Should Greater Manchester Have More Control Of Its Stations?
I ask this question because of this article in Global Rail News, which is entutled Manchester Seeks Station Devolution.
I don’t think there is a simple answer to this question.
As an example take the case of Haggerston station, near to me in London.
The station is owned by Transport for London and managed by London Overground, who also put their names on the trains.
But the actual operator is Arriva Rail London, who are paid a fee to run everything by London Overground.
It sounds complicated, but if Transport for London want to add a station, which they haven’t yet, they would decide this with the various London politicians.
Transport for London may not have added a station, but they have promoted the extension of the Northern Line to Battersea Power Station and they are putting the funding together to extend the Bakerloo Line to Lewisham.
Merseyrail works under a similar model and they’ve just announced the construction of Maghull North station and the purchase of a fleet of new Stadler trains.
So why shouldn’t Manchester and a few other cities have control of their stations?
This is a quote in the article from Jon Lamonte, TfGM’s chief executive.
The recent redevelopment of Irlam rail station has already showcased how our vision can become a reality, demonstrating just what can be achieved when local stations realise their full social and economic potential.
In some ways the local knowledge and control is what is important. If everything is under an elected figurehead like a Mayor or Transport Commissioner, then if it all goes wrong, they will feel the wrath of the electorate.
The problem with ,local control comes, when a decision involves other Local Authorities of perhaps a different political hue.
Suppose in Manchester that for their own perfectly valid reasons, Manchester wanted to move some Liverpool services between Manchester Victoria and Manchester Piccadilly stations.
Liverpool might not like this and the problem could rumble on and on.
So who has control of the regional stations has to be chosen with care.
In some ways, it would be a great advantage to both Liverpool and Manchester, if they both ran their stations using the Merseyrail model.
What Is Most Important In A Train Service?
I am prompted to ask this question after my trips on the reopened Gospel Oak to Barking Line (GOBlin), which I wrote about in Along The Reopened Gospel Oak To Barking Line.
These are my thoughts on what is important in a train service.
Clean And Tidy Trains And Stations
London Overground is a network of nine lines and 112 stations and the operator makes sure that everything is clean and tidy.
Also unlike many rail lines in the world, it is very rare to find any graffiti on trains or inside stations on the Big Orange.
I’ve only ever seen one example of spray paint on a train, in the seven years, that I’ve used the Overground.
So what is it, that enforces the good behaviour?
I don’t know, but even on a crowded train, I’ve never seen any anti-social behaviour.
Could it be that the clean, practical environment of the trains and stations discourages it? Perhaps it has just been designed out?
Remember that stations are the marketing or retail face of the trains.
Would you buy your supper, clothes or household goods from a badly-designed and scruffy shop?
You wouldn’t!
And you didn’t buy much from BHS, Blockbuster, Comet or Woolworths either!
The Size, Quality And Type Of Trains
My fellow passengers on my GOBlin trips, didn’t seem bothered about the quality of the Class 172 trains., but a couple did say that four-car trains would be welcome, as overcrowding on the line can be a problem.
But I do wonder if you have a quality train of the right size and performance, does it matter what method is used to power the train, so long as it is reliable.
I also think that if you asked a selection of users and residents by the line, that electric trains would be fasvoured on noise grounds, but some would object to gantries marching along the line in a sensitive area.
It should be noted, that one of the reasons for electrifying the GOBlin, is so that freight trains can be electric-hauled, which is preferable for environmental reasons, of which diesel locomotive noise is very prominent.
The Number And Quality Of The Stations
More and higher quality stations are a sound policy, that is only limited by the budget.
Many recently opened stations, like Dalston Junction, Galashiels, James Cook, Oxford Parkway and Southend Airport have been a success, as like most new stations, they’ve built to fulfil a perceived need!
In addition, stations like Deptford, Hampstead Heath and Lower Edmonton have also shown an increase in patronage after upgrading with lifts and a refurbished building.
A cynic might say, that Network Rail’s Access for All program is not just about passenger needs but more about getting more people to ride in trains to generate revenue.
But the outcome is the same for those with special travelling needs.
A Turn-Up-And-Go Service
One lady of a certain age, I met yesterday, said she’d never used the GOBlin before and as she’d heard it was running again, she thought she’d give it a try, as she fancied a walk on Hampstead Heath.
Since, it was taken over by London Overground, the short line has been running four trains per hour (tph) in both directions, which is what London Overground, Merseyrail and other operators would consider a Turn-Up-And-Go-Service for an urban route.
If you just miss a train, then you only have to wait a maximum of fifteen minutes for another train.
But to be an efficient Turn-Up-And-Go Service other things are needed.
Contactless Ticketing
My fellow traveller was like me, travelling on a free Frredom Pass, which means we just touched in and went on our way. But in London, I actually carry two other valid tickets as two of my credit/debit cards are contactless. I use one of these, when I’m travelling to Gatwick Airport, as it is outside the Freedom Pass area, but inside London’s contactless ticketing area.
, Surely when you use a line like the GOBlin, be it in London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Paris or Zurich, you shouldn’t have to buy a ticket if you have a contactless debit or credit card.
These days with modern technology, no-one should not have to do anything more than touch in and touch-out with a contactless bank card to use a local transport network; based on bus, tram or train.
Operators that don’t embrace this contactless bank card route and insist you buy a separate card or download an app to your new Nokia 3310 are Luddites of the worst kind.
Getting To And From The Station
Efficient Turn-Up-And-Go also needs enough car and bike parking and/or well-documented bus links.
Tea And Coffee Kiosks
London Overground also like to add good tea and coffee kiosks into their Turn-Up-And-Go mix, often using very independent operators.
If you do miss that train, you might as well take your caffeine fix!
West Anglia Route Improvement – A Level Crossing Replacement Station
We have lots of level crossings in the UK and they are dangerous, hated by drivers of vehicles and trains, and cause all sorts of problems.
When I was writing Works Around Coppermill Junction And Along The West Anglia Main Line, I realised that the West Anglia Main Line has four major level crossings, all of which are at stations.
I’ve also since found that Ponders End used to have a level crossing.
As an example, I’ll consider Enfield Lock station, which needs updating for Crossrail 2.
This is a Google Map of the station.
To update the station for Crossrail 2, the following must be provided.
- Two extra tracks through the station.. They will probably be to the East of the current tracks.
- Two twelve car platforms for the current tracks, with step-free access to all trains that will call at the station for wheelchairs, buggies and those past their best.
- Network Rail have said that the level crossing at the station will be closed.
- New station buildings, as the current ones will be demolished for the new tracks.
- Full step-free access.
In additions, these features would be welcome.
- Access from both sides of the tracks.
- Why not access from both sides of the road?
- Ability for pedestrians, cyclists and those in wheelchairs to easily cross the tracks.
- Kiosks accessible to both platforms.
No facilities are needed on the fast lines, except possibly acoustic fences.
Perhaps the solution is to close the level crossing and put a wide pedestrian and cycling underpass under the railway.
It would be of a similar width as the road, accessed by gentle slopes and landscaped to blend in with the surroundings.
The underpass would contain.
- The booking hall, with perhaps a counter and ticket machines.
- Secure bicycle parking.
- A warm waiting room, that would mean passengers don’t have to wait in the cold in the winter.
- Kiosks and possibly a cafe.
- Lifts and steps to both platforms.
