UK's worst stations.

[Bletchleyite]

London Bridge reminds me of Bern Hbf, I think it's all the wood and concrete (very distinctive of Swiss station design).

 

[DarloRich]

"Limited" exposure to poisonous fumes that have no sane reason to be there is still far in excess of what anybody should be exposed to on a daily basis.

Tests have shown that the particulate levels across the whole of BHM (not just the platforms!) is far in excess of safe levels. I feel sorry for the staff who have to work down there every day and the commuters who pass through regularly.

The whole of Birmingham has been in "special measures" for air quality since 2005 and has continually missed its targets. While most of the toxic air is, of course, caused by road traffic, rail clearly plays a part. Rail won't win the "green" argument until it gets rid of the vast majority of its fossil burners.

Studies have shown nothing. A TV report has suggested increased particulate levels. The key phrase in the whole report:

Because this survey was done on just one day, the research has not been peer reviewed by other scientists.

So you're happy to be slowly poisoned to death as long as the place it happens looks nice?

I am fairly certain i am being poisoned slowly to death by mere existence. My exposure to exhaust fumes at new street station is but a drop in the ocean of that exposure. I am also fairly certain that for most of us lifestyle choices will kill us off before pollution.

I don't understand what the rolling stock allocation, or its carbon footprint, as to do with whether a station is good or not.

Nothing - it is hobby horse mounting.

 

[Hornet]

So you're happy to be slowly poisoned to death as long as the place it happens looks nice?

Says the person who has a name and photo of a piece of transport history, that contributed to the 1952 Great London smog that killed thousands.

 

[mallard]

A TV report has suggested increased particulate levels.

An academic study, actually.

Because this survey was done on just one day, the research has not been peer reviewed by other scientists.

Since the academic paper has "Peer reviewed version" marked on the title page, I'd assume that statement was referring to ongoing research which has now been completed and reviewed. The paper was published in the April 2017 issue of the "Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Transport" journal, over a year after the newspaper article.

I am fairly certain i am being poisoned slowly to death by mere existence. My exposure to exhaust fumes at new street station is but a drop in the ocean of that exposure. I am also fairly certain that for most of us lifestyle choices will kill us off before pollution.

Over 500 people die prematurely each year due to toxic air in Birmingham alone. Your "lifestyle choices" affect you alone (or possibly your close friends/family depending on what they are) and end when you die. Pollution does neither of those things.

it is hobby horse mounting.

Sure, and we should obviously follow America's lead and withdraw from the Paris accords, tear down all those "ugly" wind turbines and go back to burning coal for heat, because climate change is just a "hoax", right? All those people developing respiratory problems due to nitrogen dioxide exposure are just faking it?

Just face it. As much as rail enthusiasts might like a big, noisy, "claggy" diesel (and I'd certainly count myself in that group), they're an obsolete, damaging technology that should play as little a role as possible in a 21st century transport system. Pretending that kicking problems into the future and increasing long-term costs is "prudent" is completely the opposite.

I've no problem with keeping such old tech around on heritage lines or the odd special working, that small impact can be more easily offset and controlled. Very few (no?) heritage lines pass through heavily populated areas or busy, enclosed stations.

Says the person who has a name and photo of a piece of transport history, that contributed to the 1952 Great London smog that killed thousands.

Consider it a warning from history. Just as steam locomotives were considered "dirty" and "obsolete" in the 1950s and 60s, diesels are the modern equivalent. If we managed to replace steam with diesel within about 20 years, then we ought to be able to (near) completely replace diesels with modern trains in a comparable timescale.

Aren't steam workings pretty much banned from enclosed stations anyway?

 

[AlterEgo]

So you're happy to be slowly poisoned to death as long as the place it happens looks nice?

That's got nothing to do with the station or its merits as a piece of civil engineering, otherwise you're getting into silly territory - is St Pancras International bad because it happens to be in an area of high air pollution? Daft.

I appreciate you have your axe to grind though.

 

[DarloRich]

EDIT - off topic. I feel there is a gap between the desire for and ability/desire to deliver the green agenda Mallard espouses. Pragmatism is a key missing word.

BTW the second linked document is a much more robust study. Thanks for sharing.

ON TOPIC: Alter Ego is correct.

