Station names on the UK rail network that you would change

[Djgr]

As for University, perhaps “Edgbaston Central”

Is it even in central Edgbaston?

 

[dvboy]

Is it even in central Edgbaston?

It was a bit tongue-in-cheek given the examples of "... Central" suggestions earlier in the thread.

It's on the southern edge of Edgbaston really.

 

[RS465]

Wanstead Park. Terrible choice. Change to Forest Gate North.

I agree. Forest Gate North is a bit of messy station names but it more accurately describes where it serves. Woodgrange Park could possibly be changed too to show the station is in Manor Park.

 

[Cross City]

As for University, perhaps “Edgbaston Central”

There's a weird obsession in west Birmingham for naming things 'Edgbaston' when they're actually nowhere near it. Probably because the parliamentary constituency stretches out a lot father than the actual boundary.

Edgbaston Village (the shopping/eating area and associated tram stop) isn't in Edgbaston, it's in Ladywood. The university most certainly isn't in Edgbaston either.

It's not a new thing either, the Regency Era bods were also at it with the naming of Edgbaston Reservoir, also in Ladywood.

 

[Zomboid]

As a non brummie, when I hear "Edgbaston" I think of the cricket ground. I wonder how many people show up at the tram stop and then had to walk the best part of 2 miles...

I'd refrain from calling any stations that aren't any use for the stadium "Edgbaston" because of that potential for confusion.

 

[dvboy]

Edgbaston Village (the shopping/eating area and associated tram stop) isn't in Edgbaston, it's in Ladywood. The university most certainly isn't in Edgbaston either.

At risk of going off topic here, is it in Ladywood? The border is clearly signed on Monument Road to the north.

 

[Cross City]

At risk of going off topic here, is it in Ladywood? The border is clearly signed on Monument Road to the north.

It's right on the border tbf, at least in terms of electoral wards.

The blow link shows the electoral ward boundaries.

https://www.lgbce.org.uk/sites/default/files/2023-04/birmingham_report_map.pdf

I still don't agree that Edgbaston is that big. The real middle of it is around St Bart's Church and the Golf Club, that's a mission away from "Edgbaston Village".

That area around Five Ways is a bit of a no-man's-land IMO, indeed most people just call the entire area 5 Ways. The Edgbaston Village development was named as such to jack prices up as Edgbaston is seen as trendy and the tram stop has been named after it.

If it was up to me the tram stop would be named Five Ways and the current stop with that name would be called Bishopsgate Street or something similar.

 

[Palmerston]

As a non brummie, when I hear "Edgbaston" I think of the cricket ground. I wonder how many people show up at the tram stop and then had to walk the best part of 2 miles...

I'd refrain from calling any stations that aren't any use for the stadium "Edgbaston" because of that potential for confusion.

Extending the tram to Edgbaston cricket ground seems not a terrible plan. Would force the other stop to be renamed too.

 

[Royston Vasey]

Canterbury East and Canterbury West would be better described as Canterbury South and Canterbury North...as East is only about 100 metres East of West and West is about 1000 metres North of East!

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The Canterbury stations: Canterbury East to become Canterbury South, and West to become North, which is more geographically accurate to the city.

Ah! Yes!

 

[Mogz]

Heswall back to its former name of Heswall Hills.

It’s nowhere near Heswall town centre, it’s a heck of a walk and there isn’t even a frequent bus link.

 

[Djgr]

Heswall back to its former name of Heswall Hills.

It’s nowhere near Heswall town centre, it’s a heck of a walk and there isn’t even a frequent bus link.

Historically Heswall referred to what is now known as Lower Heswall and what is now known as Heswall was known as Heswall Hills (as in up the hill from the original Heswall).

FWIW I always refer to the station as Heswall Hills and there is at least one shop near the station that still does.

 

[Instinct04]

Cambridge - Cambridge Central/General/Main. As there will be three Cambridge stations in 2026, the main station in the city should be renamed to reflect this and to avoid confusion.

Welwyn North - Digswell. Reason being that people may confuse it with WGC

 

[cryptus]

Never going to happen for branding reasons, but Canary Wharf Crossrail Elizabeth Line station should really be renamed Canary Wharf North, given it's a (relative) hike from the Jubilee station.
Mitcham Junction > Mitcham Common; the station's barely in Mitcham, and isn't a junction any more (thanks to the trams, so maybe Mitcham Interchange instead ).
Speaking of trams: Phipps Bridge > Morden Hall Park (the bridge in question is a minor footpath these days, and Morden Hall Park deserves a bit more publicity); Mitcham > Mitcham South (it's quite some distance to Mitcham Fair Green which is arguably "actual" Mitcham).

