Station names on the UK rail network that you would change

[bramling]

I do think it downright stupid that "Euston" is often used as a destination on its own on anything other than London Overground. If you were going to use a single word "London" would make more sense unless on the Southern where there's more than one option.

Most of the other "X Road" stations are old fashioned Parkway stations where X is the nearest town (e.g. Clarbeston Road is near-ish Clarbeston). I can't think of any other termini that are literally just named after a street with no prefix and no indication of which town they are in or near to.

Doing a bit of thinking, the only ones that I can readily think of where trains routinely terminate are

* Clarbeston Road
* Blake Street
* Fenchurch Street

I guess you could say all of these are local stations for local people (the LTS network is somewhat self-contained).

My view, FWIW, nonetheless remains that Headbolt Lane still fits into the same category though. What used to be the Manchester to Kirkby service isn’t exactly the most significant of services after all, and for people joining at Blackburn or whatever I still don’t see what difference at all it makes what is on the front of their train.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Doing a bit of thinking, the only ones that I can readily think of where trains routinely terminate are

* Clarbeston Road

That's the old "serving but miles from Clarbeston" rather than the random name of a street, though.

* Blake Street

That's maybe analogous to Merseyrail terminating at Headbolt which I would say is OK, but there's nothing from wider afield, is there?

* Fenchurch Street

That should be "London Fenchurch Street" if it isn't already! London termini should ALL be prefixed for anything other than services which run wholly within London or close to that (i.e. London Overground and similar).

 

[Calthrop]

Re getting between Sandling station, and Hythe -- going off at a tangent, as I tend to do a lot -- but were there not ideas and plans floated, early in the RHDR's history: for said miniature line to be extended north from Hythe, to the main line at Sandling; quite a climb, but seen as essentially do-able -- part of reason for RHDR's commissioning a couple of 4-8-2s? Obviously, a "never-was, and now never-to-be"; but supposing it had happened -- a further dimension to this issue?

 

[bramling]

That's the old "serving but miles from Clarbeston" rather than the random name of a street, though.



That's maybe analogous to Merseyrail terminating at Headbolt which I would say is OK, but there's nothing from wider afield, is there?



That should be "London Fenchurch Street" if it isn't already! London termini should ALL be prefixed for anything other than services which run wholly within London or close to that (i.e. London Overground and similar).

Yes I agree about Fenchurch Street should have London on it for consistency, and I think it officially does, just making the point that in practice it is very often found on its own, including on official systems such as CIS etc.

 

[Trainlog]

Re getting between Sandling station, and Hythe -- going off at a tangent, as I tend to do a lot -- but were there not ideas and plans floated, early in the RHDR's history: for said miniature line to be extended north from Hythe, to the main line at Sandling; quite a climb, but seen as essentially do-able -- part of reason for RHDR's commissioning a couple of 4-8-2s? Obviously, a "never-was, and now never-to-be"; but supposing it had happened -- a further dimension to this issue?

It was certainly an interesting footnote in the RHDR history, however, yes that is all it will remain to be.

My counter tangent . Unfortunately there won't be anywhere for the RHDR to have a decent national rail interchange unless Southern/Network rail considers running a service over to Dungeness which I remember seeing on another thread a while ago, isn't possible due to the costs of installing automated level crossings, new station infrastructure, and the fact that it would be 'unprofitable' despite how popular the area is with tourists.

Also I can imagine the backlash owing to the pollution aspects of the construction of the station, and the fact that Dungeness is popular as a dark sky spot to spot stars at night.

Dungeness branch as a heritage railway

With the power station in decommissioning and defueling only going to go on for so long, eventually this branch will have no traffic. With no major population centres along it, and Lydd Airport unlikely to see commercial potential (despite the current government giving huge backing to multiple...

www.railforums.co.uk

Though I quite like the post someone suggested of running a branch to Lydd station and turning Dungeness into a 'Portmadog scenario'.

However, back to the main point, Sandling for Hythe would be a good way of stating that Hythe is accessible without driving or getting the bus, but it's a more enjoyable route if you do enjoy walking/hiking and are aware of the steep hill to Sandling.

 

[Tester]

London termini should ALL be prefixed for anything other than services which run wholly within London or close to that (i.e. London Overground and similar).

Presumably not London London Bridge though

 

[The exile]

That should be "London Fenchurch Street" if it isn't already! London termini should ALL be prefixed for anything other than services which run wholly within London or close to that (i.e. London Overground and similar).

If any of the terminals can justify being an exception to this, then it’s Fenchurch Street.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Presumably not London London Bridge though

That's just to go with Battersea Power Station Station, as mentioned above

If any of the terminals can justify being an exception to this, then it’s Fenchurch Street.

It's probably the terminus that has the most local services and nothing long distance, but it does reach well out into Essex so I think it should still be prefixed.

