Atomic Systems

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/4673588.stm

Found these pictures on the bbc website of run down railway stations. Although I agree they're not very nice, especially ones with lots of litter (which is a sad shame we need our bins back) where do they expect the money to come from? Then again is it right for them to spend so much on large termini and so little on local stations? Is it an example of the fat cats favouritism for mainline services rather than local ones? Anyone got any comments/thoughts?[/quote]

It is perfectly shown on a local scale for me, look at the all singing all dancing new immaculate Piccadilly station in Manchester, done up because of its links to london, then take a look at Manchester victoria which serves the less glamarous destinations of Wigan, Rochdale, Southport, Kirkby, Bolton, Blackburn etc, with the netting encasing the roof incase more glass panels fall down, and the never working extractor fans in the bit under the MEN arena.........That's even before i start on the suburbanstations which really could do with a lot of investment.

I think the best way for smaller local stations is set up a small group of gardeners to look after flower beds etc and smarten the places up. Whether this is done voluntary or on a paid basis doesn't matter but something needs doing.

Bare Lane is looked after by a local group, with tubs of flowers donated by local shops and maintined by them as well. The station is kept clean by the signalman, and now someone lives in the station house, vandalism has almost vanished.

We have a station preservation group who look after the place, open up the up platform waiting room on weekday mornings for commuters etc etc.

Bet the media don't do the same about local bus stations...

It's a shame other stations can't folllow Carnforth's example. And here's a thought: try convincing a group of sceptics that a dirty shabby railway is a safe one.

I see a number of problems:
- Many of the stations were last 'modernised' by British Rail in the 1980s/1990s, hence follow the Bus Shelter principle, due to Treasury spending limits.
- There are two problems: one aesthetic, one social. A lick of paint and a general tidy-up, with some improved facilities, can be solved provided there is money. Vandalism and anti-social behiaviour are Social problems, and only society can solve them.
- Money: who is going to pay? Can you make a business case for improving a station used by 100 pax/day? Probably not. The only possible option for improving stations is to do it as part of massive multi-modal network upgrades, involving improved bus services, cycle facilities, joint ticketing, etc, all converging on the stations on the route. Funding would have to be split between Central and Local Government, infrastructure owners, and the operators of the services - in a way which I'm not sure is totally legitimate without creating a horrible PPP scheme which is completely unworkable - such is the mess which him from Number 11 has created.

There is one way which is probably 'too frightening' for Government to consider - 'RegioTram'. Create low-height tram stops to replace the high-platform stations, and use street running to allow operation into town centres, thereby integrating rail with the communities. This would work well with the multi-modal network upgrade described above - using RegioTram as the high capacity core for the network. No doubt technical issues exist - I'll merely point out that Germany (and to a lesser extent, the Netherlands) has solved most of them already, such that RegioTram vehicles will safely mix with the various 'normal' trains, including ICE-Ts. The effect of RegioTram would be to replace or eliminate the 'unsightly' stations, and substitute them with modern, accessible tram-style stops (although distinctly superior to current tram stops, with enclosed facilities, etc). Trouble is - cost.

There simply is no 'cheap' way to improve the stations - somewhere there is a cost. That cost could be in fares increases, subsidy (tax) increases, or cutting the profits (which would deter franchise bidders, resulting in lower quality bids from bad operators).

trainmad wrote:Bet the media don't do the same about local bus stations...

Indeed not, which is a shame as anyone who has ever caught a bus to Slough will know. Their pathetic attempt at a bus station-which featured in the opening titles of The Office-is dirty, ugly, dimly-lit, cold and generally unpleasant-not to mention the fact that it is the ideal place for gangs of "chavs" to hang out. And that they named the concrete monstrosity after Brunel just beggars belief...

Macclesfield's has recently gone through a refub and is looking nice but we need TV screens to see when the trains are coming!!

For a station on the Virgin line, we need some sort of upto date information on trains arrivals!!

Most Mersyrail stations were last touched in the 1980's. Example, Meols. Nothing changed except 10 new bike racks and new bins. The station is an awful drab grey and white colour, very unpleasant. The shelters are tatty and the building is cold and always flooded when it rains. The floor is also very slippery. While some stations have new heated waiting shelters and toilets, ticket barriers and ticket vending machines, Meols and many other stations are forgotten and have the toilets bricked up. The track is in just as bad a state, it looks like it hasn't been renewed for at least 10-15 years, some sleepers ahve rotted through, and Network Rail drops a bit of ballast on it to cover it up from the public.

Rob

A mate of mine once nominated Bryn (The only station in Greater Manchester that was actually managed by Merseyrail) for "The Best Kept Station Award", just to draw attention to the appalling state that it was (and still is, for that matter), in.
T

portchester station is a resonablely small station but is used very well, and i can remember that the introduction of 444 services caused a big upset, because of the small platform, but from what i was told there was room in the station for a 444, but this was only with "perfect parking". drivers wernt happy and compalined to get the platform lengthend, network rail said yes but only if you give us....... SWT said no and so NR said no, the passengers were not one bit happy and when this story went to BBC South Today network rail Dropped there estames by about £500,000.

strange what media can do!

MuzTrem wrote:

trainmad wrote:Bet the media don't do the same about local bus stations...

Indeed not, which is a shame as anyone who has ever caught a bus to Slough will know. Their pathetic attempt at a bus station-which featured in the opening titles of The Office-is dirty, ugly, dimly-lit, cold and generally unpleasant-not to mention the fact that it is the ideal place for gangs of "chavs" to hang out. And that they named the concrete monstrosity after Brunel just beggars belief...

Actually Northampton Grayfriars bus station made it into the demolition programme on tele. It's the only bus station I've been in where it is more difficult for pedestrians to get into it than the buses! (You have to go down a ramp, through and underpass then up some escalators).

Belper station, in Derbyshire is one of the best kept stations iv ever been to, and in contrast, Bottlesford station is the worst iv ever stopped at

Exeter Central is one of the worst according to ministers