British Waiting Rooms/Facilities - Some Room For Improvement?

[Jozhua]

I write this in a cold Derby station in one of the glass waiting rooms at the opposite end of the platform to the one my train is arriving on.

It is quite chilly (doors are wide open) and the one plug I found was "locked" out of use. Not the greatest experience for a 30 minute layover.

But Derby seems far from the only perpetrator here. Sheffield station and Manchester Piccadilly are some of the coldest places on earth in winter! The waiting rooms that are available are typically very drafty and uncomfortable.

Nottingham has pretty much nothing on platform level besides pumpkin and first class lounges (that are closed for Covid reasons...)

It just seems like a very simple thing to get right (a warm room) and I can point to places, such as Stockport, who get it right. Why is it so hard for the UK to do this, especially considering it's not exactly the warmest place on planet earth!

These kind of details add up to a person's perception and wether or not they wish to take the train. A comfortable wait in a warm room with charging points and places to use a laptop, etc, feels much shorter than a wait stood out in the freezing cold!

What does everyone else tend to think?

 

[LowLevel]

I write this in a cold Derby station in one of the glass waiting rooms at the opposite end of the platform to the one my train is arriving on.

It is quite chilly (doors are wide open) and the one plug I found was "locked" out of use. Not the greatest experience for a 30 minute layover.

But Derby seems far from the only perpetrator here. Sheffield station and Manchester Piccadilly are some of the coldest places on earth in winter! The waiting rooms that are available are typically very drafty and uncomfortable.

Nottingham has pretty much nothing on platform level besides pumpkin and first class lounges (that are closed for Covid reasons...)

It just seems like a very simple thing to get right (a warm room) and I can point to places, such as Stockport, who get it right. Why is it so hard for the UK to do this, especially considering it's not exactly the warmest place on planet earth!

These kind of details add up to a person's perception and wether or not they wish to take the train. A comfortable wait in a warm room with charging points and places to use a laptop, etc, feels much shorter than a wait stood out in the freezing cold!

What does everyone else tend to think?

I think the provision of café facilities has sort of taken over.

The traditional waiting room at larger stations doesn't get a huge amount of take up.

Nottingham which you mentioned actually has two waiting rooms on the 1/2/3 Island and one on the 4/5/6 one though admittedly they're not that obvious. They all have heating and plugs in them.

Part of the problem is that if you make them too appealing undesirables hang out in them instead.

Personally I liked the waiting room with sofas etc at Norwich but it is closed for yet another refit!

 

[nanstallon]

So British - because of a facility being abused by undesirables, it is closed and tough luck everyone else. Rather than booting the undesirables out, so that genuine customers can use the facility.

 

[Jozhua]

I think the provision of café facilities has sort of taken over.

The traditional waiting room at larger stations doesn't get a huge amount of take up.

Nottingham which you mentioned actually has two waiting rooms on the 1/2/3 Island and one on the 4/5/6 one though admittedly they're not that obvious. They all have heating and plugs in them.

Part of the problem is that if you make them too appealing undesirables hang out in them instead.

Personally I liked the waiting room with sofas etc at Norwich but it is closed for yet another refit!

Nottingham's waiting rooms are certainly not signposted then!

Fearing attraction of "undesirables" as a reason to not provide good facilities seems like cutting off your nose to spite your face! Plus, ticket barriers can be used to keep non-passengers out anyway.

At larger stations, people tend not to need to wait as long for a transfer. It's those medium size ones where you tend to wait around a little bit for a transfer that are the worst. Plus, people tend to prefer to wait nearer their platform, so big centralised rooms aren't as effective as that.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Dec 2021 ==

So British - because of a facility being abused by undesirables, it is closed and tough luck everyone else. Rather than booting the undesirables out, so that genuine customers can use the facility.

I would say, worsening your life just to make someone else's more miserable too is a very British trend if I've ever heard one!

 

[61653 HTAFC]

It's easy to say that Britain is the exception here, but I'm not convinced it is...
Nürnberg Hbf doesn't have much shelter on the platforms, nor does Bordeaux Saint-Jean (other than the trainshed roof, which doesn't do much for a cold wind off the Atlantic).

