Trivia: Stations that didn't justify reopening

[backontrack]

There probably aren't, but I'm wondering if there are any stations that were reopened despite not really justifying it, or any plans to reopen stations (e.g Haxby, Ilkeston, Cranbrook, Low Moor) that wouldn't pay. I personally don't think there are.

 

[trivran]

Sinfin, probably.

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

Deleted. Sorry I misread it as I was rushed.

 

[Whistler40145]

Primrose Hill

 

[backontrack]

Sinfin, probably.

Brocklesby and Elsham on the South Humberside mainline.
Filey Holiday Camp off the Yorkshire Coast line.
Thorpe on the Hill between Newark and Lincoln.
And Newhaven Marine in East Sussex.
There are many others.

Sinfin wasn't reopened; are there plans for reopening your stations, GrimsbyPacer?

Unless I'm missing something, please read the title. This thread concerns stations that have been reopened or are planned/proposed for reopening.

 

[thenorthern]

Peartree was re-opened in 1976 after being closed for 8 years and I think to be honest it was a waste of a re-opening as its never been a busy station and the service levels are rather low.

Several Settle and Carlisle line stations I think could have stayed closed as their usage is rather low.

 

[kevconnor]

Whilst nowhere near a conclusive list there is a Wikipedia thread for reopened stations

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Reopened_railway_stations_in_Great_Britain

NEW POST

from the list the one that stands out to me is Ivy Bridge, seemingly aimed as a park and ride site but lacks the patronage or frequency. It is also debatable ifmit meets the criteria of the OP as it was not strictly speaking the original station that was reopened but a new one close by.

 

[Whistler40145]

Much appreciated for this list.

 

[MarkRedon]

Several Settle and Carlisle line stations I think could have stayed closed as their usage is rather low.

A major factor in the general recovery of the Settle and Carlisle line from its nadir in the 1970s has been the Dales Rail services which helped to build support for the reversal of the attempt at total closure in the early 80s. A characteristic of the Dales Rail services has been that they are used substantially by ramblers and of course more at weekends. A typical Dales Rail walk starts at one station and ends at another – halving the footfall figure at each of those stations. But this kind of leisure use is the bedrock of much of the passenger patronage of this line. I agree that there is a case for a limited number of faster services on the line. But the low marginal cost of keeping the stations open – they are very well maintained largely by volunteers – and the usefulness and sheer charm of stations like Dent, Garsdale and Horton in Ribblesdale argue strongly against "rationalisation". In any event, I can assure you that any serious attempt to close local stations on that line would cause howls of protest from the Friends of the Settle and Carlisle Line and from the many others who love it and its omnibus services. Since the freight use of the line has depended greatly on moving coal - now in decline - the line will need every little bit of marginal revenue it can get. Would closing local stations generate sufficient additional end-to-end revenue to make up for the lost marginal revenue from its delightful little stations?

 

[Whistler40145]

Indeed, as the saying goes "use it or lose it", but I'm sure they'd be many influential people who would stop any stations from closing.

 

[thenorthern]

A major factor in the general recovery of the Settle and Carlisle line from its nadir in the 1970s has been the Dales Rail services which helped to build support for the reversal of the attempt at total closure in the early 80s. A characteristic of the Dales Rail services has been that they are used substantially by ramblers and of course more at weekends. A typical Dales Rail walk starts at one station and ends at another – halving the footfall figure at each of those stations. But this kind of leisure use is the bedrock of much of the passenger patronage of this line. I agree that there is a case for a limited number of faster services on the line. But the low marginal cost of keeping the stations open – they are very well maintained largely by volunteers – and the usefulness and sheer charm of stations like Dent, Garsdale and Horton in Ribblesdale argue strongly against "rationalisation". In any event, I can assure you that any serious attempt to close local stations on that line would cause howls of protest from the Friends of the Settle and Carlisle Line and from the many others who love it and its omnibus services. Since the freight use of the line has depended greatly on moving coal - now in decline - the line will need every little bit of marginal revenue it can get. Would closing local stations generate sufficient additional end-to-end revenue to make up for the lost marginal revenue from its delightful little stations?

