Worst stations not getting a refurb.

[daccer]

It struck me the other day that Network Rail and the various funding bodies are finally getting to grips with station conditions albeit with much prompting from Adonis et al. There have been a few lists over the last few years of the worst stations on the network and the same candidates have always come up. It now appears that these are being prioritised and work has started at some (Sunderland, Man Vic, New St, Hartlepool etc) and is planned for others (Kirkgate, etc). With it currently being en vogue to get stations up to scratch I was wondering if there are any out there that may have slipped through the net either because Adonis hasn't seen them yet or because there hasn't been enough of an outcry over their condition.

For my two pennies worth I hope the redevelopment of Leicester will make the platforms area a little more appealing and Luton and Peterborough need to be done asap as they are not fit for purpose.

 

[northwichcat]

Huddersfield station needs lift access - the only way disabled users can get between platforms 4-8 and the entrance is with staff assistance and it's not exactly convenient for passengers with suitcases either.

Knutsford station needs some sort of PA system and/or LED display screens and ideally more station seating and ticket machines. Currently there are spaces for 6-9 people to sit on each platform and just the one ticket person at a time, with up to 100 passengers boarding trains at Knutsford and around 50 on some off-peak trains - the poor ticket guy has to shout to people that a train's delayed or cancelled.

Little stations in PTE areas like Adwick are in much better nick than small stations outside PTE areas like Greenbank, which is 100 times worse than Wakefield Kirkgate.

 

[ailsa]

Huddersfield station needs lift access - the only way disabled users can get between platforms 4-8 and the entrance is with staff assistance and it's not exactly convenient for passengers with suitcases either.

Lifts are being installed at Huddersfield as we speak - they may even be working by now since I was last there several weeks ago.

Unfortunately there's no evidence of similar activity at Bath Spa, which desperately needs lifts and improved pedestrian access. The current 'step free access' consists of sharing road ramps with cars, risking getting run over, and really poor lighting and potholes to navigate.

 

[Dai.]

All the stations in my area are as far as I'm aware perfectly fine, the thing that really needs upgrading as well are the trains. But hey wants don't get!

 

[LE Greys]

Stevenage. The lifts currently rely on the platform staff to operate them, and I'm sure there is an alternative that would not cause so many problems. It also needs canopies at least as long as an 8-car train to spread the pax out a bit, since they would not all end up huddling at the bottom of the stairs in the only sheltered bit. Ideally, it would get a south-facing bay for Hertford Loop services, and any possible connection to Luton in the future (there was a news report). There is enough room to move the down slow over a bit towards the cinema car park, and the solution would probably end up looking a bit like Woking.

 

[Ivo]

Unfortunately there's no evidence of similar activity at Bath Spa, which desperately needs lifts and improved pedestrian access. The current 'step free access' consists of sharing road ramps with cars, risking getting run over, and really poor lighting and potholes to navigate.

Bath won't get anything any time soon. The simple problem is that we have no space! Where are lifts supposed to go? I certainly agree that we need them, especially for Platform 2 (eastbound). At least the Platform 1 "access" route is relatively safe. What we really need though is a larger forecourt, but the chances of that happening are about as high as us having a new bus station built during the year 2011. When a new one has just opened.

Anyway, I would suggest Southend Victoria. It is probably the most basic "important" terminus I have ever seen! They use whiteboards to show the next platform! And the departure screens are just that - screens. No real-time information screens like those found on the c2c route, although then again even c2c don't use them in Southend (only further west). In fact, let's just say Essex as a whole.

 

[Aictos]

Hertford North needs looking at:

No lift access to Platform 1
No DDA toilet/s
Lack of screens
No canopy on Platform 1, passengers are forced to use the tiny LNER shelter or wait on the stairs
Again, needs a proper enclosed waiting room on Platform 1 rather then the existing shelter
Lack of PA announcements, unable to heard them in booking hall area.
Gateline not fit for use
Car park suffers overcrowding
Lack of CCTV
Paint peeling off walls, also partly due to water damage
Lack of staff facilities

 

[142094]

Sunderland, Man Vic, New St, Hartlepool etc) and is planned for others (Kirkgate, etc).

Sunderland is really only getting work done due to Nexus - I doubt if Network Rail would have contributed all the money towards that. Hartlepool is also probably only getting work done ready for the Tall Ships.

 

[yorksrob]

Huddersfield station needs lift access - the only way disabled users can get between platforms 4-8 and the entrance is with staff assistance and it's not exactly convenient for passengers with suitcases either.

