Trivia: Most confusing Station?

[parkender102]

I'm working in Edinburgh at the moment and went down to Edinburgh Waverely last night to scope it out as I've to catch a train home on Friday and it's a tight window I have between finishing work and making the train. What struck me was what a confusing station it is for the first time visitor - multiple entrances and exits to different streets which are on different sides of the station at different levels. Platforms scattered randomly all over the place, different levels in the station, totally confusing signage. I went round in circles following the signs for 15 minutes before I managed to find the right platform.

Does anyone else have this experience at Waverley? Would be interested to know if there is a more confusing UK station?

I'll have to go back there tonight to get my bearings again!

 

[bradders1983]

Nope, was the most confusing for me as well.

 

[AM9]

I'm working in Edinburgh at the moment and went down to Edinburgh Waverely last night to scope it out as I've to catch a train home on Friday and it's a tight window I have between finishing work and making the train. What struck me was what a confusing station it is for the first time visitor - multiple entrances and exits to different streets which are on different sides of the station at different levels. Platforms scattered randomly all over the place, different levels in the station, totally confusing signage. I went round in circles following the signs for 15 minutes before I managed to find the right platform.

Does anyone else have this experience at Waverley? Would be interested to know if there is a more confusing UK station?

I'll have to go back there tonight to get my bearings again!

I've known Stratford (SRA) since I was a child when there were only 6 regularly used platforms, so I know which platforms the services use, but to somebody changing there for the first time I can imagine that it is totally confusing, especially with the evolved platform numbering.

 

[gordonthemoron]

Stratford is particularly bad

 

[edwin_m]

Waverley was also a lot less confusing before the expansion a few years back. Platforms 1 to 19 (I think) were clockwise round a large island, although with a few missing, and 20 and 21 (I think) were on a separate island. Now there are two more islands with several more platforms. The renumbering kept the same numbers at many of the platforms, which may be one reason why the others are somewhat confusing.

I agree the signage at Waverley is poor, unless its changed since I was last regularly there in 2013.

 

[cookie365]

Victoria while the tube rebuilding is going on its really confusing if you're not familiar with the area.

The station with the highest CPP ratio (confusion per platform) must be Euston Square. I can't be the only one to not realise the lift from the platform takes you outside the barriers.

 

[chris89]

If you don't know the station i would also say Edinburgh Waverley.

But as soon as using it a few times, you start to know what trains go from what platforms.

Generally for me VT Euston Via B'ham to Edinburgh go into P8 or 9 and leave from those, 334s to Armadale (Helensburgh bound ones) from P8 or 9 or P13, 14, 15 etc.

Although not confusing, the layout for New Street is horrible.

Chris

 

[tsr]

I've always found Canning Town DLR to be rather difficult to use. I think it's the multi-layer thing and the signage.

 

[jopsuk]

Stratford. has to be Stratford. On the high level, from north to south you've got:
First island:
1 Overground
2 Overground
12 West Anglia, not often used

Second island:
11 West Anglia
10a GEML Down main

third island
10 GEML down main
9 GEML up main

fourth island
8 GEML down "electric" (will be Crossrail)
6 Central Line eastbound

fifth island
5 GEML up "electric" (will be Crossrail)
3 Central Line westbound

sixth island
3a Central line westbound
4a DLR via Pudding Mill Lane
4b DLR via Pudding Mill Lane

low level
13-15 Jubilee line terminus
16-17 DLR

So platform 7 is missing entirely. 10 & 10a are completely separate platforms facing each other across two tracks. 3 & 3a are separate platforms serving the same train on one track- doors open both sides. 4a & 4b are opposite sides of the same terminal "island". So that's three different things a letter after a platform can mean- and none of them are like the more usual situation where they're different "zones" of a single platform face.

There are three subways but only the middle one connects all platforms. one doesn't connect directly to any entrances, instead connecting to the middle subway.

it could be reformed, though this would require re-signalling.

I'd go for
old new
1 1
2 2
12 3

11 4
10a 5

10 6
9 7

8 8
6 9

5 10
3 11

3a 11
4a 12
4b 12

Low level
Leave alone

It would get rid of that 10a aberration. In staff use, the two 11s could be an a & b, as could the 12s, but for passengers it barely matters. If it really needs to be, call them a & b as it shouldn't be too confusing
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Waverly was improved a few years ago. It now makes a certain amount of sense. At the east end you've got 1-7 (with some missing, though there's tracks there), then 8 & 9 outside, then back across with 10-20. Used to be that 8 & 9 were the highest numbered (20 & 21?) platforms- and this was before 1, 10 & 20 existed.

