The Anonymous Widower

Freight At Maryland Station

I had to catch a train from that ruin in the East, Maryland, this afternoon. When I took pictures of all the stations before they are taken over by Crossrail, I gave Maryland a score of 2/10. As these pictures I took today, show of a freight train passing through, I think I was generous.

Sorting this dump out will need a real top quality architect with imagination. This Google Earth image shows the station and the roads around it.

Maryland Station

The following problems will challenge the design team.

1. The site is cramped and surrounded by busy roads.

2. The access to the station is along narrow pavements, even if they opened up the entrance on the South side.

3. The Crossrail platforms on the South side of the station are too short for the new trains and selective door opening will have to be used.

4. There would also appear to be few redeeming features in the current station. There isn’t any Victorian ironwork to preserve.

This is what is shown at present on the Crossrail web site.

Proposed Design

At least the number of trees has been increased!

I wish the architects the best of luck, but I sometimes feel that the only way to improve the station, would be to put a concrete raft over the whole area and build some tower blocks on top. At least they’d have good access to the rail system.

But then what do I know about architecture?

June 4, 2015 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Architecture, Crossrail, Freight, Maryland Station, Trains