Best Maintained Stations

[mralexn]

So basically in your opinion, What TOC takes the most care and pride in looking after their stations?
Also, what TOC is the worst

 

[Lampshade]

Best:

East Coast - look at York and Newcastle.

Worst:

Virgin - just look at Wigan North Western, Warrington Bank Quay and Crewe; for major stations they are dreadful.

Merseyrail - the stations may we well kept, but that shade of yellow is enough to make me take a taxi.

Indifferent:

Northern - they have some real howlers like Wakefield Kirkgate and Manchester Victoria, but also some gems like Bridlington and Hebden Bridge.

South West Trains - I think 'sufficient' is the word.

 

[ValleyLines142]

Manchester Piccadilly, managed by Network Rail, is fabulous! One of the best stations in the country I think!!

Then again Birmingham New Street is managed by Network Rail, and that's very drab and underground!! (although they're refurbishing it aren't they??)

 

[SS4]

Then again Birmingham New Street is managed by Network Rail, and that's very drab and underground!! (although they're refurbishing it aren't they??)

Yes they are.

I don't like VT stations that much; BHI, COV and RUG look grey and desolate.

Chiltern's stations aren't bad although the best are easily MYB and BMO at either end.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
In the letter of the title then Network Rail do a good job in maintaining their stations given the footfall and often outdated station buildings

 

[Train jaune]

Think we're maybe being a bit harsh on some TOCs. Manchester Victoria may have half it's roof missing but that's not down to Norther to sort out

 

[317666]

NXEA, sorry, Greater Anglia, have a mixed bunch really. Some stations, Ely being one that stands out for me, are very well kept and the staff seem to take pride in their station. Other stations though, such as a few on the Seven Sisters loop, are absolute dumps quite frankly, with litter/smashed glass/broken signs everywhere.

 

[Sheridan]

I agree that Merseyrail's stations look shabby, not because of a lack of effort but due to the colours involved. The brown fixtures on the underground stations are quite simply horrible!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

ScotRail's are quite nice - Wemyss Bay is stunning, as are other like Ayr, Glasgow Queen St (not the Low Level, that's grim, but that's beyond their control), Stirling and to an extent Perth.

NXEA, sorry, Greater Anglia, have a mixed bunch really. Some stations, Ely being one that stands out for me, are very well kept and the staff seem to take pride in their station. Other stations though, such as a few on the Seven Sisters loop, are absolute dumps quite frankly, with litter/smashed glass/broken signs everywhere.

Aye, I second that. Places like Maryland, Walthamstow Central and Bethnal Green are very, very dull and shabby. Then again, out in the north some are very nice - Cambridge, Ely, Norwich and some of the rural halts out that way. It doesn't help that there are about 15 different colour and sign design schemes on the network, I hope that changes soon.

 

[dvboy]

Manchester Piccadilly, managed by Network Rail, is fabulous! One of the best stations in the country I think!!

Then again Birmingham New Street is managed by Network Rail, and that's very drab and underground!! (although they're refurbishing it aren't they??)

Yes, BHM is very much a building site at the moment. Every platform has exposed brickwork and scaffolding on it to some degree, with many temporary walls put up too.

 

[Proud Salopian]

Well ATW certainly don't look after the stations in Shropshire much!

Church Stretton relies on volunteers to keep it tidy and tender the gardens.

 

[ValleyLines142]

Yes they are.

I don't like VT stations that much; BHI, COV and RUG look grey and desolate.

Chiltern's stations aren't bad although the best are easily MYB and BMO at either end.

Birmingham International seems alright. The concourse looked a little grubby but the platforms weren't bad. Unless they've sorted it out since.

I haven't been to Coventry or Rugby on the train so I haven't seen those stations.

Chiltern's station seem nice, as do London Midland's.

Yes, BHM is very much a building site at the moment. Every platform has exposed brickwork and scaffolding on it to some degree, with many temporary walls put up too.

Although grotty at the moment, it's all for a sustainably developed and environmentally friendly place!

Well ATW certainly don't look after the stations in Shropshire much!

Church Stretton relies on volunteers to keep it tidy and tender the gardens.

Then again, some of the Valley Lines stations are alright.

 

[dvboy]

Chiltern's station seem nice, as do London Midland's.

Have you been to Dudley Port?