- Is there enough space at the top of the slopes for a simple Kiss-And-Ride?
The level crossing has been replaced with a fully-accessible modern station.
I don’t think the idea is truly original, as I might have seen a station like this somewhere in Europe, possibly in the Netherlands or Germany.
Where Would Such A Station Be Built?
But, I do think the concept may have advantages in some situations, where perhaps some of these reasons apply.
- The level crossing is heavily used by pedestrian and cyclists.
- The level crossing crosses a large number of railway tracks.
- Would removing the level crossing allow a needed increase in passenger or freight services?
- The railway line is very busy and the crossing spends a lot of time closed.
- There is no space for a bridge.
- A station is needed in the area.
- Heritage issues might rule out a conventional station with a step-free footbridge.
- It’s reasonably easy to dig the underpass.
I think that a prerequisite is that there must be a reasonable diversion for vehicles.
After my observations today, Brimsdown could be a prime candidate.
- Two new lines are being added through the station.
- It is very busy with trains and in a few years time could have forty trains per hour.
- The site has little space.
- A bridge for vehicles is impossible, but there is an alternative route.
Network Rail and Enfield Council certainly need an innovative solution to remove this level crossing.
A Modular System
I also believe that a factory-built modular system could be designed, which would enable these stations to be installed quickly.
Get the design right and it might also find applications, where no level crossing exists, but good pedestrian and cycling access is needed across a railway, where a new station is also needed.
Elephant And Castle Station
Elephant and Castle station couldn’t be called a well-preserved architectural gem.
But it certainly could be improved.
It looks like it’s another of those stations, where the arches could be opened up underneath the railway.
A Look At New Station Projects
If as I wrote in Government Focuses On New Stations And Trains, the government is going to promote more stations, how are the various current station projects progressing?
- Aberbeeg has been proposed for reopening on the Ebbw Valley Railway. See Developing The Ebbw Valley Railway.
- Abercarn has been proposed for reopening on the Ebbw Valley Railway. See Developing The Ebbw Valley Railway.
- Aberdeen Airport is a possible new station on the Aberdeen to Inverness Line. See A Crossrail for Aberdeen.
- Aberdeen Exhibition And Conference Centre is a possible new station. See A Crossrail for Aberdeen.
- Abertillery has been proposed for reopening on a new branch of the Ebbw Valley Railway. See Developing The Ebbw Valley Railway.
- Abington is a possible reopened station on the East Coast Main Line in Scotland.
- Abronhill is a possible new station near Cumbernauld.
- Addenbrookes has been proposed as a third station for Cambridge.
- Admaston is a possible reopened station on the Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton Line. See A Plea For A Shropshire Metro.
- Aldridge on the freight-only Sutton Park Line has been proposed for reopening.
- Allander is a possible new station on the North Clyde Line.
- Alconbury is a possible new station on the East Coast Main Line in Cambridgeshire.
- Alne is a possible reopened station on the East Coast Main Line in North Yotkshire.
- Alrewas is a possible reopened station on the South Staffordshire Line.
- Amblecote is a possible new station near Stourbridge.
- Amlwch is a possible reopened station on a reopened Anglesey Central Railway. See Reopening The Anglesey Central Railway.
- Ampthill is a possible reopened station on the Midland Main Line in Bedfordshire.
- Anfield is a possible reopened station on a reopened Canada Dock Branch in Liverpool.
- Anglesey Airport is a possible new station on the North Wales Coast Line on Anglesey.
- Anston is a possible reopened station on the South Yorkshire Joint Railway. See A Station For Maltby And Other Villages.
- Appledore Parkway is a possible new station in Devon.
- Arthington is a possible reopened station on the Harrogate Line.
- Ashby-de-la-Zouch is a possible reopened station on the Ivanhoe Line.
- Ashington has been proposed for reopening to provide a new service to Newcastle. See Reopening Newcastle To Ashington.
- Ashley Hill has been proposed for reopening as part of the Bristol Metro.
- Ashton Gate has been proposed for reopening as part of the Bristol Metro.
- Askern is a possible reopened station in South Yorkshire.
- Avon Meads is a possible new station in Bristol.
- Baguley is a possible reopened station on the Stockport and Altrincham Railway.
- Bagworth is a possible reopened station on the Ivanhoe Line.
- Bakewell is a possible reopened station in Derbyshire.
- Ballsall Heath is a possible new station in Birmingham.
- Bannockburn is a possible new station in Scotland.
- Barcombe Mills has been proposed for reopening on an extended Wealden Line.
- Barking Riverside is being planned and is planned to open in 2021.
- Baschurch is a possible reopened station on the Chester to Shrewsbury Line. See A Plea For A Shropshire Metro.
- Bathampton is a possible reopened station on the Great Western Main Line and the Heart of Wessex Line.
- Battersea Power Station is on the Northern Line Extension and is planned to open in 2020.
- Beal is a possible reopened station on the East Coast Main Line close to Lindisfarne.
- Beam Reach has been proposed as a new station by the London Borough of Havering.
- Beattock is a possible reopened station on the West Coast Main Line in Scotland.
- Beaulieu is a planned station on the Great Eastern Main Line to support a housing development.
- Bebside has been proposed for reopening to provide a new service between Newcastle and Ashington. See Reopening Newcastle To Ashington.
- Beddington is a possible new station between Wallington and Waddon stations in South London.
- Bede Island is a possible new station on the Leicester to Burton-on-Trent Line or Ivanhoe Line in Leicester.
- Bedford North is a possible new station in Bedford.
- Bedfont is a possible new station South of Heathrow.
- Bedlington has been proposed for reopening to provide a new service between Newcastle and Ashington. See Reopening Newcastle To Ashington.
- Bedlinog is a possible new station on a reopened branch of the Rhymney Railway. See The South Wales Mountain Railway.
- Beechdale is a possible new station.
- Beechwood has been proposed as a new station on the Borderlands Line, by Merseyrail.
- Beighton is a possible reopened station on the Derbyshire/Yorkshire border.
- Belford is a possible reopened station on the East Coast Main Line, to the South of Berwick-upon-Tweed.
- Bideford is a possible reopened station in Devon.
- Bilston is a possible new station.
- Bilston Glen is a possible new station in Scotland.
- Bilton is a possible new station on the Harrogate Line.
- Birmingham Interchange will be a station on HS2 , that is planned to open in 2026.
- Birtley is a possible new station on the East Coast Main Line in Gateshead.
- Blaby is a possible reopened station on the Birmingham to Peterborough Line.
- Blackford is a possible reopened station on the Scottish Central Railway.
- Blackford Hill is a possible reopened station on a reopened Edinburgh Suburban and Southside Junction Railway.
- Blackhall Rocks is a possible reopened station in County Durham.
- Blackpool/Nanpean is a possible new station in Cornwall.
- Blunham is a possible reopened station on the East West Rail Link.
- Blyth has been proposed for reopening to provide a new service between Newcastle and Ashington. See Reopening Newcastle To Ashington.
- Bodmin Town is a possible new station in Cornwall.
- Bollo Lane is a possible new station in Action.
- Bonnybridge is a possible reopened station in Central Scotland.
- Bootle is a possible new station in Bootle on the Canada Dock Branch.
- Bordon has been proposed as a new station by the Association of Train Operating Companies.
