Worst Railway Station in UK

[MidnightFlyer]

And this:
http://www2.wakefieldtoday.co.uk/kirkgatestationonlinepetitionpage000001.htm

is a fairly lenghty petition to improve the station - there is a lot of names on it.

 

[bradders1983]

The 'urgent attention' required by Kirkgate is an appointment with a wrecking ball. Unfortunately these new express Leeds > Sheffield/Nottingham services have increased the number of trains to be rerouted in order to close Kirkgate and I doubt Westgate would have the capacity to accomodate them all.

And trains approaching from the west are not able to get into Westgate without reversing just before Kirkgate, and even then the traffic on the ECML may not allow for the additional traffic, as you said. Wakefield is also devoid of any bay platforms which would increase the problem.

 

[DarloRich]

Agreed!

As for Sunderland, I'm thoroughly disappointed that so much money has been spent on acheiving so little. Most of the funding seems to have been concentrated on a pointless "light wall" that does little for actual station illumination. There has definitely been an improvement, installing an escalator and the new seating are definitley positive points, but for a station that has just been refurbished it is still pretty bad overall. Could be and has been a lot worse though, so I shouldn't complain too much: It does the job of letting people catch trains. At least it's not Wakefield Kirkgate!

I dont think Sunderland is that bad now they have done it up - used to be MUCH worse. Imagine a 56 going from a standing start in the platform lines with a long HAA train - A steam engine would have caused less clag! Boro used to be poor as well but it is a lot better now.

As for the North East i think Billingham is a good shout for the worst!

 

[blacknight]

The 'urgent attention' required by Kirkgate is an appointment with a wrecking ball.

Lovely old station fallen on hard times more inneed of renovation than demolishing & maybe a visit by the pest controller to eliminate human vermin that have infested the station for to long.
If you think Kirkgate is rough then take alook at my favourite for the title Darnall

 

[bradders1983]

Lovely old station fallen on hard times more inneed of renovation than demolishing & maybe a visit by the pest controller to eliminate human vermin that have infested the station for to long.
If you think Kirkgate is rough then take alook at my favourite for the title Darnall

Ah yes, Darnall. You would think given its location it would be a great little station for commuters etc, all it gets though is an hourly service to Worksop/Retford/Lincoln.

 

[tempests1]

I'll thow my weight behind Wakefield Kirkgate again, as I always do on these threads. As usual it's winning, so I think its position as the worst of the worst is pretty much unassailable.

Other horrors I've recently experienced include Byfleet & New Haw and Knottingley.

Byfleet & New Haw seconded. The Up Slow Line Platform used to be at different levels at the Woking end it is very low down as a Guard you literally had to jump out of your local door when stopping there as it was a long way down! Then the spooky looking Building by the stairs on the same platform. As you look around it is very Industrial & with the attractive Concrete M25. Bridge in the background just to add to the scene. Not forgetting the gang's of Hoodies drinking white Lightening! Another grotty looking station is at Hersham basically made out of wood was funded by a Housing Developer in the 1930's and does not look like it has changed much. Liss on the Portsmouth Direct Line is one of the 1970's All Glass station's basically in a square shape. A few years ago the station did not have CCTV so all the youths would hang out there and kick ten bells out of the station, the actual station looked like a Patchwork quilt with all the chipboard that was placed over the smashed glass. For a small village community the amount of robberies/Assaults was shockingly bad. Any of the stations between Raynes Park & Epsom could also be included here for being run down & anti social.

 

[Lampshade]

Kirkgate has potential but there's no real will to invest, it needs a good few million spending on it.

All things considered I vote Manchester Victoria, depressing, dark, dingy, cold, wet, miserable, I could go on...

 

[4SRKT]

Kirkgate has potential but there's no real will to invest, it needs a good few million spending on it.

All things considered I vote Manchester Victoria, depressing, dark, dingy, cold, wet, miserable, I could go on...