Knutsford station needs some sort of PA system and/or LED display screens and ideally more station seating and ticket machines. Currently there are spaces for 6-9 people to sit on each platform and just the one ticket person at a time, with up to 100 passengers boarding trains at Knutsford and around 50 on some off-peak trains - the poor ticket guy has to shout to people that a train's delayed or cancelled.

Little stations in PTE areas like Adwick are in much better nick than small stations outside PTE areas like Greenbank, which is 100 times worse than Wakefield Kirkgate.

You should see Normanton station. In the PTE area but still worse than Kirkgate!

 

[asylumxl]

For my two pennies worth I hope the redevelopment of Leicester will make the platforms area a little more appealing and Luton and Peterborough need to be done asap as they are not fit for purpose.

Here here!

Luton especially. No lifts, very little in the way of facilities.

On my arrival back into Luton tonight, as was about to alight from the train I saw a young man in a
wheelchair bounce down the stairs (with no staff around to assist him). Other passengers had to assist him onto the train.

That's just appauling. And I saw some suit types having a laugh while testing accessibility for wheelchairs at the station a few months back. You'd think it'd make them understand more. But from where I was, they seemed to treat it as a novelty.

 

[WatcherZero]

Manchester Deansgate. No toilets/waiting rooms/refreshments horrible signage, dirty especielly the bridge.

Hopefully if the Metrolink Manchester Central interchange is completed in 2014 they might tart this station up a bit at the same time.

 

[A60K]

You should see Normanton station. In the PTE area but still worse than Kirkgate!

Normanton is in excellent condition - no dangerous or smelly subway, no leaky canopies, no waiting rooms with broken windows, the ticket office opening hours are consistent, you've always got the same number of staff on duty, the departure screens are never vandalised... it's once of the best stations in the country!

 

[sheff'd victoria]

Little stations in PTE areas like Adwick are in much better nick than small stations outside PTE areas like Greenbank, which is 100 times worse than Wakefield Kirkgate.

Ive heard the horror storys about Wakefield Kirkgate

Darnall on the Sheffield Midland - Retford line could do with pulling down and a new station near Handsworth Road building

Ive been told Brigg station is in a bad way ( Sheffield Midland - Cleethorpes line )

However 1st prize go's to Manchester Victoria , despite half of it been rebuilt it still smacks of something Hitler forgot to finish

 

[northwichcat]

Manchester Deansgate. No toilets/waiting rooms/refreshments horrible signage, dirty especielly the bridge.

I don't know the actual figures but LENNON reports Deansgate has only 120,000 journeys made to and from it a year. This doesn't include GMPTE tickets but if you consider Altrincham has 283,000 journeys by rail and doesn't have toilets then you'd have to ask why Deansgate should have toilets.

 

[Lampshade]

Deansgate serves no real purpose, it's just a Metrolink interchange these days with fewer and fewer trains stopping there.

 

[WatcherZero]

Under the Hub every train passing through would stop there. Its usage was up 25% in 2008 as well though we will see 2009 figures soon (my info is they are being released this week), its also envisaged to be the future Southern Rail/Metrolink gateway to the city centre.

Video on Gmex/Deansgate - Manchester Central redevelopment, though the architect calls it ruddy Oxford Road twice. Watch from about 5:15.

[youtube]aaDLGxTTxno[/youtube]

 

[northwichcat]

Its usage was up 25% in 2008

Was it really though? In 2007 LENNON data for towns/cities with multiple stations was found to be inaccurate, so from 2008 data was recorded differently so stations like Deansgate, Victoria and Wigan Wallgate appeared to have huge increases in passenger numbers due to that change.

Under the Hub every train passing through would stop there.

I just searched the report at http://www.networkrail.co.uk/documents/Projects/The Northern Hub/6485_Manchester Hub Rail Study.pdf for Deansgate and the only time Deansgate is mentioned is on maps. I very much doubt Scottish services and Liverpool-Norwich services would be made to call at Deansgate.

 

[175001]

Work on Man Vic is to start asap, at last!

 

[blacknight]

[QUOTE Darnall on the Sheffield Midland - Retford line could do with pulling down and a new station near Handsworth Road building[/QUOTE]

Last time I went through Darnall it looked like station as been pulled down but contractor went bust before he finish the job off.

 

[Aictos]

Here's one question, take any station you like and give it a lick of paint on a small scale, say like just patch painting the benches and lamp posts, as passengers how much does that improve your view or experience of the station?

