Rail centres that have developed well in recent times

[Ivo]

The thread regarding rail centres that have fallen from grace makes interesting reading for anyone interested in railway history. It is a shame how some stations have fallen from being locations swamped in grandeur to what can only be described as "shacks", even if many of them necessitated such a change to secure their survival during the infamous Beeching era.

On the other hand though, some stations have successfully done the opposite during recent times. Stratford is an obvious example; whilst it has always been considered a fairly important junction ever since the Central line arrived there, it wasn't until the 1990s that it really took off and became the Clapham Junction of the North and East of London, and as the area and infrastructure develops further the station will become increasingly important - especially once Crossrail arrives in four or five years' time.

Another one that might be considered would be Liverpool South Parkway. Whilst strictly speaking a new station, it was effectively a replacement for two local stations (Allerton and Garston), and has developed exponentially as the nearby airport becomes increasingly busy and more operators stop at South Parkway (helped of course by easy Merseyrail connections to Liverpool Central); these days, virtually everything not operated by Virgin calls there.

So where else is there? Over to you...

 

[Pumbaa]

Milton Keynes. Turned into a 7 platform behemoth. Far cry from its days under NSE with a paltry 2tph.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

One could say that Rugby, Swindon and Chesterfield have seen a slight renaissance as they have all had additional platforms added in recent years.

 

[yorksrob]

Ashford "International" has certainly expanded for those of us who knew it in the Ashford "Kent" years.

Also Leeds of course ! Probably one of the biggest stations outside of London or Glasgow now.

 

[Masbroughlad]

Stalybridge......

 

[Welshman]

Salford Crescent seems to have exceeded all expectations, and now there are plans to enlarge it.

 

[Tim B]

Milton Keynes. Turned into a 7 platform behemoth. Far cry from its days under NSE with a paltry 2tph.

And incredible to think it only opened in 1982 ! For years BR refused to open another station between Wolverton and Bletchley.

 

[RichmondCommu]

In terms of Stratford, whilst the station has indeed grown in importance its worth remember that the whole of the Olympic park was once railway land. The marshalling yard, works and depot have all been lost. However, it has also gained the Eurostar station and maintenance facility.

 

[6Gman]

Birmingham International?

From zero to major station - NEC, Airport etc.

And a lot busier than Liverpool South Parkway!

 

[telstarbox]

And incredible to think it only opened in 1982 ! For years BR refused to open another station between Wolverton and Bletchley.

When were the additional platforms added at MKC?

 

[Wath Yard]

My nomination would be Bathgate. If we take the early-80s as a starting point, at the time it was just a car terminal at the end of a freight branch. The station was then reopened and it received a through service to Edinburgh. Now it is on an electrified double track line with 4 tph to both of Scotland's largest cities - and it has a depot too.

 

[Pumbaa]

When were the additional platforms added at MKC?

Over the WCRM period. Had 4 originally, then a south facing bay added to cater for increased NSE traffic a while after. Rebuild started late 2007/early 2008.

Some good pictures here (not mine):

http://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/p671909530/h4fd7dd3e#h4fd7dd3e (scroll through 'next' for about 15 of them)

 

[tbtc]

I hope the Mods don't think that this is against the rules, but I'd like to say something positive about Wakefield Kirkgate (which is probably against the rules on here, given how much slagging off it gets).

In recent years its service to Leeds trebled due to the introduction of non-stop services (much faster than the "via Castleford" services), new links to London/ Doncaster/ Nottingham/ Bradford, its seen it get First Class trains again - I'm probably going against the grain here in praising something about the place though!

 

[YorkshireBear]

I hope the Mods don't think that this is against the rules, but I'd like to say something positive about Wakefield Kirkgate (which is probably against the rules on here, given how much slagging off it gets).

In recent years its service to Leeds trebled due to the introduction of non-stop services (much faster than the "via Castleford" services), new links to London/ Doncaster/ Nottingham/ Bradford, its seen it get First Class trains again - I'm probably going against the grain here in praising something about the place though!

Couldn't agree more, Have you been through recently tbtc Its starting to look smart. Island platform looking far better and more appealing and serious progress on Main building is coming along nicely too.

