Stations which could/should be closed

[QueensCurve]

Surprising that nobody has mentioned Braystones or Nethertown.

That said you will find that one man's station to be closed is another man's essential service.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Surprising that nobody has mentioned Braystones or Nethertown.

That said you will find that one man's station to be closed is another man's essential service.

Those two seem to get more passenger usage than I expected - possibly the adjacent caravan park for the former. I can't see why they aren't request stops on all trains.

 

[DarloRich]

I will have stern words with anyone suggesting any stations on the Marston Vale line...................

Teesside Airport and Redcar British Steel should both go.

Redcar British Steel barely served the steelworks when it was open () and no matter what happens to the site in the future (whenever that is!) a new station will almost certainly be required anyway.

Teesside Airport as again it hardly served the airport in its heyday and certainly doesn't anymore with public transport being better provided by buses from Darlington in any event. Keep the land as there are rumbles about a substantial housing development in the area but even then Dinsdale would probably suffice.

They may as well stay open until the land use is clarified. The cost of maintenance cant be that high!

 

[Bletchleyite]

I will have stern words with anyone suggesting any stations on the Marston Vale line...................

I saw a *passenger* at Kempston Hardwick the other week! Almost died of shock.

Being serious, I would expect some closures (well, at least that one) once EWR seriously starts to progress.

 

[DarloRich]

I saw a *passenger* at Kempston Hardwick the other week! Almost died of shock.

Being serious, I would expect some closures (well, at least that one) once EWR seriously starts to progress.

ME! I have been living with a friend down there for a few months as my house is rebuilt. BTW The early train sometimes has up to 5 people boarding!

As I say IF the proposed housing development ever comes off it will be in the middle of a big housing estate. It is also well placed for the distribution warehouses alongside the line (Asda and Argos) and there are plans for even more.

Kempston Hardwick is not the least used LM station anymore - i think that one is Millbrook I don't think it is worth the trouble of closing them. Housing development is planned all along the route which should generate more passengers. Numbers are going up already even with the rubbish service and regular disruptions.

 

[ainsworth74]

They may as well stay open until the land use is clarified. The cost of maintenance cant be that high!

True I suppose but Teesside Airport is in such poor material condition that it would probably need rebuilding before it was ever likely to see regular use anyway! I guess British Steel could just be reduced to one train a week or something but to be honest I suspect that any future development will find that the station needs relocating anyway.

 

[Bletchleyite]

ME! I have been living with a friend down there for a few months as my house is rebuilt.

Crikey, those (if you live where I think you do) are only new!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Kempston Hardwick is not the least used LM station anymore - i think that one is Millbrook

Surely got to be Polesworth. That needs serving properly (with a new path up to the road to replace the bridge, which would be easy to do) or closing.

 

[Altnabreac]

Not if you read it properly, though I'll give you there were sort-of two possible readings.

At least two hourly or the complete service on the line if that is lower must call. So if there was any station on the Far North where some trains skip-stopped, those stations should close. (I don't mean Dunrobin Castle, that's more seasonal than infrequent).

An example of an infrequent branch line with a station where only some trains call is Liskeard-Looe - Coombe really doesn't serve much of a purpose if the railway can't be bothered running all trains the 50 yards or so to reverse in the station.

The Far North Line first southbound service of the day skips stops but only really because it has to in order to make the timetable work.

That said the stops it skips are probably the logical ones for closure.
Scotscalder
Altnabreac
Kinbrace
Kildonan
Invershin
Culrain

I'd suggest keeping one of Invershin and Culrain (now Carbisdale Castle has been sold I'd keep Invershin).

Kinbrace has some potential for serving the upper Naver estates and hotels and is also a possible passing loop location so I'd save it as well.

Personally I'd also keep Altnabreac but I can see a valid argument for closing it, particularly if it were part of a wider programme to raise line speeds in the area.

Scotscalder and Georgemas Junction I'd like to see both close in combination with a new Georgemas Curve and a Halkirk station.

 

[Antman]

Doleham and Three Oaks? Apparently they do get the occasional passenger but I never see them.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Scotscalder and Georgemas Junction I'd like to see both close in combination with a new Georgemas Curve and a Halkirk station.

I certainly agree with this, it seems amazing that the only significantly sized settlement around there has no station.

 

[Wookiee]

The intermediate stations on the Sussex West Coast line are surprisingly very well used sited in well populated areas. Here are some examples of the 2015/6 annual passenger figures-
Aldrington 236 000
East Worthing 428,000
(included as a comparison --Worthing 2.5 million)
West Worthing 773,000
Durrington 665,000
Goring 580,000
Fishbourne 77,000
Nutbourne 78,000
Bursledon 64,000

It's the proximity of some of the Coastway stations to each other that is the issue. Six stations in the 4.5 miles from Brighton to Southwick, five stations in the 4.5 miles from East Worthing to Goring, six stations in the 5 miles from Nutbourne to Bedhampton. You could get rid of a couple of them and only cause people to have to walk an extra few minutes. It wouldn't be so bad if so many of the trains didn't call at so many of the stations - this is partly why there are so few paths and why it can take 1hr40+ to travel from Portsmouth to Brighton.

