Trivia : Are there any stations that have no public exits?

[DarloRich]

Yeah that's a good shout! Forgot about it as it's been mothballed for so long. But that one had no publicly accessible exit at all. When I visited it I did it in the morning when it was possible to have about twenty minutes there between trains and I did notice that security passed by a few times whilst I was there. I believe others had in fact been spoken to by security who made sure that they turned around and reboarded the first train back out or drove them to the site exit (if no such train was available).

I only used the station when the site was open so it was very different.

I imagine you struggled because there is no such fare! At that distance they'll only be period returns

Sadly I had to be back in the day as the boss wouldn't pay for an overnight!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Yeah that's a good shout! Forgot about it as it's been mothballed for so long. But that one had no publicly accessible exit at all. When I visited it I did it in the morning when it was possible to have about twenty minutes there between trains and I did notice that security passed by a few times whilst I was there. I believe others had in fact been spoken to by security who made sure that they turned around and reboarded the first train back out or drove them to the site exit (if no such train was available).

I believe Stanlow and Thornton was also like that, but it is presently mothballed (or was last time I heard, anyway).

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Aug 2026 ==

Sagliains station on the Swiss RhB network is another one. It's used to change between Landquart - Scuol Tarasp and Scuol Tarasp - Zernez - Pontresina train services. Interestingly there is a direct curve of track that allows for an hourly Landquart - Zernez - St Moritz train, meaning that the connection option at Sagliains half an hour later is only there to allow for a 2tph connection between Zernez and Landquart. Swiss efficiency in action!

I don't think many people in the UK would opt for a 1-change journey that's 10 minutes longer over a direct train 30 mins later, but transfers in Switzerland are a lot easier and more reliable so it's much more normalised. I guess if your aim is just to get to your destination as quick as possible, it's a good option.

There is a car shuttle train that also leaves from 'Sagliains station' but it's very much a different building and there's no official way of reaching the passenger train platforms from the shuttle terminal entrance.

If Switzerland is included then there is the stop on the way up to Jungfraujoch which has a viewing window onto the mountain and does have an exit but anyone actually exiting via it had best be experienced mountaineers! This isn't the "Stollenloch" usually used by mountaineers to climb the North Face of the Eiger, though. I seem to recall reading that trains no longer stop there, however.

A quick bit of Googling confirms its name as Eigerwand.

 

[Farigiraf]

Signage on the station still indicates that you have to have military business to alight there.

The station's gradually increased in usage since the access to the Exe Estuary footpath opened in 2010, from around 59k in 2009 to around 87k most recently. I'm not in the know about happenings in the military training centre but it's hard to imagine that the 30,000 increase in station usage over the last 1-2 decades was purely from traffic growth to the base - it'll mostly be walkers and locals realising that the station exists who've started to use it. Very much a multi-purpose station now.

If Switzerland is included then there is the stop on the way up to Jungfraujoch which has a viewing window onto the mountain and does have an exit but anyone actually exiting via it had best be experienced mountaineers! This isn't the "Stollenloch" usually used by mountaineers to climb the North Face of the Eiger, though. I seem to recall reading that trains no longer stop there, however.

A quick bit of Googling confirms its name as Eigerwand.

You recall correctly, it's been closed since 2016. Makes sense, as realistically the goal of the line should be to move the tourists around as fast as possible - if you want scenic views from the mountain, that's what Jungfraujoch station and the surrounding shopping centre area is for.

 

[The Chimaera]

Seem to remember reading that Dovey Junction had no public access to it. It was only used for changing trains.

 

[172007]

Bordesley Station Birmingham is locked except for a few hours Saturday so does not have public exits should a train stop due to a fault etc.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Seem to remember reading that Dovey Junction had no public access to it. It was only used for changing trains.

It does, though not road access, it's a public footpath to the nearest road a fair way away (and there is a station sign there). Altnabreac would also tick that box.

 

[Acathater]

How about places such as Snaefell summit? There's not exactly any other transport options to get there unless you climb the mountain

 

[Bletchleyite]

How about places such as Snaefell summit? There's not exactly any other transport options to get there unless you climb the mountain

You can however do that.