I refer you to my post #34 on this very thread.

 

[Drsatan]

All things considered I vote Manchester Victoria, depressing, dark, dingy, cold, wet, miserable, I could go on...

It looked like that even though I didn't get off a train which stopped there!

I'm surprised no-one's mentioned Exeter Central. For a station which serves a city centre there's no buffet, no PIS, only one ticket window seems to be open at any one time, and there aren't many staff members on duty. There's only one ticket machine at the Queen Street entrance (the entrance needs at least two), while a ticket machine ought to be installed at the New North Road entrance.

 

[sprinterguy]

Imagine a 56 going from a standing start in the platform lines with a long HAA train - A steam engine would have caused less clag!

Ah yes, those were the days: I can dimly remember the final glory years of that sort of activity. Although back then at least the station was partially open to fresh air and sunlight. Now it's a completely enclosed black hole! But still, a lot better than it once was I have to concede.

As for the North East i think Billingham is a good shout for the worst!

Yeah, I'll agree that Billingham is worse than Sunderland!

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

Teesside Airport, Billingham and Sunderland are definates.

 

[dickdarlington]

Teesside Airport doesn't count. It can hardly be even called a station. There is nothing to hate about it. As there is nothing there.

I think Kirkgate has it's charms. It's certainly not ugly. Just unloved. I take it that it is needed still as a functioning station. I've only ever passed through there once on a re routed TPE.

 

[plymothian]

I'm surprised no-one's mentioned Exeter Central. For a station which serves a city centre there's no buffet, no PIS, only one ticket window seems to be open at any one time, and there aren't many staff members on duty. There's only one ticket machine at the Queen Street entrance (the entrance needs at least two), while a ticket machine ought to be installed at the New North Road entrance.

Central has just had barriers installed at both entrances as part of an upgrade, including the NNR entrance (apparently there's a whole new station building there now), not sure if the lifts are open yet, and FGW are rolling out new PIS across the network.

 

[Zoe]

I'm surprised no-one's mentioned Exeter Central. For a station which serves a city centre there's no buffet, no PIS, only one ticket window seems to be open at any one time, and there aren't many staff members on duty. There's only one ticket machine at the Queen Street entrance (the entrance needs at least two), while a ticket machine ought to be installed at the New North Road entrance.

It did have the old Wales and West CIS.

 

[Simon Poole]

I know what the worst Station is...Polesworth!

 

[Lampshade]

I know what the worst Station is...Polesworth!

Nah, it at least has a service of sorts, Norton Bridge on the other hand...

 

[scotsman]

I think Attadale could be in for a shout.

Very short platform, no PIS, no CCTV, no heating in the waiting room, very infrequent service.

 

[yorksrob]

I'd nominate Camborne, Cornwall and Barking, Greater London.

At least Cambourne still has a rather nice station building.

Other horrors I've recently experienced include Byfleet & New Haw and Knottingley.

I found Knottingly to be fairly unremarkable as far as unstaffed W Yorks stations are concerned. If anything, Normanton feels more desolate.

It's one of the very few places that I'v actually felt uncomfortably unsafe in. No-one's mentioned Crewe - just look up, it's a shambles!

I used to like changing at Crewe in my youth, although even then it could have done with a splash of paint.

 

[Bittern]

Dalmarnock for me, though i'm not particularly fond of high st either.

Dalmarnock for sure! Is it still getting it's huge makeover it so badly requires?

 

[4SRKT]

I found Knottingly to be fairly unremarkable as far as unstaffed W Yorks stations are concerned. If anything, Normanton feels more desolate.

My problem with Knottingley is the way terminating trains cross over to access the westbound platform so they can go into the TMD siding during layover. This forces everyone to use the footbridge. Trains towards Leeds also use this platform. Basically everyone has to use the footbridge almost every time. I saw a lot of people with prams struggling with this ridiculous arrangement.

