Chester station platforms poor condition

ASharpe · 15 Oct 2021

Chester was one of the highlights of the Freedom of the North West Rover I did a few weeks ago.

But walking though station and then following the signs for the town centre was grey and dull and went past an awful roundabout.

After a visiting the two Spoons and the cathedral and walking around the quaint 2 storey shopping arcades up I found the much nicer route back to the station along the city wall and canal.

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Djgr · 16 Oct 2021

Bletchleyite said:
The subway at the roundabout is just grim and belongs in about 1975, it direly needs filling in and street level crossings provided instead. An utter blight on a lovely little city.

And although the subway complex dates back to the 1960s there was also a lot of redevelopment of the roundabout area in the late 1980s but the Cestrians chose to leave the subway complex intact.

S&CLER said:
I made two Saturday return journeys from Southport to Chirk via Chester recently, and agree that the station interior is depressing (the façade is fine); there's something about the colour of blue brick en masse that always feels gloomy even when fairly clean and on a sunny day (just as slate used as building stone in Keswick or Blaenau is similarly depressing). The entry to the platforms is not intuitive since you might expect to go in through the automatic gates, but can't. On the other hand the ticket office was smart, welcoming and efficient, and there was a useful feature near the station entrance, a departure screen for buses, showing times and bus stand numbers, which I don't recall seeing anywhere else (though they may well exist, of course). That's something that would be useful, for example, at Preston, so we could see when the next buses from the Fishergate stops at the station front were due.

I think they still have the Covid killing one way system in place as it is treated as notionally in Wales

S&CLER said:
I made two Saturday return journeys from Southport to Chirk via Chester recently, and agree that the station interior is depressing (the façade is fine); there's something about the colour of blue brick en masse that always feels gloomy even when fairly clean and on a sunny day (just as slate used as building stone in Keswick or Blaenau is similarly depressing). The entry to the platforms is not intuitive since you might expect to go in through the automatic gates, but can't. On the other hand the ticket office was smart, welcoming and efficient, and there was a useful feature near the station entrance, a departure screen for buses, showing times and bus stand numbers, which I don't recall seeing anywhere else (though they may well exist, of course). That's something that would be useful, for example, at Preston, so we could see when the next buses from the Fishergate stops at the station front were due.

.

Llandudno said:
It seems daft to me that to get to the ticket office you have to walk past WH Smith’s, a cafe and a betting office in order to buy a ticket.

If the automatic barriers are open it must be tempting for some to pretend not to see the ticket office.

The large cafe bar in a prominent position at the front of the station is truly dreadful, if only a Sheffield/York Tap type operator was in situ instead!

The Town Crier over the road has improved significantly in recent years, usually 2/3 handpumped beers and very reasonably priced chain pub food on offer.

Agree that the Town Crier is a decent pub. I quite liked the cafe bar when it was last open when I was there. At least it wasn't a corporate Pumpkin type thing. There are also several decent pubs/restaurants along City Road before the dreaded subways.

John Luxton · 16 Oct 2021

frodshamfella said:
Chester is a popular city for visitors, yet it's station leaves a lot to be desired. I passed through last Saturday, and it really is a grubby place. Its such a shame as the building is pretty grand.

I have used Chester quite a few times in recent weeks and think its actually a nice station - far from grotty. Perhaps some have been polished up a bit more in recent years. Returning to Liverpool Lime Street after an absence of many years (yes I know its my local mainline station - but have been using the car a lot sine the 1990s) I was amazed at how shiny it was compared to how I remember it. I would say Chester was a bit more traditional but certainly not grotty.

karlos · 17 Oct 2021

Chester has some fine examples of the hubris of 1960s and 1970s town planners and architects. Not least the huge hole they knocked through the medieval walls to put a dual carriageway and concrete flyover with the plaque there unveiled by Barbara Castle to celebrate the fact.