One where you can't is the Cairn Gorn funicular. Walkers can enter the summit building and exit again (or go down on the funicular), but those who go up on the train can't exit (the staff take your name as you enter and let you out again if your name is on the list). This is for conservation reasons of not wanting to crowd the summit and cause erosion etc.

 

[MotCO]

Was Elephant & Castle closed at one stage during redevelopment work, whilst still allowing transfers between lines?

 

[norbitonflyer]

Was Elephant & Castle closed at one stage during redevelopment work, whilst still allowing transfers between lines?

Some Tube stations only allow transfer and exit at certain times (Camden Town is one, I think) but if exit is not possible I think the station has to be closed altogether.

 

[brad465]

I'm guessing a public exit to the wider area does exist, but I suspect a very small proportion of passengers travelling to/from Gatwick Airport don't enter/leave the station via a public exit.

 

[Galactic142]

Can you actually get out of Sea Lion Rocks on the Groudle Glen Railway? When I was there last there was a single gate leading down to the rocks but the signs suggested the path wouldn't actually take you anywhere?

 

[Taunton]

Stanlow and Thornton as its on private land.

That's no issue. Canary Wharf, both Elizabeth Line and DLR, are on private land, the roads accesses there pass through their security barriers.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Coed y Bleddiau on the Festiniog. The platform only gives access to the station house, which is a rental holiday cottage. The only pedestrian access to the house and station platform is across an occupation crossing with a locked gate.
Trains only stop on request, for use of residents and the housekeeper.

 

[Falcon1200]

The Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway's Manuel terminus has a platform, although adjacent to the Edinburgh/Glasgow line this does not have a station, and AFAIK has no pedestrian access.

 

[The exile]

It does, though not road access, it's a public footpath to the nearest road a fair way away (and there is a station sign there). Altnabreac would also tick that box.

As would Corrour, ISTR

 

[plugwash]

I'm guessing a public exit to the wider area does exist, but I suspect a very small proportion of passengers travelling to/from Gatwick Airport don't enter/leave the station via a public exit.

Regardless of what they are doing next, eveyone enters/leaves the station via connections to the south terminal of Gatwick airport

Cross-referencing different maps, it seems there are essentially 3 options for pedestrians from there.

1. Exit onto the footpaths and service roads between the airport fence and London Road. Mostly this seems useful if you are trying to get to other parts of the airport though there do appear to be serveral ways a pedestrian could exit.
1. Exit into the area of carparks, hotels and fast food to the east of the airport. Eventually winding your way through the Balcome road.
2. Exit onto the cycleway that runs roughly paralell to London Road.

 

[Djgr]

Can you actually get out of Sea Lion Rocks on the Groudle Glen Railway? When I was there last there was a single gate leading down to the rocks but the signs suggested the path wouldn't actually take you anywhere?

When I was there people were using the side of the railway track bed to get access!

 

[EYFanatic]

Yeah that's a good shout! Forgot about it as it's been mothballed for so long. But that one had no publicly accessible exit at all. When I visited it I did it in the morning when it was possible to have about twenty minutes there between trains and I did notice that security passed by a few times whilst I was there. I believe others had in fact been spoken to by security who made sure that they turned around and reboarded the first train back out or drove them to the site exit (if no such train was available).

I was there on the last day for the entire day and they parked a massive van with what looked like a spy satellite's worth of cameras pointing at me - had great fun making the camera operator swing the thing back and forth as I walked up the platforms. They tried the trick of escorting me off the station until I pointed out they had no powers on Network Rail/Northern Rail land and that I had a valid ticket (I'd also took the wise precaution of letting both know my intentions to film everything on the last day) and that if they did not unhand me, I'd go to the SPT and request assistance from the police via the signaller - at which point they backed off and just spent all day buggering about staring at me

 

[ainsworth74]

I was there on the last day for the entire day and they parked a massive van with what looked like a spy satellite's worth of cameras pointing at me - had great fun making the camera operator swing the thing back and forth as I walked up the platforms. They tried the trick of escorting me off the station until I pointed out they had no powers on Network Rail/Northern Rail land and that I had a valid ticket (I'd also took the wise precaution of letting both know my intentions to film everything on the last day) and that if they did not unhand me, I'd go to the SPT and request assistance from the police via the signaller - at which point they backed off and just spent all day buggering about staring at me

Sounds like you had much more "fun" than I did! You're also made of sterner stuff then I. My twenty minutes visit between trains was more than enough time at the place

 

[cjw714]

The station's gradually increased in usage since the access to the Exe Estuary footpath opened in 2010, from around 59k in 2009 to around 87k most recently. I'm not in the know about happenings in the military training centre but it's hard to imagine that the 30,000 increase in station usage over the last 1-2 decades was purely from traffic growth to the base - it'll mostly be walkers and locals realising that the station exists who've started to use it. Very much a multi-purpose station now.

