Crewe station is a Disgrace

[ole man]

When will somebody take responsibility for the state of crewe station? Weeds growing from the roofs, derelict bay platforms, condemned offices, what does a lick of paint acheive?
Network Rail want to move the station to basford hall,the local council want to move the entrance to weston road, that would cost millions,spend half that a do it up properly,like network rail have done at man picc, Crewe is one the most visited stations in the country, what must visitors think when they get off to change?

Whilst i'm raging,who on earth said 'lets paint platform 12 and make it look good' when hardly anybody uses the thing

 

[table38]

I quite like Crewe as it's not changed much since my old spotting days when you had time to pop into the buffet on Platform 6 while they changed the locos. It's interesting, rather than being new and uniform and full of shops and concrete.

And Platform 12 is used for nice things like this on Saturday

 

[ole man]

Cool picture,where was the 92 off to? Going back to platform 12 so they spent thousands on it just for the odd railtour every weekend? It could of been used to buy weedkiller,or better do the main roof on platforms 5 and 6, i've been told that's the main reason why there is a 80mph speed through crewe, Please correct me if im wrong

 

[theblackwatch]

I quite like Crewe as it's not changed much since my old spotting days when you had time to pop into the buffet on Platform 6 while they changed the locos. It's interesting, rather than being new and uniform and full of shops and concrete.

Not changed much! Platform 12 (the old 2) has changed totally beyond recognition since 20 years ago - it now features a bus shelter!

 

[swt_passenger]

Hasn't the move been completely abandoned now, and a recent decision made to renew the roof glazing?

Presumaby all the while there was a possible relocation no-one was interested in major renovation works, however day to day cleanliness was presumably always down to Virgin Trains - who seem to have form for neglecting their stations anyway...?

 

[table38]

Cool picture,where was the 92 off to?

It was the UK Rail Limestone Cowboy returning to Euston. As we'd blocked Platform 6 (so we could get over to the Manchester line) on the way up for about 30 mins for the loco change (from a not so shiny but still very red 92042), a lot of the Chester and Liverpool stuff was being diverted into 12.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I was on that! I have never known a train in the Up direction use 12 from the WCML. The works to the canopy on 5 / 6 have made a massive difference though.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The works to the canopy on 5 / 6 have made a massive difference though.

But they've only done the bits between the overbridges.
The long canopies at either end are in a sorry state, and there are a lot of glass panels missing.

P12 was updated to accommodate the downsizing of the structure.
Customer facilities are very basic.

The station buffets are completely scruffy, despite redecoration.
Seats torn, customer-unfriendly signs, sticking doors etc.

When there were signs saying "International Departure Lounge" on P5 there were hopes of an improvement, but it never opened.
If the lounge was ever built it must be being used by Virgin privately.

Station environments are an area where the new West Coast franchise must deliver something. Crewe just happens to be one of the worst.
The planning blight about the new station can't have helped.

 

[Rugd1022]

With our various jobs to basford Hall I have occasion to use the station at all hours of the day and night, and sometimes when I'm looking around, it has the feel of a once proud station that's almost on the verge of closure. It's a great pity the recent lick of paint hasn't extended beyond the two bridges as pointed out above, it would make no end of difference. In some ways though, Crewe always was a dark and dingy place but back then it was very lively with endless parcels trains, sleepers and the odd loco change, plus all the comings and goings off the Diesel Depot.

Now that the idea of a new station elsewhere has been abandoned, NR really ought to finish sprucing up the Premier Line's busiest interchange, and I don't mean chucking all the colours of the rainbow at it either... a nice, tidy rendition of the LMR red and cream on all of the wood and metalwork would do nicely.

 

[T8KE0FF]

I don't know if I'm the only one but I quite like Crewe station.. It has a quirky layout which is something different to the other boring mainline stations. It's also got plenty of shops, cafes and bars, perfect for a big interchange like Crewe. I don't see whats so bad about it, sure a little modernisation wouldn't hurt but it's not awful as it is in my opinion!

 

[All Line Rover]

Crewe is not a perfect station by any means, but it is more than adequate and serves its purpose well. The idea of moving the station was terrible since day one, and was scrapped ages ago.

The roofs in the centre of Platforms 5 and 6 have been replaced, which has improved the station significantly during periods of rain. Originally, Virgin wanted to replace the roofs at both ends of the platform also (they truly are terrible), as well as replacing the lifts and installing escalators to replace the main stairs at the north of the station. All of these ideas were unfortunately abandoned when the "Station Improvement Scheme" (something like that) was scrapped a few months ago.

On the plus side the benches in the waiting room on Platform 5 - which were in a state of disrepair - were replaced a few weeks ago with plastic benches. They are actually quite comfortable!

I can't imagine any significant new improvements happening any time soon, unless the DfT specify that these improvements must be carried out by the new franchise holder (whoever that will be).

 

[western Champion]

Platform 12 seems to be used mainly as a stand-by platform, only seeing use when the booked platform is unavailable. As a side note when I dumped a Voyager on the LNWR last night and walked back to the station past the diesel depot and down holding sidings it's apparent just how run down the whole railway is in Crewe and not just the station. I remember Crewe Diesel as a thriving depot and now look at it, also heard yesterday that DBS have made forty drivers redundant at Crewe.