As for the station, I feel that while the facilities are adequate the place could do with a substantial refresh. Not the patching up they've done over the decades but a top-to-bottom refurb.including renewal of roofs, canopies, the footbridge and platforms.

frodshamfella · 18 Oct 2021

Bertie the bus said:
It is nothing to do with any new bits. The place is a run down dump. There are weeds everywhere, including on active platforms, and the whole station has just been neglected.

Don't mention the Pigeon poo !

wobman · 19 Oct 2021

frodshamfella said:
Don't mention the Pigeon poo !

It's everywhere on the station and they nest all over the station. It's a run down place now unfortunately, it's the gateway to N Wales but it's not a nice place to visit anymore.

BeijingDave · 19 Oct 2021

Foxcover said:
The main issue for a lot of people is the long, shadowy, badly lit approach from both directions, Brook St and City Road; Chester council (CWAC) should do much more to make the route from the city centre feel safer.

I agree, but it's true of many cities that the area around the station has always been an area of cheap b 'n' bs, pubs with transient drinkers (but not regulars who actually care about the place), and the city's undesirable elements.

The walk from Liverpool Lime Street into the city centre is hardly a great advert for Liverpool, the walk from Piccadilly into Manchester has always been quite rough, and Warrington Bank Quay spews you out into some very ugly and badly lit nearby streets (and they're just local examples in major conurbations).

The best thing they could do is restart the free regular bus from the station to Frodsham Street / the main shopping area.

Bletchleyite · 19 Oct 2021

BeijingDave said:
I agree, but it's true of many cities that the area around the station has always been an area of cheap b 'n' bs, pubs with transient drinkers (but not regulars who actually care about the place), and the city's undesirable elements.

The walk from Liverpool Lime Street into the city centre is hardly a great advert for Liverpool, the walk from Piccadilly into Manchester has always been quite rough, and Warrington Bank Quay spews you out into some very ugly and badly lit nearby streets (and they're just local examples in major conurbations).

The best thing they could do is restart the free regular bus from the station to Frodsham Street / the main shopping area.

I've never minded the walk itself, it's just the subway that's extremely scabby.

BeijingDave said:
The walk from Liverpool Lime Street into the city centre is hardly a great advert for Liverpool

It wasn't, but it's much better now. Particularly towards the station where you can see its full glory.

Djgr · 19 Oct 2021

Bletchleyite said:
I've never minded the walk itself, it's just the subway that's extremely scabby.

Neither walk is problematic (and is way safer that much (all?) of London).

Both offer decent places to eat, drink and stay. As a hint-when heading into the city on the left hand side when passing over the canal.

The subway, however, is a disaster of epic proportions and is living proof to all Wirralians that Cestrians can't be trusted to look after their city. (As an aside pretty sure that Liverpool has now removed all subways in the city centre)

sefyllian · 19 Oct 2021

TfW plan to “invest in Chester Station in 2028”.

(Originally promised as part of the Keolis Amey franchise award I think, but has since been republished on the new in-house TfW website, so presumably still stands.)

urbophile · 19 Oct 2021

BeijingDave said:
The best thing they could do is restart the free regular bus from the station to Frodsham Street / the main shopping area.

Being a senior pass holder (and Chester being, just, in England) that doesn't bother me personally. But for most people it is an inconvenience, especially as the walk to the city centre must be the longest, if not the dreariest, of any similar sized city*. As for the station itself, while there is not much that could be done to improve platform arrangements, the Arriva clutter in the concourse should be swept away asap. I don't know if the footbridge is a similar age to those at York or Newcastle, but they are stylish whereas this just looks dismal. A modern replacement, with efficient lifts and escalators, could be splendid.

* perhaps Cambridge is a similar distance.

LNW-GW Joint · 19 Oct 2021

urbophile said:
I don't know if the footbridge is a similar age to those at York or Newcastle, but they are stylish whereas this just looks dismal. A modern replacement, with efficient lifts and escalators, could be splendid.

Chester's footbridge, or rather the staircases to it, have adopted a one-way flow for passengers.
They used to be broad and open, but the one-way traffic system and metal dividers have worsened the character of the place, especially on P3 where you end up right at the barrier line.
On the other hand they have glazed the footbridge so you are better protected from the wind and rain.