Im of the opinion that it won't be too long till we start getting even more services there, i can see Wakefield being added to the TPE map with a slower service. It does now have 9 Northern services an hour plus the occasional Grand Central.

 

[RichmondCommu]

In all fairness, given how quickly Milton Keynes has developed it's inevitable that the station will have grown at the same pace. Huge car parks close to the station and a very good service have also helped.

 

[Cherry_Picker]

Banbury is on the up and up. There might be a TMD there before much longer.

 

[O L Leigh]

I would argue that Stratford has actually become LESS important over the years. It has ALWAYS been a hugely important junction for many many lines across east and north London, many of which no longer exist. It also hosted a massive motive power depot, freightliner and other yards, carriage sidings, loco works, traincrew depots and much more besides, all of which have now gone.

O L Leigh

 

[DarloRich]

The thread regarding rail centres that have fallen from grace makes interesting reading for anyone interested in railway history. It is a shame how some stations have fallen from being locations swamped in grandeur to what can only be described as "shacks", even if many of them necessitated such a change to secure their survival during the infamous Beeching era.

On the other hand though, some stations have successfully done the opposite during recent times. Stratford is an obvious example; whilst it has always been considered a fairly important junction ever since the Central line arrived there, it wasn't until the 1990s that it really took off and became the Clapham Junction of the North and East of London, and as the area and infrastructure develops further the station will become increasingly important - especially once Crossrail arrives in four or five years' time.

errrrr did you miss the massive workshops, yards and Motive Power Depots that once covered the Stratford area? They were only there for about 100 years.The station was the LEAST important bit! :roll:

 

[Ironside]

Readings extra 5 platforms and high speed flyovers will double the stations capacity when it's finished. Though I appreciate that the freight sidings, for Huntley and parmers no longer exist so reading is smaller but busier.

 

[RichmondCommu]

I would argue that Stratford has actually become LESS important over the years. It has ALWAYS been a hugely important junction for many many lines across east and north London, many of which no longer exist. It also hosted a massive motive power depot, freightliner and other yards, carriage sidings, loco works, traincrew depots and much more besides, all of which have now gone.

O L Leigh

Agreed. Refer to post number 8. When ever I see the Olympic park I always think of my many depot tours. Youngsters eh?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

errrrr did you miss the massive workshops, yards and Motive Power Depots that once covered the Stratford area? They were only there for about 100 years.The station was the LEAST important bit! :roll:

Yes he did! I have many happy memories of depot tours around Stratford; Cockney Sparrow anyone? I remember Stratford's pimped Class 47's.

 

[Gareth]

Another one that might be considered would be Liverpool South Parkway. Whilst strictly speaking a new station, it was effectively a replacement for two local stations (Allerton and Garston), and has developed exponentially as the nearby airport becomes increasingly busy and more operators stop at South Parkway (helped of course by easy Merseyrail connections to Liverpool Central); these days, virtually everything not operated by Virgin calls there.

Sadly, the Northern Hub stuff is going to see the TransPennine services, if not the EMT ones too to the Chat Moss route. A shame for South Parkway and Liverpool Airport.

 

[gnolife]

Sadly, the Northern Hub stuff is going to see the TransPennine services, if not the EMT ones too to the Chat Moss route. A shame for South Parkway and Liverpool Airport.

Why would East Midlands Trains not run as they do anyway? The point of TPX running via Newton is that they'll be going into Victoria, rather than Piccadilly and Oxford Road from Stalybridge, therefore can only get to the Chat Moss. This should have little effect on the EMT

 

[YorkshireBear]

Why would East Midlands Trains not run as they do anyway? The point of TPX running via Newton is that they'll be going into Victoria, rather than Piccadilly and Oxford Road from Stalybridge, therefore can only get to the Chat Moss. This should have little effect on the EMT

I cant find them right now but it is mentioned in the Northern RUS, that EMT would be diverted to Victoria (i cant remember the line but there is one about somewhere) and run along Chat Moss.
To me this is stupid, diesel under wires firstly. Also the Sheffield stuff doesn't cause as much congestion crossing lines at stockport as the leeds TPE services do at Ashburys. So to maintain some long distance stuff through warrington id keep services that are to remain diesel for the forseeable future (Hope valley wiring not gonna happen anytime soon definitely!) on this line. Likewise with the Hull TPE service that remains diesel after TPE north goes Electric. IMHO.

