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And more specifically which stations would you run into no problems being at 24 hours a day?
Presumably the thameslink 24hr stations, Derby, Reading, Manchester Airport, Manchester picadilly. Where else?
Almost all unstaffed stations are open twenty-four hours a day and you can use their facilities (waiting shelter, bench, rubbish bin, etc.) at all times unless someone complains to the police about you loitering. Many staffed stations are also available continuously, albeit with a reduced range of services. Even those that are staffed by public-facing staff may not have all facilities available at all times. There are an awful lot of gradations, but it depends on various factors and the attitude of staff whether you would have problems at certain times of the day or night. (At Blackpool North it is at any time of the day or night.)
True. I suppose I was more thinking of major city centre stations with early morning services (around 4am) and late night arrivals (around 2am).i know Newcastle is strictly closed despite these, but others may not be?
York certainly has a few services right through the night, as there are arrivals from Manchester Airport between 02:00 and 04:00 and last train from London arrives around 01:30
Most stations with the ability to be cleared and locked up will now be locked up after the last normal departures until the first departures with passengers arriving on late trains let out through a night gate. They will then be unlocked for specific night trains and then locked up again until normal service starts.
You can't now stay on the platforms overnight between the last arrivals and first departures. It is possible to sit 'upstairs' in the transport interchange.
There are later and earlier services at Crewe than the Highland sleeper.
However, there is a four hour gap between the 0044 departure to Manchester Piccadilly and 0450 departure to Milford Haven when there is no need for the station to be available to passengers.
True. I suppose I was more thinking of major city centre stations with early morning services (around 4am) and late night arrivals (around 2am).i know Newcastle is strictly closed despite these, but others may not be?
That is definitely so. Not very long ago I arrived at Newcastle on the 2200 ex the Cross at 0215ish and departed again on the 0445 and the station was locked up behind me as I left and unlocked again at about 0420.
True. I suppose I was more thinking of major city centre stations with early morning services (around 4am) and late night arrivals (around 2am).i know Newcastle is strictly closed despite these, but others may not be?
Not allowed on the platforms overnight (except for stranded passengers deemed to be vulnerable). Passengers used to be allowed to sit on the concourse but potentially that has changed and passengers need to wait outside.
Access allowed for the overnight departures shortly before they arrive then locked up again.
And more specifically which stations would you run into no problems being at 24 hours a day?
Presumably the thameslink 24hr stations, Derby, Reading, Manchester Airport, Manchester picadilly. Where else?
Pretty much all smaller ones in that there's usually no way to physically close them and probably nobody watching the CCTV.
MKC is open all night on weeknights due to there being a service in one direction or the other all night*, same as Bletchley - both of these can only be accessed via indoor ticket halls with no side entrance. There are private security staff overnight at both, though, so you might be questioned for hanging round if you don't have evidence of planning to travel. I have, that said, used MKC as a late night taxi waiting room before. Both get locked up for Christmas and Boxing Day, though. They may lock them up on Saturday-onto-Sunday due to the longer gap, I'm not sure.
* After a weeknight, one 4-car set doesn't "go to bed" - the 0134 from Euston forms the 0315ish from MKC, so there's activity of some kind at MKC and BLY every hour all night.
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Euston is locked up between the 0134 departure (after weekdays) or the 0200 RRB (after Saturdays) and reopened for the first train. I've not experienced it (came very close to it once!) but the departure board says so.
These days the lack of a physical door isn't so much of a problem as heavy duty retractable barriers can be used (although that isn't to suggest they actually are). While St Pancras is open overnight, the actual area available is quite limited by barriers which are placed over a lot of the shopping arcade.
The whole of the DLR, outside shared stations, is always open and lit - even Christmas Day. No gates. It is chained off each station entrance if closed for weekend works and replacement buses running.
Are all major airport stations open 24-hours a day? The OP mentioned Manchester Airport which would be understandable seeing as it's the north's major airport hub even after the rise of more point-to-point flights, but what about the local Gatwick Airport station as well?
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