Most beautiful stations

[Harpo]

I think Birmingham moor street is miles ahead of new street

New Street is a (declining) shopping Mall covering an absolute shothole of a railway station.

Liverpool Street should feature high up. Yes, there’s a lot been lost under rafts on the east side and country end, but the main concourse is a railway cathedral.

More surprising is the absence of any of the London Underground’s amazing architecture. The quality of parts of the Jubilee Line extension such as at Canary Wharf is epic. The dark gothic escalator area at Westminster blows me away.

 

[apinnard]

More surprising is the absence of any of the London Underground’s amazing architecture. The quality of parts of the Jubilee Line extension such as at Canary Wharf is epic. The dark gothic escalator area at Westminster blows me away.

Agreed re the more modern LU stuff. Some of it is awe inspiring. Even down to the fine detail like the individually selected mosaic tiling at each of the Jubilee Line Extension stations.

That said, some of the older stations are also worth a mention. For instance; the art deco Charles Holden stuff like the Moscow Metro styled concourse at Gants Hill and the geometric Arnos Grove, to the nostalgic Earls Court with its vintage train describers under the lofty trainshed.

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With it’s adjacent viaduct and beautiful scenery, they missed a trick not including Knaresborough. But I guess that’s just subjective.

 

[Pnerick81]

Lancaster, oxenholme and Penrith are nice on the eye .

 

[SCDR_WMR]

I really like Helsby on the Chester to Runcorn line as an out there choice.

Working semaphore signal box on the island platform, beautiful stone build buildings and the view of the sandstone outcrop that overlooks the village is splendid. (Just don't look the other way)

 

[01d-and]

I really like Leamington Spa.

 

[izvor]

Lewes has been mentioned several times as a lovely Victorian junction station, which is hard to beat - so let's hear it for Purley! Rebuilt around 1900 when the Brighton line was quadrupled and (I believe) still retaining its original platform buildings and awnings on all 6 platforms, as well as the main up side entrance building with date (1899 iirc). Unremarkable, still functional, and rather fine, if not overtly beautiful.

Next door is Kenley, which still has its beautiful, original (1856) Caterham Railway Gothic-style station house on the down platform, recently restored, and an unusual shelter on the up.

 

[hermit]

l would vote for Aberdour, already mentioned.

Also Bishopstone, perhaps architecturally distinguished rather than ‘beautiful’ - a mini example of Southern Art Deco style, with a local Friends group to look after it.

 

[davidknibb]

I'm almost wanting to compare new with old. For example Birmingham Snow Hill was beautiful, until politics and redevelopment got in on the act, and the modern Snow Hill is pretty awful. And as for New Street, it must be the worst main station in the country to actually be on the platforms. It's not easy to describe how bad it is, but take a visit and wait at train level for a short while. And to think how many millions of £ were spent on renovating the upper levels recently, then to more or less ignore the 'real' part of the station where people get on and off trains.

 

[birchesgreen]

Does Cromford station definitely deserve third place in the listing?

Maybe

 

[duffield]

I'm almost wanting to compare new with old. For example Birmingham Snow Hill was beautiful, until politics and redevelopment got in on the act, and the modern Snow Hill is pretty awful. And as for New Street, it must be the worst main station in the country to actually be on the platforms. It's not easy to describe how bad it is, but take a visit and wait at train level for a short while. And to think how many millions of £ were spent on renovating the upper levels recently, then to more or less ignore the 'real' part of the station where people get on and off trains.

To be fair, the platform level *was* a lot worse a few years back (I know it's hard to imagine). Some of the platform level structures were removed to make more room and even allow some seating areas, and the lighting and ventilation was much improved. At non-rush hours it's actually quite tolerable. And there are the seating areas and toilets inside the barrier upstairs. Before those changes, it was truly hellish.

 

[davidknibb]

The ventilation 'improvements' may have solved one problem are created another. The fans that assist the ventilation are about as noisy as an aeroplane jet engine. So if you are at a platform near a diesel train with engine running, the noise of the ventilators and train combined make hearing announcements more or less impossible.
And the nonsense of transferring from one platform (1-5) to another (6-11) have to validate your ticket twice at the A end of the station and not at all at the B end.

 

[duffield]

The ventilation 'improvements' may have solved one problem are created another. The fans that assist the ventilation are about as noisy as an aeroplane jet engine. So if you are at a platform near a diesel train with engine running, the noise of the ventilators and train combined make hearing announcements more or less impossible.
And the nonsense of transferring from one platform (1-5) to another (6-11) have to validate your ticket twice at the A end of the station and not at all at the B end.

Announcements in general suck. Every time there's disruption and I need to hear one (for info that's not available on RTT, Traksy or the station boards), there's always a noisy diesel completely drowning it out, and by the time I've found a quiet spot (if it's even possible) the announcement has finished.

I don't mind the platform split and the A/B bridge thing so much now I'm well used to it; quick change is always 'B' end, the 'A' end is for shops and toilets. I suppose it's not good if you're changing from a service on the low numbered 'A' platforms to the high numbered 'A' platforms or vice versa but my journeys always seem to involve some other combination.

 

[Railwaysceptic]

When you say Darlington's suburb trainshed, do you mean North Road?

I apologise. I don't know how that happened but I meant superb, not suburb. So, no. I meant the main station.

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I'm guessing it's pesky auto correct changing "superb" to "suburb"!

That's quite possible as I do know the difference between superb and suburb!

 

[styles]

Surprised Pokesdown didn't make the list.