 

[Ivo]

[various points about Stratford]

I honestly didn't know all of that - I had never been there until something like 2007 (surprising given I grew up only four miles from a station with a regular service there!). Neither did I know about the history of Olympic Park.

But one cannot deny that its importance has grown substantially in the last 20 years, even if it isn't the mass TMD it once was. From the perspective of the thread title at least, it is definitely suitable for this thread - it has developed well in recent times.

 

[cle]

Stratford definitely from a passenger perspective, which is what I think the O/P means - not in terms of depot size etc...!

Others which seem to have risen in prominence:

MK - new platforms, a lot more stopping trains.
Reading - similar, although more by virtue of its layout and junction and interchange than as a destination itself
Cambridge - finally received its island platform.
Oxford - again historically under-platformed! Getting Chiltern soon and hopefully the new bay will be revisited too
Chester - hourly London trains, overhaul to station, increase in Merseyrail, rumours of TPE coming and doubled Manc via Warrington trains (possibly the same service)
Bristol - impending return to glory. City doing well, platforms reopened, London service doubled and wired, new focus on local commuter routes

On the way down:
Crewe - no longer as important a hub due to more direct Virgin/XC services, especially for Chester.
Watford Junction - casualty of being too close to London and not enough platforms for fast passing trains. Needs an MK style platform solution. Met line might bring renewed attention and demand.
Slough - as above but was never as important on the GWML.
Luton/Bedford - similar problem, now served by Corby mainly and not the big boys. Stevenage seems to fare better, as an equivalent scenario.

Maybe the plight of these InterCity Home Counties stops which are now deemed to merely slow down the expresses to yonder is worth its own post...

 

[RichmondCommu]

I honestly didn't know all of that - I had never been there until something like 2007 (surprising given I grew up only four miles from a station with a regular service there!). Neither did I know about the history of Olympic Park.

But one cannot deny that its importance has grown substantially in the last 20 years, even if it isn't the mass TMD it once was. From the perspective of the thread title at least, it is definitely suitable for this thread - it has developed well in recent times.

The best thing about this forum is that there is always something new to learn. However, it's important to remember that there is more to a rail centre then just it's station.

 

[DarloRich]

I honestly didn't know all of that - I had never been there until something like 2007 (surprising given I grew up only four miles from a station with a regular service there!). Neither did I know about the history of Olympic Park.

But one cannot deny that its importance has grown substantially in the last 20 years, even if it isn't the mass TMD it once was. From the perspective of the thread title at least, it is definitely suitable for this thread - it has developed well in recent times.

I would suggest it was already quite well established but it fair to say the station has grown in importance

 

[tbtc]

Stratford definitely from a passenger perspective, which is what I think the O/P means - not in terms of depot size etc...!

it's important to remember that there is more to a rail centre then just it's station.

That's the question. You have some places like Swindon which seem to have many more trains nowadays than they used to (was it ever better than four trains an hour to London?) but have lost their yard/ workshops/ engineering/ shunting/ shed.

Has Swindon developed badly or well? Depends on what you class as important.

 

[O L Leigh]

But as a "rail centre", Stratford has declined massively.

Even the station has not improved "substantially". Ignoring HS1, the only new route that has been added is the Jubilee Line extension. It has always been an interchange station, even under BR, and many of the routes and services are the same now as they always were, even if some of them are now operated by the DLR. Yes the frequency has improved over the years, but that can be said about almost anywhere. About the only thing that has changed is that the Olympics has shone a light onto the station and drawn attention to it.

O L Leigh

 

[cle]

But hardly any longer distance Anglia trains used to stop at Stratford. Now most do. And how about the West Anglia route? And two DLR routes (yes one used to go to North Woolwich, but as DLR is infinitely more useful)

I would also add Shenfield in terms of receiving a lot more fast services.