 

[PTR 444]

Mitcham Junction > Mitcham Common; the station's barely in Mitcham, and isn't a junction any more (thanks to the trams, so maybe Mitcham Interchange instead ).

Many people still consider “junction” stations to be places where it is normal to change trains, and it is quite possible that the area surrounding it has also adopted the name of the station, like Clapham Junction.

 

[Clansman]

Dunfermline City really irritates me for some reason. Just doesn’t sound right.

 

[Farnborough]

... it is quite possible that the area surrounding it has also adopted the name of the station, like Clapham Junction.

On the subject of which

Clapham Junction --> Battersea (Junction) to correct the geographical inaccuracy

 

[Fawkes Cat]

On the subject of which

Clapham Junction --> Battersea (Junction) to correct the geographical inaccuracy

And to introduce brackets into station naming?

 

[61653 HTAFC]

On the subject of which

Clapham Junction --> Battersea (Junction) to correct the geographical inaccuracy

Depends which meaning of Junction you're using...
X Junction = a junction station in X?
or
Y Junction = the junction where you change for trains to Y?

Unrelated: If the bus part of Bradford Interchange is set to close, the train part should revert back to the old name of Bradford Exchange.

 

[cryptus]

Many people still consider “junction” stations to be places where it is normal to change trains, and it is quite possible that the area surrounding it has also adopted the name of the station, like Clapham Junction.

Not disputing that happening elsewhere, but Mitcham Junction is weirdly, well, not quite in "the middle of nowhere", but it does feel a little out on the fringes (the only nearby landmark that it could be said to exclusively serve is a trading estate). There's no real surrounding area that would adopt the name.

(image shows a map of south/southwest London, centred on Mitcham Junction station)

 

[Farnborough]

And to introduce brackets into station naming?

The Junction bit is optional

 

[frankmoh]

Not disputing that happening elsewhere, but Mitcham Junction is weirdly, well, not quite in "the middle of nowhere", but it does feel a little out on the fringes (the only nearby landmark that it could be said to exclusively serve is a trading estate). There's no real surrounding area that would adopt the name.View attachment 193903

(image shows a map of south/southwest London, centred on Mitcham Junction station)

North Hackbridge? South Mitcham?

 

[Simon75]

As a non brummie, when I hear "Edgbaston" I think of the cricket ground. I wonder how many people show up at the tram stop and then had to walk the best part of 2 miles...

I'd refrain from calling any stations that aren't any use for the stadium "Edgbaston" because of that potential for confusion.

Also in Brum. Witton Park to Villa Park
Most non Brummies (like me) associate Aston with Aston Villa, through Witton Park is closer to Villa Park

 

[Cross City]

Also in Brum. Witton Park to Villa Park
Most non Brummies (like me) associate Aston with Aston Villa, through Witton Park is closer to Villa Park

It's just Witton, not Witton Park.

 

[Magdalia]

Cambridge - Cambridge Central/General/Main. As there will be three Cambridge stations in 2026, the main station in the city should be renamed to reflect this and to avoid confusion.

Been done already, starting at #17 on page 1.

Welwyn North - Digswell. Reason being that people may confuse it with WGC

Digswell is already in use as the name for the south end of the 2 track section.

 

[Mogz]

One could add “Junction” to both Leamington Spa and Princes Risborough, though that might make the station signs a bit long!

 

[The exile]

One could add “Junction” to both Leamington Spa and Princes Risborough, though that might make the station signs a bit long!

Why would you, though?

 

[duffield]

One could add “Junction” to both Leamington Spa and Princes Risborough, though that might make the station signs a bit long!

Not sure I understand the logic, it makes no more sense to me to rename Leamington Spa as Leamington Spa Junction than it would to - for example - rename Derby as Derby Junction; after all, it's got an important junction of two main lines leading right into the station.

What's special about Leamington Spa that specifically deserves a Junction suffix while hundreds of other stations at junctions don't?

 

[William3000]

Change Moorgate to London Moorgate for consistency with all the other London terminii

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Change Moorgate to London Moorgate for consistency with all the other London terminii

 

[FGWHST43009]

Drop the 'International' from Rhoose Cardiff International Airport and just call it Rhoose Cardiff Airport or just Rhoose with the sign saying 'Alight here for Cardiff Airport'. Change Oxenholme to Kendal Parkway

 

[geoffk]

Confusion might be reduced if every station had a unique name. I heard of someone once who used a return ticket from Gillingham to Gillingham to commute for a week from Salisbury to Waterloo!

Then we have Moreton (Merseyside), Moreton (Dorset) and Moreton-in-Marsh, but I imagine these are far enough apart for any confusion to be avoided.