 

[HowardGWR]

If nearly all platforms were island ones, like the shuttle from Gatwick South to Gatwick north, then its system of having the doors opposite the doors of the train and otherwise shut off from the ouside elements and provided with central seating along its length, then waiting could be made very comfortable. Of course all stock would have to have doors in the same position, as will be the case with Crossrail. For larger stations, pax would be called to those platforms from a central lounge. I have never understood the reason to preserve trainsheds, which are both ugly and draughty. Birmingham New St could have been like this.

 

[Scott1]

Waiting rooms also don't attract many complaints, so they are lower on the list than other facilities. If people complained more about lack of heating etc it would get more attention. Toilets tend to get the most complaints from a facilities point of view. Interestingly lack of benches is also quite a frequent one, but varies massively depending on the station and route.

 

[py_megapixel]

I think waiting rooms at interchange stations should have facilities comparable to the trains.

At a big long-distance station - heating, seats made of something other than bare plastic or wood, clear passenger information displays and announcements, WiFi, tables, and a couple of vending machines so that hot drinks and snacks are available. It may not be practical or desirable to have toilets directly off the waiting room but they should be clearly signed, as should platform numbers and other station facilities.
In other words, doesn't need to be a luxury lounge, but it needs to be relatively pleasant and functional.

And don't do what seems to be the Network Rail thing of putting the waiting area in an obnoxious shopping centre setting; it should be a reasonably calm environment to wait for the train in.

 

[Anonymous10]

anyone know how good Carmarthen waiting room is that i recall no power or heating but not sure and have a hour lay over in a few weeks

 

[GlitterUnicorn]

I think waiting rooms at interchange stations should have facilities comparable to the trains.

At a big long-distance station - heating, seats made of something other than bare plastic or wood, clear passenger information displays and announcements, WiFi, tables, and a couple of vending machines so that hot drinks and snacks are available. It may not be practical or desirable to have toilets directly off the waiting room but they should be clearly signed, as should platform numbers and other station facilities.
In other words, doesn't need to be a luxury lounge, but it needs to be relatively pleasant and functional.

And don't do what seems to be the Network Rail thing of putting the waiting area in an obnoxious shopping centre setting; it should be a reasonably calm environment to wait for the train in.

Most waiting rooms are dated and totally inadequate. It's bizarre waiting on a comfortable long distance train on a hard wooden bench in a cold and dilapidated station building. Even "First Class Lounges" in some stations are barely better than a branch of Costa.

At long distance stations they should be aiming for parity with Airports,

 

[fat_boy_pete]

Greater Anglia had a programme of upgrading their waiting rooms. The ones completed are quite nice with leather chairs in some cases. Places to work on a laptop, changing points and sockets and plants! It can be done.

A story about 3 of the latest

Three Essex railway stations have their waiting rooms upgraded

Train operator Greater Anglia has completed the upgrade of three waiting rooms at stations on their network in Essex.

www.railadvent.co.uk

 

[D6968]

Personally if I have a wait of more than 45 minutes or so anywhere I tend to see if there’s a decent holstery nearby, The Coach and Horses in Norwich for example has had frequent custom from me in the past on my way back from my foray’s into Norfolk and Suffolk, hell in my younger days I’ve even managed to chance it and make it over the bridge at Kiddy during a 10 minute wait for a train to Worcester!

 

[The exile]

It is quite chilly (doors are wide open) and the one plug I found was "locked" out of use. Not the greatest experience for a 30 minute layover.

But Derby seems far from the only perpetrator here. Sheffield station and Manchester Piccadilly are some of the coldest places on earth in winter! The waiting rooms that are available are typically very drafty and uncomfortable.

"Doors are wide open" / Draughty is at least a sign that anti-COVID ventilation measures are being taken seriously!

There are plenty of pleasant waiting rooms at smaller stations (where ironically they're not often used because the stations aren't interchanges) - for decent medium-sized ones I'd suggest (pre-Covid) Bath Spa. However, the biggest problem I tend to find with waiting rooms isn't the facilities (or lack of them) - it's the other people in them!

 

[Parallel]

The waiting room on Platform 2 at Bath Spa is nice - the room is always warm and there is usually adequate seating. The only thing that could be improved is a CIS screen.

