UK's worst stations.

[londonbridge]

According to an AOL Travel survey, in order, with passenger satisfaction levels.

1. Nottingham (59%)
2. Birmingham New Street (64%)
3. London Bridge (67%)
4. Peterborough (67%)
5.Crewe (67%)
6. Gatwick Airport (69%)
7. Stockport (70%)
8. Clapham Junction (71%)
9. Maidenhead (71%)
10. Coventry (72%)

 

[DarloRich]

based on what? There is no any of those stations are the "worst" in the country.

 

[jamesontheroad]

based on what? There is no any of those stations are the "worst" in the country.

It appears to be from the National Rail Passenger Survey conducted by Transport Focus. Full report is here (PDF). Questionnaires are given to passengers about to board or on board trains. I think the sample size is 30,000-50,000?

 

[nlogax]

based on what? There is no any of those stations are the "worst" in the country.

That list baffles me too. For most part they're pretty reasonable stations. I can vaguely understand BNS being slightly unpopular for its gloom and Coventry for being, well, Coventry. What's the real criteria for 'customer satisfaction' here?

 

[DarloRich]

It appears to be from the National Rail Passenger Survey conducted by Transport Focus. Full report is here (PDF). Questionnaires are given to passengers about to board or on board trains. I think the sample size is 30,000-50,000?

there is no way in the world that Nottingham or Birmingham are the worst stations in the country. None.

 

[northwichcat]

based on what? There is no any of those stations are the "worst" in the country.

Not that long ago there was a worst Airports report which included a couple of British ones. It appeared the reason for that was airports scored badly for things like long security queues and things like ease of access to the plane or quality of air side facilities were ignored. I imagine the station list is similar to that in some respect.

 

[TheDavibob]

there is no way in the world that Nottingham or Birmingham are the worst stations in the country. None.

New Street, at platform level, is foul. Dark, fumy, a depressing health risk. And a bit of a maze. Granted, up top it is now considerably nicer than it was, but from a passenger experience point of view it was, five years ago, easily one of the worst stations in the country.

 

[DarloRich]

New Street, at platform level, is foul. Dark, fumy, a depressing health risk. And a bit of a maze. Granted, up top it is now considerably nicer than it was, but from a passenger experience point of view it was, five years ago, easily one of the worst stations in the country.

aye - 5/10 years ago. it is better now. BTW it is none of the things you suggest.

 

[Kite159]

aye - 5/10 years ago. it is better now. BTW it is none of the things you suggest.

New Street is still dark, fumy & a health risk at platform level.

And a bit of a maze for first time passengers who might not know that the B-end is the easiest end to interchange between platforms without the risk of the A-end double gateline

 

[telstarbox]

At least three of those have had major refurbs done recently, so wonder when the survey was carried out?

 

[61653 HTAFC]

That list baffles me too. For most part they're pretty reasonable stations. I can vaguely understand BNS being slightly unpopular for its gloom and Coventry for being, well, Coventry. What's the real criteria for 'customer satisfaction' here?

I wouldn't say that Barnes is particularly gloomy...

 

[Bletchleyite]

New Street is still dark, fumy & a health risk at platform level.

It is, but because "up top" is now quite nice there's no great need to spend any time there. Treat it more like Euston without the mandatory scrum and it's fine.

As for the rest I wouldn't mark those ones down particularly. If you want some grim stations, take your pick of West London GWR stations which have really been allowed to rack and ruin.

 

[telstarbox]

I wouldn't say that Barnes is particularly gloomy...

 

[DarloRich]

It is, but because "up top" is now quite nice there's no great need to spend any time there. Treat it more like Euston without the mandatory scrum and it's fine.

exactly

 

[nlogax]

I wouldn't say that Barnes is particularly gloomy...

Yeah, you got me I used to live there and it was anything but gloomy.

 

[eastdyke]

According to an AOL Travel survey, in order, with passenger satisfaction levels.

1. Nottingham (59%)
2. Birmingham New Street (64%)
3. London Bridge (67%)
4. Peterborough (67%)
5.Crewe (67%)
6. Gatwick Airport (69%)
7. Stockport (70%)
8. Clapham Junction (71%)
9. Maidenhead (71%)
10. Coventry (72%)

I can see that the list is of large stations where both access and ease of connections may be more of an issue than at say Norwich.

Depending on your criteria, Berney Arms could easily be either the best or the worst station in the Country.

 

[mushroomchow]

Nottingham is great if you're going into and out of the station, because for all the money they spaffed on improving it and trying to force people through the concourse, you can still slink off out the side exit by the old Great Central bridge without having to suffer the infernal ticket barriers.

Train connections of less than 5 minutes though? Forget about it. Many a time I've arrived and had to run for a connecting service, only to see its doors close as I approach. That's probably where the passenger satisfaction problem lies., because the overlay timings for anybody trying to catch a Leeds or Norwich / Liverpool service are for the most part appalling.

That being said, to call it the worst station in the country is laughable. It's a fairly pleasant environment all things considered. The concourse renovation was tastefully done and facilities are reasonable for its size, and the canal side is a 2 minute walk away, which is a lovely area... even if you do have to tiptoe past the Jobcentre and its typical denizens to get there.

New Street, on the other hand, is the greatest example yet of the old adage - "you can't polish a turd" - though given how shiny the concourse is, maybe it's the first ever example of a successfully polished turd. :roll:

 

[NSE]

I'd imagine London Bridge would score low at the moment by every bitter commuter that's had their commute affected! And I'd understand that haha.

