborough, connections at Seamer are currently dire (and TPE at Seamer are unreliable as well). At Hull connections to London and inbetween available.. As a small rural station we are much better off than those places that lost their rail connection (8/10)
PeterY
Established Member
- Joined
- 2 Apr 2013
- Messages
- 1,315
For me there's not a lot to choose between Hemel Hempstead and Apsley walking distance wise but more trains at Hemel Hempstead.
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD.
Setting. Squashed between 2 main roads (A41) but well hidden by Roughdown Common. A good 15/20 minute brisk walk into the town centre.
Architecture. Typical late 60's square brick built building. The platforms are up quite a long flight of stairs.
Services. London, West Croyden, Milton Keynes, Birmingham New Street, Rugely Trent Valley
Rolling Stock. 319's 350's and 377's
Facilities. A small cafe on platform 4. Off peak travelers users are not allowed to use it until 9.30. There used to be a shop in the foyer but since closed. Lifts. Plenty of shelter space on the South bound. North Bound a heated waiting room but not much shelter from the weather. There are usually plenty of taxis waiting to take people into town. Bus services but you need to pick the right stop, some stop in the main road and some terminate in the forecourt.
Overall. Functional. 8/10
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD.
Setting. Squashed between 2 main roads (A41) but well hidden by Roughdown Common. A good 15/20 minute brisk walk into the town centre.
Architecture. Typical late 60's square brick built building. The platforms are up quite a long flight of stairs.
Services. London, West Croyden, Milton Keynes, Birmingham New Street, Rugely Trent Valley
Rolling Stock. 319's 350's and 377's
Facilities. A small cafe on platform 4. Off peak travelers users are not allowed to use it until 9.30. There used to be a shop in the foyer but since closed. Lifts. Plenty of shelter space on the South bound. North Bound a heated waiting room but not much shelter from the weather. There are usually plenty of taxis waiting to take people into town. Bus services but you need to pick the right stop, some stop in the main road and some terminate in the forecourt.
Overall. Functional. 8/10
Kingspanner
Member
My Local Dinsdale (DND)
Setting In a moderately deep cutting smack in the middle of the (sprawling) village of Middleton St George. Within 10 minutes walk of all the homes.
Architecture Once proudly boasted some lovely country station buildings including an unusually positioned ticket office on the road overbridge. The station master's house is still extant (is this word ever used except in connection with disused railway features?) but in private hands outside the current railway boundary.
Inadequate drain in the approach ramp to Platform 2 makes the surface deadly underfoot in frosty weather
Services Miserable northern services to Middlesbrough/Hartlepool/Saltburn/Whitby and Darlington/Bishop Auckland/Newcastle. However, almost clockface 2tph both ways most of the day (SuX)
Rolling stock Still infested with the 142, increasing showings recently by 156 and 158 especially early and late in the day.
Non-passenger carrying includes 37 hauled RHTT all the way from Carlisle Kingmoor, class 66 hauled intermodals, TPE 185s on positioning moves and the occasional kettle ex the NYMR. Oh, and the unexpected Caledonian Sleeper stock I saw this summer. And a Rotel maintenance strain which stables at Darlington but seems to head out everynight towards Middlesbrough
Facilities A (frequently out-of-order) ticket machine, perforated metal shelter, (often wrong)PIS and timetable boards on each platform. Also some rather nice historical information boards.
Overall 7/10 A curate's egg of a station, not too bad for a rural spot with 60,000 passengers per year
Setting In a moderately deep cutting smack in the middle of the (sprawling) village of Middleton St George. Within 10 minutes walk of all the homes.
Architecture Once proudly boasted some lovely country station buildings including an unusually positioned ticket office on the road overbridge. The station master's house is still extant (is this word ever used except in connection with disused railway features?) but in private hands outside the current railway boundary.
