shredder1
Established Member
Albania, most of the windows smashed, doors open and broken, kids hanging out of them, Duress is an easy shed bash though..
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Grim British Railway Journeys
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Albania, most of the windows smashed, doors open and broken, kids hanging out of them, Duress is an easy shed bash though..
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RailUK Forums
It’s not quite at the airport but is named for it. It’s about a mile away and needs a bus transfer.
Quite. And oddly It's us snowflake libtard lefties who are usually more in favour of proper investment in our public services and environment, so that the whole country doesn't look like a tip
Sorry, should have said the docks as they were 40+ years ago before many of the buildings and associated installations were demolished. The Merseyrail Northern Line up to Sandhills still gives you a bit of a flavour of the old environment (and a brief glimpse into the current working docks), but the old docks in their pomp, as seen from the Overhead, must have been quite something.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
It's a bit on and off, I don't think it's served at present.
Done that (and hung out, naughty me) in Albania, India, Thailand and Malaysia, though the latter is almost all power door stock these days.
johnnychips
Established Member
I'm sure every poster has his or her yuk UK lines, but I can't stop myself adding that any railway out of Naples is absolutely disgusting - and I really love that city.
theageofthetra
On Moderation
That's the same reason as why bus travel in the US is equally hideous. Those who use it because they have to not because they want to.
theageofthetra
On Moderation
Parts of the Paris Metro/Tram/RER would rival that.
theageofthetra
On Moderation
Like every Communist country i've ever visited is?
Whi
Which Communist countries have you visited?
ChathillMan
Member
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- 265
Not helped by Circumvesuviana. It must be the worst Metro system in Europe.
ChiefPlanner
Established Member
It has an awesome reputation for just about everything a railway service should avoid. People compare it to the NYC subway circa 1979...
Bromley boy
Established Member
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Surely not the narrow gauge one leading to the Amalfi coast, via Vesuvius!?
goblinuser
Member
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Pre Overground, Silverlink days on the North London Line and GOBLIN were very grim
markindurham
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- 1 Nov 2011
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The very same. I remember it from 1991, when it was a pleasant experience. Did the trip from Sorrento to Herculaneum a couple of years ago - graffiti everywhere, rubbish piled up, dodgy characters hanging around the stations in broad daylight... Herculaneum was close enough to the centre of Naples for me - and we were all warned not to go into Naples itself unless we wanted to be mugged or worse
Bromley boy
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The very same. I remember it from 1991, when it was a pleasant experience. Did the trip from Sorrento to Herculaneum a couple of years ago - graffiti everywhere, rubbish piled up, dodgy characters hanging around the stations in broad daylight... Herculaneum was close enough to the centre of Naples for me - and we were all warned not to go into Naples itself unless we wanted to be mugged or worse
To be fair the Naples end is seriously seamy. When I visited Sorrento we flew into Naples and transferred to the train (possibly took a taxi from the airport to the station). There were lots of threatening characters and obvious pickpockets loitering around.
From what I remember (visited around 2012) it was ok at the Sorrento end of the line, but that may be a rose tinted memory...
I remember using that on the mid 80s on holiday. Nothing wrong with it then, perhaps things have changed?
It seemed to have at-the-time quite modern EMUs (3-car, I think, up to 9-car in the rush hour) and had a very decent frequency.
The one thing I never understood about it, though, was why the all-stations stoppers were called 'accelerato'...
So shed-bashing is enforced? Sorry -- I disapprove in principle, of spelling-snobbery -- just couldn't resist
.When it comes to 'grim railways', as long as the train is on time, seats reasonably comfortable, and accessibility is good (i.e. not having to take 10 minutes to get out of the station), it doesn't really bother me. In fact, I think it gives it a bit more character. While many station rebuilds/refurbs are really impressive, a lot are just clinical and boring. Although I'd definitely like to see less graffiti/litter on some lines.
I've been around a lot of West London today, and was surprised how many lines felt like going back to the 1990s. On the Chiltern line between Marylebone and West Ruislip, the stations looked very uninviting and bland, and didn't seem to have any passengers waiting! West Ruislip was particularly deserted, and the size of the platforms was definitely overcompensating. The Central Line to Greenford was very bland too (although some art-deco stations which I enjoyed). The Greenford Branch was another throwback, feeling like the 1990s. The stations on the mainline into Paddington are not much better.
I agree with Tottenham Hale to Waltham Cross - incredibly bland. The lightly used Angel Road station looks horrible. I sually find "grim" areas really interesting with their own character, but the Lea Valley is quite boring too. Although many of the stations look a lot better since some were taken over by London Overground.
Bethnal Green (National Rail) Station also springs to mind. I grew up on the Chingford-Liv. St line, and remember as a child finding Bethnal Green 'scary', just from looking out the window. I think its the 'shipping container' style waiting room / platform access that give me that feeling!
