A short distance from one of the best to one of the worst...

[whole diary]

[IndustryInsider]

Britain's 'best and worst' railway stations have been listed following passenger surveys with Transport Focus.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-44023411

It struck me that Reading is the 4th best, whereas Oxford is the 3rd worst in the country, though only 56 stations were surveyed.  One of course has undergone a huge amount of investment recently, and one has a 'masterplan' which is on the horizon but lacking funding.  Perhaps it's time to give even more effort into improving Oxford station?  Signalling alterations will help this summer but won't of course change the ambience of the place which has totally outgrown its 90s rebuild.

[bobm]

I am always reminded how dated Oxford station looks when it features in episodes of Inspector Morse and looks largely unchanged...

[didcotdean]

If Oxford was still in its pre 1990 state there really would be something to complain about.

[martyjon]

Was either of Bristols two major stations among the 56 in the survey ?

[JayMac]

Bristol Temple Meads was 41st out of 56.

The Guardian has the full list:

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2018/may/07/glasgow-queen-street-london-kings-cross-railway-station-survey

Transport Focus surveyed 28000 people about station quality, and the results are from 56 stations where they received 100 or more responses.

[martyjon]

An item on this subject to be included in todays, 7th May, Radio 4 1 o'clock news.

[IndustryInsider]

A pretty unsubstantial survey to be picked up so widely by the press, but it does give an indication as to customer opinion I suppose.

Surprising to see Marylebone feature so high on the list given its cramped layout, one third of its platforms a long way from the concourse and frequent complaints about late advertising of trains at the far end of platforms from the likes of Barry Doe, who always likes to take a pop at Chiltern whenever possible.

[grahame]

For the record - 1st and last, and all those with GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) services / connections

1. London King’s Cross 96%
4. Reading 92%
18. London Paddington 88%
19. Heathrow Airport Terminals 1,2,3 88%
22. Bath Spa 88%
23. Heathrow Terminal 5 88%
35. Brighton 83%
41. Bristol Temple Meads 81%
47. Cardiff Central 75%
54. Oxford 67%
55. Gatwick Airport 66%
56. Glasgow Queen Street 58%

For next time, we really must hear about it and hand out forms ourselves at other stations.  Imagine getting focus on facilities at Patchway and Pilning!

[martyjon]

For next time, we really must hear about it and hand out forms ourselves at other stations.  Imagine getting focus on facilities at Patchway and Pilning!

Wot about Melksham too !

[CyclingSid]

Most of what I take to be "60s" stations I think are fairly dire. Wokingham was before it was rebuilt, coloured in my case in that I could remember the original Victorian buildings. Gloucester is awful, in my estimation, Swindon is similarly unattractive from my point of view.
Ultimately, what is the criteria that they are judged by? Clapham is old and suffers from lack of maintenance, and short-sighted thinking (can't understand how what used to be the world's busiest station has short platforms), but works well enough. I also hate Gatwick, the signing/wayfinding is pretty dire. Were a lot of poor/short-sighted decisions made in the 60s around the time of Beeching which we are still paying for?
In the past railways never had architects, it was always the responsibility of the Chief Civil Engineer but in Victorian times they managed to produce wonderful structures, love Brighton and the Balcombe Viaduct (sorry Southern origins showing). Something was definitely missing in the 60s.

[didcotdean]

In many cases it is the overcrowding in the open spaces rather than any specific facilities per se. Gatwick is a terrible melee at times with a confused mass around the inadequate ticket office / machines. Oxford has a crushed footbridge, and minimal canopy for the length of the platforms.

[rogerw]

My experience of Marylebone on a very cold December day left me far from impressed.  There were no enclosed waiting areas unless you prepared to spend money on drinks or food - I spent a lot of time in W H Smiths. Further my platform was displayed only 3 minutes prior to departure despite the train having been there for some time. Earlier platform indication would have meant that we could have sat in the warm

[eightf48544]

Birmingham New Street 3rd

I though it was shopping centre not a station.

[grahame]

Birmingham New Street 3rd

I though it was shopping centre not a station.

Was talking about this with Lisa today.  We came to the conclusion that people answering this survey are likely to be people starting or ending their journeys, rather than places you change.  New Street may be great for a start / end of journey.  For a change it remains a dark and squashed cavern ... perhaps our problem is more because were moving out of one rammed XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) train and then cramming onto another rammed one.