Inadequate drain in the approach ramp to Platform 2 makes the surface deadly underfoot in frosty weather
Services Miserable northern services to Middlesbrough/Hartlepool/Saltburn/Whitby and Darlington/Bishop Auckland/Newcastle. However, almost clockface 2tph both ways most of the day (SuX)
Rolling stock Still infested with the 142, increasing showings recently by 156 and 158 especially early and late in the day.
Non-passenger carrying includes 37 hauled RHTT all the way from Carlisle Kingmoor, class 66 hauled intermodals, TPE 185s on positioning moves and the occasional kettle ex the NYMR. Oh, and the unexpected Caledonian Sleeper stock I saw this summer. And a Rotel maintenance strain which stables at Darlington but seems to head out everynight towards Middlesbrough
Facilities A (frequently out-of-order) ticket machine, perforated metal shelter, (often wrong)PIS and timetable boards on each platform. Also some rather nice historical information boards.
Overall 7/10 A curate's egg of a station, not too bad for a rural spot with 60,000 passengers per year
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My Local: Cookham (COO)
Setting: Slap bang in the centre of the village . 9/10
Architecture: 1850s Brick & Flint 8/10
Services: Great Western Railway shuttle Maidenhead to Marlow off peak and Maidenhead to Bourne End peak (Change at Bourne End for Marlow). Previously through trains to Paddington Peak. Plans to upgrade track and signalling at Bourne End mean that the service may become every half hour, each way Maidenhead to Marlow no change required. Currently 6/10 After upgrade 9/10
Rolling Stock: GWR: 165 7/10
Facilities: Waiting Room (with flowers & magazines), Ticket Office staffed by brilliant Helen, Toilets, (All Mon-Fri am only). Ticket Machine, Help Point, bicycle racks, passenger information system, shelter, benches 9/10
Overall: 8/10
Setting: Slap bang in the centre of the village . 9/10
Architecture: 1850s Brick & Flint 8/10
Services: Great Western Railway shuttle Maidenhead to Marlow off peak and Maidenhead to Bourne End peak (Change at Bourne End for Marlow). Previously through trains to Paddington Peak. Plans to upgrade track and signalling at Bourne End mean that the service may become every half hour, each way Maidenhead to Marlow no change required. Currently 6/10 After upgrade 9/10
Rolling Stock: GWR: 165 7/10
Facilities: Waiting Room (with flowers & magazines), Ticket Office staffed by brilliant Helen, Toilets, (All Mon-Fri am only). Ticket Machine, Help Point, bicycle racks, passenger information system, shelter, benches 9/10
Overall: 8/10
My Local: Maidenhead (MAI)
Setting: On the southern edge of the town centre that is in process of being demolished, surrounded by new-ish office blocks. Not the original choice for station location, and it shows. Virtually no bus connectivity . 7/10
Architecture: Multiple bodges. No coordination. Dangerously too small for peak time flows. Needs additional staircase for each island platform and a larger gateline 4/10
Services: Platform 1: Limited Evening Peak trains to Worcester Shrub Hill. Platform 2: Limited Morning Peak to London Paddington. Platform 3: Reading & Didcot Parkway. Platform 4: Paddington. Platform 5: Marlow/Bourne End and some to Paddington. TfL Rail/ Elizabeth Line due in December. 9/10
Rolling Stock: GWR: 165/166/IETs/387 TfL/Liz Line: 345 10/10
Facilities: Waiting Rooms , Ticket Office , Coffee Shop on Pl 4/5 , Toilets, Ticket Machines, Help Points, Lifts, Bicycle Sheds & Racks, Passenger Information System, Benches, Taxi Rank, Bus Stop, Car Park, WHSmith 9/10
Special Note: Maidenhead Platform 3 is similar to Platform 1 at Praha hlavní nádraží, as it has a statue to Maidonian Nicholas Winton, who supervised the kindertransport of mainly Jewish children from Czechoslovakia to the UK in 1938/9.
