Trivia: Bleakest Terminal Stations

[John Luxton]

Bidston, Colne, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Chathill…

I seem to recall reading on the Daily Post web site a few years ago that Blaenau Ffestiniog has one of the worst reputations in terms of anti social behaviour in Wales outside of Cardiff as far as BTP is concerned. I have used it a few times to interchange between the FR and Conwy Valley line late afternoon in last three years.

From my observation once the FR staff lock up their portacabin the station does appear to attract "local youth" who congregate under the FR's platform's large canopy.

What doesn't help is that there is a public right of way along the FR platform which exits the station site at the side of the water tower thus providing a short cut from houses on south side of the railway to the town centre.

The Network Rail platform has seating but outside of their shelter perhaps to prevent youth congregating? Interestingly there is also a notice from BTP in Welsh only appears from my limited knowledge of Welsh to be aimed at deterring anti social behaviour!

I didn't have any problems waiting there after changing but kept an eye on the youth and felt more comfortable when other passengers showed up! Certainly not a place I would feel comfortable after dark knowing of its reputation.

 

[NeilCr]

? Dumpton Park not a usual terminus.

I’d nominate Sheerness

Sorry my bad. Had a brain fade



Personally I find Dover Priory depressing

 

[YorksLad12]

Bradford. Interchange and Forster Square.

 

[Iskra]

Heysham is not bleak. When the one train per day arrives and departs the station usually has plenty of Isle of Man Steam Packet staff present as they have a ticket office there along with a cafe and also there is comfy seating in the waiting area which I don't think anyone would mind train passengers using. Quite often police turn up to give once over to incoming passengers from Douglas thus there is an occasional police presence as well. I would say it was pretty comfortable. I have only used it as a ship passenger to-date but have often observed the train arrive and depart.

You are quite possibly correct and I am probably being unfair; I’ve just realised that the last time I visited was on a railtour, thus it probably seemed a lot worse than it is on a normal day, as it was basically closed.

For a short period, Gainsborough Central had terminating Northern services from Sheffield (will they ever be reintroduced?). Very few facilities, very run down and pretty bleak.

It’s actually had a lot of attention recently with a TVM, new waiting shelters and possibly new footbridge (or was it just repainted?). There’s nothing grim about it, apart from the train service. It’s probably actually nicer than Gainsborough Lea Road, being lower down and less exposed.

 

[John Luxton]

One I would throw in is Gunnislake both in its original and post 1990s rebuild forms. High on the Cornwall side of the Tamar Valley it's quite exposed and only has a basic shelter. There is a combined shop / petrol station (Asda now / was CoOp) just up the hill and an adjacent Fish and Chip outlet thus a waiting passenger could get some warm sustenance. The other thing is it is actually not in Gunnislake which is down a fairly steep hill but in Drakewalls!

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Stranraer and Blackpool South get my vote.

Kyle of Lochalsh is quite picturesque so would be out of scope in my view.

 

[DaventryRabbit]

Rhymney

 

[simonw]

Severn Beach has to be in with a shout.

 

[vic-rijrode]

In the last few years of its existence, Croxley Green would have been one of my nominations. After its original LNWR buildings were demolished, it had its well built platform on the NE side of the terminating track replaced by a (jerry) built offering on the other side. This sole, steadily deteriorating, platform perched high above a busy roundabout was cold and windswept. When the line was severed a hundred yards to the SE by a new dual carriageway road into the neaby industrial estate, that platform and its sagging lights stood as a gaunt reminder of a terminus that used to have direct electric trains to Watford Junction (frequently throughout the day) and Euston (not to mention a handful to another bleak terminal - Broad Street).

Of course had the Croxley Link gone ahead, it would probably have been swept away earlier than it was.

 

[Brush 4]

Milford Haven. Like so many BR rationalisations, just a bus shelter on the foundations of the proper station that used to exist. A supermarket in the goods yard area. Just read that improvements are on the way though.

 

[Mzzzs]

Moorgate not very nice.

 

[Transilien]

Ayr, ever since the hotel burnt down.

 

[Tetragon213]

Depending on how far you want to stretch the definition of "terminating" station...

