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Blackpool North: The most unfriendly station in the country?

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Parallel

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If there is, they'd have to ask nicely to post here and then wait for a moderator to allow them on.

Seems only fair..
And then told no. ;)

I’ve never had the (mis)fortune of using Blackpool North, and I can’t say it’s high on my bucket list. Maybe a forum visit is needed to storm the platforms :lol:
 
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_toommm_

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And then told no. ;)

I’ve never had the (mis)fortune of using Blackpool North, and I can’t say it’s high on my bucket list. Maybe a forum visit is needed to storm the platforms :lol:

Right, so we need:
- A big bunch of forum members
- A slow walk to the end of the platform as we get off a train
- A simultaneous photograph of each and every train
- A slow walk back to the building
- A group decision to change our mind and stay on the platform
 

Eric

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Right, so we need:
- A big bunch of forum members
- A slow walk to the end of the platform as we get off a train
- A simultaneous photograph of each and every train
- A slow walk back to the building
- A group decision to change our mind and stay on the platform

Sounds like fun. Please put my name down.
 

northernchris

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I do wonder if TPE barrier staff at Huddersfield are graduates of the same charm school as the Blackpool North folks... presumably only the top students who graduate with honours get selected for Blackpool though.

I find the staff at Huddersfield to be unfriendly, certainly the worst I've come across. The barrier staff don't seem to like passengers travelling on Day Rovers and the platform staff seem more interested in gossiping than helping passengers. I did contact TPE about my last unpleasant experience but it's been almost 6 weeks now but haven't yet had a meaningful response from them
 

Kite159

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I wonder how Blackpool North will cope in a couple weeks time when a UKR charter service arrives from London, no doubt full of slow walkers, those wanting to take a picture of a 90 on the blocks etc.
 

ChiefPlanner

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It's a pretty unfriendly town in general I think.

Went there for a couple of hours before resignalling - the weather was decent enough for off season , but frankly 2 hours was too much. Hard to be enthusiastic , - the major "attractions" of long ago have survived (Tower Ballroom , Winter Gardens etc) , but when your prime spot is accomodated by Poundland or similar , then you know you are in trouble.

Had a National Timetable Conference there some years ago , it was not repeated when you could get Torquay , Brighton etc ......
 

bramling

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but when your prime spot is accomodated by Poundland or similar , then you know you are in trouble.

That sums it rather well.

It’s hard to say what Blackpool actually offers and does well. There are much nicer seaside towns.

I spent a week there a few weeks back. Being out-of-season it was pleasant enough to use as a base for the wider area, but the amount of time actually spent in Blackpool itself was minimal.
 

ChiefPlanner

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That sums it rather well.

It’s hard to say what Blackpool actually offers and does well. There are much nicer seaside towns.

I spent a week there a few weeks back. Being out-of-season it was pleasant enough to use as a base for the wider area, but the amount of time actually spent in Blackpool itself was minimal.


At the aforementioned TT conference , we escaped for a splendid evening in the pub at Fleetwood , by tram of course. There was not much incentive to stay local.

What struck me then was the "down market" ambience of the place where the "Casino" offered free tea - and the chemist shops in the town offered hangover cures, items for safe sex , and (dare I mention it) - cheap fags.

Their term , not mine. Pervading smell of cheap cooking fat , not nice looking pubs. Hardly a bit of greenery in the place - flowerbeds , trees etc.

A rest stop for the hard working masses of the 19thC and early / mid 20thC , really has become a challenging place. All sorts of reasons I know.
 

61653 HTAFC

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I find using Blackpool South a lot more friendly.
It's also more convenient for the football ground, which is the only sensible reason for going there... apart from the Pleasure Beach which has it's own station also on the South route.

I find the staff at Huddersfield to be unfriendly, certainly the worst I've come across. The barrier staff don't seem to like passengers travelling on Day Rovers and the platform staff seem more interested in gossiping than helping passengers. I did contact TPE about my last unpleasant experience but it's been almost 6 weeks now but haven't yet had a meaningful response from them
The gate staff also have a habit of blocking several of the gates just as an overcrowded service has arrived at P1, usually with their backs to the platform and chatting with each other, oblivious to the scrummage going on behind them.