Overall: 8/10
Setting: On the southern edge of the town centre that is in process of being demolished, surrounded by new-ish office blocks. Not the original choice for station location, and it shows. Virtually no bus connectivity . 7/10
Architecture: Multiple bodges. No coordination. Dangerously too small for peak time flows. Needs additional staircase for each island platform and a larger gateline 4/10
Services: Platform 1: Limited Evening Peak trains to Worcester Shrub Hill. Platform 2: Limited Morning Peak to London Paddington. Platform 3: Reading & Didcot Parkway. Platform 4: Paddington. Platform 5: Marlow/Bourne End and some to Paddington. TfL Rail/ Elizabeth Line due in December. 9/10
Rolling Stock: GWR: 165/166/IETs/387 TfL/Liz Line: 345 10/10
Facilities: Waiting Rooms , Ticket Office , Coffee Shop on Pl 4/5 , Toilets, Ticket Machines, Help Points, Lifts, Bicycle Sheds & Racks, Passenger Information System, Benches, Taxi Rank, Bus Stop, Car Park, WHSmith 9/10
Special Note: Maidenhead Platform 3 is similar to Platform 1 at Praha hlavní nádraží, as it has a statue to Maidonian Nicholas Winton, who supervised the kindertransport of mainly Jewish children from Czechoslovakia to the UK in 1938/9.
Overall: 8/10
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My Local: Furze Platt (FZP)
Setting: In a northern suburb of Maidenhead that appeared to grow out and then overwhelm the railway. Next to Level Crossing. 6/10
Architecture: Original Brick & Flint Crossing Keeper's cottage now private residence. Parsimonious brick building for booking office. Lots of pallisade fencing, and signs on opposite side of level crossing warning of the biohazard of discarded syringes 2/10
Services: Great Western Railway shuttle Maidenhead to Marlow off peak and Maidenhead to Bourne End peak (Change at Bourne End for Marlow). Previously through trains to Paddington Peak. Plans to upgrade track and signalling at Bourne End mean that the service may become every half hour, each way Maidenhead to Marlow no change required. Currently 6/10 After upgrade 9/10
Rolling Stock: GWR: 165 7/10
Facilities: Ticket Office (am only) , Help Point, Passenger Information System, Open sided shelter, Benches, No ticket machine due to vandalism fears although it is a Penalty Fare station 4/10
Overall: 5/10
Setting: In a northern suburb of Maidenhead that appeared to grow out and then overwhelm the railway. Next to Level Crossing. 6/10
Architecture: Original Brick & Flint Crossing Keeper's cottage now private residence. Parsimonious brick building for booking office. Lots of pallisade fencing, and signs on opposite side of level crossing warning of the biohazard of discarded syringes 2/10
Services: Great Western Railway shuttle Maidenhead to Marlow off peak and Maidenhead to Bourne End peak (Change at Bourne End for Marlow). Previously through trains to Paddington Peak. Plans to upgrade track and signalling at Bourne End mean that the service may become every half hour, each way Maidenhead to Marlow no change required. Currently 6/10 After upgrade 9/10
Rolling Stock: GWR: 165 7/10
Facilities: Ticket Office (am only) , Help Point, Passenger Information System, Open sided shelter, Benches, No ticket machine due to vandalism fears although it is a Penalty Fare station 4/10
Overall: 5/10
Local: East Grinstead
Setting: At the edge of the Ashdown Forest in a traditional Sussex market town. At the end of the Oxted Line & with a physical connection on to the Bluebell Railway heritage line.
Relatively close to the High Street (500m). Very close to the Bluebell Railway station. Convenient for commuters & surrounding housing. Opposite Sainsbury's. 8/10.
Previously had a High Level station with 2 extra platforms & lovely Victorian architecture but closed in 1967 & nearly all traces demolished.
