What is the most dismal un-passenger friendly large railway station in UK

[yorksrob]

You can't seriously prefer Euston's platforms to New Street's???

They seem to have rather more natural light, so yes. Also a nice ramp down, rather than tight staircases.

But really the thing I quite like about Euston is the concourse. Rather good in a modern way.

 

[Mikey C]

Euston does have the major advantage over New Street of being 99% operated with electric services. Imagine the air quality of Euston if it had the number of diesels New Street has

 

[Bletchleyite]

You can't seriously prefer Euston's platforms to New Street's???

I'd rank them about the same, and in neither station do you have to actually hang around on them unless you choose to do so. Indeed at Euston you are discouraged from doing so due to the operational model - you only can if you use RTT in most cases.

 

[Bletchleyite]

They seem to have rather more natural light, so yes. Also a nice ramp down, rather than tight staircases.

But really the thing I quite like about Euston is the concourse. Rather good in a modern way.

Euston's "Great Hall" is a nice feature that you don't really get any more - almost Communist-style - not the same as the old one, but certainly as spacious, airy and impressive.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Euston does have the major advantage over New Street of being 99% operated with electric services. Imagine the air quality of Euston if it had the number of diesels New Street has

It does utterly stink when a Voyager has been churning out fumes for a bit.

 

[yorksrob]

Euston's "Great Hall" is a nice feature that you don't really get any more - almost Communist-style - not the same as the old one, but certainly as spacious, airy and impressive.

I saw a picture of a proposed LMS rebuild of Euston that got shelved because of WWII, once. That looked pretty soviet.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I saw a picture of a proposed LMS rebuild of Euston that got shelved because of WWII, once. That looked pretty soviet.

I found that Praha hl.n. reminded me very much of Euston - a big, old, Communist style Great Hall and sligtly manky platform entrances.

 

[cactustwirly]

I found that Praha hl.n. reminded me very much of Euston - a big, old, Communist style Great Hall and sligtly manky platform entrances.

Really, it was very clean and modern when I was there in the summer, ok the concourse is a bit gloomy, but the view from the platform is amazing with the train shed.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Really, it was very clean and modern when I was there in the summer, ok the concourse is a bit gloomy, but the view from the platform is amazing with the train shed.

They've done it up fairly recently, I believe (though it still has the hideous red ceiling). I was disregarding the actual platform bit and the lovely (if small) old concourse hidden away upstairs!

 

[AndrewE]

Euston's "Great Hall" is a nice feature that you don't really get any more - almost Communist-style - not the same as the old one, but certainly as spacious, airy and impressive.

On today's BBC news web page to illustrate the story about RDG's wishes (credit Getty Images)

I still like it and am glad to hear about some of the "shopping opportunities" having been cleared away, hopefully to put it back to something a bit more like the picture.

 

[Bletchleyite]

On today's BBC news web page to illustrate the story about RDG's wishes (credit Getty Images)
View attachment 62332
I still like it and am glad to hear about some of the "shopping opportunities" having been cleared away, hopefully to put it back to something a bit more like the picture.

Better than the picture - the two units under the departure board are gone, and the information office I think went ages ago to be replaced with mobile desks (I think).

 

[fowler9]

Try Brussels gare du Nord. Well scummy, dirty brutalist architecture, and a street full of brothels next door.

sounds great. I'll give it a go.

 

[fowler9]

As I recall, Chester had a pretty good licensed buffet/bar last time I was there. That and the Victorian platform canopies make it pretty decent in my book.

Closed last time I was there, more's the shame.

 

[fowler9]

are the 11 care pendos too long to fit into lime st?

11 car Pendos will fit in 6, 9 & 10 at Lime Street.

 

[Ken H]

11 car Pendos will fit in 6, 9 & 10 at Lime Street.

was that true before they remodelled it?

 

[yorksrob]

Closed last time I was there, more's the shame.

Now that is a shame

 

[GrimShady]

Does Doncaster count? Horrific station!

 

[trebor79]

No way! It has The Draughtsman and lots of interesting stuff passing through.
Not much else but there's plenty in the attached shopping centre.

 

[fowler9]

was that true before they remodelled it?

Well there was no 10 for starters. Ha ha.

 

[FrodshamJnct]

New levels of chaos today at Piccadilly I assume due to the airport signalling failure. Barriers at the top of the stairs down to the platforms and even the station manager out and about with the minions barking at people.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

I am sure someone , somewhere (maybe me) - has mentioned Luton ...utilty no money spent LMS build , grim in the extreme.