I’m also a fan of Dundee and Cardiff Central’s waiting rooms post-refurbishment. Dundee’s could be a bit bigger (though not really a lot that can be done about that). Cardiff’s would be better if they had the TVs muted and with subtitles only as the audio from the TV clashes with the train announcements and as a result you can’t focus on either.

 

[urbophile]

"Doors are wide open" / Draughty is at least a sign that anti-COVID ventilation measures are being taken seriously!

There are plenty of pleasant waiting rooms at smaller stations (where ironically they're not often used because the stations aren't interchanges) - for decent medium-sized ones I'd suggest (pre-Covid) Bath Spa. However, the biggest problem I tend to find with waiting rooms isn't the facilities (or lack of them) - it's the other people in them!

The smaller the station the better the waiting rooms is often the case. My local station (Cressington) on Merseyrail brought back to use the original Victorian waiting room a few years ago. It is basic (fixed metal chairs) but warm with a timed electric heater. Most people don't use it because the trains are frequent, but in cold weather if you've just missed one it is a joy.

By contrast Liverpool Lime Street has no waiting room as such (I believe there is a First Class lounge but I'm not sure if it's been open during the pandemic), only a couple of cafés and a pub. Few interchange passengers of course because of the nature of a terminus, but people naturally arrive early for a long distance train and apart from a few benches scattered around the concourse it's a restless place to be. Like Euston only with better architecture.

 

[30907]

It's easy to say that Britain is the exception here, but I'm not convinced it is...
Nürnberg Hbf doesn't have much shelter on the platforms, nor does Bordeaux Saint-Jean (other than the trainshed roof, which doesn't do much for a cold wind off the Atlantic).

Nor do (random examples, of which the first 3 are new-build) Berlin Hbf, Erfurt Hbf, Wien Hbf, Köln Hbf, Hamburg Hbf, Praha Hl.....

 

[py_megapixel]

At long distance stations they should be aiming for parity with Airports,

God no. Airports are horrible places.

 

[Dr Hoo]

God no. Airports are horrible places.

Can I ask why you think this? I thought that you were looking for:

I think waiting rooms at interchange stations should have facilities comparable to the trains.

At a big long-distance station - heating, seats made of something other than bare plastic or wood, clear passenger information displays and announcements, WiFi, tables, and a couple of vending machines so that hot drinks and snacks are available. It may not be practical or desirable to have toilets directly off the waiting room but they should be clearly signed, as should platform numbers and other station facilities.
In other words, doesn't need to be a luxury lounge, but it needs to be relatively pleasant and functional.

Sounds pretty much like many airport departure lounges used to be in my experience (not that I've flown in recent years).

 

[py_megapixel]

Can I ask why you think this?

I guess there's not that much wrong with airports specifically.

The main problem I have is that all airports I've been to seem to call things lounges when they are actually just some seats in the gate area. To me it feels like the equivalent of putting seats among the shops on the station concourse, the rather than having a waiting room - it feels chaotic with planes/trains constantly arriving and departing and passengers and staff walking around, always in a hurry. If I have a long connection I want somewhere that feels at least slightly tranquil, where I can take a short break from the chaos of rail travel, but still with access to a sensible selection of facilities. Hence - seating, tables, departure screens and announcements so I don't miss my train, and somewhere to buy drinks and snacks.

And yes, I appreciate that the busiest times will wreck the calm somewhat, but it's still nice to have.

I suppose a similar set of facilities to an airport lounge, but in a specific waiting room rather than just out on the concourse, is what I want.

 

[nanstallon]

I get the feeling that the station operators don't want people hanging around, so they make it pretty uncomfortable. That drives you off to the shops to spend some money to help with paying the rent.

 

[24Grange]

Agreed with previous comment. We don't want "customers" hanging around our facilities, it would take time to "police" and they might want/ask something. Better to make as uncomfortable as possible and open for as little time as possible. Let them make do with steel vandal proof seats and open bus shelters instead. Don't open toilets ( or the minimum) and then get cross when customers urinate on stairs or doorways. Almost of a mind set of " just be glad the station is open and you have a train to wait for" Rather than any desire for customer " ambiance". Exeter St Davids has a nice lounge, wood paneled. But again with hard cold vandal proof seats.

