Stations urgently needing some TLC...

[Mcr Warrior]

Any other examples of stations up and down the GB network urgently needing some tender loving care? (Overdue basic maintenance, repaint, etc.)

Pictorial example(s) below are of the station canopy at Ulverston, which, when I was there a little earlier this year, still had something similar to the 'Hanging Gardens of Babylon' growing out of the guttering above platform 1.




(The station canopy 'roof garden' at Ulverston station - Photo (c) Nicholas Stockton / "Westmorland Gazette".)

 

[Pinus contorta]

That station canopy is hopeless. The benches on the platform are directly under the 'gaps' in the glazing so you don't want to use them if it's rainy

 

[JordR]

I travelled along the Bentham line recently. Hellifield and Carnforth both looked pretty run down, perhaps because they're both "former glory" stations built for a larger purpose than they now have.

 

[Sprinter107]

Tyseley

 

[Parallel]

Hereford was looking very run down the last time I was there. The paint is peeling off under the canopies, the underside is also covered in black from the diesel fumes. There was also bird droppings pretty much everywhere. And the toilets were filthy. And the garden between platforms 1 and 2 is looking unloved. It’s looking really quite sorry for itself.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Euston bogs need refurbishing again, if they did them properly and looked after them then myself and others would not regularly decry this

 

[0161]

Any other examples of stations up and down the GB network urgently needing some tender loving care? (Overdue basic maintenance, repaint, etc.)

Pictorial example(s) below are of the station canopy at Ulverston, which, when I was there a little earlier this year, still had something similar to the 'Hanging Gardens of Babylon' growing out of the guttering above platform 1.

View attachment 171435

View attachment 171434
(The station canopy 'roof garden' at Ulverston station - Photo (c) Nicholas Stockton / "Westmorland Gazette".)

is “Buffers” still open?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

is “Buffers” still open?

Been permanently closed since May 2008, apparently.

 

[lxfe_mxtterz]

Guildford is in an utterly grim state. The glass canopies above the platforms are so filthy you can't see out of them, the toilets stink to high heaven and almost every surface is caked in pigeon droppings.

Until recently, there was a pigeon's nest on the floor of the footbridge with a sign instructing not to feed the pigeons. The station has an abundance of netting but it doesn't seem to help much.

EDIT: Found some pictures in my camera roll.

 

[Iskra]

Ulverston is a shame as it’s not long since it looked nice.

Crewe would be my nomination.

 

[YorkshireBear]

I would have added Keighley but they've sorted that. I always feel like a lot of the 80s built cheap local stations need some TLCy as they clearly have patches all over them.

+1 to Crewe.

 

[Western 52]

I agree with Crewe, it's in a poor state.

 

[Tomos y Tanc]

Hereford was looking very run down the last time I was there. The paint is peeling off under the canopies, the underside is also covered in black from the diesel fumes. There was also bird droppings pretty much everywhere. And the toilets were filthy. And the garden between platforms 1 and 2 is looking unloved. It’s looking really quite sorry for itself.

The problem with stations like Hereford is that they're very large for the current passenger usage and thus expensive to maintain. Filthy toilets are unforgivable though. You should complain to the managing company (TfW, I think).

 

[Old Yard Dog]

Stanlow & Thornton which is closed because nobody will pay to repair the footbridge

 

[Western 52]

How about Pilning....?

 

[frodshamfella]

Id suggest Crewe and Chester, both are pretty grim

 

[duffield]

I would have added Keighley but they've sorted that. I always feel like a lot of the 80s built cheap local stations need some TLCy as they clearly have patches all over them.

+1 to Crewe.

Is the work at Keighley complete and the scaffolding removed? It was still there when I visited in August.

 

[Allwinter_Kit]

It was there last week. Scaffolding and a lot of fencing everywhere as they were painting anything that was bolted down.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Due off site in March, a few bits to finish off.

 

[duffield]

Due off site in March, a few bits to finish off.

Thanks, I'll no doubt be back there for the KWVR Steam Gala (20-23rd March) so I should get to see the results then.

 

[YorkshireBear]

They might still be about but a much reduced presence. A lot of the scaffolding is already down and the KWVR link bridge closed for several years is now back open and looking very smart.

 

[I'm here now]

Newquay, though a big wrecking ball would be more apt.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Kingston - quite a disgrace for one of SWR's busiest stations. The ticket hall was redone in 2010 (looks pretty but less practical as it replaced three entrances with one) but the platforms and particularly the subway were not touched and are now very much in need of TLC. the awnings on the platforms leak - when it's raining a cascade tips down on anyone unlucky to alight from the first door of the eighth (i.e usually last, and nearest the exit) carriage on platform 2, and you need an umbrella to use the subway to platform 3.

 

[30907]

I travelled along the Bentham line recently. Hellifield and Carnforth both looked pretty run down, perhaps because they're both "former glory" stations built for a larger purpose than they now have.

Hellifield had a very nice refurbishment a generation back and further work 10 years ago. But it is looking tired again.

 

[Strathclyder]

I would suggest Coatbridge Central, but I feel anything short of a wrecking ball wouldn't be enough.

 

[Gathursty]

Southport is in need of updating. Unclear to me who owns what in that complex at the front of the station but the entrance looks of its time.

 

[Energy]

Crewe would be my nomination.

Not brilliant but not horrific in my opinion. A surprising amount of Virgin-era branding is still at Crewe.

Crewe needs a complete rework though, not just some station TLC.

 

[Ladder23]

Luton, for a busy town it's a absolute horror story of a station, no disabled access also, granted Luton airport parkway has, it's no use for people going to the football games or shopping (not that many would want to go shopping there anyway).

Sure there has been petitions to get this sorted but nothings ever arisen?

 

[Ashley Hill]

Paignton (together with the rest of the town) is looking tired and dated. For what is now a terminal and a resort it doesn’t give a very good impression of either the railway or the town.
The facilities are housed in the original goods shed,whilst this is fine in itself it has been allowed to become shabby. The empty cafe with little prospect of reopening doesn’t help and the booking office is trapped in the 1970s. The whole interior needs ripping out and modernising. The platforms are bleak and the upside canopy leaks,and being a seaside town is covered in seagull droppings.

 

[Redonian]

Leominster Station is in a bad state. Refurbished with an EU grant some years ago to include 3 retail units including a cafe and the ticket office, now 2 of the units including the cafe are empty.
When Network Rail sold off its land to The Arch Company Leominster Station was included. Since then The Arch Company have allowed it to fall apart. Pre covid thieves stole some of the lead from the roof. This has never been replaced and there is water ingress to the first floor. Ivy has taken over the whole of one end of the building damaging the brickwork and is now getting into the roof. Large shrubs are growing out of the roof , window frames are rotting and gutters are blocked.
Network Rail retained responsibility for the platform canopy. Paint is peeling from large areas of the metalwork and the facias which are also rotting.
The relatively new footbridge was badly designed as when it rains water pools on every step with no means of getting away. The result is the surface has developed holes some of which have been filled in whilst others are appearing. The underneath of the steps is a mass of rust.
The local Rail Users Group has tried endlessly to get The Arch Company to do something with absolutely no response. Similarly Transport for Wales have been pressed about this for several years. Only last month TFW indicated there may be some development as they are to try to take over responsibility for maintenance of the building. Quite how this will work and with the large amount of work to be done is anyone's guess.