 

[Bletchleyite]

New Street, on the other hand, is the greatest example yet of the old adage - "you can't polish a turd" - though given how shiny the concourse is, maybe it's the first ever example of a successfully polished turd. :roll:

TBH I genuinely think it is. I certainly no longer seek to avoid it. Just don't go down below until your train is due. A real turnaround.

I haven't used Nottingham much but I recall it being quite nice. I wonder if some of the views are tarnished by poor *train* services rather than the station itself.

 

[Bantamzen]

based on what? There is no any of those stations are the "worst" in the country.

Based on people's perceptions of the station. Looking at the report, some of the categories included in the survey were amongst others:

- Ticket buying facilities
- Provision of information about train times/platforms
- Cleanliness
- Attitudes and helpfulness of the staff
- Connections with other forms of public transport
- Facilities for car parking
- Overall environment
- Availability of seating
- Availability of Wi-Fi***

Personally I can see why Birmingham NS for example might not tick everyone's boxes, especially at the peak flows when the platforms are full to overflowing and you are trying to shoehorn onto a 4 car Cross Country Voyager. Its not necessarily the fault of NR or whomever operates the station, but most of the public don't care about that. All they see are still relatively dark and dingy platforms, brim full of punters trying to shoehorn onto crowded peak services. And if there is a last minute change of platform…..

I know whenever I have travelled to Birmingham, I always make a point of calling into the Shakespeare Head for a pint or two of Dutch courage before tackling the New Street scrums on my way home!!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Personally I can see why Birmingham NS for example might not tick everyone's boxes, especially at the peak flows when the platforms are full to overflowing and you are trying to shoehorn onto a 4 car Cross Country Voyager.

Yes, CrossCountry is certainly utterly dire in just about every way and that will cloud opinions.

 

[DarloRich]

Based on people's perceptions of the station. Looking at the report, some of the categories included in the survey were amongst others:

- Ticket buying facilities
- Provision of information about train times/platforms
- Cleanliness
- Attitudes and helpfulness of the staff
- Connections with other forms of public transport
- Facilities for car parking
- Overall environment
- Availability of seating
- Availability of Wi-Fi***

Personally I can see why Birmingham NS for example might not tick everyone's boxes, especially at the peak flows when the platforms are full to overflowing and you are trying to shoehorn onto a 4 car Cross Country Voyager. Its not necessarily the fault of NR or whomever operates the station, but most of the public don't care about that. All they see are still relatively dark and dingy platforms, brim full of punters trying to shoehorn onto crowded peak services. And if there is a last minute change of platform…..

I know whenever I have travelled to Birmingham, I always make a point of calling into the Shakespeare Head for a pint or two of Dutch courage before tackling the New Street scrums on my way home!!

Frankly - their perceptions are wrong and it suggests they haven't traveled widely.

 

[Bantamzen]

Frankly - their perceptions are wrong and it suggests they haven't traveled widely.

Not the point though, there are plenty of worse stations but most punters see one, two or maybe a few more in their entire commuting lives. So if lots of people pile through New Street, especially during the works they are far more likely to form an opinion of it than a station they visit once in a blue moon. And if everyday its busy, with lots of other punters between them and their packed train then they are not going to comment on how nice the new waiting rooms are, or how they have more choice of artisan coffees. Like I said its perceptions.

 

[Polarbear]

I think my list of 10 rubbish stations on the UK network might include some of the following;

• Brockley Whins
• Teeside Airport
• Bordersley
• Briech
• Shotton
• Peartree
• Blaenau Ffestiniog (all that slate)
• Ardwick
• Manors

 

[BestWestern]

So should be begin a hundred-page thread of our own 'worst station' nominations....?

 

[Deafdoggie]

I think my list of 10 rubbish stations on the UK network might include some of the following;

• Brockley Whins
• Teeside Airport
• Bordersley
• Briech
• Shotton
• Peartree
• Blaenau Ffestiniog (all that slate)
• Ardwick
• Manors

Depends what you want from a station. I can think of no better place to dispose of a body than Ardwick...as long as you don't plan your escape by train.

Seriously though, I suspect it has more to do with those being the busier stations. I'm minded to think (and this is just a guess) that more people use Crewe than Peartree, so more people will think Crewe is worse.

 

[alex17595]

I think my list of 10 rubbish stations on the UK network might include some of the following;

• Blaenau Ffestiniog (all that slate)
  

I personally like Blaenau Ffestiniog because of all the slate. I haven't used the station though so I can't really rate it.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I personally like Blaenau Ffestiniog because of all the slate. I haven't used the station though so I can't really rate it.

It's just a single platform unstaffed station, there's really nothing to say for or against it, really. The town is a dump, though.

 

[bramling]

I personally like Blaenau Ffestiniog because of all the slate. I haven't used the station though so I can't really rate it.

I find the slate spectacular on a fine day, but I've also seen it on a cold windy grey day and it could be seen as extremely depressing. As for the station, it's okay, but does seem to suffer from undesirables hanging around at certain times.

 

[BestWestern]

Alright then, Portsmouth Harbour. Ramshackled and grotty as it always has been, but worse now that it is flanked not only by the shiny Gunwharf on one side, but also now by the brand new Hard Interchange replacement on the other. Now looking increasingly forgotten about!