Then there's the curious new "back stairs" over the top of the cafe/lounge to the island platform.
I don't doubt some thought was given to the changes during ATW's term, with heritage constraints prominent, but the result is bitty and not at all classy (that's left to the frontage and little-used porch in the SW corner).
Much of the station's platform buildings are given over to staff rooms of various kinds.

When I passed through yesterday there were 5 staff monitoring the barriers (and another 2 for the departure side at what is normally the emergency exit).
I don't think BR were ever that profligate with ticket collectors, and the station used to be "open".
It's off-topic but at Stoke there were 2 guys in orange suits marked "Vandalism and Trespass Control" or some such.
Definitely the surveillance society.

MikeWM · 19 Oct 2021

urbophile said:
* perhaps Cambridge is a similar distance.

Cambridge is quite a bit further - after walking 1km, you can be bang in the centre of Chester. In Cambridge you'll only have made it to the Catholic Church crossroads - its closer to 2km to get to anything fairly called the 'centre'.

Cheltenham is further than Chester too, though I haven't done that for about 10 years so I can't remember how exciting a walk it is or isn't. I don't recall thinking much of it when I did last do it though.

Maybe it is something to do with places that start with 'C'?

Colchester would qualify too if not for the anomaly of Colchester Town station.

wobman · 19 Oct 2021

LNW-GW Joint said:
Chester's footbridge, or rather the staircases to it, have adopted a one-way flow for passengers.
They used to be broad and open, but the one-way traffic system and metal dividers have worsened the character of the place, especially on P3 where you end up right at the barrier line.
On the other hand they have glazed the footbridge so you are better protected from the wind and rain.

Then there's the curious new "back stairs" over the top of the cafe/lounge to the island platform.
I don't doubt some thought was given to the changes during ATW's term, with heritage constraints prominent, but the result is bitty and not at all classy (that's left to the frontage and little-used porch in the SW corner).
Much of the station's platform buildings are given over to staff rooms of various kinds.

When I passed through yesterday there were 5 staff monitoring the barriers (and another 2 for the departure side at what is normally the emergency exit).
I don't think BR were ever that profligate with ticket collectors, and the station used to be "open".
It's off-topic but at Stoke there were 2 guys in orange suits marked "Vandalism and Trespass Control" or some such.
Definitely the surveillance society.

The covid one way system over the bridge has been abandoned now unfortunately, it's now back to the old days of a free for all and the resulting chaos.
The buildings between p4 and P7 are traincrew facilities and an overflow messroom, Chester's a busy place for traincrew there's TFW / northern / Avanti and merseyrail staff.

On P4 and P7 you will notices there's a lack of seating, that's due to the masonary crumbling and falling ! I do wonder what Chester station will look like over the next 7 years until TFW are planning to refurbish it.

The poor cleaners are fighting a losing battle with the pidgeons, until the nesting is stopped the problem just gets worse.
Another issue is the car parking or lack of it, but again there's no plan to increase that.

TFW have though kept the one way system for passengers as the gates can't cope at busy times with both flows, the staff on the barriers are extra barriers staff and security.
You hardly ever see the BTP nowadays at Chester, in the past they were a regular sight but not anymore.

Llandudno · 19 Oct 2021

sefyllian said:
TfW plan to “invest in Chester Station in 2028”.

(Originally promised as part of the Keolis Amey franchise award I think, but has since been republished on the new in-house TfW website, so presumably still stands.)

Only another 7 years to wait for ‘investment’ to begin….

Penmorfa · 20 Oct 2021

Llandudno said:
Only another 7 years to wait for ‘investment’ to begin….

I recall the last Area Manager in BR days, Merrick Roocroft - a great railwayman, showing me the plans for a shopping centre above and between platforms 3 and 4. I wonder what became of those? He was also quite proud of the 'Owls' above platform 4 - are they still there?