 

[adrock1976]

A brief comment regarding the above few posts:

I remember my grandmother saying years ago that we all have to eat a peck (pre imperial measurement) of dirt before we die.

 

[bramling]

Any major city station that's not served by a modern railway (e.g. Nottingham, Sheffield, Bristol TM, Birmingham MS/SN etc.) is clearly among the worst and an embarrassment to the country.

No commuter or intercity journey should be made using obsolete, environmentally disastrous fossil-fuel based "technology" in this day and age, except possibly where extenuating circumstances require it (e.g. the impracticality of modernising the Dawlish sea wall).

Apart from that, Birmingham New Street is still awful. The refurbished shopping centre above it is nice, but hardly relevant to a rail traveller. The new "spread out" layout of station facilities is unnecessarily confusing and maze-like (obviously for "retail psychology" reasons) and the signage is woeful. Anyone spending more than a minute or two at platform level may as well be smoking 20 a day, with all the choking diesel fumes (which have no sane reason to be there; see above).

Even if diesel trains didn't exist at all, unfortunately one would still be exposed to diesel fumes on the way to the station.

The walk from my house to my local station is entirely through alleyways away from roads, and the train service is 100% electric (apart from a few diesels passing through at speed). However this doesn't stop me breathing in disgusting fumes from the nearly-empty buses which insist on serving the station forecourt (even through often they don't actually drop off/pick up anyone) linking the local council estates, or the line-up of taxis sitting with their engines running particularly in winter. Frustrating and irritating, but sadly probably won't change.

 

[edwin_m]

All I can say is that the passengers of Nottingham must have led very sheltered lives if they think that Nottingham station is the worst in the country.

Except the ones on Platform 2 or 4, who aren't very sheltered at all.

 

[frodshamfella]

I don't like Manchester Airport station. Pretty grim waiting on the platforms.

 

[Geogregor]

How about Catford? This is one of the worst stations in SE London (and there are tones of crap ones here).


IMG_20170814_150832492_HDR by Geogregor*, on Flickr

Completely inaccessible, not just for disable but also for families:

IMG_20170814_150723374_HDR by Geogregor*, on Flickr

 

[amateur]

I LOVE Birmingham New Street. Since it has been refurbished. Shopping facilities, and number of eateries, and Grand Central - on a par with St Pancras. The concourse is much more welcoming than other stations. Lot nicer than BIA. Nicer than all the other Bham Stations. You hop off the train, and you have EVERYTHING on your doorstep! Even a John Lewis!

 

[Trackman]

Has Blackpool North cropped up yet in this thread?

 

[Liam]

Has Blackpool North cropped up yet in this thread?

I would say that Blackpool South is worse.

 

[anti-pacer]

I think St Pancras is bad. Infrequent service, no facilities, windy, and altogether grim.

No.... wait.... it's not St Pancras I'm thinking of, it's Streethouse!

Close!

 

[Parallel]

Lot nicer than BIA. Nicer than all the other Bham Stations. You hop off the train, and you have EVERYTHING on your doorstep! Even a John Lewis!

Awwh, I love Moor St! (But its charm is wasted due to its location)

 

[yorksrob]

Awwh, I love Moor St! (But its charm is wasted due to its location)

Handy for it's closeness to New Street though.

I like Moor Street as well, although it does act as a sad reminder of how wonderful Snow Hill must have been before they flattened it.

 

[Ianno87]

I don't like Manchester Airport station. Pretty grim waiting on the platforms.

Really? Admittedly the place is a bit of a wind tunnel on a cold day (and feels 'buried' under the road bridge), but at least there's a frequent train service, half-decent café to sit and wait in, plenty of staff, adjacent modern bus interchange and covered access to both main terminals.

 

[hwl]

How about Catford? This is one of the worst stations in SE London (and there are tones of crap ones here).


IMG_20170814_150832492_HDR by Geogregor*, on Flickr

Completely inaccessible, not just for disable but also for families:

IMG_20170814_150723374_HDR by Geogregor*, on Flickr

Not even close, might I suggest you take trip along the WAML passing Angel Road, I wouldn't suggest getting off there though...

 

[Bletchleyite]

That looks the same level of grim as the access to Ardwick, though the latter at least has a
pleasantly grassed (maintained, not overgrown) platform.