Architecture: New station renovation opened in 2013. Nice & modern but not with the keeping of the quite traditional town. 5/10
Services: 4tph peak (2x Southern to Victoria, 2x Thameslink to Bedford/London Bridge). 2tph off peak (Southern to Victoria). Nearly all are 12 car & usually lots of seats. 7/10
Rolling Stock: Class 377 & Class 700. Very very occasional Class 171 when things fall over. The odd Class 73 RHTT & Bluebell Railway mainline loco moves. 4/10
Facilities: Two platforms; no disabled access to Platform 1 (where all Southern services terminate in peak). Help Point, PIS screens, Enclosed coffee shop, manned ticket office, outside ticket machines, Key smartcard readers, sheltered waiting rooms on both platforms, bicycle storage, motorcycle parking, two-tier car park on neighbouring street over bridge, bus stop within 50m of station building. 7/10
Setting: At the edge of the Ashdown Forest in a traditional Sussex market town. At the end of the Oxted Line & with a physical connection on to the Bluebell Railway heritage line.
Relatively close to the High Street (500m). Very close to the Bluebell Railway station. Convenient for commuters & surrounding housing. Opposite Sainsbury's. 8/10.
Previously had a High Level station with 2 extra platforms & lovely Victorian architecture but closed in 1967 & nearly all traces demolished.
Architecture: New station renovation opened in 2013. Nice & modern but not with the keeping of the quite traditional town. 5/10
Services: 4tph peak (2x Southern to Victoria, 2x Thameslink to Bedford/London Bridge). 2tph off peak (Southern to Victoria). Nearly all are 12 car & usually lots of seats. 7/10
Rolling Stock: Class 377 & Class 700. Very very occasional Class 171 when things fall over. The odd Class 73 RHTT & Bluebell Railway mainline loco moves. 4/10
Facilities: Two platforms; no disabled access to Platform 1 (where all Southern services terminate in peak). Help Point, PIS screens, Enclosed coffee shop, manned ticket office, outside ticket machines, Key smartcard readers, sheltered waiting rooms on both platforms, bicycle storage, motorcycle parking, two-tier car park on neighbouring street over bridge, bus stop within 50m of station building. 7/10
Westcoast221
Member
My Local: Bangor (Gwynedd)
Setting: Situated in the centre of the city. Walking distance from anywhere in Bangor (8/10)
Architecture: Main station building recently refurbished and repainted after the recent ATW - TFW franchise change. Still retains a lot of it's old designs around the booking office and footbridge. Nice brickwork and
none of that modern 'shopping centre' look. (7/10)
Services: TFW services to Holyhead, Cardiff Central, Maesteg, Llanelli, Birmingham International, Birmingham New Street, Shrewsbury, Crewe, Manchester Airport
VT services to Holyhead, London Euston and Birmingham New Street (9/10)
Rolling Stock: 150s, 158s, 175s, 221s, 67 MK3 DVT (9/10)
Facilities: Lifts for wheelchair users, ticket machines, ticket office, benches, postbox, phonebox, waiting room, cafe (9/10)
Overall: Overall quite a nice station that's retained its old looks, despite the recent refurbishment. Good facilities and plenty of services going to London, South Wales, West Midlands and the North West (9/10)
Setting: Situated in the centre of the city. Walking distance from anywhere in Bangor (8/10)
Architecture: Main station building recently refurbished and repainted after the recent ATW - TFW franchise change. Still retains a lot of it's old designs around the booking office and footbridge. Nice brickwork and
none of that modern 'shopping centre' look. (7/10)
Services: TFW services to Holyhead, Cardiff Central, Maesteg, Llanelli, Birmingham International, Birmingham New Street, Shrewsbury, Crewe, Manchester Airport
VT services to Holyhead, London Euston and Birmingham New Street (9/10)
Rolling Stock: 150s, 158s, 175s, 221s, 67 MK3 DVT (9/10)
Facilities: Lifts for wheelchair users, ticket machines, ticket office, benches, postbox, phonebox, waiting room, cafe (9/10)
Overall: Overall quite a nice station that's retained its old looks, despite the recent refurbishment. Good facilities and plenty of services going to London, South Wales, West Midlands and the North West (9/10)
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