- Bow Street has been proposed as a reopened station on the Cambrian Line by the Welsh Government.
- Bowland is a possible reopened station on the Borders Railway.
- Brackla is a possible new station in South Wales.
- Bracknell Parkway is a possible new station in Bracknell.
- Braintree Parkway is a possible new station in Braintree.
- Bramley has been proposed for reopening on a reopened Cranleigh Line, between Guildford and Cranleigh.
- Brent Cross Thameslink is a planned station for a new development at Brent Cross Cricklewood.
- Brentford (Transport Avenue) is a possible new station on a reopened Brentford Branch Line.
- Bricknell is a possible new station in Hull.
- Bridge of Earn is a possible reopened station on the Edinburgh and Northern Railway to the South of Perth.
- Bridle Road (Bootle) is a possible proposed station on the Canada Dock Branch in Liverpool.
- Brinsford Parkway has been proposed as a new station on the Rugby-Birmingham-Stafford Line.
- Britannia Stadium is a possible new station on the Stoke Loop of the West Coast Main Line.
- Brixham is a possible new station, on an extension of the Riviera Line.
- Brixton High Level is a possible new station to provide better interchange at Brixton.
- Broadway is being reopened by the heritage Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, with a planned opening in 2018.
- Broad Clyst is a possible reopened station on the West of England Main Line.
- Brockley Lane has been proposed for reopening as an interchange with Brockley by Transport for London.
- Broughton Airbus is a possible new station on the North Wales Coast Line to serve the Airbus factory.
- Brownhills has been proposed for reopening on a reopened South Staffordshire Line.
- Bucksburn is a possible reopened station in Aberdeen.
- Burn Naze is a possible reopened station in Thornton Cleveleys.
- Burpham is a possible new station in Guildford, is listed under Merrow
- Burscough Bridge is a possible station to rebuild into a full interchange.
- Burton Latimer is a possible reopened station on the Midland Main Line.
- Bushbury is a possible reopened station in Wolverhampton.
- Caerleon is a possible reopened station on the Welsh Marches Line near Newport.
- Camberwell has been proposed for reopening by Transport for London.
- Cambois has been proposed for reopening to provide a new service between Newcastle and Ashington. See Reopening Newcastle To Ashington.
- Cambridge North is planned to open on the 21st May 2017.
- Cambus is a possible reopened station near Stirling.
- Canary Wharf is a new Crossrail station and is planned to open in 2018.
- Cann Hall Road is a possible new station on the Gospel Oak To Barking Line.
- Canton is a possible new station in Cardiff.
- Capel Llanilltern is a possible new station in Cardiff.
- Cardiff Parkway has been proposed near St. Mellions.
- Cardiff Rover Way is a possible new station in Cardiff.
- Carno is a possible reopened station on the Cambrian Line.
- Carr Mill has been proposed as a reopened station in St. Helens by Merseyrail.
- Cassiobridge is a planned station on the Croxley Rail Link.
- Castle Bromwich has been proposed for reopening in Birmingham on the Birmingham to Peterborough Line.
- Castle Donington is a possible station in Leicestershire.
- Castleton is a station that could be relocated.
- Cefn is a possible reopened station on the Shrewsbury to Chester Line. See A Plea For A Shropshire Metro.
- Chalford is a possible reopened station on the Golden Valley Line.
- Chalvey is a possible reopened station on the Slough to Windsor and Eton Line.
- Chapel-en-le-Frith Central is a possible reopened station in Derbyshire.
- Chard Junction is a possible reopened station on the West of England Main Line.
- Charfield has been proposed for reopening on the Bristol-Gloucester Line.
- Chatterley Witfield is a possible reopened station on the Stoke to Macclesfield Line.
- Cheadle is a possible reopened station on a reopened Cheadle Branch Line.
- Chelternham is a possible redevelopment of the station and a link to the Gloucestershire-Warwickshire Railway.
- Cherry Hinton has been proposed for reopening by Cambridgeshire County Council.
- Chineham is a possible new station on the Reading to Basingstoke Line.
- Chingford Hatch has been proposed for a new station on the Chingford Branch Line by the London Borough of Waltham Forest.
- Chipping Campden is a possible reopened station on the Cotswold Line.
- Chipping Sodbury has been proposed for reopening on the South Wales Main Line.
- Churchbridge is a possible reopened station in Staffordshire.
- Churchdown is a possible reopened station in Gloucestershire.
- Clapham East is a possible new station on the East London Line.
- Clay Cross is a possible reopened station on the Midland Main Line.
- Cleckheaton is a possible reopened station in West Yorkshire.
- Cliffe is a possible reopened station on a developed Hundred of Hoo Railway.
- Clowne is a possible reopened station in an area of Derbyshire, where a lot is happening.
- Clyst Hayes is a possible reopened station on the West of England Main Line.
- Coalville is a possible reopened station on the Ivanhoe Line.
- Cockett is a possible reopened station on the West Wales Line. See A Station For Morriston Hospital.
- Coldwaltham is a possible new station in West Sussex on the Arun Valley Line.
- Copmanthorpe is a possible new station in North Yorkshire
- Copnor is a possible new station in Portsmouth on the Portsmouth Direct Line.
- Corby Rockingham Stadium is a possible new station in Corby.
- Cornholme is a possible reopened station on the Copy Pit Line in West Yorkshire.
- Corringham is a possible reopened station on a reopened Corringham Light Railway in Essex.
- Corsham has been proposed for reopening on the Great Western Main Line.
- Corwen is a new station on the heritage Llangollen Railway.
- Cottam has been proposed as a new station to the West of Preston.
- Coundon Road is a possible reopened station on the Coventry to Nuneaton Line.
- Cove Bay is a possible new station on the being-developed Aberdeen Crossrail. See A Crossrail for Aberdeen.
- Coxbench is a possible reopened station on a possible reopened Ripley Branch Line in Derbyshire.
- Craiglockhart is a possible reopened station on on a reopened Edinburgh Suburban and Southside Junction Railway.
- Craigmillar is a possible reopened station on on a reopened Edinburgh Suburban and Southside Junction Railway.
- Cranbrook East is a possible second new station for Cranbrook in Devon.
- Cranleigh has been proposed for reopening on a reopened Cranleigh Line from Guildford.
- Crawford is a possible reopened station on the West Coast Main Line in South Lanarkshire.
- Creigiau is a possible reopened station in South Wales.
- Crosshills is a possible reopened station in the Leeds/Bradford area.
- Crumlin is a possible reopened station in South Wales.
- Crwys Road is a possible new station in Cardiff.
- Culloden is a possible reopened station on the Aberdeen to Inverness Line.
- Cullompton has been proposed for reopening on the Bristol to Exeter Line.
- Curzon Street will be the Birmingham terminus of HS2 and is currently being designed and is planned to open in 2026.
- Cwm has been proposed for opening on the Ebbw Valley Railway. See Developing The Ebbw Valley Railway.
- Dalcross on the Aberdeen to Inverness Line has been proposed as a new station, which could open in 2019.
- Dalkeith is a possible new station in South-East Edinburgh.
- Dalston has been proposed as a new Crossrail 2 station.
- Darlaston is a possible reopened station on the South Staffordshire Line.
- Deepcar is a possible reopened station in Sheffield.
- Deeside Business Park is a possible new station on the Borderlands Line.
- Denby Pottery is a possible new station on a possible reopened Ripley Branch Line in Derbyshire.