 

[davidknibb]

Announcements in general suck. Every time there's disruption and I need to hear one (for info that's not available on RTT, Traksy or the station boards), there's always a noisy diesel completely drowning it out, and by the time I've found a quiet spot (if it's even possible) the announcement has finished.

I don't mind the platform split and the A/B bridge thing so much now I'm well used to it; quick change is always 'B' end, the 'A' end is for shops and toilets. I suppose it's not good if you're changing from a service on the low numbered 'A' platforms to the high numbered 'A' platforms or vice versa but my journeys always seem to involve some other combination.

Yes, although it's a long walk with bags if your arrival train and departure train both go from the A end. What's the point ?? Serves no useful purpose for passengers and seems to be there merely to irritate. And of course while 'regulars' will be used to it, what about the significant number of infrequent users?

 

[AJM580]

I'm happy that my hometown station has made the list. Every visit brings back memories of 31s & 47s idling away at the buffer stops while Cravens dmus smoked away. It's a lot quieter with the Flirts now, but still a gem. Not too far away, Wymondham is worth a look as well - decent station bistro!

 

[bishdunster]

Surprised Pokesdown didn't make the list.

 

[tel]

Norwich at No 18. The text says the site was home to 3 stations--umm really, should be the city was home to 3 stations. Can't really disagree with any of those, except Birmingham New Street, i would put that sh!t-hole of a station in my top one hundred.

Tel

 

[duffield]

Norwich at No 18. The text says the site was home to 3 stations--umm really, should be the city was home to 3 stations. Can't really disagree with any of those, except Birmingham New Street, i would put that sh!t-hole of a station in my top one hundred.

Tel

Yes, I noticed that about Norwich. It's not even vaguely close to being true as Victoria was about 3/4 mile away and City about 1 mile.

Such a shame really, I think having three stations in Norwich would give it extra interest and character (but it's not financially sensible or convenient for passengers changing, of course!)

 

[John Luxton]

Whilst I have not visited all the stations on the list I wouldn't disagree with most of the choices. Berwyn is in a superb location - but I also think Carrog also on the Llangollen Railway takes some beating.

Not sure about Liverpool Lime Street - my local mainline station - never really thought of it as beautiful - more utilitarian. If I was going to nominate a Merseyside station, I know it is modern, my choice would be Liverpool South Parkway - just find it a pleasant station to use and use it a fair bit. Where possible I finish a rail trip there and catch the bus rather than go to Lime St and then catch a bus out of the city.

Surprised South Devon Railway's Staverton didn't make the list, was there a few weeks ago and that has a period quaintness.

 

[AndrewE]

I'm surprised that Wemyss Bay is no 8... I think it is fabulous and would think this little gem should be somewhere near No 1!.

 

[A S Leib]

Such a shame really, I think having three stations in Norwich would give it extra interest and character (but it's not financially sensible or convenient for passengers changing, of course!)

Rebuild the trams with the lines where they were, but rebuilding and using the mainline stations as tram stops?

 

[Dr Hoo]

Surprised Pokesdown didn't make the list.

If my last experience there is anything to go by, it could be the rigourously enforced photography ban - so can’t submit a picture.

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Yes, although it's a long walk with bags if your arrival train and departure train both go from the A end. What's the point ?? Serves no useful purpose for passengers and seems to be there merely to irritate. And of course while 'regulars' will be used to it, what about the significant number of infrequent users?

Well, the useful purpose is to allow people actually going to and from Birmingham City Centre to access the station to/from the main entrance opposite the Bull Ring. How are they supposed to get to the main concourse if it’s all one barriered area?

It may seem strange if you purely use New Street for interchange.

 

[yorksrob]

Well, the useful purpose is to allow people actually going to and from Birmingham City Centre to access the station to/from the main entrance opposite the Bull Ring. How are they supposed to get to the main concourse if it’s all one barriered area?

It may seem strange if you purely use New Street for interchange.

It's not really "beautiful" though !

 

[Dr Hoo]

It's not really "beautiful" though !

See my earlier post, #14 I think. The original premise is a ‘striking photographic image’ one, not a real ‘beauty parade’.

 

[robert thomas]

Whilst I have not visited all the stations on the list I wouldn't disagree with most of the choices. Berwyn is in a superb location - but I also think Carrog also on the Llangollen Railway takes some beating.

Not sure about Liverpool Lime Street - my local mainline station - never really thought of it as beautiful - more utilitarian. If I was going to nominate a Merseyside station, I know it is modern, my choice would be Liverpool South Parkway - just find it a pleasant station to use and use it a fair bit. Where possible I finish a rail trip there and catch the bus rather than go to Lime St and then catch a bus out of the city.

Surprised South Devon Railway's Staverton didn't make the list, was there a few weeks ago and that has a period quaintness.

I agree about Berwyn as it's been my favourite station since I first went through there in the early 1960's. Tylwch on the Mid Wales line from Brecon to Moat Lane was also a favourite mostly due to it's location.

 

[Gathursty]

Missed out a couple including:
Kemble
Betws-y-Coed
Liverpool James Street
Glasgow Central

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Missed out a couple including:
Kemble
Betws-y-Coed
Liverpool James Street
Glasgow Central

That's at #10 in the list in the linked Yahoo article, isn't it?

 

[321362]

More surprising is the absence of any of the London Underground’s amazing architecture.

Earls Court is probably the prettiest tube station imo.

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Betws-y-Coed

That's for sure a shout.

 

[AndrewE]

Earls Court is probably the prettiest tube station imo.

have you travelled outside the South-east? Look at pics of Wemyss Bay -




granted the outside might not be spectacular, but going from the train to the ferry: