Trivia: Uninspiring ends to a 25kv branch electrification?

[WesternS]

Moderator note: split from Bromsgrove new station and wiring updates

Last Sunday (13th Aug), I went all the way to Redditch for the first time ever - can anyone think of a more uninspiring end to a 25kv branch electrification?

Gourock at least has a really good station, as does Braintree....

I would think Southminster must be up there, but at Redditch it's like a neglected electrified siding in the corner of a shopping centre delivery compound/car park....

The sign on the pub wall on the far wall of the car park has to tell you you've arrived !

 

[D1009]

Finally, a bit of an aside, but went all the way to Redditch for the first time ever - can anyone think of a more uninspiring end to a 25kv branch electrification ? Gourock at least has a really good station, as does Braintree.... I would think Southminster must be up there, but at Redditch it's like a neglected electrified siding in the corner of a shopping centre delivery compound/car park.... The sign on the pub wall on the far wall of the car park has to tell you you've arrived !

Apologies for going off topic, but I'd nominate Harwich Town. Probably a subject for a trivia thread if it hasn't already been done.

 

[Dr Hoo]

Apologies for going off topic, but I'd nominate Harwich Town. Probably a subject for a trivia thread if it hasn't already been done.

Ardrossan Harbour and Paisley Canal aren't a lot to write home about either!

 

[deltic08]

Also at the end of a branchline, Harrogate station can be bleak and uninviting in winter. Even after a so-called £1m facelift, the Leeds bound platform where the majority of passengers wait for a train is totally devoid of canopy and the new footbridge between platforms is an open trough that is a canal when wet and frozen when cold and towards the end of the platforms is very much a poor relation of the old footbridge that was covered and in the middle of the station. This is reflected in below expected annual footfall for a town or 77,000 residents.

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

Also at the end of a branchline, Harrogate station can be bleak and uninviting in winter. Even after a so-called £1m facelift, the Leeds bound platform where the majority of passengers wait for a train is totally devoid of canopy and the new footbridge between platforms is an open trough that is a canal when wet and frozen when cold and towards the end of the platforms is very much a poor relation of the old footbridge that was covered and in the middle of the station. This is reflected in below expected annual footfall for a town or 77,000 residents.

Now it used to be that most trains in both directions called at the main York-bound platform. The half-hourly service was timed to cross at Starbeck and near Weeton, allowing ample margin for this to occur. Given that Harrogate hasn't yet been resignalled, what has happened to the off peak service that means this now doesn't happen? Or is it just another example of short-sighted service planning.

 

[Ianno87]

Now it used to be that most trains in both directions called at the main York-bound platform. The half-hourly service was timed to cross at Starbeck and near Weeton, allowing ample margin for this to occur. Given that Harrogate hasn't yet been resignalled, what has happened to the off peak service that means this now doesn't happen? Or is it just another example of short-sighted service planning.

Given the high propensity of tourists/business/leisure travellers using Harrogate, wouldn't be surprised if people accidentally boarding the train in the wrong direction was a common problem...

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

Given the high propensity of tourists/business/leisure travellers using Harrogate, wouldn't be surprised if people accidentally boarding the train in the wrong direction was a common problem...

Fair point!

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Moderator note: split from Bromsgrove new station and wiring updates

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/bromsgrove-new-station-and-wiring-updates.107512/

Sticky updated accordingly

 

[Kite159]

Agreed with Redditch, although Lichfield Trent Valley High Level probably could rival it for uninspiring end of the OHLE

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Ilkley has definitely improved over the years especially since electrification and then another upgrade circa 2011 iirc

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

Does the IC225 wash road / stabling siding at the eastern end of Neville Hill depot count? It always seemed that the mighty ECML electrification just peters out after passing through Leeds.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Hazel Grove

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

Springburn was quite a dump, prior to the wiring through to Glasgow Queen Street.

 

[roversfan2001]

Does the little stub of wires from Oxenholme towards Windermere count?

 

[Iskra]

Bradford Forster Square- the definition of bland.

 

[Harbouring]

Been at Acton central late in the evening and it’s a little bleak. Not much around the station for a station in London too

 

[AngusH]

North Berwick?

The view is great, but the station is somewhat minimal.
Although I'm glad it survived and was electrified at all.

(Or is this the place rather than the condition of the station itself?)

 

[Ianno87]

Hadfield. Look past the end of the platform to see where the wires used to continue (@ 1500v DC). Looks a bit sorry now.

Both Hadfield and Glossop are pleasant enough towns though, in some lovely scenery.

 

[jopsuk]

Balloch needs a mention here. Alloa as a future contender

 

[AM9]

St Albans Abbey. A token representation of what was quite an interesting terminus to two branch lines each providing journeys to their respective company's London terminii. There's nothing wrong with the location once the station yard has been exited.

 

[John Webb]

St Albans Abbey. A token representation of what was quite an interesting terminus to two branch lines each providing journeys to their respective company's London terminii. There's nothing wrong with the location once the station yard has been exited.

It has improved a bit - 1983 (click on pictures to go to the larger original):
St. Albans Abbey railway station, 1983

© Copyright Nigel Thompson and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

And in 2009:
St Albans Abbey railway station

© Copyright Nigel Cox and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

At least there is better shelter, bike rack and help point now; but certainly not a patch on what it once was!

 

[AM9]

I agree. Here's a view of it in it's latter days before rationalisation:

http://www.time-capsules.co.uk/images/pf-time-capsules/3314.jpg

Probably not as comfortable but more interesting.

 

[DarloRich]

Is it only with 25kv wiring that a termini may be considered uninspiring?

 

[Beebman]

Larkhall (image from Geograph: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3427236)

 

[AM9]

Is it only with 25kv wiring that a termini may be considered uninspiring?

I suppose that OLE represents a modern electrified line that maybe we expect to end somewhere special (in rail passenger terms). Seeing it peter out at what usually looks like a siding with an excuse for a platform gives the impression of a good job done for not much of a reason. If it isn't electrified, at least it can have an air of 'rural branch line'.

 

[DarloRich]

St Albans Abbey - Driech

 

[Bletchleyite]

I suppose that OLE represents a modern electrified line that maybe we expect to end somewhere special (in rail passenger terms). Seeing it peter out at what usually looks like a siding with an excuse for a platform gives the impression of a good job done for not much of a reason. If it isn't electrified, at least it can have an air of 'rural branch line'.

I guess that's it. Pretty much every branch line ends in an anticlimax.

But to be fair...could be worse, could be a bus stop.

 

[AM9]

St Albans Abbey - Driech

That's the station I presume. The abbey itself is a fine building.

 

[DarloRich]

That's the station I presume. The abbey itself is a fine building.

Indeed - but not York Minster or Durham Cathedral

 

[AndrewE]

Also at the end of a branchline, Harrogate station ...

What? I thought trains ran in from Leeds, then on to Knaresborough and York. How is that the end of a branch line? And it's not electrified either! If we are opening this thread up to all dismal termini I would propose Wrexham Central.