Downgraded stations

[MCR247]

Workington North

 

[Lampshade]

Cool, at least now you've got ore regular trains to more destinations (Bolton, Manc etc)

Wow, Bolton, that pinnacle of magnificence, I bet the people of Lockerbie are over the moon

 

[Darandio]

Many listed already but there are really far too many to list, here are a couple from "up here"

Darlington had bays at the north end which are now not there. Durham had bay platforms although you would now struggle to see where they could possibly fit them, especially at the south (viaduct) end

Already mentioned, but Bishop Auckland was an enormous hub of activity and is now desolate.

 

[AndyJB]

Not absolutely certain it qualifies, as it did technically close (though small parts of the old platforms still exist) but will give mention to Birmingham Snow Hill.
Definitely not the station it once was.

I'd mention Seaton Junction too if not for the fact that it's out of use and has been for a considerable length of time..

 

[sprinterguy]

Many listed already but there are really far too many to list, here are a couple from "up here"

Darlington had bays at the north end which are now not there. Durham had bay platforms although you would now struggle to see where they could possibly fit them, especially at the south (viaduct) end

Durham had bays? hock: I do indeed have some trouble picturing that!

Also agree with Andy JB that Brum Snow Hill is very much a shadow of it's former self, it's interesting being able to see the remnants of the former platforms and realise how big the station once was.

 

[Drsatan]

Barnstaple station (formerly Barnstaple Junction) used to be much larger with the lines to Taunton, Torrington and Ilfracome via Barnstaple Town. Now it has one platform and an hourly service to Exeter

Stapleton Road and Lawrence Hill stations in Bristol used to have four platforms: now both stations just have two since the relief lines to Filton Abbey Wood no longer exist.

 

[yorksrob]

East Grinstead is a good one of these. Previously a NSEW crossroads with six platforms (four on a higher level and at right angles to the other two). Now just the terminus for a single branch and the two lower platforms.

 

[Darandio]

Durham had bays? hock: I do indeed have some trouble picturing that!

At both ends!

Go here:- http://ww2.durham.gov.uk/dre/pgDre.aspx?&SEARCH=By+Keyword&TERM=Railway+stations

Look at "Durham City, locomotive near station" and i, ii and iv show the entrance to the south bays with the viaduct in view and iii shows the gantry covering the north bays in the background.

 

[sprinterguy]

Oh yeah, now that my memory has been jogged by those photos, I do recall being told about the north end bay at Durham: It's difficult to imagine that the area to the west of the northbound platform was ever anything other than the road to the carpark.

I still can't picture just how the south end bays fit in though on the opposite side though! Fascinating pictures.

 

[4SRKT]

I'm pretty sure I can remember Durham with a trackless north facing bay from when I was a kid. Not 100% sure though. When was the car park extended over this whole area?

 

[deltic1989]

I'll submit Lincoln Central. Once upon a time there were 8 platforms of which 5 are still in use one still stands with the track removed and where one of the car parks now stands at the eastern end there was another 2 bays. Another example could be Gainsbrough Central which now only has a Saturdays only service.

 

[plymothian]

Carnforth

 

[ainsworth74]

Saltburn had 4 platforms, carriage sidings, a siding into the back of the Zetland so 1st class passengers could alight straight into the hotel, and an actual station building. Now 2 platforms and a plastic bus shelter!

 

[Aictos]

Spalding used to have about 7 platforms with many sidings, now Spalding only has two platforms.

 

[deltic1989]

I don't know if anyone has already said this but i was at Hull the other day and that looks like its been downgraded i dont know how many platforms it used to have but theres a huge trainshed with half of it converted into a bus station.

 

[4SRKT]

I don't know if anyone has already said this but i was at Hull the other day and that looks like its been downgraded i dont know how many platforms it used to have but theres a huge trainshed with half of it converted into a bus station.

The whole city of Hull looks as though it has been downgraded, which is a terrible shame because it's actually a fantastic place once you get past the stereotypes.

