Should we rename stations with wrong county name

[hkstudent]

When looking at stations in Greater London, there are some stations bearing other counties name, which intrigues me, like:
Hayes (Kent), which is in London Borough of Bromley
Rainham (Essex), which is in London Borough of Havering

Should DfT rename those stations to fit the modern day's county boundaries (like Streatham Greater London?) to avoid confusion?

 

[roversfan2001]

Put simply, what confusion does it cause?

 

[TheSel]

Q. Should DfT rename those stations to fit the modern day's county boundaries to avoid confusion?

A. No.

Next business ...

 

[hkstudent]

Put simply, what confusion does it cause?

Well, the issue is:
Hayes is not in Kent anymore and Rainham is no longer part of Essex as well (in terms of council area and ceremonial county definition)

 

[roversfan2001]

Well, the issue is:
Hayes is not in Kent anymore and Rainham is no longer part of Essex as well (in terms of council area and ceremonial county definition)

I'd say the numerous stations that aren't particularly near where they claim to be are cause of far more confusion.

Renaming Hayes (Kent) to reflect the fact it's actually in Greater London would actually cause more confusion, as there is already a Hayes (and Harlington) in Greater London.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Well, the issue is:
Hayes is not in Kent anymore and Rainham is no longer part of Essex as well (in terms of council area and ceremonial county definition)

I'm not convinced this is a real-world problem. The places themselves haven't moved. If you want the Rainham on the North side of the Thames estuary, it's obvious which one you need a ticket for even if it isn't strictly correct.

 

[NorthOxonian]

Well, the issue is:
Hayes is not in Kent anymore and Rainham is no longer part of Essex as well (in terms of council area and ceremonial county definition)

However, most locals around Hayes, and certainly most locals around Rainham retain a fierce loyalty to their traditional counties. To the extent that Havering (which includes Rainham) has occasionally threatened to secede from Greater London and rejoin Essex.

 

[Sad Sprinter]

Actually this isn't too weird a question, I was thinking about this today how the new SWR announcements changed "Ashford Middlesex" to "Ashford Surrey". I think its hard in the Greater London area because London's outer suburbs still see themselves as part of their former counties. For instance, people in Hayes see themselves as in Kent rather than London. Plus, there isn't really a good alternative name to change to; Hayes South East? Hayes Bromley?

 

[Trackman]

However, most locals around Hayes, and certainly most locals around Rainham retain a fierce loyalty to their traditional counties. To the extent that Havering (which includes Rainham) has occasionally threatened to secede from Greater London and rejoin Essex.

Yes, it’s like Lancashire and Greater Manchester.
Ask someone from say like Bolton.

 

[yorksrob]

I do wonder whether Ashford International should revert to its traditional name of Ashford Kent, as it has never lain outside of that county.

 

[Ianno87]

Actually this isn't too weird a question, I was thinking about this today how the new SWR announcements changed "Ashford Middlesex" to "Ashford Surrey". I think its hard in the Greater London area because London's outer suburbs still see themselves as part of their former counties. For instance, people in Hayes see themselves as in Kent rather than London. Plus, there isn't really a good alternative name to change to; Hayes South East? Hayes Bromley?

Does anybody refer to themselves as being from "Middlesex"?

 

[yorksrob]

Does anybody refer to themselves as being from "Middlesex"?

I seem to recall Russel Grant being very vociferous on the subject on TVAM.

 

[Ianno87]

I seem to recall Russel Grant being very vociferous on the subject on TVAM.

As in the TV show last broadcast in 1992?

 

[yorksrob]

As in the TV show last broadcast in 1992?

Was it that long ago ?

 

[Glenn1969]

Middlesex no longer exists. Even the town's Wiki page says "Ashford, Surrey (formerly Middlesex). So maybe this station does need to change?

 

[duncombec]

Middlesex may not exist, Hayes and Rainham may be in Greater London... until you address a letter to the station building...

(Although strictly speaking, Royal Mail no longer need a county, and their postcode finder doesn't list them even where the location is indisputable).

 

[Bletchleyite]

When looking at stations in Greater London, there are some stations bearing other counties name, which intrigues me, like:
Hayes (Kent), which is in London Borough of Bromley
Rainham (Essex), which is in London Borough of Havering

Should DfT rename those stations to fit the modern day's county boundaries (like Streatham Greater London?) to avoid confusion?

Probably not, as they are named not for correctness but to avoid confusion, and people tend to know the old ceremonial Counties.

Waterloo (Merseyside) is another example. Merseyside isn't a political construct any more but everyone knows what and where it is.

