Birmingham New Street named as Britain’s worst railway station

[farmerbarleymow]

Apparently they're opening the refurbed station in mid-September, so it will be interesting to go for a wander to see what it's like. You can see the new atrium now through gaps in the hoardings to the platforms and it looks fairly big.

 

[Dogsauce]

If you want to see some monumentally* depressing stations, I can recommend this book which I got from a local charity shop recently:

http://www.amazon.com/Branch-Lines-into-Eighties-Quayle/dp/0715379801

This was published when the railways were still in decline with little hope of improved fortunes, and rationalisation ongoing. On several branches (like the Cornish St Ives branch) impressive terminal buildings were demolished to make way for car parks, and the station relocated further from the town with something like a bus shelter instead. We've gone a long way in the other direction since then.

*probably not the appropriate word, think 'bleak minimalism'.

 

[BigTom]

So will the Curzon Street station building be kept or demolished? According to the Wikipedia page it will become part of the very (un)popular HS2

I *think* the plan is to keep the frontage (which is listed) and maybe the shell (I think also listed) as the entrance to the new HS2 terminal. It's a lovely building, I hope that they don't destroy it (either literally or metaphorically) when they build the HS2 terminal.

 

[Dogsauce]

I'm trying to think of modern stations that actually look nice, Leeds (done around 2000) is a shithole and most of the generic wavy roof crap they go for on more recent renovations is dire.

This is possibly the nicest I've seen, Rotterdam:



I think the nice lettering and clock helps.

 

[Sea Star]

I'm planning to move to Birmingham before the end of this year, so looking forward to having to go through the two worst stations in Britain twice a day, 5 days a week.

 

[Sea Star]

Tbf, it isn't finished yet and will look something like this.

it looks like the top of the shopping shelter has melted all over the streets

 

[Roadkill]

I'm planning to move to Birmingham before the end of this year, so looking forward to having to go through the two worst stations in Britain twice a day, 5 days a week.

Tbf Birmingham does also have Moor Street, which is one of the nicest major stations I can think of.

It *almost* counts as a modern station too, in that it was originally just a terminus and the platforms on the through lines were only added when it was reopened in the 1980s.

 

[Pingu]

It's pretty grim, but my least favourite train station ever is without a doubt London Bridge. Talk about a mess.

as i now have to use this station i concur...

 

[Roadkill]

I'm trying to think of modern stations that actually look nice, Leeds (done around 2000) is a shithole and most of the generic wavy roof crap they go for on more recent renovations is dire.

I don't think Leeds is too bad. It's utterly uninspiring, of course, but it's functional, fairly spacious and well laid out, which is more than you can say for some stations. Such as New Street!

 

[Teaboy]

as i now have to use this station i concur...

Thing about London Bridge is that we really need to wait and see how it turns out. What they are trying to do there is quite extraordinary, there is no real precedent for building a new station on the site of the old one whilst it's still open, not on this scale anyway.

Some of the engineering challenges they are having to overcome are spectacular.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

it looks like the top of the shopping shelter has melted all over the streets

Or like some giant has vomited shiny sick all over it.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

I don't think Leeds is too bad. It's utterly uninspiring, of course, but it's functional, fairly spacious and well laid out, which is more than you can say for some stations. Such as New Street!

Leeds station was a dump beforehand, so the tarted up version is better but it feels so cold and clinical, like some dull industrial unit.

Although I've got many memories of buying a platform pass so I could sleep at the station after drunkenly missing the last train home.

 

[Roadkill]

Thing about London Bridge is that we really need to wait and see how it turns out. What they are trying to do there is quite extraordinary, there is no real precedent for building a new station on the site of the old one whilst it's still open, not on this scale anyway.

Some of the engineering challenges they are having to overcome are spectacular.

True, that, and they might finally overcome London Bridge's age-old problem of being two stations rather haphazardly knocked together.

 

[Dogsauce]

Leeds station was a dump beforehand, so the tarted up version is better but it feels so cold and clinical, like some dull industrial unit.

Although I've got many memories of buying a platform pass so I could sleep at the station after drunkenly missing the last train home.

Leeds has never had a beautiful station, even the old Central one (beside the current one) was mediocre and functional. The entrance bit (where McDonalds etc are) isn't a bad space, but it's nothing from outside. It says something of the ambition of the city (see also: football, rapid transit, the long-delayed arena, building anything other than flats and shopping centres etc.).

 

[SpookyFrank]

I'm trying to think of modern stations that actually look nice, Leeds (done around 2000) is a shithole and most of the generic wavy roof crap they go for on more recent renovations is dire.

This is possibly the nicest I've seen, Rotterdam:

View attachment 73739

I think the nice lettering and clock helps.

They've spelled 'central' wrong the muppets

 

[Roadkill]

Leeds has never had a beautiful station, even the old Central one (beside the current one) was mediocre and functional. The entrance bit (where McDonalds etc are) isn't a bad space, but it's nothing from outside. It says something of the ambition of the city (see also: football, rapid transit, the long-delayed arena, building anything other than flats and shopping centres etc.).

Slightly unfair that IMO. Leeds does pretty well in most respects. Certainly its economic renaissance since the 90s is sometimes eyed with envy from this side of Yorkshire.

I'll be pleased if Leeds United stay a league or two below us, though, since I remember the Hull-Leeds derbies of a decade or so ago with no affection. They were epic brawls amid which, very occasionally, a football match would break out.