 

[paulb1973]

Birmingham International seems alright. The concourse looked a little grubby but the platforms weren't bad. Unless they've sorted it out since.

I haven't been to Coventry or Rugby on the train so I haven't seen those stations.

Chiltern's station seem nice, as do London Midland's.



Although grotty at the moment, it's all for a sustainably developed and environmentally friendly place!

Coventry & Rugby, while functional, if a little dull are normally kept spotless. Standing on the island platform at Rugby post-Christmas on a Thursday mid-afternoon, the place was very quiet indeed, but no litter or debris was to be seen.

 

[ValleyLines142]

Have you been to Dudley Port?

The shelter looked terrible before reglazing!

Coventry & Rugby, while functional, if a little dull are normally kept spotless. Standing on the island platform at Rugby post-Christmas on a Thursday mid-afternoon, the place was very quiet indeed, but no litter or debris was to be seen.

Depends what day you capture them on really! Some days may be messy, some days may be immaculate!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Rugby's island platform tends to be immaculate on the basis that only about 20tpd serve it! It used to be very busy at times, but the remodelling took all bar the LM Crewe services away from it, before that it was the only set of platforms there. Now the cafe's closed, the booking office has moved and the whole thing looks abandoned for 55 mins every hour.

 

[mralexn]

Think we're maybe being a bit harsh on some TOCs. Manchester Victoria may have half it's roof missing but that's not down to Norther to sort out

then who is it down to?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

then who is it down to?

It's for Network Rail to sort out - Northern can ask all they want, but they can't do a thing without backing of the DfT and NR.

 

[jonb]

The stations between on the S & C are in my opinion some of the nicest kept in the country. Garsdale for example has had a waiting room refurbished on the Carlisle bound platform which features paintings and more importantly working heating! Also Kirkby Stephen with it's station cafe (on the Leeds platform) is very nice too.

 

[pmgarvey]

Manchester Piccadilly, managed by Network Rail, is fabulous! One of the best stations in the country I think!!

Then again Birmingham New Street is managed by Network Rail, and that's very drab and underground!! (although they're refurbishing it aren't they??)

Have to agree about Piccadilly. St Pancras is very well kept too (though it's apparently jointly mangaged by Network Rail and Eurostar, so where credit for that should go I'm not sure).

Have to feel for them slightly on Birmingham New Street, as when presented with it bar rebuilding the entire station you can't really think of ways to make it too much nicer, you can't get away from the fact it's all underground.

 

[SS4]

Have to agree about Piccadilly. St Pancras is very well kept too (though it's apparently jointly mangaged by Network Rail and Eurostar, so where credit for that should go I'm not sure).

Have to feel for them slightly on Birmingham New Street, as when presented with it bar rebuilding the entire station you can't really think of ways to make it too much nicer, you can't get away from the fact it's all underground.

I'll think of you when the weather turns **** and you're roasting in the open whereas I'll be in cool BHM shade

 

[Lampshade]

Cromford is rather nice.

 

[50041]

Has anyone mentioned Birmingham Moor Street?

 

[marks87]

ScotRail's are quite nice - Wemyss Bay is stunning, as are other like Ayr, Glasgow Queen St (not the Low Level, that's grim, but that's beyond their control), Stirling and to an extent Perth.

Don't forget Dumfries, which has plethora of "Best Station" awards adorning the booking office wall. And it is quite nice - very olde-worlde, like one you'd see on a heritage line.

 

[Badger]

There's a difference between a bad station, and a badly maintained station. I find New Street very well maintained, even if it's not the nicest building.

 

[dvboy]

I'll think of you when the weather turns **** and you're roasting in the open whereas I'll be in cool BHM shade

Very true, nothing worse than waiting half an hour for a train outside in the wet.

 

[yorksrob]

It's for Network Rail to sort out - Northern can ask all they want, but they can't do a thing without backing of the DfT and NR.

I notice that it's the bit of the roof over Metrolink which is particularly bad at Vic rather than the national railway. TFGM not pulling it's weight perhaps ?

One TOC which is really good with stations seems to be Southern. It's impressive to see how well the Coastway stations are kept, particularly considering how dire Connex were. Just a shame they didn't get there in time to rescue Hastings' wonderful Southern Railway booking hall

 

[NSE]

The South Eastern side of Victoria looks brilliant now that the building and restoration has been complete. Top marks for network rail on that one.