 

[frodshamfella]

Really? Admittedly the place is a bit of a wind tunnel on a cold day (and feels 'buried' under the road bridge), but at least there's a frequent train service, half-decent café to sit and wait in, plenty of staff, adjacent modern bus interchange and covered access to both main terminals.

Well I don't like it just my opinion...i thinks it grim for an airport station , always feels cold....and it's a drag of a walk to the terminals. Never noticed particularly many staff.

 

[Ianno87]

Not even close, might I suggest you take trip along the WAML passing Angel Road, I wouldn't suggest getting off there though...

Seconded. Angel Road truly is awful on so many levels:
-No staff other than when someone arrives to empty the bin or change the posters, and few other passengers
-Located in a semi-derelict industrial area
-"Interesting" neighbours (Rottweilers included)
-Lousy single narrow station access path between security fences station access that sticks you straight out onto a busy flyover where the pavement is just painted onto the road, and lots of dark corners for people to lurk in with no escape
-Good luck if you can't use steps; accessing the Up platform involves walk, down steps, walk, up steps, and down steps again
-About half a mile walk anywhere useful across busy roads with fast moving traffic
-Station entrance is not even on Angel Road, nor connected to it (and finding the entrance is a bit 'Where's Wally?' as there aren't many signs or clues
-Limited peak only train service
-Platforms part located under North Circular Rd flyovr and poorly lit

Anyone who thinks their station is awful - I assure you Angel Rd is worse. Visit after dark for maximum effect (serious advice: I do not recommend visiting after dark)

On the plus side, it does have a PERTIS machine.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Not even close, might I suggest you take trip along the WAML passing Angel Road, I wouldn't suggest getting off there though...

That is really bad - and the area (despite the loitering bloke) , is - I am told - really coming up in the world from a low base. Due to affordability in relative terms compared to most of London ....awful CLASP building needs to go.

London always had some sketchy stations - Harlesden and Stonebridge Park , Caledonian Road and Homerton - all on my patch where problematical - but really improved now.

 

[PR1Berske]

I'm a nonleague groundhopper, so on my travels I've known some fairly ropey train stations! There's something about, say, Burnley Central that makes you think, "Why am I at this train station at this time doing this hobby," let me tell you!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Seconded. Angel Road truly is awful on so many levels:
-No staff other than when someone arrives to empty the bin or change the posters, and few other passengers
-Located in a semi-derelict industrial area
-"Interesting" neighbours (Rottweilers included)
-Lousy single narrow station access path between security fences station access that sticks you straight out onto a busy flyover where the pavement is just painted onto the road, and lots of dark corners for people to lurk in with no escape
-Good luck if you can't use steps; accessing the Up platform involves walk, down steps, walk, up steps, and down steps again
-About half a mile walk anywhere useful across busy roads with fast moving traffic
-Station entrance is not even on Angel Road, nor connected to it (and finding the entrance is a bit 'Where's Wally?' as there aren't many signs or clues
-Limited peak only train service
-Platforms part located under North Circular Rd flyovr and poorly lit

Anyone who thinks their station is awful - I assure you Angel Rd is worse. Visit after dark for maximum effect (serious advice: I do not recommend visiting after dark)

On the plus side, it does have a PERTIS machine.

Googling it shows pictures reminiscent of Denton. But (while it has a more useful service) worse.

 

[amateur]

Awwh, I love Moor St! (But its charm is wasted due to its location)

i appreciate the amenities within the immediate vicinity. if every station had decent coffee, then I'm happy with that!

 

[306024]

London always had some sketchy stations - Harlesden and Stonebridge Park , Caledonian Road and Homerton - all on my patch where problematical - but really improved now.

Nothing wrong with Harlesden, so long as you remenber your bardic lamp, and I don't mean for illumination

 

[timj]

I would say that Blackpool South is worse.

I agree, a big town terminus with no ticket office, toilets or anything. Same as Stockton (-on-Tees) and Pontefract Baghill (although there's virtually no trains there now anyway)

 

[farleigh]

Ore is a dump.

 

[edwin_m]

I agree, a big town terminus with no ticket office, toilets or anything. Same as Stockton (-on-Tees) and Pontefract Baghill (although there's virtually no trains there now anyway)

But South isn't the primary terminus for Blackpool. Almost everybody will be using North, which while not perfect I seem to recall has reasonable facilities relative to the size of the town and the train service.