Closed Stations

Angel Road: Closed 31st May 2019

Constantly the least used station in London, only got peak time services, and ultimately very unloved. With the announcement of a regeneration project with its own new station was the nail in the coffin for Angel Road. The closure of Angel Road was delayed a few times due to delays with the opening of Meridian Water, but eventually on 31st May 2019 the final service called at Angel Road. The footbridge was quickly dismantled and access to Angel Road blocked off.

Bishops Lydeard: Closed to National Rail services on 5/10/2019

In the summer of 2019 a joint venture began between Great Western Railway and the heritage company West Somerset Railway where services would run between Taunton & BIshops Lydeard to connect with onward heritage services to Minehead! This was run as a trial to see if there was demand. From what I gather it was a success, and had it not been for the COVID pandemic that happened in 2020 then this would of been a service that would become a frequent summer service. In my honest opinion the Minehead line from Taunton should be run as national rail with the heritage railway running on it too (bit like the Jacobite between Fort William and Mallaig)

Corfe Castle: Closed to National Rail services on 7/9/2019

Summer Saturday services was operated by South Western Railway in the summers of 2018 & 2019. I was onboard the final South Western Railway service in 2019 and it was rumoured that this would be the last SWR service to operate and that Swanage Railway would start operating shuttle services to and from Wareham themselves. Swanage Railway services did start in commence in April 2019 and ran until September 2019.

IBM: Closed 8th December 2018

A station that was built to serve the factory workers of the IBM factory that was located there. After the closure of the factory passenger numbers went downward pretty quickly. Despite parts of the site getting sold to other companies the downward spiral of passenger numbers continued. In the end there was insignificant passenger numbers to maintain a service. The station is deemed temporarily closed due to potential future usage for the station. A planning application was made in February 2020 for the development of the IBM site, this planning application includes the reopening of the station.

Manchester United Football Club Halt: Closed 10th December 2017

Closed due to Safety concerns with the station been within the security boundaries for the football stadium. To be honest I fully understand the concerns. The station access was straight into the stadium which can cause massive issues with security. As a frequent visitor to Old Trafford I can confirm that a station is needed! The nearby metrolink stops simply can't cope with the demand and footfall on a match day. In my opinion a proper station that would be open at all times serving both the local area and Old Trafford on match days. The demand is there!

British Redcar Steel: Closed 14th December 2019

I mean a station in the middle of private wasteland that has no access to the station. Alight here and you have the risk of security questioning why you are there... It simply makes sense that this station closed! There is rumours of it reopening in the future should the wasteland surrounding the station be used to build housing on. But for the foreseeable it will be closed.

Sampford Courtenay: Closed 8th Seotember 2019

One of them stations that in an ideal world would be open. I still to this day can't see any reason it can't be a request stop on the Okehampton line. At the same time though I totally understand the reasoning for the closure. It used to get Summer Sunday services when GWR operated Summer Sunday services to Okehampton. Then when it went into a full 7 day a week timetable then it was deemed unnecessary to stop services there. I will always stand by my opinion there is demand for this station, be it for walkers or the local communities around the station, but I understand the cost vs demand balancing act that has to be done... Maybe one day!

Stanlow & Thornton: Closed 3rd February 2022

Another station that closed on safety grounds. At Stanlow & Thornton it was the footbridge that was deemed unsafe. This is unlikely to stay closed forever though. I'm confident this station and line has a big future! The obvious option for this is to extend Merseyrail services from Ellesmere Port to Helsby. There is now a relistic opportunity of this happening now Merseyrail have battery powered trains which means there would be no need to electrify the line. Here's hoping this happens sooner rather than later. A regular service is just what the station needs!

Teesside Airport: Closed May 2022

The station that is constantly Britain's Least Used Station closed due to unsafe platforms and unsafe footbridge. With so few flights at the airport then it makes sense why the station closed. There is plans to build a new station here. To be completely honest rebuilding this station makes absolutely no sense! It should just be officially closed. It serves an airport which gets so few flights its simply not worth stopping there. This is one station that should just be dismantled and left for the history books!

Wedgwood, Barlaston & Norton Bridge: Closed 24th May 2004.

The three stations closed for line improvements on the Stoke-on-Trent to Stafford route. When the work was complete the stations never opened. Norton Bridge has since been formally closed with the other two still listed as temporarily closed. The only one of the two which is likely to ever get a service back is Barlaston. It serves a village which has a decent number of residents. I believe that is more a question of when rather than if. In the case of Wedgwood it is more a case of when will the station be formally closed. It is falling apart and deemed by Network Rail as unsafe to walk on.