 

[Bish Boy]

Tynemouth had a few bay platforms now only two through platforms for the Metro lovely old station tho

 

[142094]

Would be good to see the blue line again, perhaps with some terminating at North Shields or a revamped Tynemouth with the bays in use again.

 

[Max]

I don't know if anyone has already said this but i was at Hull the other day and that looks like its been downgraded i dont know how many platforms it used to have but theres a huge trainshed with half of it converted into a bus station.

I believe Hull used to have approximately 12-13 platforms. It was a major railhead, particularly when the docks were used more intensively.

 

[dickdarlington]

Would be good to see the blue line again, perhaps with some terminating at North Shields or a revamped Tynemouth with the bays in use again.

Blue line?

 

[sprinterguy]

Blue line?

Yep, used to basically be a North Tyneside shuttle service, running from St. James to North Shields via Wallsend etc, and terminated in the bay platform at North Shields. It was coded blue on the Tyne and Wear Metro maps, alongside the current yellow and green routes. There was also a red line from Pelaw to Benton.

I agree with 142094 that it would be good to see a similar service brought back, running into reinstated bay platforms at the south end of Tynemouth station, or even back into the fully functional bay at North Shields, which seems to be used for precious little these days.

 

[142094]

which seems to be used for precious little these days.

I can't remember the last time it was in use, but of course there aren't many Metro veg online so hard to come across info. I do remember using it one time, possibly when the Fish Quay festival was on. This was before it changed to the Orange festival and WOW or whatever the hell it has been called since.

 

[Aictos]

How about Baldock on the Hitchin to Cambridge line, used to have terminating services there in the 70s, now only has though services.

 

[manaichain]

Oxford and Didcot Parkway

Oxford General once major junction hub, at one point had 6 platforms, 2 Through lines, in addition to 2 Up facing Bays and 2 Down facing bays, on opposite sides of the Main Line (1 at each corner). The 4 bays look like been there since 1910: The Down facing Bay on East side was shortened twice in 1970 but survives as Platform 3, used for services originating at Oxford, to Bicester Town and Banbury (and occasional Chiltern service from Birmingham Snow Hill), formerly used for the Cambridge service after Oxford Rewley Road closed in 1951. The Down facing bay on West Side was for Local services to Worcester plus the Woodstock and Witney/Fairford branches, and bay was closed 1973. Don't know when Up facing bays closed.

Didcot Parkway had 2 bays, both South of Platform 1 (Down Great Western Main Line), the one at the East End was for the Didcot-Newbury-Winchester-Southampton services, one at the West end was for the stopping services to Swindon

 

[martinsh]

OK, a few off the top of my head

Rochdale - used to be two island platforms, now only one. Not sure about bays.
Uttoxeter - five platforms with a junction, full station facilities, overbridge, shed and yard. now just a two platform unstaffed halt with bus shelters.
Buxton - used to be two stations side by side, both with overall roofs, six platforms in total. Now just a basic two platforms open to the elements

 

[fairysdad]

Yeoford station on the North Devon Line - used to be the main junction between the LSWR's Barnstaple and Plymouth lines, three platform faces of which only one is used now. The Atlantic Coast Express used to split/join here as well as the obligatory freight workings. The junction between the Barnstaple and Okehampton lines is further at Crediton now, and only the old 'down' platform is in use on Barnstaple trains; Okehampton trains don't stop here (at the present anyway)

 

[steamybrian]

Until the mid 1960s Christs Hospital had 7 platforms and now reduced to two (up and down platforms).
I believe that Blackpool Central with 13 platforms was the largest station (with most platforms) in the UK to completely close.

 

[317666]

Norton Bridge - used to be served fairly regularly, now it's just a rail replacement bus!

Similarly, Polesworth only gets one train a week or something like that...

 

[martinsh]

I believe that Blackpool Central with 13 platforms was the largest station (with most platforms) in the UK to completely close.

I think Nottingham Victoria was actually larger in size, but only 12(?) platforms.
Other large stations to close Manchester Central (9 platforms) and Glasgow St Enoch

 

[jrhilton]

What about Broad Street station in London. I hear it was downgraded in 1986....