Worst Railway Station in UK

[MidnightFlyer]

Water Orton was a good station until 90/91, at which point it became unstaffed, and quite substantial platform buildings - toilets, waiting room etc - were flattened and replaced by the bus shelter there today - quite sad really.

As a general question: Why did so many stations become unstaffed from 88-91? I can think of at least 5: Yalding, Bat & Ball, Wimbledon Chase, Penkridge and Craigendoran, but I'm just curious as to why it all came about so quickly?

I'll try to find a photo of 80's Water Orton station - the only remnants now are the building and it boarded-up ticket office.

 

[Geezertronic]

I would like to list Water Orton (near Brum)

Been there 3 years ago and I think it's the most neglected place I have ever seen. (Apart from Belgium... which is neglected from border to border)

It seems to only get busy there when a steam special is passing through... and then you get rude idiots "telling" you to move out of the way because it affects their shot.

 

[Bittern]

I think Glasgow Botanic Gardens deserves a mention. I mean, for God's sake it doesn't even have a railway going through it!

 

[EWS 58038]

It seems to only get busy there when a steam special is passing through... and then you get rude idiots "telling" you to move out of the way because it affects their shot.

You don't expect me to phot at a station do you?

There are far more better places at a 5 minute walk from the station.

 

[Geezertronic]

You don't expect me to phot at a station do you?

There are far more better places at a 5 minute walk from the station.

I'm not talking about you, I don't know you

I've only been to Water Orton twice with the kids to see a steamy go through and on both occasions some old bloke was whinging about the kids being in his shot despite the fact that they were not even close to the platform edge.

 

[4SRKT]

I'm not talking about you, I don't know you

I've only been to Water Orton twice with the kids to see a steamy go through and on both occasions some old bloke was whinging about the kids being in his shot despite the fact that they were not even close to the platform edge.

Did you invite him to f**k off? I would have done: it's a railway station, i.e. a public place, not his own private plot of land. The attitude of many older kettle veg to kids is shocking, considering they should be welcoming new blood into the hobby. Maybe they don't care whether the hobby carries on, as what do we know, who've only grown up with diesels and electrics? Anyway, considering the appearance of many of these misanthropes, I doubt they've ever been in a position where having kids (or going through the 'necessary procedure' to get to this stage.....) was even a remote possibility, so it's no wonder they're a bit chippy.

There's even a guard at the K&WVR who's extremely abrupt with young children, which considering steam lines' dependence on the family market is very poor indeed.

 

[Simon Poole]

I'm just saying Cannock for the fun of it...I know Cannock is worse than Rugeley Town, Rugeley Town just got upgraded with Destination Boards and new shelters

 

[Geezertronic]

Did you invite him to f**k off?

As I had the kids with me, he got the Lionel Blair stare off me which seemed to do the job, if the kids were not with me he would have got the Gordon Ramsey treatment

 

[bAzTNM]

Falkirk Grahamston

For some reason it just seems a very depressing station. It's cold, desolate, windy (a bit like Falkirk in general really).

Sorry for the bump.

This is exactly my description of some of the newer stations like Caldercruix, Blackridge and the coldest place ever, even on a hot day, Drumgelloch.

 

[Yew]

Sutton parkway is pretty bleak. Not only is it near to sutton in ashfield, its ugly and concrete too

 

[amcluesent]

Glasgow Central low level. Hideous. Oppressive, dank, foul smelling with any number of wee neds downing Buckfast Tonic Wine, gimlet eyes looking for the next easy mark. Just when you think it can't get any worse a 318 pulls in...

 

[MadCommuter]

Glasgow Central low level. Hideous. Oppressive, dank, foul smelling with any number of wee neds downing Buckfast Tonic Wine. Just when you think it can't get any worse a 318 pulls in...

I wouldn't say it was the worst in the uk, but in terms of the use it gets, its well below what it should be. Is this part of GLC managed by Network Rail along with High Level?

 

[Bittern]

An upgrade to the station would be painting the yellow panels white and the strip along them blue, with the "Scotland's Railway" logo.

Then, of course, more 318s.

Hell, forget the re-painting, just give me more 318s!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Moston station. It used to have a staffed booking office at one time..now nothing really left to see.

