Weird Places for Services to Terminate

[sjm77]

It is but it’s strange as most services just pass through. It’s also weird in being a small town with a direct fast train to London (which could be an interesting thread on its own)

Whilst not in the same league as Harrogate or Wilmslow etc, Beverley is a relatively wealthy place and many of those working in Hull that travel to London for business probably live in or around Beverley. Before passengers had to risk missed connections or drive into Hull. Probably some of the people travelling from Beverley used to drive to Brough.
Also, before the Bridlington service was made half hourly all day in the late 90s there were plenty of Hull to Beverley shuttles during the day to fill gaps in the Bridlington service.

 

[generalnerd]

Whilst not in the same league as Harrogate or Wilmslow etc, Beverley is a relatively wealthy place and many of those working in Hull that travel to London for business probably live in or around Beverley. Before passengers had to risk missed connections or drive into Hull. Probably some of the people travelling from Beverley used to drive to Brough.
Also, before the Bridlington service was made half hourly all day in the late 90s there were plenty of Hull to Beverley shuttles during the day to fill gaps in the Bridlington service.

Oh right. Interesting that they used to have shuttles, but I guess its not such a weird place to terminate then.

 

[D6975]

There's a Scotrail service in the afternoon that goes Oban-Dalmally-Oban. Dalmally seems like an odd place to terminate!

Used to be operated by the 'Mexican Bean' 104 for the school run.

 

[steamybrian]

I agree there is ".. no such a place a weird places to terminate..." Do you include temporary engineering works in which case there are many from the outsiders point of view but for railway operators point of view it makes sense. During my working days for BR/Railtrack (Southern) here are some examples of where we used the following stations to terminate trains- Ashurst (Kent), Staplehurst, Edenbridge, Canterbury East and West, Billingshurst, Hurst Green. I will add Crowborough is some times used to terminate trains when trains on the Uckfield line are running late.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

At various times, there have been Greenbank (a suburb of Northwich) terminators, not sure if there still are.

At one point in the 2000s there was a St Anne's to Greenbank service, which operated with top&tail Class 31s and four aircon Mk2s in First Great Western "fag packet" livery.

When Huddersfield station is closed for upgrade works, trains to and from Sheffield start and finish at Lockwood which is quite an odd terminus. Back in the 1990s when TransPennine services were diverted via the Calder Valley, Huddersfield was served by a shuttle to Mirfield where the express services called additionally. Brighouse and the Bradley curve were still closed at the time.

Yes Barnsley is a terminus, on a very early morning run from Sheffield.

Wouldn't say it was an odd place to terminate though. It's a fairly significant town.

 

[Iskra]

At one point in the 2000s there was a St Anne's to Greenbank service, which operated with top&tail Class 31s and four aircon Mk2s in First Great Western "fag packet" livery.

When Huddersfield station is closed for upgrade works, trains to and from Sheffield start and finish at Lockwood which is quite an odd terminus. Back in the 1990s when TransPennine services were diverted via the Calder Valley, Huddersfield was served by a shuttle to Mirfield where the express services called additionally. Brighouse and the Bradley curve were still closed at the time.


Wouldn't say it was an odd place to terminate though. It's a fairly significant town.

It’s on a through line though, and very little terminates there.

Wakefield Kirkgate is also an odd one for the same reason. It has a daily Sheffield-Wakefield Kirkgate terminator, which makes little sense when you’re so close to Leeds which is much more useful…

 

[61653 HTAFC]

It’s on a through line though, and very little terminates there.

Wakefield Kirkgate is also an odd one for the same reason. It has a daily Sheffield-Wakefield Kirkgate terminator, which makes little sense when you’re so close to Leeds which is much more useful…

Most places are on a through line, that's not a reason not to terminate services there. Granted not much does these days, but if operations required it nobody would think "what a strange place to terminate!". The Wakefield Kirkgate one is presumably related to capacity constraints at Leeds?

 

[Iskra]

Most places are on a through line, that's not a reason not to terminate services there. Granted not much does these days, but if operations required it nobody would think "what a strange place to terminate!". The Wakefield Kirkgate one is presumably related to capacity constraints at Leeds?

I don’t agree but okay

I doubt there are capacity problems at Leeds at midnight, it’s probably more to do with operational convenience.

 

[Flying Claret]

The Rose Grove to Paignton and v/v Summer Saturday service was always a good one. Of course there was a logical reason for the service to start/terminate there, but it was clear that passengers generally had no idea where it was when it was announced at somewhere like Bristol TM!

Out of interest, what was the logical reason for starting at Rose Grove?

 

[D1537]

Out of interest, what was the logical reason for starting at Rose Grove?

If it had carried on to Burnley it would have meant reversing was more problematic, terminating at RG meant the ECS could run back to Longsight via Todmorden (or could run round at RG itself).

 

[Flying Claret]

If it had carried on to Burnley it would have meant reversing was more problematic, terminating at RG meant the ECS could run back to Longsight via Todmorden (or could run round at RG itself).

Thanks!

 

[CaptainHaddock]

The current weekend engineering works mean Penistone Line trains are terminating at Lockwood, which isn't exactly a swinging metropolis!

 

[D6130]

The current weekend engineering works mean Penistone Line trains are terminating at Lockwood, which isn't exactly a swinging metropolis!

There are a couple of good pubs there though!