 

[cf111]

I'm used to Waverley now but I would agree that it's not exactly user friendly.

 

[themeone]

London Blackfriars always seems annoying, particularly if you're changing from another platform to Platform 1 as you can only do so at the far ends of the platform (and it's a very long platform). In the case of the north bank end, you have to go down one escalator and back up another one.

I got caught last night - went up the escalator to Platform 2 by mistake, realised my mistake, then by the time the penny dropped that I had to go down the escalator again, almost missed my train.

I did, however, remember a previous thread here, and took advantage of the free toilets there. They're quite decent, and I suspect the presence of coin-op barriers (which don't appear to be used) puts a lot of people off using them - in fact you just walk through a side gate which is left open.

How long this happy situation will remain, of course, remains to be seen.

 

[HonorlessMink]

No-one's mentioned Bank yet.

That station needs its own little set of maps in each corridor. The signage isn't great, so when I need exits 8 & 9 I expect numbered signs from early on. I don't expect to go up and down three different sets of stairs, along the platform of a completely different tube line, through a couple of tunnels and eventually to a ticket hall that might have exits 8 & 9.

First time I went there needing that exit I ended up coming out at Monument station because I just followed a sign that said "EXIT".

 

[Mojo]

I had to change trains at Shipley recently. Wasn't particularly clear where to go. I alighted from a train heading towards Skipton and spotted a departure board attached to a building across the carpark. It told me my train was on platform 4, and I looked around and could not see any signs to platform 4. I did however spot a sign that said something along the lines of "lift access to platform 4," so I assumed that I would have to cross the footbridge, which was indeed correct.

 

[stut]

Shipley station is the Bermuda triangle of West Yorkshire.

St Pancras is quite confusing the the first time visitor, too. It's effectively 4 different stations run for 4 different companies (plus the Underground, plus King's Cross over the road, which plenty people confuse), but unless you know this, and know whatever your train company's called this week, it's not at all obvious.

 

[47271]

I use, and change at, Waverley a lot and agree that it's very spread out and confusing.

I twigged this a while ago and it might help the OP however - if you imagine yourself facing towards London at the foot of the North Ramp or the escalator down from the Waverley Steps, the two most common means for pedestrians to enter the station, then platforms are numbered 1-20 clockwise from top left. If you enter from Calton Road, P1 is the first one you cross. It's only the Market Street entrance that comes in at the middle of the circle as it were.

P5 and P6, little more than sidings at present, are due to be extended into the old taxi rank and will become full length platforms within this sequence in due course.

 

[stut]

Sheffield gets a special mention for mixing a/b/c meaning "part of a platform face" with "a completely distinct platform" (2c, I'm looking at you).

King's Cross also handles this in a bizarre way, with a/b only applying to platforms 9-11, and in a non-obvious way (the platforms aren't labelled with the a/b until you're on them, and b is the part nearest the barriers). Of course, if you're used to that, then 0-8 appears unhelpful. Every morning, the 0843 to KLN leaves platform 1 with the front 4 coaches going to KLN, the middle 4 slipping off at CBG, and the rear 4, well, disconnected and not part of the train. But there's little to indicate this fact, so every morning, there's a queue of people at the locked rear 4 wondering when they're going to open the doors...

 

[jopsuk]

Shipley station is the Bermuda triangle of West Yorkshire.

St Pancras is quite confusing the the first time visitor, too. It's effectively 4 different stations run for 4 different companies (plus the Underground, plus King's Cross over the road, which plenty people confuse), but unless you know this, and know whatever your train company's called this week, it's not at all obvious.

Even the Underground is pretty much two separate stations- one two platform station for the three subsurface lines, and one six-platform station for the three tube lines.

 

[stut]

Do any UK stations have anything like platform 26 at Copenhagen H?

It's actually a fairly clever solution to a lack of capacity at one point during the day - build a platform outside the station in the sidings. Thing is, to get there, you need to walk 2/3rds the length of one of the (already very long) mainline platforms under the main station building, go up to the public overbridge (which is a busy road), cross the road, and then find the staircase/lift down to the platform on the other side.

