|
Post by lysander on Nov 17, 2009 10:14:08 GMT 1
With the news that grants will be available for station improvements isnt it sad that Kirkgate isnt even amongst Lord Adonis top 10. Just when will this disgrace of a station get a modicum of improvement?
|
|
|
Post by timelesstable on Nov 17, 2009 10:30:29 GMT 1
With the news that grants will be available for station improvements isnt it sad that Kirkgate isnt even amongst Lord Adonis top 10. Just when will this disgrace of a station get a modicum of improvement? I agree Manchester Victoria looks like an absolute Palace in comparison the Wakefield Kirkgate. The report must be governed by either passenger numbers, network covered or the level/volume of service. I wonder just how many more Wakefield Kirkgates there are across the UK falling below the radar of this survey.
|
|
|
Post by lysander on Nov 17, 2009 15:26:15 GMT 1
Whatever is Wakefield Council doing about this utter disgrace of a station? Cant they issue the rail authority with an improvement order? Acceptable(perhaps) in 1940s austerity Britain its not only a blot on the landscape but a terrible advert for Wakefield which, through family connections, is my second home!
|
|
SF07
Forum Member
Posts: 3,216
|
Post by SF07 on Nov 17, 2009 15:33:08 GMT 1
|
|
|
Post by Bradford Traveller on Nov 17, 2009 23:57:22 GMT 1
ISN'T Kirkgate scheduled to be improved? I'm sure I've seen something about this before which is prob why it's not incl in this raft.
|
|
SF07
Forum Member
Posts: 3,216
|
Post by SF07 on Nov 18, 2009 19:03:38 GMT 1
ISN'T Kirkgate scheduled to be improved? I'm sure I've seen something about this before which is prob why it's not incl in this raft. It is. There's new CCTV, improved signage, a help-point on platforms 2 and 3 and an improved subway environment being developed. CCTV should be in place next month with the next of the work finished by the end of March 2010. rail-news.com/2009/11/09/wakefield-kirkgate-improvement-plans/
|
|
|
Post by lysander on Nov 19, 2009 17:05:04 GMT 1
Forgive me, but thats not a real attempt at even just cosmetic treatment. Improved signage and the like doesnt make up for broken glass windows, broken brick work and a wonderful "glass"roof that cries out for some glass. The whole of which produces an impression of neglect and decay...something which must be counter-productive for Wakefield itself!
|
|
|
Post by danielnew on Nov 20, 2009 13:06:53 GMT 1
I've travelled a lot of the UK's rail network having a priv travel facility and I can honestly say that Wakefield Kirkgate is the worst station in England! The stations mentioned in the report are obviously all major stations so this would exclude Kirkgate but include Westgate.
|
|
|
Post by westyorkshirebus on Nov 20, 2009 20:06:54 GMT 1
Kirkgate is actually a fairly well used interchange station, is a stopping point on Northern's flagship Leeds-Nottingham fast service and from next year it will have a London service. It's a shame all this doesn't mean any investment to the station.
|
|
|
Post by Craig on Nov 23, 2009 20:32:21 GMT 1
Kirkgate is actually a fairly well used interchange station, is a stopping point on Northern's flagship Leeds-Nottingham fast service and from next year it will have a London service. It's a shame all this doesn't mean any investment to the station. I concur, the station has 8 departures per hour (plus the train to Westgate) with trains going off to many parts of the region. Half of these trains are the express services to Leeds, Barnsley and Sheffield (and some to Nottingham) as mentioned above. But I could forgive anyone visiting the station for thinking it was either disused or it only sees one train a week. Any improvements planned for Kirkgate couldn't come sooner and I do hope they go far enough to sort out this awful excuse for a moderately busy station.
|
|
|
Post by busman3 on Nov 23, 2009 22:45:56 GMT 1
It may be well used but its a cess pit , its horrible the subways are nasty especially at night
|
|
|
Post by busman3 on Sept 1, 2010 19:43:09 GMT 1
Went to catch the Scarborough Spa at Wakefield Kirkgate today - this station is was far busier than I expected to be honest it really does need a member of staff on duty. It is very unwelcoming with little or no information. Couldnt resist a LMS engine with a MR station structure.
|
|
|
Post by lysander on Sept 3, 2010 15:17:49 GMT 1
I notice some small amount of work has been carried out prior to Grand Central calling there.
|
|
|
Post by squeaky on Sept 3, 2010 22:48:16 GMT 1
The main building needs a lick of paint, not just the entrance hall
|
|
|
Post by mollman on Jan 17, 2012 12:37:24 GMT 1
|
|
|
Post by timelesstable on Sept 14, 2015 17:06:33 GMT 1
The newly refurbished Wakefield Kirkgate is opened www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-34246031A West Yorkshire railway station named six years ago as "the worst in Britain" has reopened after a £5.6m refurbishment. Kirkgate station in the south of Wakefield was restored over two years after a fundraising campaign by regeneration charity Groundwork. The Grade II-listed station was the city's first, built in 1854. Improvements include a new cafe and upgraded passenger facilities with better CCTV, lobby and subway.
|
|
|
Post by Kenton Schweppes on Oct 12, 2015 17:46:24 GMT 1
First chance I've had to go over today to take a look at the refurbishment and a mixed reaction, I must say. On the whole it's pretty positive, the restoration is pretty good, it looks smart and good, outside looks good with the grassed areas (even if they do need a cut) as do the steps upto the station and the facade looks good with it having a good clean up and some masonry being replaced where it needed it. The windows look good as do the doors. But and there are a few buts, the attention to detail is poor, none more so that in the entrance which looks unfinished up towards the ceiling, in fact its deffo unfinished, the paint work is unimaginative (battleship grey and white) which is already showing marks. At the far end of platform 1 some of the windows haven't been replaced or the door, which is a shame, giving it an unfinished feel and the place looks like it could have done with a good clean, the new canopy is filthy, the window bottoms covered in red brick dust and the entrance area had cobwebs all over it, wouldn't have been hard for someone to whip round with a brush. On the opposite platform there is still vegetation growing out of the brick work too. The benches were left over from the old station, would it have been hard to replace these with some new shiny ones, instead of the red battered ones?
Also where is the ticket office, cafe and toilets? I was under the impression that these were part of the renovation? I noted there was some rooms renovated but empty are these to house the new facilities? Seems a little daft to open the station without any of these promised facilities? On the whole a positive renovation and it looks good aside from the one or two aesthetic issues. Lets hope the ticket office and cafe materialise soon, I was gagging for a cup of tea.
|
|