I am not suggesting closing the stations on the line and I have used the line several times and as you say its has delightful little stations which serve ramblers.

On paper though as Dent and Armathwate both have less than 10,000 passengers per year 29 years after reopening could be seen as having rather low usage numbers which could be argued as having poor value for money for the cost of re-opening and other costs given their out in the woods location.

 

[Whistler40145]

I appreciate that Dent station is no doubt the most remote station on the Settle & Carlisle line, even the village is way down in the valley bottom and the nearest large habitation is Sedburgh.

 

[Iskra]

I appreciate that Dent station is no doubt the most remote station on the Settle & Carlisle line, even the village is way down in the valley bottom and the nearest large habitation is Sedburgh.

...Garsdale is the nearer station for Sedbergh, so I doubt it contributes many passengers for Dent, and even then Oxenholme is a more logical choice for many destinations. Dent is very isolated, usually only walkers/tourists use it as far as I can tell.

 

[Whistler40145]

Dent station isn't very accessible by road, so I agree that Garsdale is the best option for Sedburgh and Oxenholme.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Cottingley.

Admittedly it has grown in importance with all the new houses built nearby, but it now stands as a major bottleneck on capacity on the route (Huddersfield trains unable to call to avoid slowing down TPE services) and a major hindrance (along with Morley Low) to the possibility of a station to serve the White Rose centre.

 

[Gathursty]

Peartree is a double edged sword for me: using an intercom to enter the station I think is more off-putting than a ticket barrier for some reason. I know it deters the local vandals however.

An aside on Dent. My new Corsa couldn't get up the hill to Dent so I walked it from the bottom. Is it unusually steep or is the Corsa not built for hill climbs??

 

[Whistler40145]

It's pretty steep, so I don't think you can blame the car.

 

[Kite159]

Ashchurch for Tewkesbury

Would probably work better if it had a better service level than 1 train every couple hours, maybe alternative the stopping pattern so that the XC Cardiff - Nottingham calls at the hours the FGW service doesn't run

 

[the sniper]

An aside on Dent. My new Corsa couldn't get up the hill to Dent so I walked it from the bottom. Is it unusually steep or is the Corsa not built for hill climbs??

You weren't trying hard enough.

The road between Garsdale and Dent is pretty nice though once you get up there, I wouldn't fancy it in the winter though!

 

[RichmondCommu]

Primrose Hill

I wasn't aware that Primrose Hill had ever been reopened.

 

[Busaholic]

I wasn't aware that Primrose Hill had ever been reopened.

I read somewhere it wouldn't be physically possible now, even if desired (by some).

 

[Whistler40145]

Senior moment RichmondCommu regards Primrose Hill!

 

[RichmondCommu]

Several Settle and Carlisle line stations I think could have stayed closed as their usage is rather low.

Given that all those stations are unstaffed it actually cost very little to reopen those stations in the mid 1980's. Over the last 30 years those stations have been refurbished but much of the cost has been funded by 3rd party organisations. The populations that the stations serve are indeed small but the stations allow locals to travel to Leeds / Bradford / Carlisle a fair bit quicker that it takes by car and allows people from the West Riding to enjoy the beautiful Northern Dales without having to drive along the narrow roads.

I take it that you're not one for walks in the fells / Dales?
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I read somewhere it wouldn't be physically possible now, even if desired (by some).

Well it didn't help when Network Rail contractors knocked down a listing building! My wife and I often walk past the site of the old station if we take the Tube to Chalk Farm and its hard to see why access would be impossible but I'll take your word for it

 

[Whistler40145]

Most of these stations are looked after by The Friends of Settle & Carlisle, so such things like painting and hanging baskets of flowers are provided by volunteers, this along with drinks trolley services on several trains.

 

[RichmondCommu]

Senior moment RichmondCommu regards Primrose Hill!

