trivia - "station" in station name

[puffing billy]

Watching the new series of Portillo's Great British Railway Journeys, changing between Southern and Southeastern stations, reminded me of something that I have recently noticed. Why do most (all?) Southern station names (on the signs outside the station not those on the platforms) have the word "station" in the name (e.g. "Chichester Station", "Barnham Station" etc.) while Southeastern, SWR and GWR stations just have the name (e.g. "Tonbridge", "Frant" etc.)? I could understand adding the word "Station" if the location of the railway station is not actually in the named town/city but Chichester Station, for example, is in the middle of the city.

 

[NSE]

Personal choice by the TOC I guess.

 

[BeijingDave]

Probably better really, non-native users of English might not instantly recognise the symbol but would recognise the word 'station'.

 

[D365]

Obligatory shoutout for Battersea Power Station station

 

[xotGD]

On the Tyne and Wear Metro, Central Station station has the word "Station" as part of the name of the station.

 

[BeijingDave]

On the Tyne and Wear Metro, Central Station station has the word "Station" as part of the name of the station.

Also true of many metro systems around the world.

 

[tram21]

On the Tyne and Wear Metro, Central Station station has the word "Station" as part of the name of the station.

"Nottingham Station" on the NET tram.

 

[rower40]

In 9 months' time, one called Jess will open.

Spoiler

Gestation, geddit?

 

[GatwickDepress]

Pre-nationalisation, it was very common for stations to have 'X station' on frontage signage and this seemed to continue into British Railways days with totem signage used fairly interchangeably both with and without 'station'. It wasn't until British Rail's Corporate Identity Manual and introduction of the 'double arrows' logo that saw frontage signage standardised without 'station' used at all. I'm sure there's always been exceptions though and the majority of London Underground stations have always been 'X Station'.

But I don't think Southern were doing a deliberate throwback to the days of Bulleid Pacifics and 2-WIMs. It's most likely just a house style that might aid accessibility for people who don't recognise logos, or maybe they just think it looks nice. Every TOC has signage quirks, like London Midland's 'double arrows' in a circle.

 

[Rail Ranger]

At least one station name board on the platform at Nelson says "Nelson Station".

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Was the reason for the naming convention, to perhaps disambiguate the railway station from the bus station, where a particular location has both?

 

[61653 HTAFC]

At least one station name board on the platform at Nelson says "Nelson Station".

Which is quite fitting, as the settlement wasn't called 'Nelson' when the station opened.

 

[xotGD]

The signage on the front of Leeds station says "Leeds City Station".