Station names on the UK rail network that you would change

[The exile]

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.

In the example I gave, it would certainly have been resolved by the inclusion of the word Birmingham. Had that been there, the chances of anyone being directed towards a Clifton-bound bus at Bristol Temple Meads would, I suspect have been zero. I’m sure that even without my intervention both parties would have realised they were at cross purposes, but possibly not until the would be traveller had reached the bus stop.

 

[JamesT]

It's probably just as well that systems are generally only GB-wide rather than UK. Or someone asking for University might be sold a ticket that includes SailRail

 

[61653 HTAFC]

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

Aren't Farringdon (TL) and City Thameslink also classed as London Termini for ticketing purposes?

I know - the point I was trying to make that it is probably closer to New 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.

Indeed there are multiple universities in the West Midlands area, and several universities that have campuses remote from the place they take their name from. It's all very well for us on a rail forum to say "it doesn't need changing because it's obvious" when we're clearly going to be more informed about which institutions have stations serving them. Students who aren't transport nerds, or are from overseas where things are done differently, wouldn't necessarily be as au fait with the quirks of our national rail system or our esoteric naming conventions for HE establishments. To suggest that "maybe higher education isn't for you" as someone did, is ridiculously myopic.
My alma mater, Edge Hill University (though it was just a satellite college of Lancaster University in my day) is in Ormskirk- and has notes on the website and in the prospectus warning potential students not to alight at Edge Hill station in Liverpool. Admittedly EHU isn't the school of choice for the best and brightest, but my point still stands. What's obvious to us on here isn't necessarily obvious to everyone else, and that doesn't make everyone else stupid.

 

[HamBuoy]

Dalmeny to Queensferry
Queensferry as a large town now sits either side of the station whereas the small village Dalmeny is some distance away.

Ordnance Survey 1895 https://maps.nls.uk/view/74479136

Ordnance Survey 2025 https://www.bing.com/maps?cp=55.985855~-3.38566&lvl=14.9&style=s

 

[The exile]

Dalmeny to Queensferry
Queensferry as a large town now sits either side of the station whereas the small village Dalmeny is some distance away.

Ordnance Survey 1895 https://maps.nls.uk/view/74479136

Ordnance Survey 2025 https://www.bing.com/maps?cp=55.985855~-3.38566&lvl=14.9&style=s

If at all, then South Queensferry!
I take it back - sure it was always known as South Queensferry during my time in Edinburgh (70s and 80s)

 

[Class15]

Aren't Farringdon (TL) and City Thameslink also classed as London Termini for ticketing purposes?

There are differences between ticketing and what is actually a London terminus.

 

[zwk500]

Aren't Farringdon (TL) and City Thameslink also classed as London Termini for ticketing purposes?

It's complicated... https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/travel-information/travelling-in-london/

But the basic answer is that City Thameslink is a London Terminal from the South (replacing Holborn Viaduct) but Farringdon is a Thameslink Station only. Moorgate

 

[Cross City]

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 ==

I obviously meant 5 minutes train travel short of New St.

Aston University does have a station, obviously.

 

[The exile]

I obviously meant 5 minutes train travel short of New St.

Aston University does have a station, obviously.

But why does the fact that it is 5 minutes short of New Street automatically mean to someone who has no knowledge of the geography of Birmingham, that the University concerned is “obviously” Birmingham University? There is no ban on other universities being 5 minutes short of New Street.

 

[Cross City]

But why does the fact that it is 5 minutes short of New Street automatically mean to someone who has no knowledge of the geography of Birmingham, that the University concerned is “obviously” Birmingham University? There is no ban on other universities being 5 minutes short of New Street.

Because if it was anything other than the UoB the station would be named as such.

 

[The exile]

Because if it was anything other than the UoB the station would be named as such.

That assumes a degree of local knowledge - you know, and I know that there is more than 1 University in Birmingham. Someone heading for one of the others might not. You clearly think that it is “obvious” that “University” means “located near the University of Birmingham” (even in an announcement at Cardiff, for example). I (and apparently others) do not - I don’t think that’s going to change, so will leave it there.

 

[zwk500]

That assumes a degree of local knowledge - you know, and I know that there is more than 1 University in Birmingham. Someone heading for one of the others might not. You clearly think that it is “obvious” that “University” means “located near the University of Birmingham” (even in an announcement at Cardiff, for example). I (and apparently others) do not - I don’t think that’s going to change, so will leave it there.

To be fair, when it opened in 1978 there were many fewer Universities, and many that are now today universities were called other things.

 

[321362]

Thinking aloud, are there other cases of a terminus station that’s named after a road and doesn’t have a prefix before it? This used to be the case for most London termini. Fenchurch Street is often heard on its own. Any others?

Likewise Liverpool Street (for some services) and Moorgate. Interestingly Cannon Street doesn't receive the same treatment.