Just wondering as sometimes a bit of fresh paint here and there does make a difference in my book, although not as big a difference as having lifts, brand new CIS screens installed etc...

 

[northwichcat]

Here's one question, take any station you like and give it a lick of paint on a small scale, say like just patch painting the benches and lamp posts, as passengers how much does that improve your view or experience of the station?

Just wondering as sometimes a bit of fresh paint here and there does make a difference in my book, although not as big a difference as having lifts, brand new CIS screens installed etc...

Knutsford, that I mentioned did receive a lick of paint and new planters on the station prior to the RHS Tatton Flower Show a few years ago, which did make it look better. However, the big problem is that it seems to have been put in to a lower catergory of station than lesser user stations. Northwich, a few miles from Knutsford and having a bit less usuage than Knutsford has also received a lick of paint a couple of years ago. However, this hasn't got rid of the pigeon infestation!

 

[W-on-Sea]

Anyway, I would suggest Southend Victoria. It is probably the most basic "important" terminus I have ever seen! They use whiteboards to show the next platform! And the departure screens are just that - screens. No real-time information screens like those found on the c2c route, although then again even c2c don't use them in Southend (only further west). In fact, let's just say Essex as a whole.

Can't argue with that. Though someone is apparently aware: there are signs up saying that new, much improved, larger, departure boards will be going up at Southend Vic next week. And not before time!

 

[Ivo]

I apologise for being so personal, but by chance would W-on-Sea represent Westcliff, and if yes is that where you live? Again if yes, would you happen to be a driver at Arriva Southend?

--- If no, I am awfully sorry! ---

 

[W-on-Sea]

I apologise for being so personal, but by chance would W-on-Sea represent Westcliff, and if yes is that where you live? Again if yes, would you happen to be a driver at Arriva Southend?

--- If no, I am awfully sorry! ---

Correct in your interpretation of W-on-Sea....but I don't even drive a car, let alone anything with paying passengers!

 

[Ivo]

Ooh, sorry about that! It's just that I know a guy who drives for Arriva whose local stop is Westcliff Library (couldn't say where he actually lives though). Having lived in Shoeburyness for nearly 20 years, I am pretty damn sick of the town. Very pleased to leave last September

 

[WatcherZero]

I don't know the actual figures but LENNON reports Deansgate has only 120,000 journeys made to and from it a year. This doesn't include GMPTE tickets but if you consider Altrincham has 283,000 journeys by rail and doesn't have toilets then you'd have to ask why Deansgate should have toilets.

I feel vindicated now, the adjusted figures show quarter of a million people using Deansgate, Oxford Roads jumped from 1.2m to 5.2m similar to the 4.5, in 2006/7 before it dropped to 1.2m in 07/08, must be a vast percentage of those users were using invisble PTE tickets, possibly purchased from Metrolink stops or PTE season tickets.

 

[northwichcat]

I feel vindicated now, the adjusted figures show quarter of a million people using Deansgate, Oxford Roads jumped from 1.2m to 5.2m similar to the 4.5, in 2006/7 before it dropped to 1.2m in 07/08, must be a vast percentage of those users were using invisble PTE tickets, possibly purchased from Metrolink stops or PTE season tickets.

From most stations you can get either a Manchester STNS (or Manchester CTLZ) ticket or a DEANSGATE G-MEX ticket, you can't buy a specific Manchester Oxford Rd ticket from a lot of stations. This means it's probably the first year they've actually got accurate figures for Manchester Oxford Rd due to the ticket barriers being installed.
(Manchester STNS and CTLZ are valid to Deansgate. Deansgate is only valid as far as Deansgate.)

 

[142094]

What is the exact difference between Manchester Stations and Manchester Central Zone? The only time I've had CTLZ is when I couldn't buy on the train and had to buy at the barrier at Victoria. Otherwise it's always STNS.

 

[WatcherZero]

It says CTLZ rather than STNS if you buy from within the Greater Manchester Ticketing Boundary. The difference is with CTLZ you have unlimited free tram travel within the City Zone added to your ticket.

 

[yorksrob]

Normanton is in excellent condition - no dangerous or smelly subway, no leaky canopies, no waiting rooms with broken windows, the ticket office opening hours are consistent, you've always got the same number of staff on duty, the departure screens are never vandalised... it's once of the best stations in the country!

Yes indeed, one of the best stations in the country - under the category of "barren wind tunnel"