 

[Cach17]

• Dover Priory > Dover, since it's been the only station for 30 years now.
• Canterbury East > Canterbury Castle, which is just north of the station.
• Canterbury West > Canterbury Westgate, after the nearby Westgate Tower.
• Folkestone West > Cheriton
• Folkestone Central > Folkestone

And as a DLR bonus; King George V > North Woolwich

 

[William3000]

That's the old "serving but miles from Clarbeston" rather than the random name of a street, though.



That's maybe analogous to Merseyrail terminating at Headbolt which I would say is OK, but there's nothing from wider afield, is there?



That should be "London Fenchurch Street" if it isn't already! London termini should ALL be prefixed for anything other than services which run wholly within London or close to that (i.e. London Overground and similar).

It is called London Fenchurch Street. The only central London terminus without the London prefix is Moorgate.

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• Dover Priory > Dover, since it's been the only station for 30 years now.
• Canterbury East > Canterbury Castle, which is just north of the station.
• Canterbury West > Canterbury Westgate, after the nearby Westgate Tower.
• Folkestone West > Cheriton
• Folkestone Central > Folkestone

And as a DLR bonus; King George V > North Woolwich

Why was Dover Western Docks closed? I presume when the channel tunnel opened. It’s interesting that very few harbour stations remain or they are a shadow of their other selves. Stranraer a case in point. Harwich International ditto.

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That's just to go with Battersea Power Station Station, as mentioned above



It's probably the terminus that has the most local services and nothing long distance, but it does reach well out into Essex so I think it should still be prefixed.

London Fenchurch Street should definitely be prefixed and is . I also think Haymarket should be prefaced Edinburgh Haymarket.

 

[Cross City]

Some ones local to me.

Kings Norton > Cotteridge
Shirley > Haslucks Green
Berkswell > Balsall Common
Spring Road > Fox Hollies
Chester Road > Boldmere
Bournville > Bournville & Stirchley

University should stay as it is IMO.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

University should stay as it is IMO.

As several people have argued otherwise with their reasons why, could you give us your argument for staying with 'University'?

 

[Cross City]

As several people have argued otherwise with their reasons why, could you give us your argument for staying with 'University'?

It's a small-ish local station on a commuter line in Birmingham... What other University could it be?

 

[Djgr]

It's a small-ish local station on a commuter line in Birmingham... What other University could it be?

Birmingham City University

 

[The exile]

London Fenchurch Street should definitely be prefixed and is . I also think Haymarket should be prefaced Edinburgh Haymarket.

Let’s get Waverley properly sorted out first!

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It's a small-ish local station on a commuter line in Birmingham... What other University could it be?

It is served by trains from Cardiff to Nottingham - I’m bound to get this wrong but that makes I think at least 7 other places served that also have universities. Yes - sitting down and logically thinking about it will bring someone who knows the geography of the UK and its railways to the conclusion that it probably refers to a University in Birmingham (but which one?) but it’s an ambiguity in two ways (which city if you’re far away; which University if you’re close at hand) which could so easily be solved (yes, I know that renaming aren’t cheap - but compared with a lot of the others on here there really is case for confusion here).

 

[duffield]

It's a small-ish local station on a commuter line in Birmingham... What other University could it be?

It's also a stop on the long distance cross country service from Nottingham to Cardiff which passes through many university towns/cities.

RTT link showing 29 cross-country services calling at University:

Realtime Trains | Departures from University between 0200 and 0159 on 13/10/2025

Train information at University between 0200 and 0159 on 13/10/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Edit: I see this has already been pointed out.

 

[Cross City]

It's also a stop on the long distance cross country service from Nottingham to Cardiff which passes through many university towns/cities.

I'm aware XC call there, I pass through it every day.

If people can't work out that a station that's called University that is 5 minutes short of New St is likely named for the University of Birmingham then higher education probably isn't for them.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Oct 2025 ==

Birmingham City University

A station isn't going to be named after a glorified Polytechnic is it?

 

[The exile]

If people can't work out that a station that's called University that is 5 minutes short of New St is likely named for the University of Birmingham then higher education probably

How far from New Street is Aston University?

 

[Bletchleyite]

How far from New Street is Aston University?

It's near Curzon St station - hence the "Aston-Acton shuttle" joke.

 

[Cross City]

May as well rename Bank tube station. Some poor soul might get confused thinking they was going to the HSBC on Bracknell High Street.

 

[Bletchleyite]

May as well rename Bank tube station. Some poor soul might get confused thinking they was going to the HSBC on Bracknell High Street.

To be fair I didn't until I was an adult (and thus of better geographical knowledge) know it referred to the Bank of England, I thought it referred to the riverbank.

 

[Djgr]

I'm aware XC call there, I pass through it every day.

If people can't work out that a station that's called University that is 5 minutes short of New St is likely named for the University of Birmingham then higher education probably isn't for them.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Oct 2025 ==


A station isn't going to be named after a glorified Polytechnic is it?