 

[All Line Rover]

Platform 12 seems to be used mainly as a stand-by platform, only seeing use when the booked platform is unavailable.

It is always used for the 07:33 Arriva Premier Service to Cardiff. That's about it!

 

[Rugd1022]

Platform 12 seems to be used mainly as a stand-by platform, only seeing use when the booked platform is unavailable. As a side note when I dumped a Voyager on the LNWR last night and walked back to the station past the diesel depot and down holding sidings it's apparent just how run down the whole railway is in Crewe and not just the station. I remember Crewe Diesel as a thriving depot and now look at it, also heard yesterday that DBS have made forty drivers redundant at Crewe.

Yes, you're correct about the DBS lads losing their jobs... also, the ten remaining DBS Drivers at Rugby are looking at the same fate, although we're trying our best to get some of them jobs with us at FLHH. It's possible that some of the DBS lads could go to Bescot or Saltley if they don't take the money.

(With apologies for veering off topic )

 

[Hydro]

I pick up the odd train off LNWR from time to time, and it's clear from the walk from the station, through the diesel depot and over to the other side, that Crewe is really quite down in the dumps all over. Derelict buildings everywhere, overgrown sidings, and abandoned wagons (like those almost brand new painted EWS branded tank wagons that have been there for God knows how long).

 

[The Informer]

i can think of worse places!

 

[martinsh]

i can think of worse places!

W******d K******e for example !

Or, nearer in size, Manchester Victoria

 

[185]

God has spoken.

It would of cost Virgin not a lot and not very much effort to make the station just mildly attractive.

Today, God burnt down Beardie's tastefully decorated Island Retreat....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14621678

 

[merlodlliw]

In my opinion, Crewe is not such an important hub as previous years, most Anglo/Scots trains don't stop at Crewe anymore. Times Change.

But I agree it is one of VTs worst kept.


Bob

 

[mallard]

While I'd agree that Crewe could do with a clean-up and some repairs, I'd rather not see it become the next Newport (S. Wales).

Let's keep overpaid architects from making our stations look like pieces of "modern 'art'".

(And no, I'm not advocating 1960's "everything should be a concrete box" thinking either.)

 

[junglejames]

Today, God burnt down Beardie's tastefully decorated Island Retreat....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14621678

Sorry, but how is this funny. His family were inside that building, and if i heard right, a couple of them (his mother) had to be rescued by Kate Winslet.

You may not like Virgin (im not there biggest fan since pendys and voyagers came on stream), hey, you may not even like Sir Richard Branson, but to laugh at his house burning down? That was a very bad fire. Totally destroyed the house, and there were people inside.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

While I'd agree that Crewe could do with a clean-up and some repairs, I'd rather not see it become the next Newport (S. Wales).

Let's keep overpaid architects from making our stations look like pieces of "modern 'art'".

(And no, I'm not advocating 1960's "everything should be a concrete box" thinking either.)

Agree. Crewe could be really nice, and you dont need to spend much money, as the basis for it is already there.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

Crewe has a hotch potch feel of 1970's rundown BR - which people should appreciate, as museums and preserved lines just can't recreate that feel. (Mainly because most of them don't actually serve a purpose other than as a museum and therefore are too clean and pristine).
A lick of paint maybe, but the kind of paint that will soon peel and give us a return to the unloved railway of late 60's early 70's British Rail.

 

[IanPooleTrains]

It is always used for the 07:33 Arriva Premier Service to Cardiff. That's about it!

And the 10:43 1D83 Pendo drag

 

[MidnightFlyer]

... And one of the early New St LM runs

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Do Virgin ever issue details of future planned station improvements and the estimated/budgeted costs associated for each one?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

They won't now with the franchise so close to ending.

 

[northwichcat]

When will somebody take responsibility for the state of crewe station?

Probably never now they've not got Mrs Dunwoody on their backs.

 

[Rwhunited]

I actually worked as a contractor, not much has been done seeing as there contract for virgin ends soon but a fair bit has been done behind the scenes such as the arriva trains crew depot

 

[CosherB]

Crewe is certainly a bit tatty, but does have charm unlike many modernised stations (especially '60s montrosities like Stafford).

Moving it south would be daft - the Shrewsbury line would no longer be served.

My only gripe is the frequent last minute platform changes between 5 and 6, especially for Arriva Wales Manchester-bound trains.

 

[David Goddard]

Yes Crewe does have a bit of a tatty feel to it, but for me this evokes atmosphere. We were up there a few weeks ago and just sat watching the trains for a few hours.
The platforms were clean and tidy, as were the toilets and the refreshment establishments, which are in plentiful supply.
With its five through platforms and seven bays it has loads of capacity, something which has been reduced from other stations in the past, the shortcomings of which are now coming to light as traffic picks up again.

Platform twelve remains an oddity being so far detatched and with its state. I cant but wonder whether this and everything to the west of it will be swept away in due course, leaving 1,5,6 and 11 as through platforms which should suffice given current traffic and a reasonable increase in the future. What Crewe really needs is a new bay at the north end of platform 5 to serve the Manchester local class 323s, freeing up 1 or 5 which are used at present.

A classic location that continues to serve its purpose, and can cope with expansion, just a little dated. I hope they keep come up with radical plans for a huge rebuild that will destroy its character.