Good luck getting anything from TPE... when they announced compensation following the timetable chaos they did say PTE pass holders would also be compensated... however their online form didn't make how to do this clear so I emailed them for assistance. Radio silence, unsurprisingly.

They seem quite happy to keep a low profile and let Northern take the brunt of the negative press, even on TPE North where they're the only operator. I've heard multiple people in Batley still moan about how terrible Northern are, despite Northern only operating a couple of trains a day at an ungodly hour. No doubt when we lose our non-stop Leeds service Northern will get blamed for that too, and TPE will be happy to let them be.

Apologies for the off-topic rant, everyone. You can tell it grinds my gears!
 

uww11x

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I was told the restricted access to the platforms is requested by the Police. Apparently they sit watching the cameras and if they see anyone they radio through to Northern.

Source- Northern Gestapo
 

furnessvale

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I was told the restricted access to the platforms is requested by the Police. Apparently they sit watching the cameras and if they see anyone they radio through to Northern.

Source- Northern Gestapo
Are you referring to Blackpool North? Years ago I policed there occasionally and we certainly made no such request. North has had its reputation for many years, certainly predating my time there.

I doubt Blackpool North these days has a police presence large enough to spend all day watching TV screens.
 

uww11x

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Are you referring to Blackpool North? Years ago I policed there occasionally and we certainly made no such request. North has had its reputation for many years, certainly predating my time there.

I doubt Blackpool North these days has a police presence large enough to spend all day watching TV screens.

That's honestly what was I told the last time I took photo on there. Was 2 years ago
 

Silver Cobra

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A really sad state of affairs all round.

Is there ever a time when it would be possible to have a pleasant journey to Skegness? Midweek in winter?

While I've only used the services twice within the last 2 years, I've found the summer Saturday HST to be reasonably pleasant. In both cases, I used the earlier service between Sleaford and Skegness, and the carriage I travelled in was no more than around 40% occupied. While there can be some noise from young children (which is to be expected), it's never that bothersome. I imagine that the earlier of the two services is quieter due to it departing very early from Derby/Nottingham, so most of the holiday traffic would use the later service. I can't comment on how it is using it in the other direction, as I end up leaving Skegness well after the second HST heads back to Derby/Nottingham.

With regards to the normal service, I've travelled to Skegness on a Saturday in March, and I have to say it is a fair bit better than in the height of Summer.
 

Bevan Price

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Went there for a couple of hours before resignalling - the weather was decent enough for off season , but frankly 2 hours was too much. Hard to be enthusiastic , - the major "attractions" of long ago have survived (Tower Ballroom , Winter Gardens etc) , but when your prime spot is accomodated by Poundland or similar , then you know you are in trouble.

Had a National Timetable Conference there some years ago , it was not repeated when you could get Torquay , Brighton etc ......

In my opinion, Blackpool is no worse and no better than most other UK seaside resorts. All had their heydays up to the 1950s when overseas travel was uncommon or unaffordable for most people. Some have better scenery than others; some are bigger than others, but the local town facilities almost all show signs of lack of resources, lack of really new ideas, etc.

And as for Blackpool North station - yes they probably could - and should - let passengers board trains earlier, rather than at almost the last minute. But in that respect, is it any worse than London Euston or some other large terminal stations ?
 

Bletchleyite

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And as for Blackpool North station - yes they probably could - and should - let passengers board trains earlier, rather than at almost the last minute. But in that respect, is it any worse than London Euston or some other large terminal stations ?

At Euston you can at least use RTT to queue in the right place (VT) or go onto the platform (LNR), but yes, this appalling style of operation occurs in a number of locations around the country, and keeps making it to new ones. For instance, when Inverness had manual checks on boarding, people used to make a civilised single file queue for each train, snaking around the concourse. They then put barriers in, and so it became yet another nasty scrum.
 

johntea

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Lytham St Anne’s is a nicer part of the area, much less ‘touristy’ and even better not a destination at the top of the list for every stag do and hen party!

I also quite like Morecambe but it does feel that everyone has forgotten about it in places...wonder if the abandoned Noel Edmonds theme park is still there?!
 

Bletchleyite

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Lytham and St Anne's are two different places (next to each other), I've never quite been sure why they get lumped into one in that way - I've never heard of "Ormskirk Aughton", or maybe "Morecambe Lancaster", nor "Manchester Salford".
 