 

[steamybrian]

Doleham and Three Oaks? Apparently they do get the occasional passenger but I never see them.

Three Oaks conveniently serves the village of that name and is used by a small number of locals.

Doleham serves only a few houses and scattered farms. Seldom used.

 

[steamybrian]

Some others that get a "parliamentary" service

Pilning
Clifton (Manchester)
Stanlow & Thornton
Ince
Chathill
Acklington
Widdrington (or retain and improve frequency of service)
Pegswood

 

[cin88]

Clifton (manchester)
Denton
British Steel Redcar as previously mentioned
Liverpool South Parkway

 

[Ianno87]

Yes, I support as-pure-as-possible clockface/Takt near enough anywhere.

The Coastways have lots of weird stuff going on like school flows, which justify the off-pattern calls (but regular hourly/two-hourly calls would not be justified).

 

[sk688]

Surprised to see the Sudbury Stations haven't been mentioned . The Piccadilly is nearby for both , and they take up valuable capacity on a two track line

Sudbury Hill Harrow
Sudbury and Harrow Road

Maybe Northolt park could go too , doesn't have too many users

Headstone Lane is also lightly used , and just 1-2 min from Harrow

 

[Firesprite]

Surprised to see the Sudbury Stations haven't been mentioned . The Piccadilly is nearby for both , and they take up valuable capacity on a two track line

Maybe Northolt park could go too , doesn't have too many users

250,000 is hardy a few. My older brother would not take kindly to you closing his local station.

 

[Andyjs247]

The intermediate stations on the Sussex West Coast line are surprisingly very well used sited in well populated areas. Here are some examples of the 2015/6 annual passenger figures-
Aldrington 236 000
East Worthing 428,000
(included as a comparison --Worthing 2.5 million)
West Worthing 773,000
Durrington 665,000
Goring 580,000
Fishbourne 77,000
Nutbourne 78,000
Bursledon 64,000

Suggest examine stations with a say less than 10 passengers per day.
Finally Worthing is a large town fully justifying three stations.

Actually if you count Durrington and Goring by Sea, Worthing is served by 5 stations. The town has a population of over 100,000. Another town with a similar population is Sutton Coldfield and is served by 6 stations. I'd say the station provision for both is about right.

 

[steamybrian]

Headstone Lane is also lightly used , and just 1-2 min from Harrow

Headstone Lane was used by a mere 473,000 passengers in 2015/6 :roll:

 

[sk688]

Headstone Lane was used by a mere 473,000 passengers in 2015/6 :roll:

My bad . I only suggested because it is only 2 minutes from Hatch End by car , and would speed up the torturous journey to Euston .

I also suggested it , as ive been using it recently due to the bridge works at Hatch End , and it didnt seem well used , but 473,000 , it definitely shouldnt be closed

 

[sk688]

250,000 is hardy a few. My older brother would not take kindly to you closing his local station.

Im guessing this is for Northolt Park . Yes any case for closing it would be far weaker , than for the Sudbury Stations .

It was my local too , from 2003 to 2013 , so I only suggested closing it , as the poor service is probably putting users off

Also , my apologies to your elder brother

 

[DasLunatic]

This is going to be rather controversial, and by far the busiest nomination, but I think Colchester Town station should be axed. Although seeing three quarters of a million passengers annually, along with its own direct link to Liverpool Street, the allocation and service would be better used from Walton-on-the-Naze. The route from North Station to the town centre is well-served by buses - seven routes by four operators operate services on the mile separating the two stations.

From Hythe, there is a 6 bus per hour service connecting it to the town centre too.

 

[glbotu]

I think we've got to be wary of picking stations because they necessarily get a bad service. My understanding is the Chathill stopper is well loaded and an important way to get people to and from work in the morning and evening. I get stations that are mostly parliamentary losing their services, but working on the premise of closing stations because their current level of service isn't up to some minimum standard is a bit tail wagging the dog.

Coombe Junction Halt makes sense though.........

 

[Bletchleyite]

Coombe Junction Halt makes sense though.........

It's a bit pointless as a station but also very low-cost to maintain. I don't understand why they don't run the 50 yards or so to reverse in the platform each time.

 

[johnnychips]

It's a bit pointless as a station but also very low-cost to maintain. I don't understand why they don't run the 50 yards or so to reverse in the platform each time.

Is there anything or anybody there to serve?

 

[richard1976]

Don't think Lakenheath would be missed if it closed

 

[Thebaz]

Waddon. I've always hated Waddon. No other reason.

 

[Gathursty]

I think a lot of the obvious stations have been mentioned but the one's I'd like to say goodbye to are:

Scotscalder
Georgemas Junction (Both to be replaced with Halkirk station and an Inverness-Thurso direct curve)
Culrain or Invershin (with a wheelchair accessible route in place for crossing the river)
Breich
Stranraer (to be re-sited to the town)
Green Road
Nethertown
Braystones
Silecroft
Corkickle
Kents Bank
Commondale
Kildale

I'll add more later tonight. I'm sure that's enough to get some of you seething.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Kents Bank

Why? It's very popular with walkers.