 

[westcoast1]

Don't look to shabby to be honest. Any investment in brum is good- as it has given much needed jobs. I know the capacity of the station will remain the same and it's just a facelift but it's gonna look allrite.

 

[machine cat]

Tbf Birmingham does also have Moor Street, which is one of the nicest major stations I can think of.

It *almost* counts as a modern station too, in that it was originally just a terminus and the platforms on the through lines were only added when it was reopened in the 1980s.

Moor Street is a delight to be in. Whenever I'm in Birmingham I have to use both Moor Street and New Street and they are polar opposites.

Don't look to shabby to be honest. Any investment in brum is good- as it has given much needed jobs. I know the capacity of the station will remain the same and it's just a facelift but it's gonna look allrite.

Might look all flash on the outside when it's finished but that won't make up for stupidly narrow platforms, exits which aren't signposted, platforms not properly displayed, departure boards right next to the entrances/exits resulting in crowds of people blocking the way, escalators not working and no option of stairs... I could go on.

Leeds station was a dump beforehand, so the tarted up version is better but it feels so cold and clinical, like some dull industrial unit.

Although I've got many memories of buying a platform pass so I could sleep at the station after drunkenly missing the last train home.

Does anyone remember when Leeds had a platform W (now platform 1)? I'm certain there was one but no one seems to remember.

 

[machine cat]

My local station:

Two pubs, a newsagent, a cafe, two coffee stands, (free) toilets, always well staffed, local artwork on the walls, and a cat called Felix. Take that New Street

 

[editor]

Tbf Birmingham does also have Moor Street, which is one of the nicest major stations I can think of.

It *almost* counts as a modern station too, in that it was originally just a terminus and the platforms on the through lines were only added when it was reopened in the 1980s.

It's an absolute beaut.

http://www.urban75.org/railway/birmingham-moor-street-station.html

 

[farmerbarleymow]

Two pubs, a newsagent, a cafe, two coffee stands, (free) toilets, always well staffed, local artwork on the walls, and a cat called Felix. Take that New Street

But it means you have to live in Huddersfield.

 

[machine cat]

It's an absolute beaut.

http://www.urban75.org/railway/birmingham-moor-street-station.html

Lots of natural light, plants, readable signs, logical layout. It's a lovely station.

But it means you have to live in Huddersfield.

 

[tufty79]

Does anyone remember when Leeds had a platform W (now platform 1)? I'm certain there was one but no one seems to remember.

I think so.

 

[aqua]

Where are you moving to AuntiStella ?

 

[Dogsauce]

Moo

Does anyone remember when Leeds had a platform W (now platform 1)? I'm certain there was one but no one seems to remember.

It was an old parcels platform brought into passenger use iirc. An interim solution before the full station upgrade in 2000.

I can also remember when they used the station end of the Holbeck viaduct for empty stock storage, normally a Class 91 & Mk4 rake in there, that ceased with the upgrade. The viaduct stopped being used as a through line in the early 90s because there wasn't enough clearance on the viaduct line for the new mk4 stock, presumably further up than the bit they retained. There's a group trying to get something like New York's High Line to be built on the viaduct (the line is a couple of miles long) but I think NR want to keep their options open for re-use should they need the capacity.

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co....viaduct-at-centre-of-highline-plans-1-7288566

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Might look all flash on the outside when it's finished but that won't make up for stupidly narrow platforms, exits which aren't signposted, platforms not properly displayed, departure boards right next to the entrances/exits resulting in crowds of people blocking the way, escalators not working and no option of stairs... I could go on.

To be fair, most of these complaints will (should) be fixed when it's fully open. It's a mess right now but it is still a building site. The level of disruption has actually been surprisingly low considering the size of the project.

 

[machine cat]

To be fair, most of these complaints will (should) be fixed when it's fully open. It's a mess right now but it is still a building site. The level of disruption has actually been surprisingly low considering the size of the project.

I suppose a massive improvement will come once all the drilling stops

I have to give it to the staff though, whenever I've got lost (every time I'm there) they always got me to my destination. Pity the pub has gone, it was very convenient.

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

I suppose a massive improvement will come once all the drilling stops

I have to give it to the staff though, whenever I've got lost (every time I'm there) they always got me to my destination. Pity the pub has gone, it was very convenient.

The much missed Newt and Cucumber

I pretty much lived in that pub during the 98 world cup. Big screen and specials on beers relating to the teams playing, including bizarrely some amazing Belgian beers for France games...

 

[machine cat]

It was an old parcels platform brought into passenger use iirc. An interim solution before the full station upgrade in 2000.

I can also remember when they used the station end of the Holbeck viaduct for empty stock storage, normally a Class 91 & Mk4 rake in there, that ceased with the upgrade. The viaduct stopped being used as a through line in the early 90s because there wasn't enough clearance on the viaduct line for the new mk4 stock, presumably further up than the bit they retained. There's a group trying to get something like New York's High Line to be built on the viaduct (the line is a couple of miles long) but I think NR want to keep their options open for re-use should they need the capacity.

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co....viaduct-at-centre-of-highline-plans-1-7288566

Thanks for that!

 

[SpookyFrank]

Don't look to shabby to be honest. Any investment in brum is good- as it has given much needed jobs. I know the capacity of the station will remain the same and it's just a facelift but it's gonna look allrite.

With all those curved and higly reflective surfaces, might this not be another building that turns sunlight into death rays and sets stuff on fire?