- Denby South is a possible new station on a possible reopened Ripley Branch Line in Derbyshire.
- Derby South Parkway is a possible new station in the Derby area.
- Desborough is a possible reopened station on the Midland Main Line.
- Desford is a possible reopened station on the Ivanhoe Line.
- Devizes Parkway is a possible new station between Pewsey and Westbury stations on the Reading to Raunton Line.
- Diggle is an unlikely reopened station on the Huddersfield Line.
- Dinnington is a possible reopened station on the South Yorkshire Joint Railway. See A Station For Maltby And Other Villages.
- Ditton has been proposed for reopening in Widnes by Merseyrail.
- Dobb Brow is a possible new station in Bolton.
- Doncaster Sheffield Airport have ambitious plans for a new station. See A Station At Doncaster Sheffield Airport
- Donington Parkway is a possible reopened station between Spalding and Sleaford in Lincolnshire.
- Dornoch is a possible station on a branch of the Far North Line.
- Droylsden is a possible reopened station on the Hudderfield Line in Greater Manchester.
- Dudley (Newcastle) is a possible reopened station on the East Coast Main Line in Newcastle.
- Dunblane North is a possible new station in Scotland.
- Dundee West is a possible reopened station in Dundee.
- Dunfermline West is a possible new station in Dunfermline.
- Dunragit is a possible reopened station on the Glasgow South Western Line.
- Durham Belmont is a possible station on a reopened Leamside Line.
- Durham Tees Valley Airport needs development of Durham Tees Valley Airport.
- Dussindale/Broadland Business Park is a possible new station on the Bittern Line in Norfolk.
- Easington is a possible reopened station in North Yorkshire.
- Eastbourne Parkway is a possible new station on the East Coastway Line.
- Eastchurch is a possible reopened station on the Isle of Sheppey.
- Eastlands is a possible new station to serve the Etihad Campus in Manchester.
- Eastriggs is a possible reopened station on the Glasgow South Western Line.
- East Goscote is a possible new station on the Birmingham to Peterborough Line.
- East Leeds Parkway has been proposed for opening in Leeds. See Two Options For East Leeds Parkway Station.
- East Linton has been proposed for reopening on the East Coast Main Line in Scotland.
- East Midlands Hub has been proposed as an HS2 station between Derby and Nottingham.
- Ecclefechan is a possible reopened station on the West Coast Main Line near Lockerbie.
- Edge Lane is a possible reopened station on the Canada Dock Branch in Liverpool.
- Edginswell has been proposed for opening on the Riviera Line as part of the Devon Metro.
- Edwinstowe is a possible reopened station on a possible branch of the Robin Hood Line.
- Elland has been proposed as a new station to serve the town of Elland.
- Ellon is a possible reopened station on a reopened Formartine and Buchan Railway.
- Elstow is a possible reopened station on the East West Rail Link.
- Ely Bridge is a possible new station in Cardiff.
- Eton Wick is a possible new station on the Slough to Windsor & Eton Line.
- Evanton is a possible reopened station on the Inverness and Ross-shire Railway
- Ewood Park is a possible new station on the Ribble Valley Line.
- Exeter Business Park/Monkerton is a possible new station on the Devon Metro.
- Exminster is a possible reopened station on the Exeter to Plymouth Line.
- Exmouth North is a possible new station on the Avocet Line.
- Filton North has been proposed for reopening as part of the Bristol Metro.
- Faraday Road is a possible reopened station on the Robin Hood Line. See The Robin Hood Line In Nottingham.
- Farlington is a possible reopened station in Portsmouth
- Fawley is a possible reopened station on a reopened Fawley Branch Line. See Reopening The Fawley Branch Line.
- Fencehouses is a possible station on a reopened Leamside Line.
- Fernhill Heath is a possible reopened station on the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway.
- Ferryhill is a possible reopened station on the East Coast Main Line with connections to a reopened Leamside Line.
- Finningley has been proposed for reopening to serve Robin Hood Airport. is listed under Doncaster Sheffield Airport.
- Fladbury is a possible reopened station on the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway.
- Flaxby is a possible new station on the Harrogate Line.
- Fleetwood has been proposed for a new station by the Association of Train Operating Companies.
- Foleshill is a possible reopened station on the Coventry to Nuneaton Line.
- Forest Farm is a possible new station in Cardiff.
- Forest Road has been proposed for a new station on the Chingford Branch Line by the London Borough of Waltham Forest.
- Forres on the Aberdeen to Inverness Line is being relocated and is planned to open in Winter 2017.
- Fort Parkway has been proposed as a new station in Birmingham on the Birmingham to Peterborough Line.
- Foryd is a possible reopened station on the North Wales Coast Line.
- Fowey is a possible new station in Cornwall.
- Fradley is a possible new station near Lichfield.
- Frankley is a possible new station in Birmingham
- Fulbourn has been proposed for reopening by Cambridgeshire County Council.
- Furness Abbey is a possible reopened station near Barrow-in-Furness.
- Gabalfa is a possible new station in Cardiff.
- Gaerwen is a possible reopened station on the North Wales Coast Line on Anglesey.
- Galley Common is a possible new station on the Birmingham to Nuneaton Line.
- Gamesley is a possible new station on the Glossop Line.
- Gamston is a possible new station on the East Coast Main Line to the North of Retford.
- Gedling is a possible new station or tram stop in Nottingham.
- Gedling Village is a possible new station or tram stop in Nottingham.
- Gilsland is a possible reopened station on the Tyne Valley Line.
- Girdle Ness is a possible new station on the being-developed Aberdeen Crossrail. See A Crossrail for Aberdeen.
- Glasgow Airport is a possible new terminal station on the proposed Glasgow Airport Rail Link.
- Glasgow Cross is a possible reopened station in Glasgow.
- Gloucester (Barnwood) is a possible new station on the Golden Valley Line between Gloucester and Cheltenham.
- Gloucester South is a possible new station in the area of Quedgeley.
- Gloucestershire Parkway has been proposed as a new station to serve Gloucester and Cheltenham.
- Glyne Gap is a possible reopened station on the East Coastway Line.
- Golborne is a possible reopened station on the West Coast Main Line in Wigan.
- Golcar is a possible reopened station on the Huddersfield Line.
- Gorbals is a possible reopened station in Glasgow.
- Gorgie is a possible reopened station on on a reopened Edinburgh Suburban and Southside Junction Railway.
- Gorseinon is a possible new station in Swansea.
- Grampound Road is a possible reopened station on the Cornish Main Line.
- Grange Lane is a possible reopened station in Sheffield.
- Grangemouth is a possible new station in Falkirk.
- Great Blakenham is a possible new station in Suffolk.
- Great Cornard is a possible new station on the Gainsborough Line in Suffolk. See A Station At Great Cornard.
- Greenbank Park is a possible new station in Liverpool. See Stations Between Mossley Hill And Edge Hill In Liverpool.
- Greenfield is listed under Holywell Junction.
- Greenloaning is a possible reopened station on the Stirling to Perth Line.
- Gresley is a possible reopened station on the Ivanhoe Line.
- Grove is a possible reopened station on the Great Western Main Line in Oxfordshire.
- Gwaun-cae-Gurwen is a possible new station on a possible new Amman Valley Branch Line near Swansea.