 

[Bevan Price]

Probably not, as they are named not for correctness but to avoid confusion, and people tend to know the old ceremonial Counties.

Waterloo (Merseyside) is another example. Merseyside isn't a political construct any more but everyone knows what and where it is.

Yes - the southern edge of Crosby, Lancashire.....................

 

[randyrippley]

Why bother?
Gillingham and Gillingham doesn't seem to cause any problems and I don't remember any county specification in either station name

 

[Bletchleyite]

Why bother?
Gillingham and Gillingham doesn't seem to cause any problems and I don't remember any county specification in either station name

They are Gillingham (Dorset) and Gillingham (Kent).

There has to be a suffix for ticketing purposes, though unlike Germany we don't show it on signs.

 

[Ianno87]

They are Gillingham (Dorset) and Gillingham (Kent).

There has to be a suffix for ticketing purposes, though unlike Germany we don't show it on signs.

Henceforth they should be renamed Gillingham-am-Main and Gillingham-an-der-Oder

 

[Purple Orange]

Probably not, as they are named not for correctness but to avoid confusion, and people tend to know the old ceremonial Counties.

Waterloo (Merseyside) is another example. Merseyside isn't a political construct any more but everyone knows what and where it is.

Im not sure how long that will last. You would have to be 47 to have been born when the boundaries of the old ceremonial counties were changed, and likely need to be at least 57 to truly remember them as a part of the place you lived (if you live in one of metropolitan cities).

 

[Bletchleyite]

Im not sure how long that will last. You would have to be 47 to have been born when the boundaries of the old ceremonial counties were changed, and likely need to be at least 57 to truly remember them as a part of the place you lived (if you live in one of metropolitan cities).

The term "Merseyside" is still used. "Merseytravel". "Merseyrail". And clearly it's the bit to the side of the, er, Mersey.

Similarly I doubt anyone who has any interest whatsoever in Newcastle doesn't know where "Tyneside" is.

And it's pretty blindingly obvious what "Greater Manchester" or "Greater London" refers to.

You could I suppose change Waterloo (Merseyside) to Waterloo (Liverpool), though? "City Region" is a bit of an unnecessary mouthful.

 

[hkstudent]

The term "Merseyside" is still used. "Merseytravel". "Merseyrail". And clearly it's the bit to the side of the, er, Mersey.

Similarly I doubt anyone who has any interest whatsoever in Newcastle doesn't know where "Tyneside" is.

And it's pretty blindingly obvious what "Greater Manchester" or "Greater London" refers to.

You could I suppose change Waterloo (Merseyside) to Waterloo (Liverpool), though? "City Region" is a bit of an unnecessary mouthful.

You get Liverpool City as a borough, so which means that you need a new name or title for the Greater Liverpool area...

 

[Bletchleyite]

You get Liverpool City as a borough, so which means that you need a new name or title for the Greater Liverpool area...

It's called the "Liverpool City Region", which consists of what was Merseyside plus Halton.

The borough is the "City of Liverpool".

 

[JRT]

Why bother?
Gillingham and Gillingham doesn't seem to cause any problems and I don't remember any county specification in either station n

Well a few years ago I was contemplating attending a Football League game at Gillingham. Unfortunately when I found out that there were two places of that name I decided not to go in case I went to the wrong one(pre internet days though LOL).

 

[Bald Rick]

Does anybody refer to themselves as being from "Middlesex"?

Quite a few cricket players, yes!

 

[Starmill]

It is only confusing because Rainham is now referred to as Rainham (London) and Rainham (Essex). If you're not familiar with it that doesn't help you differentiate with Rainham (Kent) much.

 

[Purple Orange]

The term "Merseyside" is still used. "Merseytravel". "Merseyrail". And clearly it's the bit to the side of the, er, Mersey.

Similarly I doubt anyone who has any interest whatsoever in Newcastle doesn't know where "Tyneside" is.

And it's pretty blindingly obvious what "Greater Manchester" or "Greater London" refers to.

You could I suppose change Waterloo (Merseyside) to Waterloo (Liverpool), though? "City Region" is a bit of an unnecessary mouthful.

That’s what I am saying. Newcastle, Northumberland; Liverpool, Lancashire; Birmingham, Warwickshire is what I am referring to as not being remembered.

 

[CBlue]

If the names of these stations are as confusing as OP suggests, how about we rename Liverpool Street station while we're at it? I hear on occasion someone has arrived there thinking they're closer to the Mersey than the Thames..