Nottingham Trent (aka Trent Poly) has a tram stop!

 

[Cross City]

Nottingham Trent (aka Trent Poly) has a tram stop!

Slightly different to a NR station

 

[The exile]

It's near Curzon St station - hence the "Aston-Acton shuttle" joke.

I know - the point I was trying to make that it is probably closer to Nee Street than the University of Birmingham so the argument “it’s 5 minutes short of New Street, so of course ‘University’ must mean The University of Birmingham” doesn’t hold water.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Oct 2025 ==

May as well rename Bank tube station. Some poor soul might get confused thinking they was going to the HSBC on Bracknell High Street.

Bank is not on the national network. Purely local networks are different (note -I don’t think there has been any suggestion to on here to rename the University station on the T&W Metro) and if University station were purely served by Crosscity line trains then I think the argument in favour renaming would be a lot weaker.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I know - the point I was trying to make that it is probably closer to Nee Street than the University of Birmingham so the argument “it’s 5 minutes short of New Street, so of course ‘University’ must mean The University of Birmingham” doesn’t hold water.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Oct 2025 ==


Bank is not on the national network. Purely local networks are different (note -I don’t think there has been any suggestion to on here to rename the University station on the T&W Metro) and if University station were purely served by Crosscity line trains then I think the argument in favour renaming would be a lot weaker.

I've just looked and on the booking systems it's called University (Birmingham). So are we basically just saying change the signs? Which is probably not necessary, as if you're physically there you know it's in Birmingham. Deutsche Bahn would probably change the signs but I don't think it's strictly needed. Though one where I probably would is Adlington (Lancs) and Adlington (Cheshire) as they're close enough together to actually confuse people which they have ended up at.

I think it's unnecessary to get into which specific university it is. Naming it University of Birmingham would be an issue if they rename it to Birmingham University in a few years' time (the red bricks seem to oddly flip flop on this form every few years). If you're going to Aston University you're going to spend the 5 minutes checking the best way to get there, probably using Google Maps these days - I doubt there are anywhere near as many people turn up there looking for Aston as there are turning up at Leeds City* looking for the castle.

* One to rename?

 

[The exile]

I've just looked and on the booking systems it's called University (Birmingham). So are we basically just saying change the signs?

Now most transactions are online that suffix will help - but it needs to be universal (so all announcements etc) to avoid this genuine conversation I overheard many years ago at a booking office of a university city (not Birmingham - and no guarantee that I’ve remembered it verbatim).
“Single to University, please”
“You’ll need to get a bus - number 8 just outside the station”
“But I thought there was a station”
“No, you need the bus”

This is,after all, a thread about renaming stations - this one seems to be near the top of a lot of people’s lists.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Now most transactions are online that suffix will help - but it needs to be universal (so all announcements etc) to avoid this genuine conversation I overheard many years ago at a booking office of a university city (not Birmingham - and no guarantee that I’ve remembered it verbatim).
“Single to University, please”
“You’ll need to get a bus - number 8 just outside the station”
“But I thought there was a station”
“No, you need the bus”

I don't think there being a station called University causes that sort of exchange. Rather, it's booking office staff who are so incompetent that they like to encourage the railway to do away with their jobs.

The only sensible place where that conversation might occur is Coventry or Wolves, and any member of staff who gets asked for University there and doesn't ask "do you mean Coventry/Wolves or Birmingham?" before dispensing potentially incorrect advice really isn't doing their job very well.

 

[Cach17]

Why was Dover Western Docks closed? I presume when the channel tunnel opened. It’s interesting that very few harbour stations remain or they are a shadow of their other selves. Stranraer a case in point. Harwich International ditto.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Oct 2025 ==

Western Docks closed in September 1994, after LeShuttle started and shortly before Eurostar commenced operations, so yes.

Speaking of Harwich International, I'd just rename it as Harwich Harbour/Port.

 

[The exile]

I don't think there being a station called University causes that sort of exchange. Rather, it's booking office staff who are so incompetent that they like to encourage the railway to do away with their jobs.

This was in the days when University was simply a cross-city line station and while the situation may have been exacerbated by the ticket clerk’s lack of knowledge and desire to be helpful (in Freshers’ week - so a lot of students without a clue about how to get around) - coupled with a remarkable naïveté on the part of the would-be traveller, it was caused by a confusing station name. It was resolved by a bit of interference by the next person in the queue…

 

[Bletchleyite]

This was in the days when University was simply a cross-city line station and while the situation may have been exacerbated by the ticket clerk’s lack of knowledge and desire to be helpful (in Freshers’ week - so a lot of students without a clue about how to get around) - coupled with a remarkable naïveté on the part of the would-be traveller, it was caused by a confusing station name.

You would only avoid it, though, if you did a major renaming, like to Selly Oak North or something. If it still had University in the name it wouldn't solve it. The solution is for staff to use a bit of nous.