 

[daodao]

It's probably just as well that systems are generally only GB-wide rather than UK. Or someone asking for University might be sold a ticket that includes SailRail

I presume that you are alluding to University station on the Coleraine to Portrush branch line, serving the University of Ulster, which as in Birmingham has no qualifier in its name. Personally, I think that both these heavy rail stations need to have a more specific identifier.

 

[Magdalia]

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

Harwich International is itself a renaming. The correct name is Harwich Parkeston Quay, hence the HPQ 3 character code.

 

[zwk500]

Personally, I think that both these heavy rail stations need to have a more specific identifier.

Is there any evidence that the lack of a disambigufying suffix has caused anybody to make an incorrect journey?

 

[MadMac]

Birmingham City University

Cue someone looking for said establishment ending up at Bordesley…..

 

[xotGD]

How about "Aston (not the university)"?

When I was buying a ticket at Newcastle I would ask for "University station, Birmingham".

I would agree with renaming to "University of Birmingham". We certainly don't want the riff-raff from Aston and the Poly turning up by mistake.

 

[supervc-10]

10 pages and nobody's mentioned Stratford International, with no international services?
Or am I missing something!

I'd suggest renaming it Stratford East Village or Stratford Olympic Park.

Although it would make trips to France easier if they just made it an international station, given that I can see onto the platforms from my living room!

 

[NCT]

The 'old uni of' will always have the default status whereas those 'polytechnics of university standards' will always be referred to by their qualifiers.

 

[Trainlog]

0 pages and nobody's mentioned Stratford International, with no international services?
Or am I missing something!

I'd suggest renaming it Stratford East Village or Stratford Olympic Park.

Although it would make trips to France easier if they just made it an international station, given that I can see onto the platforms from my living room!

I agree it should be called Stratford Olympic Park. It would make more sense than International as it pays homage to the Olympic legacy and has a nice ring to it as a name.

 

[stssts1985]

I'd change Ore to Hasgings East
Ore when announced sounds like Or
Hastings eat is more descriptive

 

[izvor]

I'd change Ore to Hasgings East
Ore when announced sounds like Or
Hastings eat is more descriptive

Ah, but which? Hasgings East or Hastings eat?

Personally I'd leave it. I'm rather in awe of Ore.

 

[Sad Sprinter]

Ahh I love these threads.

Streatham to Streatham Wells
Tooting to South Tooting
Old Oak Common to North Pole Junction
Chiswick to Chiswick South
Goodge Street to Fitzrovia
Old Street to West Shoreditch
I’d rename Catford to something. Maybe something like Catford Chatham or Catford High Level or something

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Oct 2025 ==

On the London Underground Turnham Green and Chiswick Park have always seemed to be the wrong way round. Chiswick Park station is nearer to the open space called Turnham Green. Turnham Green station is opposite Chiswick Common and the nearest station for the High Street.

I was going to mention this. Given that the original settlement of Chiswick was by the Thames, nearer to the SWR station, maybe it could be called Old Chiswick? Needless to say, I wish Turnham Green was called New Chiswick or something

I’d also rename the Bethnal Green on the overground something like Whitechapel North, Bethnal Green Junction or Bethnal Great Eastern

 

[zwk500]

I agree it should be called Stratford Olympic Park. It would make more sense than International as it pays homage to the Olympic legacy and has a nice ring to it as a name.

You'd probably have to call it Stratford Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park if doing that. I don't think the International name is a particular problem, as you have to book International trains in advance so will know to go to St Pancras.

If we were renaming trains to reflect whether they had accurate services we'd have had to rename Ebbsfleet and Ashford when COVID started and then back again if they ever restart.

 

[Trainlog]

You'd probably have to call it Stratford Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park if doing that. I don't think the International name is a particular problem, as you have to book International trains in advance so will know to go to St Pancras.

If we were renaming trains to reflect whether they had accurate services we'd have had to rename Ebbsfleet and Ashford when COVID started and then back again if they ever restart.

True, It's more of a mouthful to say like that, and I don't think it would get abbreviated to QE2, apart from on dot matrix indicators.

As for the latter part, let's not give Eurostar any ideas . The sooner Ashford International has international services again, the better.

 

[xotGD]

If we rename Stratford International to Stratford Olympic, then we'd have to rename its sister station to Stratford Titanic.

 

[SargeNpton]

If we rename Stratford International to Stratford Olympic, then we'd have to rename its sister station to Stratford Titanic.

Or Britannic.

 

[Cambus731]

Brondesbury station is crying out for a change to reflect the fact that it is in fact in Kilburn. Maybe to Kilburn Central?

 

[IanXC]

Well, the New Street in Birmingham was first laid out in the 11th century and was named in Latin. People alive today should live to see its millennial anniversary.

Perhaps it should be renamed as Old Street .

Ah yes, but this thread is about station names, Birmingham New Street is named after the street, thus renaming the street is outside the scope of this thread.