Liverpool 507 · 20 Oct 2021

In all honesty, I’ve seen worser stations.

frodshamfella · 20 Oct 2021

sefyllian said:
TfW plan to “invest in Chester Station in 2028”.

(Originally promised as part of the Keolis Amey franchise award I think, but has since been republished on the new in-house TfW website, so presumably still stands.)

Oh great...not long off then !

LNW-GW Joint · 20 Oct 2021

Actually the Chester station upgrade (new P8 for Merseyrail) features in Wolmar's piece in this week's Rail mag (942, p44).
It's one of a number of potential area upgrades and is regarded as the key to unlocking other improvements.
There's a good aerial picture of the station and surrounding area.
The piece also explains how complicated the governance situation is, both on the railway and in local government.

317 forever · 24 Oct 2021

It has been mentioned how Chester station is not that near the city centre. Some other stations in Cheshire are not very near the town centres either. Crewe, Widnes and Winsford spring to mind.

Llandudno · 24 Oct 2021

317 forever said:
It has been mentioned how Chester station is not that near the city centre. Some other stations in Cheshire are not very near the town centres either. Crewe, Widnes and Winsford spring to mind.

In all fairness it is only a few minutes level walk to the start of the city centre.

Lots of decent bars and restaurants en-route too!

LNW-GW Joint · 24 Oct 2021

317 forever said:
It has been mentioned how Chester station is not that near the city centre. Some other stations in Cheshire are not very near the town centres either. Crewe, Widnes and Winsford spring to mind.

"Widnes" station was formerly called Farnworth, a separate village to the north on the CLC "straight" between Warrington and Garston.
Widnes South was an early station just south of the "centre" on the Timperley-Garston line, and there was also the later Widnes Central on the CLC loop line.
Both of these central stations closed in the 60s and Farnworth first became Widnes North and then just Widnes.

Bristol TM is remote from the city centre too, although the wider city has spread out to include the TM area.
Cheltenham Spa had two stations closer to the centre than Lansdown, but both of these (St James, Malvern Road) were closed.
Derby is another remote station, also absorbed by the city's expansion; the closed GN station (Friargate) was a little closer to the centre.
So Chester station is not that unusual in being about a mile from its city centre (Chester Cross).

BeijingDave · 24 Oct 2021

LNW-GW Joint said:
Actually the Chester station upgrade (new P8 for Merseyrail) features in Wolmar's piece in this week's Rail mag (942, p44).
It's one of a number of potential area upgrades and is regarded as the key to unlocking other improvements.
There's a good aerial picture of the station and surrounding area.
The piece also explains how complicated the governance situation is, both on the railway and in local government.

Will the platform 8 be another side/island platform?

Or will the lengthy platform 7 just be divided (as it already effectively is anyway)?

Mcr Warrior · 24 Oct 2021

LNW-GW Joint said:
"Widnes" station was formerly called Farnworth, a separate village to the north on the CLC "straight" between Warrington and Garston.
Widnes South was an early station just south of the "centre" on the Timperley-Garston line, and there was also the later Widnes Central on the CLC loop line.
Both of these central stations closed in the 60s and Farnworth first became Widnes North and then just Widnes.

Wasn't what's now Widnes station originally referred to (pre 1959) as "Farnworth (Widnes)" presumably to distinguish it from others, such as the nearby "Farnworth and Bold" station and, to a lesser extent, the one near Bolton, then known as "Farnworth and Halshaw Moor".

John Luxton · 24 Oct 2021

LNW-GW Joint said:
Chester's footbridge, or rather the staircases to it, have adopted a one-way flow for passengers.
They used to be broad and open, but the one-way traffic system and metal dividers have worsened the character of the place, especially on P3 where you end up right at the barrier line.
On the other hand they have glazed the footbridge so you are better protected from the wind and rain.

Then there's the curious new "back stairs" over the top of the cafe/lounge to the island platform.
I don't doubt some thought was given to the changes during ATW's term, with heritage constraints prominent, but the result is bitty and not at all classy (that's left to the frontage and little-used porch in the SW corner).
Much of the station's platform buildings are given over to staff rooms of various kinds.

