Just an average station (Stoke-on-Trent Train Station)

Member Name: jennikitten

Product:	Stoke-on-Trent Train Station
Date:	04/06/09 (119 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good connections

Disadvantages: See review

Stoke-on-Trent station is hopefully a station I won't see much more of in the future! That sounds horrible considering the station isn't that bad in itself. It's more the fact that in the past, the train I got from Bristol to Manchester didn't stop at Stockport. So I would have to go from Bristol to Stoke-on-Trent, then wait 10-15 minutes for another train to Manchester that actually stopped at Stockport. A bit annoying, considering it's a main station stop.

Fortunately now they've changed the train timetable so that the Bristol train stops at Stockport. No more Stoke-on-Trent for me!

However, as a tribute to all the time I've wasted there, I decided to write a review.

Stoke-on-Trent railway station is one of those old looking stations, all brick and a high arched ceiling...well the platforms are. The inside is a bit more modern looking and creamy, which is a bit odd and inconsistent, but I guess there's not much you can do with it really.

Stoke-on-Trent only has 2 platforms that I've seen, which makes it easier to move between them than in other stations with lots of platforms (like Birmingham New Street or Manchester Piccadilly). Then again you have you go a fair way to cross between them (underground) as there is no convenient bridge to cross like at Cheltenham Spa.

In my opinion, it would benefit from having a couple of big electronic signs on each platforms stating all the departing trains. Each platform has a board stating the trains leaving from that particular one. The waiting rooms do have TV screens stating all the departures, but these are quite hidden away and not easy to see/find when in a rush or when the waiting rooms are busy.

To be honest, Stoke-on-Trent station doesn't have a whole lot to offer. There's a small cafe, which I seem to remember is a Pumpkin one (though don't quote me on that).

It does have connecting trains to lots of major places, being in a good location in the midlands for access to London and Manchester. There are also good connections to Birmingham New Street, which is the major station for trains outside London in my opinion.

So really you can see it's not that interesting, which is why I'm glad I don't have to travel via there any more! Just an average smallish station really.

Summary: Serves its purpose, but nothing else to offer