 

[Christmas]

I wish people would learn the difference between a plug and a socket. I've heard passengers referring to the USB socket correctly yet the three pronged socket they call a plug.
I write this from a draughty (not drafty) Edinburgh Waverley.

 

[johnnychips]

^ ”three-pronged socket”. You mean “plughole”.

 

[Mordac]

Agreed with previous comment. We don't want "customers" hanging around our facilities, it would take time to "police" and they might want/ask something. Better to make as uncomfortable as possible and open for as little time as possible. Let them make do with steel vandal proof seats and open bus shelters instead. Don't open toilets ( or the minimum) and then get cross when customers urinate on stairs or doorways. Almost of a mind set of " just be glad the station is open and you have a train to wait for" Rather than any desire for customer " ambiance". Exeter St Davids has a nice lounge, wood paneled. But again with hard cold vandal proof seats.

Do you work at Blackpool North by any chance?

 

[Jozhua]

"Doors are wide open" / Draughty is at least a sign that anti-COVID ventilation measures are being taken seriously!

There are plenty of pleasant waiting rooms at smaller stations (where ironically they're not often used because the stations aren't interchanges) - for decent medium-sized ones I'd suggest (pre-Covid) Bath Spa. However, the biggest problem I tend to find with waiting rooms isn't the facilities (or lack of them) - it's the other people in them!

Yeah - I'm pretty sure it's an anti-covid thing!

Besides, it has been like that for a while. At Derby and Sheffield, most, if not all, of the waiting rooms are unheated, which makes for a very pleasent experience when changing in the Winter. I'm sure many are familiar with the quality waiting areas at Manchester Piccadilly too!

God no. Airports are horrible places.

At the very least, most have somewhere warm to sit. But the whole airport experience can be summised by "hurry up and wait", something which stations such as Derby seem to channel by the bucketload. Derby is a perticularly miserable place to interchange, especially at night, where even the cafes are closed, so it isn't like you can get comfortable if you are willing to spend money! To be honest, it is pretty representitive of the rest of the city in many respects

 

[GlitterUnicorn]

God no. Airports are horrible places.

Can't think of many stations that are as comfortable to wait in as an airport?

 

[py_megapixel]

Re. my comment about airports, please see my response above (and quoted below for clarity)

I appreciate that was a poorly placed comment and has quite a lot to do with my bad experiences with airports in the past. The actual facilities and standard of comfort at airports is fine, I just wouldn't want a station to feel like an airport.

I guess there's not that much wrong with airports specifically.

The main problem I have is that all airports I've been to seem to call things lounges when they are actually just some seats in the gate area. To me it feels like the equivalent of putting seats among the shops on the station concourse, the rather than having a waiting room - it feels chaotic with planes/trains constantly arriving and departing and passengers and staff walking around, always in a hurry. If I have a long connection I want somewhere that feels at least slightly tranquil, where I can take a short break from the chaos of rail travel, but still with access to a sensible selection of facilities. Hence - seating, tables, departure screens and announcements so I don't miss my train, and somewhere to buy drinks and snacks.

And yes, I appreciate that the busiest times will wreck the calm somewhat, but it's still nice to have.

I suppose a similar set of facilities to an airport lounge, but in a specific waiting room rather than just out on the concourse, is what I want.

 

[Dougal2345]

There was a thread here a few years ago about lack of waiting rooms at interchanges - I post a link out of interest:

https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...s-with-no-warm-waiting-room-eastleigh.157443/

 

[24Grange]

As I've said before a mind set of " just be glad the station wasn't closed by Beeching and you have a train to wait for" Rather than any desire for customer " ambiance". Once we have your fare box money - you are an inconvenience anyway!!

 

[Jim the Jim]

Nuneaton platform 2/3 waiting room has (or used to) oversensitive automatic doors that were brilliant for letting the cold in.

Airports vs stations - I suppose it depends what you value. Airports might be warmer and the seats maybe more comfortable, but I find stations are generally better at not crowding almost all the possible places to sit into one small area, so you can actually have some space to yourself.