 

[Roger100]

New Street is appalling, complete demolition is required, and all NR, Birmingham Council and the rebuilders should be forced to spend a week down there beforehand.

Durham - another depressing station with no obvious route between platforms, it needs a cable car from the bus station to the platforms. The car parking charges are more than some travel tickets, if you can find a space.

Sunderland - you can't get lost on the platforms but its a dungeon like New Street.

Hartlepool - has some good things like a real ale bar if you like that sort of thing, and you can get cooked breakfast from 7.15 am. All trains use the northbound platform which is just as well as the footbridge to the southbound one was removed years ago. Thus a bottleneck where you can hear the trains (especially Pacers) coming round the tight bends either end of the station (which is also on a curve).

Kings Cross tube station - a mad place. Baker Street tube is also mad but it has some charm to mitigate this.

 

[Bletchleyite]

New Street is appalling, complete demolition is required, and all NR, Birmingham Council and the rebuilders should be forced to spend a week down there beforehand.

I really don't think it's that bad now. Downstairs is still grim - so don't hang out downstairs. Upstairs is lovely with excellent facilities (once they fix the bogs).

Durham - another depressing station with no obvious route between platforms

I don't mind Durham but it could do with another subway or footbridge.

Sunderland - you can't get lost on the platforms but its a dungeon like New Street.

Unlike Brum (whose city centre is quite nice these days) it's completely in keeping with the rathole that is the city centre.

 

[RT4038]

New Street is appalling, complete demolition is required, and all NR, Birmingham Council and the rebuilders should be forced to spend a week down there beforehand.

Durham - another depressing station with no obvious route between platforms, it needs a cable car from the bus station to the platforms. The car parking charges are more than some travel tickets, if you can find a space.

Sunderland - you can't get lost on the platforms but its a dungeon like New Street.

Hartlepool - has some good things like a real ale bar if you like that sort of thing, and you can get cooked breakfast from 7.15 am. All trains use the northbound platform which is just as well as the footbridge to the southbound one was removed years ago. Thus a bottleneck where you can hear the trains (especially Pacers) coming round the tight bends either end of the station (which is also on a curve).

Kings Cross tube station - a mad place. Baker Street tube is also mad but it has some charm to mitigate this.

Birmingham New Street platforms are like many other stations of its ilk - Euston, Grand Central New York, Johannesburg (Park) - the platforms are used to board and alight trains. You only go there only for this purpose. And Birmingham New Street platforms are fine for exactly that. Get off the train and go upstairs for the beautiful passenger facilities. Go down to the platform when your train is due. No need for any demolition.

 

[Haywain]

I am sure someone , somewhere (maybe me) - has mentioned Luton ...utilty no money spent LMS build , grim in the extreme.

At least, no money spent that has actually resulted in any sort of improvement. And buildings so badly neglected that demolition would seem to be the only sensible solution.

 

[pieguyrob]

Blackpool North

According to the OP, Blackpool North doesn't count. Since its remodelling, which opened before this thread did, it only has 6 platforms.
Which is a shame as I agree with you. Its my local station unfortunately.

 

[pieguyrob]

As for Warrington Bank Quay, at least it smells nice!

 

[Ken H]

According to the OP, Blackpool North doesn't count. Since its remodelling, which opened before this thread did, it only has 6 platforms.
Which is a shame as I agree with you. Its my local station unfortunately.

Perhaps my formula for large wasnt best thought out. it gives too much weight to through platforms. So llandudno Jct is a 7 (3 throughs and a bay) and I would not class that as a large station. While i think Blackpool probably is.

 

[John Griffiths]

Durham - another depressing station with no obvious route between platforms, it needs a cable car from the bus station to the platforms. The car parking charges are more than some travel tickets, if you can find a space.

Hartlepool - has some good things like a real ale bar if you like that sort of thing.

Durham does now have a micropub on the northbound platform, handy for lifesaving pints after one has toiled up the hill.

 

[sheff1]

Durham - another depressing station with no obvious route between platforms, it needs a cable car from the bus station to the platforms. The car parking charges are more than some travel tickets, if you can find a space.

I don't see how Durham (or Hartlepool and Sunderland) can be classed as a "large" station but, if it is, I find the option of sitting outside a decent enough pub actually on the platform whilst waiting for the train is anything but depressing.