Train Station

[randyrippley]

Whilst on the subject of railway terminologies-does any rail system other than Japans refer to ticket gatelines as wickets? -much to my cricketing amusement on recent trip. Incidently their 'wickets' are always open and only spring shut if you try and walk through and your Suica/Pasmo card hasn't been read properly- leading to an inadvertent 'googly' if you are unlucky and a gentleman of western height!

A term borrowed from English but now rarely understood: "wicket gate"
see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicket_gate
The Japanese use is entirely correct and was probably introduced by the British who helped the introduction of railways to Japan

 

[HowardGWR]

Or even, "moniker".

Thanks, my spelling checker did pick it up and I just assumed that as it was slang, it was an arbitrary spelling!! (I do try and yes I know I am very trying! )

 

[Phil.]

I don't see how train station is an Americanism, and regardless of that, the UK does not own the English language. Nor do I see how saying "train station" rather than "railway station" is dumber--except in the very narrow sense that it allows pedants on the internet to feel a sense of superiority over anyone who uses it, despite its meaning being perfectly clear.

"...does not own the English language".

Rather reminds me of the American asking the Englishman where the elevator was.
"It's a lift and it's over there" was the reply.
"It's an elevator, we invented them".
"It's a lift, we invented the language".

 

[6Gman]

Historically maybe...but we no longer live in such historical times so I fail to see why "Train Station" should not be excepted as an alternative.

Has "excepted" now become a synonym for "accepted"?



It clearly has become widely used and widely accepted, but that is no reason why people should not regret the fact.

 

[AlterEgo]

Has "excepted" now become a synonym for "accepted"?



It clearly has become widely used and widely accepted, but that is no reason why people should not regret the fact.

Language is fluid. The meanings of things change over time. Everyone knows what you mean when you say "train station", or "railway station". They are completely interchangeable.

 

[HowardGWR]

Has "excepted" now become a synonym for "accepted"?



It clearly has become widely used and widely accepted, but that is no reason why people should not regret the fact.

I would of thought it was used by less people.

 

[John Luxton]

The term "train station" just offends my ears as does the substitution of absolutely for the word yes.

I am not ancient being born I 1959.

I was brought up to understand that station referred to a railway station you added bus to describe a bus station.

If one thinks about it we are getting more verbose and awkaward with our language. Why replace the simple yes with absolutely?

Why replace station with train station?

You would think in the age of text speak we would be shortening words and expressions not lengthening them.

Train station just sounds plain awkward.

John

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Has "excepted" now become a synonym for "accepted"?

Not amongst the company that we keep...

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Well today I travelled in a self-propelled railway saloon carriage that ran on a guided permanent way

 

[randyrippley]

I would of thought it was used by less people.

Please just don't even think it.

 

[randyrippley]

I don't see how train station is an Americanism, and regardless of that, the UK does not own the English language.

If anyone "owns" the English language, its the Indians. More English speakers there than the rest of the world put together

 

[6Gman]

I think we can conclude that there are three positions on this:

A) Railway station is preferable - as the traditional usage;
B) Both forms are acceptable - the pragmatic approach, since both are understood;
C) Train station is preferable - either because of brevity (a whole two letters saved ) or because it is more logical (buses call at bus stations, trains call at ...).

Doubt anybody's going to change their minds.

 

[urbophile]

Has "excepted" now become a synonym for "accepted"?



It clearly has become widely used and widely accepted, but that is no reason why people should not regret the fact.

'excepted' means almost the opposite of 'accepted'. So in current usage it is wrong, or certainly unhelpful. There are instances of words being used wrongly so often that they become accepted [sic] as part of the language. I suggest that it is misleading to do so in this case and we should resist such a development. (Like 'would of' for 'would have').

'Train station' for 'railway station' is not in the same category. Its meaning is clear and unambiguous and only linguistic (or sub-racist ant-American) prejudice prevents it being accepted [again sic].

 

[222ben]

When did 'the station' become 'the railway station'?
I'd be willing to lay decent money that almost all roads called Station Road (or a variant thereof) are so named because of a railway station.

AFAIK, i think it was when "Bus Station" became a phrase used to describe bus stops

 

[HowardGWR]

'excepted' means almost the opposite of 'accepted'. So in current usage it is wrong, or certainly unhelpful. There are instances of words being used wrongly so often that they become accepted [sic] as part of the language. I suggest that it is misleading to do so in this case and we should resist such a development. (Like 'would of' for 'would have').

'Train station' for 'railway station' is not in the same category. Its meaning is clear and unambiguous and only linguistic (or sub-racist ant-American) prejudice prevents it being accepted [again sic].

Inappropriate use of 'sic'. You meant what you wrote ('accepted') and were not indicating it was incorrect. I agree with you otherwise.

 

[Mordac]

While I doubt this will change many minds, the Oxford English dictionary has an entry for train station. I'll just quote the two examples given from British sources, as I wouldn't want to pollute the discussion with any foreign babble :roll:

[1845 Morning Chron. 11 Mar. 6/5 A box, containing two bars of gold, value £1,600, was stolen from the luggage train station of the Dover Railroad.]
1856 Daily News 14 Nov. 5/3, I got into the cab and told the cabman to drive up to the Dover train station.

I hope we can now dispense with claims of novelty, but I'm not holding my breath.