The_Train

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In my opinion, Blackpool is no worse and no better than most other UK seaside resorts. All had their heydays up to the 1950s when overseas travel was uncommon or unaffordable for most people. Some have better scenery than others; some are bigger than others, but the local town facilities almost all show signs of lack of resources, lack of really new ideas, etc

We might have to get used to holidaying on the UK coast again soon when we are banned from travelling into the EU ;)

I've never used Blackpool North, nor do I ever intend to. I suppose I can understand their way of working after a certain time, particularly at the weekends, but is it busy enough during the standard working week to justify keeping people behind the barriers?
 

Bletchleyite

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We might have to get used to holidaying on the UK coast again soon when we are banned from travelling into the EU ;)

I've never used Blackpool North, nor do I ever intend to. I suppose I can understand their way of working after a certain time, particularly at the weekends, but is it busy enough during the standard working week to justify keeping people behind the barriers?

The UK seaside is enjoying somewhat of a resurgence and that cannot be a bad thing (most notably, to me, Llandudno is quite nice these days, whereas it got more than a little rough round the edges in the 1990s and early 2000s when people just ran for 2p Ryanair flights instead), but I think Blackpool would have a long way to go before it could be part of that.
 

The_Train

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The UK seaside is enjoying somewhat of a resurgence and that cannot be a bad thing (most notably, to me, Llandudno is quite nice these days, whereas it got more than a little rough round the edges in the 1990s and early 2000s when people just ran for 2p Ryanair flights instead), but I think Blackpool would have a long way to go before it could be part of that.

I'm a big fan of the UK coast, particularly the south coast where it appears the coastal areas are better maintained. That said I've been surprised by visits to Skegness and Scarborough in recent years and as you say Llandudno has had a bit of a resurgence. The problem with Blackpool is that over the years it's geared itself up to target groups like stag/hen parties as opposed to being a holiday destination and with that comes cheap, run down b&bs, cheap alcohol and drunken behaviour. Maybe that's why the staff at North are as they are because they just expect everyone who is there to be drunk and rowdy and therefore a danger to themselves and others
 

Clip

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I don't really see why passengers have such an issue with this - at least unlike the "Euston scrum" it is possible to queue for a train in an orderly manner and take the seats in that order.
thw difference being is that euston has a large concourse and the barriers as you enter the platforms. Blackpool you have to pass the barriers first then queue and therea hardly any seats and the concourse has nothing to offer you apart from an airless void of space which can get quite hot in the summer. And as per previous thread they dont want to let people pass back throglugh the barriers for some refreshments or air should your train be cancelled
 

jamesst

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I'm a big fan of the UK coast, particularly the south coast where it appears the coastal areas are better maintained. That said I've been surprised by visits to Skegness and Scarborough in recent years and as you say Llandudno has had a bit of a resurgence. The problem with Blackpool is that over the years it's geared itself up to target groups like stag/hen parties as opposed to being a holiday destination and with that comes cheap, run down b&bs, cheap alcohol and drunken behaviour. Maybe that's why the staff at North are as they are because they just expect everyone who is there to be drunk and rowdy and therefore a danger to themselves and others

Don't know whether I'm in the minority here but I was pleasantly surprised by Scarborough when I visited last year. Bridlington however was a dump
 

BelleIsle

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Lytham and St Anne's are two different places (next to each other), I've never quite been sure why they get lumped into one in that way - I've never heard of "Ormskirk Aughton", or maybe "Morecambe Lancaster", nor "Manchester Salford".

Lytham St Anne's is the postal address as they share a sorting office (in St Anne's). Very friendly with lots of nice places to eat and drink. Just a shame that the train service is so infrequent.
 

Darandio

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I wasn't impressed by Scarborough on my last visit, However Filey was beautiful.

We were the total opposite. We took the kids to Scarborough for a few days in August and it was wonderful, i'd wanted to show them where I was taken as a child and we stayed up on the Esplanade. We had been to Filey a couple of years before when having a short break at the Blue Dolphin but we really weren't impressed. Different people appreciate different things I guess.
 

PeterY

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I nearly did Blackpool North for line coverage, in September, so I've got to go there at some point. The day I'd picked to go there, back in September, I was going to walk from north to south but it was a bus replacement from the south. I did Ormskirk line instead.
 
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