- Gwaun Mesgwyn is a possible new station near Pontypridd.
- Hackney Wick is being rebuilt.
- Hadley is a possible new station in Telford. See A Station For Hadley.
- Hadnall is a possible reopened station on the Welsh Marches Line in Shropshire.
- Haddington is a possible new station on a reopened Haddington Line to Edinburgh.
- Halbeath is a possible new station at Halbeath Park-and-Ride on the Fife Circle Line.
- Halewood South is a possible new station in the South East of Liverpool. See Tarbock Island Or Halewood South Station?
- Halkirk is a possible reopened station on the Far North Line.
- Hallen is a possible reopened station on a reopened Henbury Loop Line.
- Hampton is a possible new station on the East Coast Main Line, South of Peterborough.
- Harlington Parkway is a possible new station on the Midland Main Line.
- Hart is a possible new station in the North of Hartlepool on the Durham Coast Line.
- Haxby has been proposed as a reopened station on the York to Scarborough Line.
- Hawick is a possible new station on an extended Borders Railway.
- Hawthorne Road (Bootle) is a possible new station near Kirkdale station on Merseyrail.
- Haywards Heath South is a possible new station in Haywards Heath.
- Hazelwell has been proposed as a reopened station on a new passenger service on the Camp Hill Line in Birmingham.
- Headbolt Lane has been proposed for the Kirkby Branch Line.
- Heathfield (Ayr) is a possible new station on the Ayrshire Coast Line.
- Henbury has been proposed for reopening as part of the Bristol Metro.
- Henwick is a possible reopened station in Worcester on the Cotswold Line.
- Hethersett is a possible reopened station on the Breckland Line.
- Heyford Park is a possible new station on the Chiltern Line.
- Hill Barton is listed under Monkerton.
- Hinksey is a possible reopened station in Oxfordshire.
- Hipperholme is a possible reopened station on the Caldervale Line.
- Hirwaun has been proposed for reopening on a reopened branch of the Vale of Neath Railway.
- Holmes Chapel Road is listed under Middlewich.
- Holywell Junction is a possible reopened station on the North Wales Coast Line.
- Horden is a possible new station, North of Hartlepool to serve Peterlee on the Durham Coast Line.
- Horfield has been proposed for reopening in Bristol.
- Horsforth Woodside has been proposed for opening in Horsforth in West Yorkshire on the Harrogate Line.
- Horsham North Parkway is a possible new station on the Brighton Main Line.
- How Mill is a possible reopened station on the Tyne Valley Line.
- Hull (KC) Stadium is a possible new station in Hull.
- Hythe has been proposed for reopening on a reopened Fawley Branch Line. See Reopening The Fawley Branch Line.
- Hythe Road has been proposed as a new London Overground station at Old Oak Common.
- Ibrox is a possible reopened station in Glasgow.
- Ilkeston is planned to open on the 2nd April 2017.
- Irchester is a possible reopened station on the Midland Main Line.
- Isfield has been proposed for reopening on an extended Wealden Line.
- Johnstown is a possible reopened station on the Shrewsbury to Chester Line. See A Plea For A Shropshire Metro.
- Jordanhill College is a possible new station on the North Clyde Line.
- Junction Road is a possible reopened station on the Gospel Oak to Barking Line.
- Kelso is a possible new station in the Scottish Borders.
- Kempston is a possible reopened station on the East West Rail Link.
- Kenilworth is planned to open in December 2017.
- Kensal is a possible but unlikely, extra station on Crossrail.
- Kenyon Junction is a possible reopened station in Lancashire on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. See A Modern Branch Line For Leigh
- Keswick is a possible reopened station on a reopened Cockermouth, Keswick and Penrith Line.
- Ketton is a possible reopened station on the Birmingham to Peterborough Line.
- Kew (Southport) is a possible reopened station on the Manchester and Southport Railway.
- Kibworth is a possible reopened station on the Midland Main Line.
- Kidderminster Parkway is a possible new station on the Birmingham to Worcester Line.
- Kidlington has been replaced by Oxford Parkway.
- Kilmardinny is listed under Allander.
- Kilnwood Vale is listed under Horsham North.
- King Power Stadium is a possible new station on the Ivanhoe Line in Leicester.
- Kingsbury is a possible reopened station in Warwickshire.
- Kings Dock is a possible new station in Liverpool. See Stations Between Mossley Hill And Edge Hill In Liverpool.
- Kings Heath is a possible reopened station on the Camp Hill Line in Birmingham
- Kings Road Chelsea has been proposed as a new station on Crossrail 2.
- Kington is a possible new station in Herefordshire.
- Kinmel Bay is listed under Foryd
- Kinnaird is a possible new station in Edinburgh on the Borders Railway and the Edinburgh Suburban and Southside Junction Railway to serve the large Ford Kinnaird Retail Park.
- Kinross is a possible new station on the Edinburgh to Aberdeen Line.
- Kintore has been proposed as a reopened station on the Aberdeen to Inverness Line.
- Kirby Muxloe is a possible reopened station on the Ivanhoe Line.
- Kittybrewster is a possible new station in Aberdeen on the being-developed Aberdeen Crossrail. See A Crossrail for Aberdeen.
- Knaresborough East is a possible new station on the Harrogate Line.
- Lache is a possible new station in Chester on the Wrexham to Chester Line.
- Landore is a possible new station in Swansea.
- Langport is a possible reopened station on the Reading to Taunton Line.
- Law is a possible reopened station on the Argyle Line.
- Ledsham has been proposed as a reopened station on Merseyrail’s Wirral Line.
- Leeds/Bradford Airport Parkway is a possible station on the Harrogate Line. See A Station For Leeds/Bradford Airport.
- Leeds East Parkway is a proposed station on the Selby Line. See Two Options For East Leeds Parkway Station.
- Leicester Forest East is a possible new station on the Ivanhoe Line in Leicester. See A Station At Leicester Forest East.
- Leigh is a possible reopened station on a reopened branch line from Kenyon Junction. See A Modern Branch Line For Leigh
- Leiston is a possible reopened station on the Aldeburgh Branch Line. See A Station For Leiston.
- Lenton is a possible new station on the Robin Hood Line. See The Robin Hood Line In Nottingham.
- Leven is a possible new station on a reopened Levenmouth Rail Link. See A Reopened Levenmouth Rail Link.
- Lightcliffe is a possible reopened station on the Caldervale Line.
- Lindal is a possible reopened station on the Furness Line.
- Little Eaton is a possible reopened station on a possible reopened Ripley Branch Line in Derbyshire.
- Littleworth is a possible reopened station on the Peterborough-Lincoln Line.
- Liverpool Airport is a possible new station on Merseyrail.
- Liverpool St. James has been proposed as a new station on Merseyrail’s Northern Line.
- Llandre is a possible reopened station on the Cambrian Line.
- Llangefni is a possible reopened station on a reopened Anglesey Central Eailway. See Reopening The Anglesey Central Railway.
- Llantarnam is a possible reopened station on the Welsh Marches Line near Newport.
- Llanwern is a possible reopened station on the Gloucester to Newport Line.
- Loanhead is a possible station on a possible reopened Edinburgh, Loanhead and Roslin Railway.
- Lockleaze has been proposed for reopening in Bristol.
- Long Ashton has been proposed as a reopened station in Bristol, on the Bristol to Exeter Line.