Now looks like a film set for somewhere in East Germany in a John Le Carre novel.

 

[sulli_os]

Whenever I've been through Kirkgate I've always compared it to what I imagine the aftermath of a full-scale nuclear world war would look life.

Until it was recently knocked down, I'd also nominate Rotherham Central - many of Kirkgate's finest features with an added aroma of urine.

 

[northwichcat]

Greenbank. The situation is similar to that in Wakefield. LM operated Hartford station is well managed, but 1 mile away Northern operated Greenbank smells of urine, has no ticket purchasing facilities or train running information.

^^ Rotherham wasn't good but in general the town needs a clean up. The bus station must be the cleanest place in the town.

 

[Shiller]

Barking is one of the worst I've seen, but it doesn't come close to Elephant & Castle...

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Here:

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=32916

The 'winner' was Wakefield Kirkgate

And well deserved too, at the time. Thank goodness for the refurbishment programme.

 

[IanPooleTrains]

And well deserved too, at the time. Thank goodness for the refurbishment programme.

Tell me about it!

I was there last weekend spotting (see the phot and vids section of my YT channel for the videos) and I thought that all of you were making all this up but to actually stand on that station and look at it, it just shocked me right down to the core

For a station like that to even have a mainline link to London, it just shocks me right down to the bone

At no point did I feel like I was in any kind of danger, there were 'gangs' if you can cal them that there but I was just stunned and taken aback by it

I used to think Cannock was the worst station but now make that the second worse!

 

[sulli_os]

Kirkgate (wins these polls every time, and is horrific) or (officially, I think) Manchester Victoria. Victoria is a nicer actual building though, so Kirkgate wins it.

 

[phil281]

Barking is one of the worst I've seen, but it doesn't come close to Elephant & Castle...

There are some shocking stations on the Thameslink route. Loughborough junction, Kentish town and Mill Hill Broadway are some of the other horrors I can think of!

 

[gnolife]

Having never been to Wakefield Kirkgate (although that should change with the WY challenge), I my vote goes to Salford Crescent - clearly unfit for purpose, which is insane considering its not even been around for 25 years. (incidentally, would it be feasible to move the Manchester bound platform to the avoiding line, and have the current Manchester bound line as the fast line?)

 

[Oswyntail]

Barking is one of the worst I've seen, but it doesn't come close to Elephant & Castle...

I would disagree - Barking is reasonably pleasant and well maintained as is Elephant (or at least they were when I last went, a few months back). There are many, many worse up North!

 

[Turbocharger]

Wakefield Kirkgate. Worse than Beirut on a bad day even.

 

[Solent&Wessex]

Wakefield Kirkgate. Worse than Beirut on a bad day even.

The environment at Kirkgate is not helped by the fact it is in a particularly unpleasant part of Wakefield. Last time I was there, not too long ago, The station itself was surrounded by burnt out boarded up buildings, abandoned cars, dogs roaming around and gangs of feral youths generally hanging around looking menacing. Not to mention the assorted prostitutes, drug dealers and other ne'er do wells which frequent the general vacinity. The train from Huddersfield always amuses me. It arrives, just squeezes onto the platform only as much as is required, the crew hurriedly change ends while the passengers sit there looking scared, before it scuttles off to Westgate as quickly as possible.

 

[blacknight]

Only reason Wakefield Kirkgate keeps winning is because passengers are to scared to get off at Darnall. Visited once to say been there & yes its that bad, strange how water gathers in subway even during dry months . Sure it must get award Worst Railway Station (Small)

 

[exile]

Edge Hill - though all it needs is a few more seats and shelters and for the staff to be allowed to come out of the ticket office (where tickets are rarely if ever sold) sometimes.
On a visit to London I noticed Catford seems lacking in facilities for what must be a busy station at peak times.

 

[Toad]

Might already have been mentioned....soz

Hattersley, Hadfield line, there last week, my god

 

[Waverley125]

Wakefield Kirkgate. Discussion over.

 

[Yorkswatcher]

Barking is one of the worst I've seen, but it doesn't come close to Elephant & Castle...

Barking - Worst, never I would hate to know what you think a good station is.