Which is a little much.

...

Or until its conversion to tram/train, the branch line platforms at Prague-Smichov, which involved something similar (well, except it was a shorter walk upstairs) but without the platform!

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

Doncaster is due to become confusing when a poorly connected Platform 0 is built. When people see 0 as the platform number they'll think it's undecided or not known, especially as it's going to be new.

And Newcastle Central deserves a mention for it's subway platforms.
The Yellow line crosses the station with train heading to St James twice, once via Tynemouth, second via a much more direct route.

 

[6862]

And Newcastle Central deserves a mention for it's subway platforms.
The Yellow line crosses the station with train heading to St James twice, once via Tynemouth, second via a much more direct route.

That's Monument you are thinking of. Central Station Metro is on both the green and yellow lines but only has 2 platforms.

 

[cool110]

Sheffield gets a special mention for mixing a/b/c meaning "part of a platform face" with "a completely distinct platform" (2c, I'm looking at you).

Preston does that as well with 3&4 with a&b being halves of the mainline platforms with c being a pair of bays between them.

 

[fairysdad]

Doncaster is due to become confusing when a poorly connected Platform 0 is built. When people see 0 as the platform number they'll think it's undecided or not known, especially as it's going to be new.

Did that happen when Kings Cross opened Platform 0 as well?

Another vote for Stratford too, although for the most part if you know what mode of transport you are travelling on (ie, Underground, DLR, Overground, TfL Rail, National Rail) then you're okay to ignore the platform number until you're going for a specific train.

 

[richieb1971]

I've seen some confusion at Tamworth. The lifts are hidden around corners and people just can't figure out where 3 and 4 are when they are down below. I've helped lots of people there.

 

[edwin_m]

No-one's mentioned Bank yet.

That station needs its own little set of maps in each corridor. The signage isn't great, so when I need exits 8 & 9 I expect numbered signs from early on. I don't expect to go up and down three different sets of stairs, along the platform of a completely different tube line, through a couple of tunnels and eventually to a ticket hall that might have exits 8 & 9.

First time I went there needing that exit I ended up coming out at Monument station because I just followed a sign that said "EXIT".

In terms of potential to confuse, I don't think we have anything remotely comparable to Chatalet les Halles.

 

[Rapidash]

Has to be Waverley really, doesn't it?

I distinctly remember going on holiday to Edinburgh with my dad years ago, getting thoroughly lost looking for a platform, and headed off to the pub of the same name, on the grounds that atleast we wouldn't get lost looking for the loo's

 

[TheNewNo2]

No-one's mentioned Bank yet.

That station needs its own little set of maps in each corridor. The signage isn't great, so when I need exits 8 & 9 I expect numbered signs from early on. I don't expect to go up and down three different sets of stairs, along the platform of a completely different tube line, through a couple of tunnels and eventually to a ticket hall that might have exits 8 & 9.

First time I went there needing that exit I ended up coming out at Monument station because I just followed a sign that said "EXIT".

Bank was my first thought too. I'd changed there plenty of times, but the first time I tried to actually exit the station from the DLR, I think I ended visiting every platform in the station, and I think several that weren't!

St Pancras is annoying, primarily because of the stupid escalator layout to the Midland platforms. I can't say I ever had much of a problem with Stratford somehow.

Has no one mentioned Birmingham New Street? I always seemed to get turned around by it.

 

[AM9]

I've watched some passengers look a little confused at Cambridge when they realise that platforms signposted 4a, 4, 1 & 1a are really only one long platform. Not only that because although northbound services usually use platform 4a/4, and southbound 1/1a, sometimes it's the other way round, plus the confusion of part of a northbound KL train detaches and the rest stays at Cambridge.
Get the platform wrong and there's a long walk to get to the right one.

 

[EM2]

I've always found Canning Town DLR to be rather difficult to use. I think it's the multi-layer thing and the signage.

Definitely agree that the signage is not the best, especially when trying to find the lifts.

 

[Gathursty]

Builth Road as it looks like you are going into someone's house until you are at their front door.

London Blackfriars for me is confusing as I forgot whether I was facing North or South on my way to City Thameslink causing me to miss a few trains.

 

[EM2]

St Pancras is annoying, primarily because of the stupid escalator layout to the Midland platforms.

The 'stupid escalator layout' has reduced accidents by over 20%.