- Low Moor is planned to open in May 2017.
- Ludgershall is a possible reopened station on a reopened Ludgershall Branch Line. See A Branch Line For Ludgershall.
- Lydford is a possible reopened station in Devon. See Exeter To Plymouth Via Okehampton
- Lymington Hospital is a possible new station on the Lymington Branch Line
- Madeley is a possible reopened station in Telford.
- Maesglas has been proposed for a new station near Newport.
- Magor Walkway has been proposed between Newport and Severn Tunnel Junction stations.
- Maghull North will be a new station on Merseyrail’s Northern Line, that is planned to open in 2018.
- Maidenbower is a possible new station on the Brighton Main Line in Crawley.
- Maiden Lane has been proposed for reopening by Camden Council on the North London Line.
- Maltby is a possible new station on the South Yorkshire Joint Railway. See A Station For Maltby And Other Villages.
- Manton is a possible reopened station on the Oakham to Kettering Line.
- Marchwood is a possible reopened station on a reopened Fawley Branch Line. See Reopening The Fawley Branch Line.
- March Elm Road has been proposed as the Southern terminus of the Bramley Line.
- Margam is a possible new station on the South Wales Main Line.
- Market Weighton is a possible reopened station on a reopened York-Beverley Line in Yorkshire.
- Marlborough is a possible new station in Wiltshire. See A Station For Marlborough.
- Marsh Barton has been proposed for opening on the Riviera Line as part of the Devon Metro.
- Mayfield is a disused station in Manchester, that should be developed for other purposes or demolished to make space for other developmemts, like the expansion of Manchester Piccadilly station.
- Meole Brace is a possible new station in Shrewsbury. See A Plea For A Shropshire Metro.
- Meridian Water is planned to replace Angel Road on the Lea Valley Lines
- Merrow is a possible new station in Guildford. See Two Stations For Guildford.
- Middle Quinton is a possible new station for the possible eco-town of the same name.
- Middlewich is a possible reopened station on a branch of the Mid Cheshire Line. See Looking For Holmes Chapel Road Station.
- Midge Hall is a possible reopened station on the Ormskirk Branch Line.
- Miller’s Dale is a closed station in the Peak District. See Derby To Manchester The Midland Way.
- Millerston is a proposed station on the Cumbernauld Line.
- Millhouses is a possible reopened station on the Midland Main Line in Sheffield.
- Milton Malsor is a possible new station on the Northampton Loop of the West Coast Main Line.
- Minster Parkway is listed as Thanet Parkway.
- Minworth is a possible new station to support development in Birmingham.
- Moira is a possible reopened station on the Ivanhoe Line.
- Monkerton has been proposed for as a new station on the Avocet Line as part of the Devon Metro.
- Monsal Dale is a closed station in the Peak District. See Derby To Manchester The Midland Way.
- Moorends is a possible new station on the Hull and Do9ncaster Branch.
- Moorside has been proposed as a new station on the Cumbrian Coast Line to serve the proposed Moorside Nuclear Power station.
- Moorswater is a possible reopened station in Cornwall.
- Morningside is a possible reopened station on a reopened Edinburgh Suburban and Southside Junction Railway.
- Morriston is listed as Cockett.
- Moseley has been proposed as a reopened station on a new passenger service on the Camp Hill Line in Birmingham.
- Mostyn is a possible reopened station on the North Wales Coast Line.
- Napsbury is a possible reopened station on the Midland Main Line.
- Nelson is a possible new station on a reopened branch of the Rhymney Railway. See The South Wales Mountain Railway.
- Ness could be a station on Loch Ness. See Will Trains Enable Chinese And Other Tourists To Invade Loch Ness?
- New Bermondsey is planned to be built on the London Overground, by Millwall Football Club.
- Newbiggin-by-the-Sea has been proposed for reopening to provide a new service between Newcastle and Ashington. See Reopening Newcastle To Ashington.
- Newburgh is a possible reopened station on the Edinburgh and Northern Railway to the South of Perth.
- Newnham is a possible new station on the East West Rail Link in Bedford.
- Newport West has been proposed for opening on the South Wales Main Line at Coedkernow, by Newport City Council.
- Newsham has been proposed for reopening to provide a new service between Newcastle and Ashington. See Reopening Newcastle To Ashington.
- Newtonhill is a possible new station on the being-developed Aberdeen Crossrail. See A Crossrail for Aberdeen.
- Niddrie is a possible new station on a reopened Edinburgh Suburban and Southside Junction Railway.
- Nine Elms is on the Northern Line Extension and is planned to open in 2020.
- North Filton has been proposed as a reopened station in Bristol, on the Henbury Loop Line.
- Old Oak Common will be a station on HS2 and Crossrail, that is planned to open by 2026.
- Park Farm has been proposed as a new station on the Marshlink Line.
- Paulsgrove is a possible reopened station in Portsmouth to serve the new stadium for Portsmouth FC.
- Pelsall has been proposed for reopening on a reopened South Staffordshire Line.
- Pill has been proposed for reopening as part of the Bristol Metro.
- Portbury has been proposed for reopening near Bristol.
- Portishead has been proposed for reopening in Bristol.
- Portway has been proposed for expansion from a Park-and-Ride to a full station in Bristol.
- Primrose Hill has been proposed for reopening in North London.
- Reading Green Park has been proposed as a new station on the Reading to Basingstoke Line, to serve developments in the area.
- Reston has been proposed for reopening on the East Coast Main Line in Scotland.
- Robroyston is a planned new station in South East Glasgow, that could open in 2019.
- Rugby Parkway is a planned new station on the Northampton Loop Line.
- Rushden Parkway has been proposed as a new station on the Midland Main Line.
- Saltford has been proposed for reopening in Bristol.
- Seaton Delaval has been proposed for reopening to provide a new service between Newcastle and Ashington. See Reopening Newcastle To Ashington.
- Seghill has been proposed for reopening to provide a new service between Newcastle and Ashington. See Reopening Newcastle To Ashington.
- Silvertown has been proposed as an additional station on Crossrail to serve London City Airport.
- Soham has been proposed for reopening on the Ipswich to Ely Line.
- Skelmersdale has been proposed as an additional destination for Merseyrail’s Northern Line.
- St. Anne’s Park has been proposed for reopening as part of the Bristol Metro.
- Stonehouse (Bristol Road) is a possible reopened station on the Bristol and Gloucester Railway.
- Thanet Parkway is a possible new station near Manston Airport in Kent.
- Thornhill has been proposed for reopening on the Glasgow and South Western Railway.
- Town Meadow has been proposed as a new station on the Wirral Line.
- Trelewis is a possible new station on a reopened branch of the Rhymney Railway. See The South Wales Mountain Railway.
- Vauxhall has been proposed as a new station on Merseyrail’s Northern Line.
- Wantage Road has been proposed as a reopened station in Oxfordshire on the Great Western Main Line.
- Warrington West is an under-construction station to serve development and it is planned to open in 2019.
- Watford Vicarage Road is a planned station on the Croxley Rail Link.
- West Hampstead Interchange has been proposed to connect Chiltern, Underground and Overground Lines.
- Winsford is a planned station on the East West Rail Link.
- Wixams is a planned station to serve the Wixams new town development.
- Woodchurch has been proposed as a new station on the Borderlands Line, by Merseyrail.
- Woolwich is a new Crossrail station and is planned to open in 2018.
