Termini that are really just like wayside halts

[Bletchleyite]

Discussion of Aylesbury Vale Parkway on another thread led me to wonder how many stations there are that are like this - stations that really have the feel of quiet wayside halts but are termini, with the much busier main station not being the terminus of the line. (I know some trains do terminate at Aylesbury). It's also unusual in that it was built like that, though I think it was intended that it would see more custom than it actually has seen.

Obviously AVP will get busier as more housing is built in the area and it really takes on more of a role of "Aylesbury North" - but for now what other examples are there of termini where the terminus is really quiet and the main traffic objective(s) are further down the line as simple calling points?

Headbolt Lane might sort of be one? Severn Beach another?

 

[321362]

Right now, thanks to the engineering works, Corkickle

 

[Bletchleyite]

Right now, thanks to the engineering works, Corkickle

I did think of that one.

The terminus of convenience that is Manchester Airport sort of is, but is obviously busy (and increasingly busy) in its own right so probably doesn't count, and definitely doesn't have the feel of a wayside halt. If trains terminated at Ardwick then that would though

Chathill might be one perhaps? Stations further south are generally busier and it definitely has the feel of a wayside halt!

 

[THC]

Colne. Rendered a terminus by closure of the line onto Skipton, it feels very much as described. I'm sure there will be other such termini created in similar fashion.

THC

 

[Bletchleyite]

Colne. Rendered a terminus by closure of the line onto Skipton, it feels very much as described. I'm sure there will be other such termini created in similar fashion.

That whole line has a 1990s-like feel of desolation, but Colne is a reasonably sized place and is fairly well used so I'm not sure it is?

Bedwyn probably was when there was the through service from Paddington terminating there?

 

[cactustwirly]

Marlow, Gunnislake to name two

 

[Farigiraf]

I can think of a few like this:

Fishguard Harbour, Ardrossan Harbour and Lymington Pier have ferry connections but aren't much more than a halt. The Town / South Beach / & Goodwick stations have more life in them.
Similarly, Heysham Port vs Morecambe.

The other way round, Harwich Town operationally is less relevant compared to International with its longer-distance connections and ferry port. It's got more character than your average halt however.

Sheringham is a bit of an afterthought compared to the larger and busier Cromer.

Shoeburyness has a few platforms and the depot but other than that, there's really not much going on and far less people than Southend Central. Nearby, there's the Crouch Valley line to Southminster, which, if another Beeching were to happen, would likely be curtailed back to Burnham-on-Crouch or South Woodham Ferrers.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Marlow, Gunnislake to name two

Aren't they just quiet branch lines? I'm thinking of termini where the line itself is busy enough but the terminus is a bit like a wayside halt, with stations with far higher traffic further down the branch?

 

[cactustwirly]

Aren't they just quiet branch lines? I'm thinking of termini where the line itself is busy enough but the terminus is a bit like a wayside halt, with stations with far higher traffic further down the branch?

You named Severn Beach as an example? That is a quiet branch

Marlow gets fairly busy, the peak service doubles

 

[Bletchleyite]

You named Severn Beach as an example? That is a quiet branch

Severn Beach is a better example as the terminus is quiet but Avonmouth is significantly busier. Whereas Marlow is a reasonably busy station, and the whole Gunnislake branch sort of might as well not exist?

 

[AlterEgo]

Southminster probably fits the bill.

 

[74A]

Bedwyn is in a small village.

 

[lachlan]

Severn Beach is a better example as the terminus is quiet but Avonmouth is significantly busier. Whereas Marlow is a reasonably busy station, and the whole Gunnislake branch sort of might as well not exist?

Indeed I would say the Severn Beach line fits your description as it's relatively busy with a lot of changeover at intermediate stops, but only one train per hour continues past Avonmouth and these are quiet in my experience.

 

[StarCrossing]

You named Severn Beach as an example? That is a quiet branch

It's never quiet when I travel on it! Usually very busy between Temple Meads and Clifton Down.

Wrexham would be a good example if you just consider the line to Bidston, with General being the main station and Central the quiet terminus.

 

[Thebaz]

Epsom Downs I would suggest. A single platform in the middle of a quiet insignificant housing estate in the middle of nowhere.

 

[xotGD]

Heywood on the ELR

 

[sycns]

Adwick probably counts with the Adwick > Doncaster > Sheffield Midland hourly stopping service.

 

[cactustwirly]

Severn Beach is a better example as the terminus is quiet but Avonmouth is significantly busier. Whereas Marlow is a reasonably busy station, and the whole Gunnislake branch sort of might as well not exist?

It provides the suburban service in Plymouth, basically the only service for Dockyard and Keyham.

Bere Alston and Bere Ferrers seemed reasonably busy.
Top half is pointless yes

 

[Bletchleyite]

It provides the suburban service in Plymouth, basically the only service for Dockyard and Keyham.

Probably does qualify then.

 

[Harpo]

Is this the ‘bleak stations’ thread with stopblocks?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Is this the ‘bleak stations’ thread with stopblocks?

Sort of, but I think being bleak and being a wayside halt in feel with hardly any use aren't quite the same thing. Bletchley is without any doubt bleak, but it is also quite well used and so doesn't qualify.

 

[RailWonderer]

Stranraer? Almost all trains terminate at Ayr and only two or three trains per day continue further. The station has a metal shed and looks very desolate, even though it serves a small coastal town.

 

[Magdalia]

Sheringham is a bit of an afterthought compared to the larger and busier Cromer.

ORR entries and exits 2023/24:

Cromer 245658
Sheringham 244950

 

[Cheshire Scot]

Colne. Rendered a terminus by closure of the line onto Skipton, it feels very much as described. I'm sure there will be other such termini created in similar fashion.

THC

And at the other end of the line, Blackpool South

 

[swt_passenger]

I did think of that one.

The terminus of convenience that is Manchester Airport sort of is, but is obviously busy (and increasingly busy) in its own right so probably doesn't count, and definitely doesn't have the feel of a wayside halt. If trains terminated at Ardwick then that would though

Chathill might be one perhaps? Stations further south are generally busier and it definitely has the feel of a wayside halt!

Chathill’s down side station building doesn’t make it look like a wayside halt at all. It’s one of quite a few on the line through Northumberland that was built on the grand scale.

 

[pdeaves]

Historically, there was a branch from Harpenden to Hemel Hempstead (not the WCML station) with the line terminating at... Heath Park Halt. There can't be many lines that terminate at (what is generally considered to be) a 'halt'. Granted, there was an intention, never realised, to connect onto the WCML beyond there.

 

[cjw714]

It provides the suburban service in Plymouth, basically the only service for Dockyard and Keyham.

Bere Alston and Bere Ferrers seemed reasonably busy.
Top half is pointless yes

Somewhat surprisingly Gunnislake is the busiest station on the branch with considerably more passengers than even the Plymouth suburban stations.

Falmouth Docks is a possible example, getting just over half the number of passengers as Falmouth Town.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Bere Alston and Bere Ferrers seemed reasonably busy.
Top half is pointless yes

Gunnislake is the busiest station on the line as it serves as a railhead for Callington and Tavistock.

 

[Doomotron]

During engineering works, Minster has been a terminus for trains from London via Canterbury and Dover, despite its small size.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Southminster probably fits the bill.

Walton-on-the-Naze too.