When I passed through yesterday there were 5 staff monitoring the barriers (and another 2 for the departure side at what is normally the emergency exit).
I don't think BR were ever that profligate with ticket collectors, and the station used to be "open".
It's off-topic but at Stoke there were 2 guys in orange suits marked "Vandalism and Trespass Control" or some such.
Definitely the surveillance society.

The Covid one way flow dividers on the bridge at Chester disappeared from the bridge about a month or more ago now.

The bridge itself has always been split with the west side being the passenger bridge and the east side the former trolley bridge though the gate between the two is left open now that passengers can use both sides.

I really am surprised at all the negativity towards Chester station and its surroundings.

The area around the station appears much better than that around Liverpool Lime Street which yet again is undergoing a prolonged revamp by Liverpool City Council. As usual they chose some dodgy contractors who went bust a few weeks ago and now it looks destined to remain an uncompleted mess for months!

The walk into Chester City Centre is quite pleasant too but the secret is to walk along the canal to near King Charles' Tower and enter via the walls and Eastgate saves navigating the traffic - only takes 10 to 15 minutes.

For those that don't want to walk there is a frequent bus operate by Aintree Coach Lines.

S&CLER · 24 Oct 2021

LNW-GW Joint said:
"Widnes" station was formerly called Farnworth, a separate village to the north on the CLC "straight" between Warrington and Garston.
Widnes South was an early station just south of the "centre" on the Timperley-Garston line, and there was also the later Widnes Central on the CLC loop line.
Both of these central stations closed in the 60s and Farnworth first became Widnes North and then just Widnes.

Bristol TM is remote from the city centre too, although the wider city has spread out to include the TM area.
Cheltenham Spa had two stations closer to the centre than Lansdown, but both of these (St James, Malvern Road) were closed.
Derby is another remote station, also absorbed by the city's expansion; the closed GN station (Friargate) was a little closer to the centre.
So Chester station is not that unusual in being about a mile from its city centre (Chester Cross).

Being very pedantic, I know, but the Widnes loop was not CLC but Sheffield and Midland Joint; the GN wasn't interested in it.

childwallblues · 25 Oct 2021

John Luxton said:
The Covid one way flow dividers on the bridge at Chester disappeared from the bridge about a month or more ago now.

The bridge itself has always been split with the west side being the passenger bridge and the east side the former trolley bridge though the gate between the two is left open now that passengers can use both sides.

I really am surprised at all the negativity towards Chester station and its surroundings.

The area around the station appears much better than that around Liverpool Lime Street which yet again is undergoing a prolonged revamp by Liverpool City Council. As usual they chose some dodgy contractors who went bust a few weeks ago and now it looks destined to remain an uncompleted mess for months!

The walk into Chester City Centre is quite pleasant too but the secret is to walk along the canal to near King Charles' Tower and enter via the walls and Eastgate saves navigating the traffic - only takes 10 to 15 minutes.

For those that don't want to walk there is a frequent bus operate by Aintree Coach Lines.

It does depend which exit you use when leaving Lime Street. There are four.
The best thing they could do is restart the free regular bus from the station to Frodsham Street / the main shopping area.

frodshamfella · 25 Oct 2021

I think its the general passenger experience at Chester which is poor, particularly for a city centre station. It has an unkept feel. The access to the station is another matter, ive never found the walk an issue, time or length wise.

Bletchleyite · 25 Oct 2021

frodshamfella said:
I think its the general passenger experience at Chester which is poor, particularly for a city centre station. It has an unkept feel. The outside is a different matter.

That of course was the usual feel for stations in BR days, it's just that most other major stations have been tidied up a lot and now have a feel often a bit more like an airport.

frodshamfella · 25 Oct 2021

Bletchleyite said:
That of course was the usual feel for stations in BR days, it's just that most other major stations have been tidied up a lot and now have a feel often a bit more like an airport.

It could be better, not a great first impression for visitors to the city.

Chester station platforms poor condition

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