- Wootton Bassett has been proposed for a new station.
- Worcestershire Parkway Regional Interchange h will be a new station to improve services to Worcester.
This list of stations is not complete.
But I can make a few simple conclusions.
Some Regions Have More Stations In The Pipeline Than Others
There are probably several reasons for this.
- Some regions like Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield have gone the light-rail route.
- Some regions like East Anglia, East Midlands, Kent, Sussex and Teesside haven’t got their plans fully together.
- Some regions like Bristol, London and Merseyside have got very detailed plans together.
- Some regions like Cardiff, Edinburgh and Glasgow have already got extensive heavy rail networks.
I think Merseyside is the interesting region.
- Merseyrail is very much an independent franchise strongly controlled by the region.
- It runs a frequent four trains per hour (tph) to most destinations.
- It seems to be run very professionally.
- It is proposing at least seven new stations.
In lots of areas, it appears that Merseyrail and London Overground are singing the same tune.
I have a feeling when other regions get their acts together, we’ll be seeing a lot more plans for new stations.
Several New Passenger Routes Are Being Created
In the list of stations, the same new routes arise.
- Aberdeen Crossrail
- Anglesey Central Railway
- Borderlands Line
- Bristol Metro (MetroWest)
- Camp Hill Line
- Canada Dock Branch
- Coventry to Nuneaton Line
- Devon Metro
- East West Rail Link
- Edinburgh Suburban and Southside Junction Railway
- Harrogate Line
- Ivanoe Line
- Leamside Line
- Newcastle And Ashington Line
- Ripley Branch Line
- South Staffordshire Line
- South Wales Metro
Birmingham, Bristol, Exeter and Merseyside have obviously been planning.
New Trains Stop At A Station Faster
The UK’s most frequent rail line is the Victoria Line, which is gearing up to a frequency of 36 tph or even more.
Crossrail and Thameslink will be running 24 tph through their central tunnels.
Trains like these and Bombardier’s new Aventras and Stadler’s new trains for Merseyrail will be optimised for fast stops.
- Driver Only Operation
- Wide doors and lobbies for easy access.
- Optimum braking and acceleration.
- Roll across step-free access for wheelchairs, buggies and large cases.
- Automatic Train Operation as has been working on the Victoria Line since the 1960s
Trains like these will mean that new stations can be inserted on existing lines without degrading the service.
Cambridge Thinks About More Stations
This article in the Cambridge News has a headline of Support for re-opening South Cambridgeshire railway station is gathering pace.
It talks mainly about the reopening of Fulbourn station between Newmarket and Cambridge.
This is said.
The Reopen Fulbourn Railway Station group is calling for the station to be reinstated as part of a drive to boost rail connectivity in the area.
Later in the article it says that the Council also wants to open a new station at Addenbrooke’s Hospital and reopen the closed station at Cherry Hinton.
A station at Addenbrooke’s Hospital is pencilled in for the East West Rail Link and the other two stations are on the Ipswich to Cambridge Line.
Wikipedia says this about a previous attempt to reopen the station at Cherry Hinton.
Reopening of the station was proposed by Cambridgeshire County Council in May 2013 as part of an infrastructure plan to deal with projected population growth up to 2050. A proposal to reopen the station had previously been made in 1996 but 70% of residents who responded to a Council questionnaire were against it; in any event, a new station was not considered viable at that time.
There are some cynical comments to the article as well.
But circumstances have changed since 1996.
- Cambridgeshire County Council has more responsibility for this type of spending.
- As I said in Will We Be Seeing More Railway Stations?, it looks like design, technology, new trains and costs are making it easier to make a good case for a new station.
- Greater Anglia will be running new high-performance trains through Fulbourn and Cherry Hinton in a couple of years.
- Network Rail are removing level crossings in East Anglia and there are several in the area, including one at the site of Cherry Hinton station.
The level crossings could be the clincher, as there is a lot of opposition in some places to their removal.
Would Network Rail duck the problems and leave everything as it is?
Will We Be Seeing More Railway Stations?
I didn’t put any qualification like UK or London in the title of this post, as it is a question that applies to all railways.
The post was prompted by an article in the January 2017 Edition of Modern Railways, which is entitled Funding Buds For New South Wales Stations.
The article talks of two possible stations.
- A Cardiff Parkway station near St. Mellions.
- A Magor Walkway station between Newport and Severn Tunnel Junction stations.
Cardiff Parkway station seems the more conventional of the two and is proposed to support a proposed new business park, with car parking and a bus station,
This article on Wales Online is entitled Plans revealed for huge new development and train station in Cardiff that could create 15,000 jobs, gives more details.
On the other hand, according to The Magor And Undy Walkway Station Website, the second station at Magor Walkway appears to be less conventional.
But the two stations do illustrate two common reasons for developing new stations.
A New Station To Support Development
Cardiff Parkway station falls into this category and there are several for this reason in the pipeline.
- Barking Riverside
- Battersea Power Station
- Beaulieu
- Brent Cross Thameslink
- Meridian Water
- Old Oak Common
- Woolwich
We will see a lot more, as having a station at a new development, has many positive effects on the project.
A New Station To Provide Better Transport Opportunities
Magor Walkway station falls into this category and others include.
- Brinsford Parkway
- Camberwell
- Cambridge North
- Edinburgh Gateway
- Watford Vicarage Road
- Worcestershire Parkway
There are also schemes for airport links to Glasgow, Liverpool, Leeds and Luton.
Why New Stations Don’t Get Built
Obviously, some stations don’t get built for reasons of practicality and cost.
The traffic may be there, but the proposed site is difficult, so a new station might be impossible to fit the space available.
When a re-opened station like Lea Bridge is reported to cost £11million, without car parking, new stations don’t come cheap.
So new stations need a good financial case to get built.
Another factor that is often ignored by campaigners for new stations, is the knock-on effects they will have on services through the station.
Stopping trains at a station on a single or double-track line will effectively block the line, thus slowing other traffic in the area.
But Innovation Is Making It Easier To Build New Stations
In the following sections, I shall detail some of the ideas and innovations that will make the building of stations easier.
The Rise Of The Single-Platform Station
Single-platform stations are not that common in the UK, and the first new one of this type I saw was James Cook station, which I wrote about in James Cook Station – The Reinvention Of The Halt .
Other recently built stations in this category include.
Note there is a parkway station on the list and Galashiels is a major train-bus interchange.
A good proportion of the list are also on newly opened lines.
Consider the advantages of a single-platform station.
- There is no need for an expensive footbridge., that is part of the station.
- Only one set of shelters, ticket machines and information displays are needed.
- Single platform stations can be easily made long enough for the largest trains that will call.
- Interchange to cars, buses and taxis is quick and easy.
- Modern signalling makes bi-directional operation safe.
There may also be advantages in fitting a station into a restricted space, like shopping centres, airports, sports grounds or an historic town centre.
I think we’ll see a lot more single platform stations in the future.
The Express Stop Train
Next time, you’re on a train, notice how long it takes to perform a stop at a typical station.
It is often not a quick process.
- Passengers have to lift children, buggies, bicycles and heavy cases over the step up or down between train and platform.
- Passengers coming on get in the way of passengers getting off.
- On a crowded train, that is not working under driver-only-operation (DOO) rules, the guard often has to struggle to get in position to open the doors.
