Trivia: Largest Conurbation with open line but no station.

[thenorthern]

I think Peterlee and Washington have to be the winners here.

Although not fitting the criteria as such when I passed through Todomorden today I noticed how there is no station on the Preston to Bradford line despite it running right through the town which must annoy the residents there. I would guess it would be a similar case in Gloucester, Stonehouse, Stone, Carnforth, New Mills and Long Eaton where there is a line running through the town but no stations on it.

 

[johnnychips]

The line you are probably referring to in New Mills is the one the TPE expresses take from Stockport to Sheffield. But it does already have Newtown and Central stations, and I certainly don't want my journey to or from Donny to Manchester Airport interrupted by another stop.

 

[satisnek]

This is spot on. New Towns were designed to be self contained. You were supposed to live, work and play within the town and no consideration was given to commuting. Neither Basildon, nor Stevenage had stations until the 1970's (Stevenage was served by the old Stevenage station to the north of the new town). In Harlow, the original Harlow station became Harlow Mill and Burnt Mill station was rebuilt as Harlow Town although it was, and is, a lengthy hike uphill to the town centre. Similarly, Hemel Hempstead station is a long way from the New Town centre. In Scotland, East Kilbride , Cumbernauld and Glenrothes are all examples of how rail provision was well down the list of priorities in the design of New Towns.

I think that's just typical 1960s town planning when railways were thought of as 'yesterday's thing' and the motor car represented the future.

Milton Keynes city centre was planned from the start as a hilltop location half a mile or so from the railway, rather than being adjacent to it which would be considered practical these days.

 

[Jonny]

So far the highest I have got is Peterlee with 30,000 with other high ones being Kenilworth 22,000 and Wellington (Somerset) 14,549. Washington may win it with 67,000 but I am not sure how close the East Coast mainline runs to the town.

Washington is at least 2/3 of a mile from the ECML, maybe up to a mile depending on exactly how you define it (nearer if Rickleton is included).

 

[richardio123]

Wythenshawe.. has a population of about 75,000 possibly more and the Mid-Chesire line runs right through the centre

With Manchester Airport and Gatley being over 3 miles away as the closest stations

 

[Statto]

Golborne near Wigan population 23,119 the West Coast main line goes right through the town with no station.

 

[alwaystouchout]

Erewash Valley Line between Trent Junction and Langley Mill?

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

Erewash Valley Line between Trent Junction and Langley Mill?

I've already mentioned Ilkeston which hasn't reopened yet.

 

[Dr_Paul]

I think that's just typical 1960s town planning when railways were thought of as 'yesterday's thing' and the motor car represented the future.

I was told in the early 1960s by an uncle who moved to Basildon with his family when the new town was just built that there was to be no station there because the authorities didn't want it to become a dormitory town for London, very much as others here have stated. For visitors without a motor it was a bit of a bind as the nearest station, Laindon, was some distance off, or else one went by bus, which took ages.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Milton Keynes city centre was planned from the start as a hilltop location half a mile or so from the railway, rather than being adjacent to it which would be considered practical these days.

It depends what you call the "city centre". The business district is immediately adjacent to the station, and one of the advantages this has is that people are always walking through it at all times of day and night to get to/from the entertainment district, which is no further from the station than it is in many other towns and cities. The shopping centre is further away, but most people travelling to/from shopping centres are not time critical, whereas travel to work is. So this isn't such a bad layout overall.

It also avoided the two parts of CMK being split by the railway, which I think might be a valid criticism of Telford.

Though there was originally (as for many new towns) no plan for a station, I believe, because (a) new towns were intended to be self sufficient (while MK has a large amount of employment there is significant commuting both in and out), and (b) there were already 5 (or 4, depending on your take on Woburn Sands) anyway.

Neil

 

[satisnek]

It depends what you call the "city centre". The business district is immediately adjacent to the station, and one of the advantages this has is that people are always walking through it at all times of day and night to get to/from the entertainment district, which is no further from the station than it is in many other towns and cities. The shopping centre is further away, but most people travelling to/from shopping centres are not time critical, whereas travel to work is. So this isn't such a bad layout overall.

Thanks, that makes sense - I was thinking along the lines of 'traditional', 'historic' town/city centres which were shops, markets etc. Of course, MK was never bound by these principles. Although the couple of times I've been there it's struck me as very spaced out and necessitating a large amount of walking time.

 

[thenorthern]

I suppose as well many of the new towns were designated or still being constructed in the 1960s when the railways were in gradual decline hence why it took a while for Milton Keynes and Telford to get a principal station within their respective town centres and for Livingston and Basildon to get any station serving them.

Although not a designated new town a such both Buckshaw Village and Ebbsfleet Valley both got stations within 5 years (I think) of construction starting probably as a result of a better railway system.

 

[steamybrian]

I suppose as well many of the new towns were designated or still being constructed in the 1960s when the railways were in gradual decline hence why it took a while for Milton Keynes and Telford to get a principal station within their respective town centres and for Livingston and Basildon to get any station serving them.

Although not a designated new town a such both Buckshaw Village and Ebbsfleet Valley both got stations within 5 years (I think) of construction starting probably as a result of a better railway system.

There is no place called Ebbsfleet . The station is more of a "park and ride" for the surrounding areas of Dartford/Gravesend and motorists off the A2.
It is planned in the future to build a new town or housing developments in the surrounding land

 

[thenorthern]

There is no place called Ebbsfleet . The station is more of a "park and ride" for the surrounding areas of Dartford/Gravesend and motorists off the A2.
It is planned in the future to build a new town or housing developments in the surrounding land

I stand corrected.