 

[142094]

My problem with Knottingley is the way terminating trains cross over to access the westbound platform so they can go into the TMD siding during layover. This forces everyone to use the footbridge. Trains towards Leeds also use this platform. Basically everyone has to use the footbridge almost every time. I saw a lot of people with prams struggling with this ridiculous arrangement.

I haven't seen it happen, but wonder what the situation would be at Knottingley with a wheelchair. Would the guard on the train allow the wheelchair to board, sit in the TMD sidings and return to go to Leeds? Not entirely sure if there is any other way of doing it, unless you get a bus to a different station?

 

[Simon Poole]

Nah, it at least has a service of sorts, Norton Bridge on the other hand...

Norton Bridge was my other pick as Britians Worse Station but it's closed so doesn't count...or does it?

 

[Lampshade]

Norton Bridge was my other pick as Britians Worse Station but it's closed so doesn't count...or does it?

It's like Watford West, legally open but 'temporarily' closed with permanent 'temporary' replacement buses.

 

[43167]

Norton Bridge was my other pick as Britians Worse Station but it's closed so doesn't count...or does it?

Yes it does. It has never been closed. The footbridge was taken down in the WCML upgrade and Network Rail didnt bother to put it back. Waiting room & other bits still there.

 

[cainebj]

Maryport in Cumbria.
a "main" station, comprising of a single platform, with a big shelter type thing on it that you normally see at a bus stop. it is unmanned, and has no loudspeaker system controlled from the nearest signal box, as is seen on other unmanned main stations on the Cumbrian Coastline. the only facilities are broken very cold (and often wet) metal seats, and a broken pay phone. although a big shelter type thing is on the station, it often has the glass sides missing, so the shelter does nothing to protect passengers from wind or rain. with Maryport being a coastal town in Cumbria, wind and rain are inevitable!

 

[Simon Poole]

Yes it does. It has never been closed. The footbridge was taken down in the WCML upgrade and Network Rail didnt bother to put it back. Waiting room & other bits still there.

should reopen it Pendolinos, Desiro, Voyagers at speed on film or photo,

 

[Drsatan]

Central has just had barriers installed at both entrances as part of an upgrade, including the NNR entrance (apparently there's a whole new station building there now), not sure if the lifts are open yet, and FGW are rolling out new PIS across the network.

A couple of weeks ago I saw barriers being installed at the Queen Street exit, but I haven't seen any buildings under construction by the NNR entrance, nor any barriers there.

 

[CarterUSM]

Dalmarnock for sure! Is it still getting it's huge makeover it so badly requires?

I believe so, but i won't hold my breath that it will remove that dank offensive odour down there. Actually, i will hold my breath............

 

[4SRKT]

I haven't seen it happen, but wonder what the situation would be at Knottingley with a wheelchair. Would the guard on the train allow the wheelchair to board, sit in the TMD sidings and return to go to Leeds? Not entirely sure if there is any other way of doing it, unless you get a bus to a different station?

Not even this would work because trains in both directions use the eastbound platform that is only reachable by the bridge. AFAICS the westbound platform is only used for either set down or pick up by the daily Leeds > Goole service, and possibly by any trains whose layover is too short to go to the TMD siding. There is a trailing crossover at the west end of the station, so all trains except the two Goole > Leeds workings could use the more convenient westbound platform, but this would mean them blocking the line for 15-20 minutes twice an hour.

 

[DarloRich]

Teesside Airport doesn't count. It can hardly be even called a station. There is nothing to hate about it. As there is nothing there.

I think Kirkgate has it's charms. It's certainly not ugly. Just unloved. I take it that it is needed still as a functioning station. I've only ever passed through there once on a re routed TPE.

Agree with both points - At Least Teeside Airport station is tidy, hasd working phone and a shelter - slight problem being the 1 train a week in each direction.

Kirkgate is a sh*t tip - but with some money and TLC it would be a nice station.