I do remember the North London Line and GOBLIN line in Silverlink days - grim, particularly on the N. Woolwich branch (but still interesting!).
I've seen the Finsbury Park - Moorgate line (Northern City) mentioned - i'm surprised such a time-warp still exists in central London. While there are a few time-warp areas in suburban London, this seems to be the only grim/creepy/time-warp line left in central London. It contrasts well with the many shiny clinical stations in central London. The actual platforms seem to be clean, but the staircase at Moorgate desperately needs re-tiling, the damp smell needs to be sorted (I strangely quite like it, but it can be very off putting for many), and the walls opposite the platforms on all the stations need a clean - most of the adverts can't be seen properly its so grimy! I like seeing all the NSE signage - its almost like a museum. But, it still looks clean and can be read clearly - I usually have a 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' mentality when it comes to signs. It annoys me when stations are repainted / signs replaced every time a franchise changes hands - its a waste of money. Not sure how the Northern City has escaped having it all replaced. I'm told the atmosphere of the Northern City is like how most Underground lines felt in the 70s/80s. I find it interesting to see this throwback still existing. I wonder how much longer it will last?
I've been around a lot of West London today, and was surprised how many lines felt like going back to the 1990s. On the Chiltern line between Marylebone and West Ruislip, the stations looked very uninviting and bland, and didn't seem to have any passengers waiting! West Ruislip was particularly deserted, and the size of the platforms was definitely overcompensating. The Central Line to Greenford was very bland too (although some art-deco stations which I enjoyed). The Greenford Branch was another throwback, feeling like the 1990s. The stations on the mainline into Paddington are not much better.
I agree with Tottenham Hale to Waltham Cross - incredibly bland. The lightly used Angel Road station looks horrible. I sually find "grim" areas really interesting with their own character, but the Lea Valley is quite boring too. Although many of the stations look a lot better since some were taken over by London Overground.
Bethnal Green (National Rail) Station also springs to mind. I grew up on the Chingford-Liv. St line, and remember as a child finding Bethnal Green 'scary', just from looking out the window. I think its the 'shipping container' style waiting room / platform access that give me that feeling!
I do remember the North London Line and GOBLIN line in Silverlink days - grim, particularly on the N. Woolwich branch (but still interesting!).
I've seen the Finsbury Park - Moorgate line (Northern City) mentioned - i'm surprised such a time-warp still exists in central London. While there are a few time-warp areas in suburban London, this seems to be the only grim/creepy/time-warp line left in central London. It contrasts well with the many shiny clinical stations in central London. The actual platforms seem to be clean, but the staircase at Moorgate desperately needs re-tiling, the damp smell needs to be sorted (I strangely quite like it, but it can be very off putting for many), and the walls opposite the platforms on all the stations need a clean - most of the adverts can't be seen properly its so grimy! I like seeing all the NSE signage - its almost like a museum. But, it still looks clean and can be read clearly - I usually have a 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' mentality when it comes to signs. It annoys me when stations are repainted / signs replaced every time a franchise changes hands - its a waste of money. Not sure how the Northern City has escaped having it all replaced. I'm told the atmosphere of the Northern City is like how most Underground lines felt in the 70s/80s. I find it interesting to see this throwback still existing. I wonder how much longer it will last?
Can't believe this thread got to page 3 before someone mentioned Wolves-Brum. It is spectacularly awful. Especially the initial run out of Wolves.
Clansman
Established Member
Doncaster to Sheffield is a pretty grim run on an all stopping Pacer, through Rotherham Central.
WHY DON'T YOU GO AND LIVE IN NORTH KOREA? should been your next line. Clearly you haven't been cutting out and keeping your Daily HATE GUIDE to 'what my lords and masters want me to think'. You do realise that not everyone to the left of the late Dr Salazar is a communist?
Requeststop
Member
Have to say the last time I was on the ECML from Newcastle south to Darlington, the amount of line side dumping was disgusting. Never seen so much in my life over such a distance. They say Geordies, Teessiders and Wearsiders are the salt of the Earth? Add to the fact that it was a grey dismal afternoon didn't add the the general gloominess of the ride. Not my favourite.
Statto
Established Member
Merseyrail Liverpool Central to Hunts Cross, also CLC Liverpool-Manchester line can be a bit grim.
But harsh. That route is mostly tunnel before you reach (mostly) tree-lined suburban cutting, then some reasonably pleasant stretches of open countryside. But yes, I suppose that has to be balanced against the fact that it does lead into Manchester (heh heh)
I really don't understand why caring for the environment, either on a local or global scale, has to be framed as a political identity issue. Environmental responsibility is a good idea, full stop, since irresponsibility in this area results in us all suffering one way or another. Why wouldn't anyone want to live in a world where fresh air and clean water are abundant, and our surroundings are not tarnished with waste? Drop the primitive tribal mentality and try using logical rational thinking.
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