Grecian 1998
Member
What stations on mainlines do you find particularly bleak and isolated, despite the regular passage of trains, including stopping services?
I'm going to define a mainline as requiring at least two tracks and platforms, 3tph each way throughout the day Monday-Saturday (which can include freight), of which at least 1tph each way stops at that station. Arbitrary I know but the line has to be drawn somewhere. I'm also defining the criteria as stations on mainlines rather than mainline stations, so unstaffed stations are fine.
I'm not looking for stations like Corrour and Dent where the sparse service is a factor in giving the place a lonely feel, nor places like Pilning or Beaulieu Road where very few trains stop most of the time. I'm more interested in stations which have trains passing through frequently and have regular stopping services, yet still feel bleak and isolated despite the liveliness of the railway around them.
My vote goes to Severn Tunnel Junction. Little local population, very windswept due to its location on the Caldicot Levels close to the Severn (the footbridge feels like the highest point for miles around), and the station seems devoid of colour. It always seems to have low cloud hanging over it as well whenever I've changed there (usually going from Bristol to Chepstow, although Newport is sometimes a better option). Not a fun place to wait on a cold day. That said, I imagine it's probably a bit livelier on a summer morning with commuters heading to Bristol or Cardiff.
I'm going to define a mainline as requiring at least two tracks and platforms, 3tph each way throughout the day Monday-Saturday (which can include freight), of which at least 1tph each way stops at that station. Arbitrary I know but the line has to be drawn somewhere. I'm also defining the criteria as stations on mainlines rather than mainline stations, so unstaffed stations are fine.
I'm not looking for stations like Corrour and Dent where the sparse service is a factor in giving the place a lonely feel, nor places like Pilning or Beaulieu Road where very few trains stop most of the time. I'm more interested in stations which have trains passing through frequently and have regular stopping services, yet still feel bleak and isolated despite the liveliness of the railway around them.
My vote goes to Severn Tunnel Junction. Little local population, very windswept due to its location on the Caldicot Levels close to the Severn (the footbridge feels like the highest point for miles around), and the station seems devoid of colour. It always seems to have low cloud hanging over it as well whenever I've changed there (usually going from Bristol to Chepstow, although Newport is sometimes a better option). Not a fun place to wait on a cold day. That said, I imagine it's probably a bit livelier on a summer morning with commuters heading to Bristol or Cardiff.