Although Lympstone Commando is now open to the public there is still little reason for non-military people to use it as Exton is only 650 metres walk away and is a much nicer station with better views, road access and a pub nearby.

 

[SargeNpton]

A few years ago, before I retired from the rail industry, I compiled a list of stations that are on private land. I don't have access to that document any more but I reckon that there were 50 or more around the national rail network, with varying degrees of permissive public access for pedestrians and/or vehicles.

Somewhere in the south of England there is a station where the building is now an office, but the owners of the office try to prevent passengers being dropped off/picked up by car. The legality of the company's notices on the access road is somewhat suspect, and is ripe for being challenged. Similar situation to Altnabraeic I think, in that what they really own and what they claim to own may differ.

 

[cle]

I can think of lots of stations where the use is overwhelmingly interchange (Clapham Junction etc), but these do have public exits with some limited use.

I would not say it is limited! 24m and top 20 in the country. It has mainline station-style facilities in the main entrance But yes of course interchange is very high too.

Cornbrook was what I thought of here, and the equivalent in NYC/NJ of Secaucus. Both since were opened up to entries/exits and much TOD, but originally envisaged for interchange. Same with the Newark Airport Station which I believe will also get a more local entrance.

 

[jfollows]

I can think of lots of stations where the use is overwhelmingly interchange (Clapham Junction etc), but these do have public exits with some limited use.

I agree with @cle , when I was a student in London in 1981 then Clapham Junction was much busier as an interchange station, but in more recent years it's just incredibly busy all round, I have a former friend who lives in Clapham and when leaving the station to visit him I was hardly alone! It's a part of London that people didn't admit to living in back then; now it's trendy and desirable.

 

[Belperpete]

Does the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway's terminus at Treath Mawr have any public access?

 

[The Chimaera]

It does, though not road access, it's a public footpath to the nearest road a fair way away (and there is a station sign there). Altnabreac would also tick that box.

Interesting thanks, I must go and investigate.

 

[xotGD]

Trent? It only served as an interchange.

If Switzerland is included then there is the stop on the way up to Jungfraujoch which has a viewing window onto the mountain and does have an exit but anyone actually exiting via it had best be experienced mountaineers! This isn't the "Stollenloch" usually used by mountaineers to climb the North Face of the Eiger, though. I seem to recall reading that trains no longer stop there, however.

A quick bit of Googling confirms its name as Eigerwand.

I have used that station. Baled off, admired the view, got back on the train. The train only called in the "Up" direction, not on the way back down the mountain.

 

[LittleRedTrain]

Does the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway's terminus at Treath Mawr have any public access?

The line only terminated at Traeth Mawr for a couple of seasons while the southern section of the WHR main line was being rebuilt, now all trains terminate at Pen-y-Mount

However I don't think either that or the intermediate station at Gelerts farm have official public access.

 

[Belperpete]

The line only terminated at Traeth Mawr for a couple of seasons while the southern section of the WHR main line was being rebuilt, now all trains terminate at Pen-y-Mount

Doh, sorry I meant Pen-y-Mount.

However I don't think either that or the intermediate station at Gelerts farm have official public access.

 

[Panceltic]

Interesting thanks, I must go and investigate.

There is vehicular access from A487 at Glandyfi all the way to the Llyfnant River where there is a kind of a provisional carpark. There are regularly vans parked there but I am not sure if the access road is public access or limited to Network Rail etc.

From there, a short railway/footpath leads to a barrow crossing and onto the platform. It is then a loooong trek on the platform itself (it’s extremely long, to allow trains to pass) before you reach the actual junction bit!