No worries Tim! My query was genuine though as I wasn't sure myself!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Most of these stations are looked after by The Friends of Settle & Carlisle, so such things like painting and hanging baskets of flowers are provided by volunteers, this along with drinks trolley services on several trains.

Not only that but the Friends have also helped to fund many of the improvements, at least as far as I know.
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An aside on Dent. My new Corsa couldn't get up the hill to Dent so I walked it from the bottom. Is it unusually steep or is the Corsa not built for hill climbs??

My in-laws live at the bottom of the Coal Road in Cowgill and I happily concur that the road up to Dent Station is damn steep! You will have no doubt seen the sign that advises car users to the avoid the road when snow is forecast.

I've alighted at Dent on several occasions when the weather has started to close in and the walk from the platform to the little car park seems to be very very long if there is a blizzard!
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...Garsdale is the nearer station for Sedbergh, so I doubt it contributes many passengers for Dent, and even then Oxenholme is a more logical choice for many destinations. Dent is very isolated, usually only walkers/tourists use it as far as I can tell.

You would get a few commuters to Leeds if the first train of the day to Leeds stopped at Dent. Instead my in-laws and three or four others have to drive to Ribblehead and hope that the road is not blocked at Newby Head; it often is!

 

[yorksrob]

Cottingley.

Admittedly it has grown in importance with all the new houses built nearby, but it now stands as a major bottleneck on capacity on the route (Huddersfield trains unable to call to avoid slowing down TPE services) and a major hindrance (along with Morley Low) to the possibility of a station to serve the White Rose centre.

Although I did find it useful to commute to at one stage and complained when they tried to remove my stop. (I counted about 6-8 passengers getting off my train there every morning).

With regards to the Settle Carlisle stations, most of them had been left intact and were at the time easy to reopen at minimal cost. The exception was Ribblehead where the FoS&C had to get the down platform rebuilt to cater for visitors. I suspect that those stations get a lot more usage than the figures suggest due to people breaking their journeys, using rovers etc.

 

[dk1]

Whilst nowhere near a conclusive list there is a Wikipedia thread for reopened stations

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Reopened_railway_stations_in_Great_Britain

NEW POST

from the list the one that stands out to me is Ivy Bridge, seemingly aimed as a park and ride site but lacks the patronage or frequency. It is also debatable ifmit meets the criteria of the OP as it was not strictly speaking the original station that was reopened but a new one close by.

Melton (Suffolk) & Needham Market I note do not appear on that list. Both of course are succesful so do not need to appear in this thread

 

[Andyjs247]

Dare I mention Islip now that Oxford Parkway is being built just down the road. Of course OXP will have all the facilities, parking, disabled access etc and all trains will stop. ISP will have a minimal service by contrast which won't please everyone, although it will gain direct services to London.

 

[Comstock]

Peartree was re-opened in 1976 after being closed for 8 years and I think to be honest it was a waste of a re-opening as its never been a busy station and the service levels are rather low.

Yes. Peartree is actually my nearest station, but I've never used it. In fact I often forget it is there.

It would obviously do better if trains to Burton on Trent and Birmingham stopped there- there are probably all sorts of reasons why that isn't viable.

Although it is on the ring road, there is no parking at all. There are a couple of retail parks nearby, but I'm not sure what the deal is with leaving your car there all day.

There is a Big Yellow storage place next door. If that was moved elsewhere and the land turned into a car park, the station renamed Peartree Parkway and a regular service to Burton/Birmingham offered, it could be a busy little stop, but again, there are probably several things I haven't considered there.

 

[Pinza-C55]

I would think the usage of Wetheral station probably didn't justify reopening it from a profit motive but the station was more or less completely intact and required little more than new lamp posts and signage.
As for Haxby it was a busy station when it closed in 1930 and Haxby is now an affluent commuter village. I suspect that if it and Strensall were reopened the trains would struggle to cope with the number of passengers generated.