Birmingham New Street is incredibly claustrophobic, grimy, a bit confusing if you're not used to it, and all around quite unpleasant imo.

The grime and diesel residue is so bad, iirc the lighting designers have to use huge maintenance factors in their calcs to ensure compliance with lighting standards.

 

[185143]

Clacton was my first thought. Truly a grim place. There is a pub though.

 

[Scotrail84]

London Euston is an interesting choice, I agree it’s awful - I guess the outside waiting area with cheap looking, but expensive food outlets is pretty grim though!


Probably friendlier than Blackpool North though….!!!

Ribblehead must be the most remote for the couple of trains a day that terminate/start from there, especially the last train at night in the winter : 2145 Ribblehead to Leeds.

That service must surely be nothing more than a waste of diesel at this time of year?

 

[sh24]

Chathill feels like the end of the universe after dark, though it's certainly safe. Unless you believe in werwolves...

 

[jamesst]

Ellesmere Port. Full of scallies, stations a dump, towns a dump.

 

[Scotrail84]

Cowdenbeath. Very deprived area with a big ASB problem at the moment. Not safe after dark.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Have we had Ardrossan Harbour station yet? Certainly counts as cold and windswept. Single platform + shelter.

 

[156gricer]

Newquay - very minimal facilities - imagine it’s not great with drunks. Whitby - no toilets

 

[Scotrail84]

Balloch and Helensburgh Central not exactly safe either. Dalmuir is in the same category.

 

[james73]

Largs post-1995 train crash.
Drumgelloch (1989-2010) - talk about bleak.
Springburn - I think it wasn't until the very late-80s that they started running terminating EMUs to the station after 7pm at night cos the area's as rough as a badgers bahookie.
Paisley Canal (1990) - they didn't even bother to reopen the original station and instead went for the single platform and bus shelter affair on the other side of Causeyside Street.

 

[Trackman]

Another vote for Blackpool South here...

 

[Bill57p9]

Stranraer

+1: cold, windy, lots of abandoned rusty track and at the end of the abandoned dock, some distance from any sign of civilisation.

No longer a terminal station, but I have a particular dislike of Coatbridge Central: completely run down with the only route to platform 2 a seriously unappealing dirty underpass with missing bricks, graffiti, etc, etc.

 

[Tetragon213]

Round here it has to be between London Euston and Bletchley (the latter a terminus for the Marston Vale services). Both are beyond bleak. St Albans Abbey is basic, as are many branch termini, but I'd not see it as bleak.

Elsewhere, one of my least favourite stations is Newquay, though some would say it's in keeping with the town. Grim.

I'm not sure if Euston counts as bleak, but if this was a general "worst" termini discussion, in my books Euston ranks "highly" as it is one of very few stations where I have legitimately felt that I was going to end up being injured due to the infamous stampede effect.

 

[Scotrail84]

Arbroath, absolute s**thole of a station.

Dundee is a hovel as well.

 

[consettman]

Prudhoe, at least one Northern service terminates there. In the shadow of Europe's biggest bogroll factory.

 

[D6130]

Agreed that Ribblehead is a stunning place to wait, not sure at 2145 on a freezing January evening though…mind you there is no chance of encountering any anti-social behaviour…!!

That depends on how long the local sheep farmers have been in the bar at the Station Inn!

May I offer Ardrossan Harbour?....although there's a so-so Italian restaurant and bar five minutes walk away.

 

[PeterC]

Upminster is pretty active as - as well as trains - the District Line terminates there. You come out in to a busy road with a pub a short step away

Romford can be a bit nippy sitting waiting for a train but - again - busy and on a main ish road

Wouldn’t describe either as bleak

The branch line platform at Romford is a bit out on a limb as it was built as a separate station. Even so "bleak" would be an exaggeration.

 

[duffield]

Prudhoe, at least one Northern service terminates there. In the shadow of Europe's biggest bogroll factory.

Even so, it's got the riverside park and a pub next door (and the castle close by) by so I think that pushes it a bit out of the "bleak" category.

I suppose it depends if we're talking strictly about the station itself or its immediate surroundings though. Even then, it's got a decent traditional style footbridge, and its own signal box. There's a lot worse and a lot bleaker than Prudhoe!