- Older trains without information systems, often mean that passengers aren’t ready to get off, so cause delays at the stop.
But look at the new trains for Merseyrail, I wrote about in Thoughts On Merseyrail’s New Trains.
- They are designed to eliminate the gap between station and train and for passengers to step or roll across quickly.
- They will have wide doors and probably ample lobbies, to ease entry and exit.
- They will be information-rich trains, as are all modern trains.
- They will be DOO, which avoids guard delays on crowded trains.
- They will have high performance with respect to braking and acceleration.
I also wonder if braking and acceleration will be automated, so that they are fast, smooth and very safe in all weather and track conditions.
On Merseyrail, this will result in faster trains and a saving of nine minutes between Southport and Hunts Cross is quoted.
New trains on Greater Anglia, will also give substantial help in enabling a headline-grabbing Norwich in 90 and Ipswich in 60 service for all trains.
I suspect that as new trains improve their stop times, it will make it easier for a new station to be fitted into an intense schedule on a main line with extensive services.
Stations Without Electrification
Often electriofying stations is an expensive business, in planning, execution and in operation.
With the development of bi-mode and battery trains and especially ones that can switch mode automatically, I think we’ll see a lot more stations left without electrification, thus eliminating health and safety and heritage issues, whilst reducing costs.
The Station On A Train
Merseyrail’s new trains will be DOO and from the reports, it appears that all the CCTV needed for safe operation will be on the train, rather than the station.
So will this allow Merseyrail to simplify their stations, with the only CCTV needed on stations being only that for passenger and station security.
I wonder if the driver will have access to a station’s CCTV as he approaches. Being able to assess crowd density in a station on approach must be to the driver’s advantage.
Ticket Machines On A Train
Operators might even put a card-only ticket machine on the train, so the number of machines in stations can be cut to save costs.
I have seen this is in several places in Europe, but never in the UK.
Tram Style Operation Of Local Trains
There are two basic types of through platforms in the UK, served by local or regional passenger trains.
- Platforms where some freight and passenger trains pass through without stopping.
- Platforms where all trains stop.
Merseyrail’s Northern Line and some of the branches of the Wirral Line would be examples of the second.
What would be the implications for station design, if say a branch line worked exclusively by one type of train ran to say a tram speed limit and the visual rules a tram driver would obey in the centre of Birmingham, Manchester or Nottingham.
Could we see new two platform stations built like say this station on the Croydon Tramlink?
Passengers would just walk across the tracks to get to the other side.
I believe that Merseyrail’s new trains could work in this way.
Consider.
- Stadler have enormous experience of trams and tram-trains.
- Merseyrail’s new trains can be fitted with batteries, so for perhaps fifty metres either side of the station, the third rail can be removed.
- The new trains look like trams, although they are trains.
- There will always be a driver in the front of the train with a big horn, as the train enters the station.
- Trains would be restricted to tram speeds in the station area.
Imagine a station on a network like Merseyrail or perhaps a branch line like the Walton-on-the-Naze Branch of the Sunshine Coast Line.
A train stopping at the station would go through the following procedure.
- A safe distance from the station, after ascertaining, that the line in the station is clear, the driver initiates the automatic stop procedure or halts the train.
- The train slows automatically from line speed to the tram speed perhaps fifty metres from the station.
- The train proceeds automatically to the station at tram speed using onboard stored energy, as there is no electrification.
- The driver would open the doors, so that passengers and their belongings can be unloaded and loaded.
- Once everything is ready, the driver closes the doors and initiates the automatic leave sequence.
- The train leaves the station at tram speed.
- Once electrification starts and the train is connected, the train automatically accelerates back to line speed.
Note.
- The train is not at line speed anywhere near the station.
- The driver can take control at any time.
- The procedure is not very far removed from that used on the Victoria Line since 1967!
Effectively the operation of the train through the station is train-tram-train.
I wonder if Merseyrail have been thinking this way to create a tram-train link to Liverpool Airport.
Conclusion
Various innovations will mean that stations will cost less.
- Simpler design.
- Step-free without footbridges.
- Less expensive features.
- Equipment moved from station to train.
In addition, trains will find it easier to fit stops into busy timetables.
This will mean that the available station budget will go further and more stations will be built.
The New Beam Park Station
Beam Park station is a new station that is to support a large housing development of the same name, which will be built on the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway, between Dagenham Dock and Rainham stations.
This map shows the development, with the station numbered at six.
Beam Park
The station is the Westernmost number on the Southern boundary of Beam Park.
- It is possibly located where Kent Avenue crosses over the railway.
- Note that some sources call it Beam Reach station.
- With up to 5,000 new homes in the area, I would think that the station is needed.
I think it is interesting that London is getting two new stations; Barking Riverside and Beam Park, in the same area of London.
Around Blackburn Station
I stayed in the Premier Inn by Blackburn station and I took these pictures of the area around the station and the nearby Blackburn cathedral.
It is an arrangement, that gives the visitor a good welcome to the town. It has the scent of the unexpected about it.
Note these points about the station and the trains.
- The station has recently been rebuilt, but the new trains won’t arrive for a couple of years.
- There are a lot of direct trains across the North from the station to places like Blackpool, Leeds, Manchester, Preston and York, with a couple of rural branch lines in the interesting category.
- Station staff are not very numerous, when you need them.
- You’ll have to hunt the ticket machine.
- There is a Booking Office for buying Ranger and Rover tickets.
- Some parts of the station are showing poor quality construction.
- A return ticket up the Clitheroe Line to Clitheroe cost me £2.50 with a Railcard.
I think with the new trains and some more services, things can only get better.
I might even close the Booking Office, put two ticket machines on each main platform group; 1 to 3 and 4, and get the staff more visible.
In the morning, I had a walk around the part of the town centre nearest to the station.
- There are no maps and just a few finger posts, but it’s not really a place to get lost.
- I bought my paper in a convenient Morrisons about two hundred metres from the station.
- I made the mistake going into the large Shopping Centre, but it was designed like a maze and I didn’t find what I was looking for.
- One gem, I did find later was Cafe Northcote in the Cathedral, where I had an extremely delicious gluten-free egg sandwich.
You could certainly waste an hour or so enjoyably in Blackburn, whilst waiting for a train.
If I compare it to various mid-size towns and cities, where you might miss an hourly train home or get seriously delayed, you get the following.
- Brighton, Cambridge, Liverpool Lime Street, Oxford and Reading – Acceptable for everybody including gluten-free, as there’s an M&S Simply Food in the station.
- Colchester, Ipswich and Norwich – Except for hot drinks and sandwiches, there’s nothing. And you’re away from the centre!
- Derby, Doncaster, Leicester, Nottingham and York – Dreadful, if like me you’re gluten-free.
- Rochester – You’re just across the road from the centre.
- Romford and Southend – You’re in the large town centre, with an M&S, pubs and cafes nearby.
In addition to being better than many in my list, in my view, Blackburn is certainly a better place to get stuck than Blackpool, Burnley or Preston.
Blackburn has certainly raised the stakes about creating a welcoming station.
Manchester Oxford Road Station
Manchester Oxford Road Station, is that rare animal, a modern station with a Grade II Listing.
Probably, the most significant thing about the listing of Manchester Oxford Road station, is that there are few stations, built in the 1960s, worthy of any merit.
The Anonymous Widower 