Stoke on Trent Train Station (Stoke-on-Trent Train Station)

Member Name: blondgem

Product:	Stoke-on-Trent Train Station
Date:	01/04/08 (1532 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: clean, friendly, local access

Disadvantages: -

I hadn't been on a train until I was 21 and to be honest my first ever train journey was to Newcastle upon Tyne which was about a four hour jaunt from Stoke on Trent station, with several stops in Manchester, Leeds and York, which wasn't a very good experience for my first, however over the past 8 years I have seen myself having to get a train on quite a few occasions whether it be for business, holidays, or one of those extremely expensive shopping trips to either Manchester, Brimingham or Nottingham, as there isn't a great deal in Stoke on Trent.

Stoke on Trent train station is in a central location, situtated in Stoke, one the 6 towns of the potteries with plenty of access to the other towns in the Stoke on Trent area. Taxi ranks are available outside the train station, and also many buses which will take you to wherever you want to go in the area. The train station has two carparks, in which you can leave your car for the duration however the charges for these carparks is quite extortionate so I tend to get a taxi which costs a lot less for a return journey from my house to the station.

If you are coming to Stoke, directly opposite the train station is the North Staffs Hotel, one of Stoke on Trent oldest hotels that is very popular for people coming into the City and very easy being located directly across the road from the train station.

SToke on Trent train station has recently undergone a refurbishment other the past couple of years and has made the station a lot more modern and up to date with the likes of train stations in bigger citys. As you walk into the train station you have a first class waiting area if you prefer to sit in style as opposed to sit on the platform as you wait for your train. This is always occupied by the business people that are using the trains to commute.

To the right of you as you walk into the station you have four kiosks where you are able to purchase your tickets from. The staff within the station are extremely helpful and I find it easier popping into the station itself to obtain tickets for a journey as they seem to find you a better deal and an easier route, in comparison to what you can obtain from te internet. I find the internet site, pretty complex sometimes when I am travelling to a strange destination which is not a direct route and the staff within the station are quite happy to help you out with all your requirements.

The statio is relatively small, it only has two platforms however is one of the main stops when travelling north to south. There is a subway in which you go under the get to the other platform. Located on the platforms are various newspaper stalls and kiosks where you can obtain snacks and papers for you journey however it is far to small to have eateries at this station. Toilets are located on the platform as is a waiting room for general people that are travelling that do not want to wait in the cold on the platform.

The staff on the platform are also very friendly, its not easy to get lost in Stoke station at all, with their being only two platforms, however when I first went to the station 8 years a go, I still needed a bit of guidance as to whether I was getting on the right train and in the correct carriages.

The station itself is very clean, and on every occasion that I have been, there is always someone walking around collecting the litter and keeping the place tidy which is always nice to see, as I have travelling to some stations before and they have been disgusting and I wouldn't have dared to put my luggage down onto the platform because I wouldn't know what was going to get stuck to it.

In general, its a small, great station that has plenty of personality and is a pleasure to travel from.

Summary: -