 

[61653 HTAFC]

If it had carried on to Burnley it would have meant reversing was more problematic, terminating at RG meant the ECS could run back to Longsight via Todmorden (or could run round at RG itself).

Surely it would struggle to get back to Longsight via Todmorden during the latter days of the Rose Grove Cross-country service, as the Tod curve had been closed and lifted by then?

I don’t agree but okay

I doubt there are capacity problems at Leeds at midnight, it’s probably more to do with operational convenience.

Hadn't realised it was a late night service that terminated at Kirkgate. Presumably it terminates there rather than Leeds so it can go ECS direct into Holbeck sidings?

 

[JD2168]

Could Worcestershire Parkway count, has been used as a terminus at various points including for Cross Country during engineering work.

Hazel Grove has always seemed a strange place to terminate

 

[Gloster]

Surely it would struggle to get back to Longsight via Todmorden during the latter days of the Rose Grove Cross-country service, as the Tod curve had been closed and lifted by then?

Todmorden East Junction-Stansfield Hall Junction closed passenger 01 November 1965; taken out of use March 1973.

 

[Iskra]

Hadn't realised it was a late night service that terminated at Kirkgate. Presumably it terminates there rather than Leeds so it can go ECS direct into Holbeck sidings?

It goes back South to Sheffield empty, so I presume it’s for crewing reasons.

Hazel Grove has always seemed a strange place to terminate

It does seem a strange place, but the overhead electrification ending there does make it a sensible choice!

 

[D1537]

Surely it would struggle to get back to Longsight via Todmorden during the latter days of the Rose Grove Cross-country service, as the Tod curve had been closed and lifted by then?

Yes, looks like it ran round at Rose Grove. Of course, the not going to Burnley issue still applies.

 

[tram21]

On Sundays there are hourly TPE services from Wakefield Kirkgate to York, so it's not that rare!

 

[py_megapixel]

It does seem a strange place, but the overhead electrification ending there does make it a sensible choice!

Indeed... although the significance of that has been diminished a bit by Northern rather embarrassingly running the Hazel Grove terminators with diesel units!

It's also the last station on the line in Greater Manchester. I wonder if the two things are related - did the PTE perhaps contribute to the cost of electrification at some point?

Actually come to think about it, I have a vague idea that Middlewood might actually be in GM by the skin of its teeth - of course that would be an even stranger terminus, being located quite literally in the middle of a wood, with no facilities and not a huge amount nearby to serve. Although at one point in the past it was actually a split-level station offering interchange between two lines!

 

[BeijingDave]

Indeed... although the significance of that has been diminished a bit by Northern rather embarrassingly running the Hazel Grove terminators with diesel units!

It's also the last station on the line in Greater Manchester. I wonder if the two things are related - did the PTE perhaps contribute to the cost of electrification at some point?

Actually come to think about it, I have a vague idea that Middlewood might actually be in GM by the skin of its teeth - of course that would be an even stranger terminus, being located quite literally in the middle of a wood, with no facilities and not a huge amount nearby to serve. Although at one point in the past it was actually a split-level station offering interchange between two lines!

Like Delamere, it probably gets quite a lot of weekend ramblers.

But, yes, it would be a strange terminus.

 

[tram21]

There's a Thameslink service that terminates at Elephant & Castle, are there any more similar to this?

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:W25464/2025-04-17/detailed

 

[Sad Sprinter]

Didn’t Northern Line trains regularly terminate at Hampstead once upon a time?

 

[Class15]

Didn’t Northern Line trains regularly terminate at Hampstead once upon a time?

I still see it very occasionally. Presumably for depot access at Golders Green?

 

[30907]

There's a Thameslink service that terminates at Elephant & Castle, are there any more similar to this?

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:W25464/2025-04-17/detailed

It goes empty to Bellingham - but terminating it at Elephant means the train can be cleared without blocking a double track route (BFR/BGM) and also gives the option to send it somewhere else (Orpington via Herne Hill for route retention?).
There is an identical one an hour earlier, both go forward to ORP for the evening peak.

 

[Pigeon]

Seems there are currently 4 trains per day from milford haven to manchsters at 07:01 09:00, 11:00 and 15:00

It was a joke - look up the saga of the Manchester & Milford Railway

 

[Magdalia]

There's a Thameslink service that terminates at Elephant & Castle, are there any more similar to this?

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:W25464/2025-04-17/detailed

Somewhere in the core it passes an Orpington to West Hampstead Thameslink.

 

[P156KWJ]

Most (if not all) Redditch trains start/terminate at Four Oaks, Bromsgrove trains go onto Lichfield TV. I guess this may help with the timetabling?

Four Oaks is a popular commuter Park & Ride, convenient for coming off the A38. The main car park is usually full by about 0730.

As for odd stations to finish at, Blake Street used to have at least one terminator until the 730s were introduced.

Fairly certain that Central Trains had services terminating at Blythe Bridge, and then into EMT days there was a Market Rasen terminator (may still be, not checked).

 

[CM Punk]

There's a Market Rasen terminator every 6 weeks or so due to engineering possessions.

EMR also had a 5:01 service from Nottingham to Sleaford via Lincoln that returned ECS, one of the stranger quirks of a previous timetable. There's still a Sunday night service that terminates at Sleaford, but goes via Grantham.

 

[Sad Sprinter]

I remember in 2021 seeing South Eastern trains leaving London Bridge terminating at Faversham - running vi Orpington, Ashford and Ramsgate