Stanlow and Thornton - Least Used Station in Cheshire

In the industrial area of Ellesmere Port lies the oddity of the branch line from Helsby with the parliamentary services that calls at Ince & Elton, and Stanlow & Thornton just a few times per day.
So it was time to get up early - and with just enough winter morning daylight - and go and tick off this least used station.
Thanks to Karl for coming with me. The new station stats (for 2018-2019) are due out next month in December!
You can see the (old) ORR statistic for Station Usage are here: dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statist...

[@geofftech2]

Several people telling me in the comments that OMD had a song "Stanlow" based up this oil refinery. And so there is! Nice, i didn't know that. It's here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaWxd6KhbrGCfbc

[@legionnairegonk4425]

Off to see them in concert in Leicester on Thursday night Geoff. I really hope they play Stanlow. Great song.

[@b17marko]

Exactly what I thought as soon as you mentioned the refinery, ahh so that's Stanlow

[@foxesdad]

OMD are from Meols on the Wirral

[@caw25sha]

According to Wikipedia "Welsh band Jesu's 2007 album Conqueror features a track titled "Stanlow" that concerns itself with the refinery." It's probably on KZbin but I can't be bothered to search...

[@FoxyPKO]

Hi Geoff the Thornton in the name of "stanlow and Thornton" station may also refer to the nearby campus of Chester university that is known as the "Thornton campus" and is just at the end of the oil refinery on the ince and Elton side

[@AndersHanche]

I have an impractical amount of knowledge about the British public transport system, considering I live in a remote village in Norway. Absolutely love these videos!

[@OptimusCrime9900]

Yeah same, but for vienna, austria. I just really like the videos 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@SunnySideup2012]

Same here, Love from Bangalore

[@king999art]

Same here, I'm in sunny Australia!

[@janssenmccormick7824]

Same from Boston in the US

[@TheFjmtb]

But you never know, and if you happen upon Stanlow at 6am you will know there is a train to be caught. Just saying, never rule anything out

[@almostthere3733]

The 'waiting shelters' looked like coal sheds. I remember going with my father to the rail yard to buy a load of coal for our furnace at home. The coal was in sheds in the rail yard next to the tracks to fuel the steam trains.

[@HughSurname]

I was on the train you got on at Stanlow! I was shocked that people were actually getting on there, then realised it was you! Keep up the great work :)

[@PianoKwanMan]

Was that the first time you've seen people get on? I'm surprised it's not a request stop

[@sherondalewis8053]

On an average, does the train ever gets crowded? Do you take it all the way to the last stop?

[@graybags2001]

Was u driving or conducting hugh?

[@DuckOfRubber]

“Only” 3 trains in each direction per day. In most of the US that would be considered to be a pretty busy station.

[@rypieuwu]

if that's true then that is just sad

[@jmcl1]

Waiting for the day you do least used on the Trans Siberian.

[@campia901]

Got such a fright with that alarm sound!

[@lauraallard8999]

campia608 me too - it’s the exact sound my phone makes to wake me up and makes me feel jittery whatever time of day!

[@Lumberjackk]

It triggers my early morning ptsd 😂😂 I was like wait no its already 4am!?! But then I realized it was 11pm luckily

[@kevingraham2733]

I use to drive trains out of Stanlow back in the 90's, thanks Geoff for doing this station.

[@iansmithtravels]

Love these least used videos. Love the lengths Geoff goes to to get these videos shot! Great work 👍🏼

[@Hammondfreak]

Absolutely right. I would not want to be getting up that early anymore. Had enough as 22 years of being a postman. Excellent job Geoff.

[@MrMoley55]

Named after Paul Ince and Elton John, I believe

[@sherondalewis8053]

Funny..I was going for Thomas Ince and Elton John.

[@pintpullinggeek]

Whereas I was thinking of Robin Ince and Ben Elton

[@sherondalewis8053]

@@pintpullinggeek Who is Ben Elton and Robin Ince, btw?

[@paulsengupta971]

Ben Elton is a comedian who did standup but he's more known for his writing, particularly for Blackadder. I've no idea who Robin Ince is.

[@paulsengupta971]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKvcl4ucqriVrck

[@airfoxtrot2006]

Got to love the dedication Geoff has to bring us great videos.

[@TheSynthnut]

The level of dedication shown to the cause is beyond comprehension Geoff!

[@btuckervideos4705]

Another brilliant Least Used Station Geoff, and I would be happy to see Karl in many more Least Used Station videos to come

[@MrPaulFCockburn]

I love your general enthusiasm, directorial skill and commitment to the “least used station” project. 😀

[@CJonestheSteam72]

You two account for 8 days worth of passengers

[@-wealuka7367]

Would say 16 as they should be counted 2 times each.

[@witzendoz]

Messed up the stats for next year

[@thestargateking]

Alan Dawson didn’t they do that for another station, brought like 300 people there.

[@TheLoxxxton]

I'm always left confused watching this channel. I don't live in London, I don't use trains, I have no real interest in types of trains.,yet I'm subbed and I enjoy watching all the content. My children say I'm weird and I can't argue with them.

[@CallingAllStations]

Everything I wanted from a northern least used station. Which is mostly Karl in a flat cap.

[@williamevans6277]

I need a flat cap

[@williamevans6277]

But I don't live in Manchester

[@jamesafilms]

Thanks for going here, my dad used this station alot back in the 70s when he worked at Stanlow

[@jameslevens2121]

Thank you for uploading this. I passed Stanlow oil refinery by road lots of time when visiting my Grandparents who lived in Widnes. But rail travel in Cheshire and Merseyside has always interested me. The sight of Ince & Elton station was certainly eerie. Well done for catching a glimpse of the station in the dark. I would like to see the third rail extended from Ellesmere Port to Helsby, thus stimulating (hopefully) extra passenger growth along the line. I don't know how more people can be persuaded to use Stanlow and Thornton, though. Still, it's interesting to see Stanlow again. Keep up the good work. Thank you.

[@smdhomeworkhelp]

Always good to see Karl back on the channel!

[@ghegun]

Great video - sadly I'm old enough to remember those old thick timetable books - best laugh I've had today!!

[@SiVlog1989]

Makes a very pleasant change to see brand new trains on a least used line :)

[@LeoStarrenburg]

Indeed, but I would have been as pleased if it was a genuine Pacer.

[@thegoblins4380]

I remember when they used to run hourly if not half-hourly from Chester via Hooton to Helsby and back. A friend used to live close to the station and get it to Liverpool via Hooton.

[@geofftech2]

@John Smith lovely story, John! there's a little bit of the old days still preserved at nearby Helsby, where the old signal box still in use with all semaphore signalling is still there. Go to Helsby for a look around if you ever get the chance!

[@ianmcclavin]

Yes, that all changed when they electrified the sections from Hooton to Chester and Ellesmere Port. Those sections benefitted from through trains to Liverpool, but the Ellesmere Port to Helsby section suffered. Before this, hourly Chester - Helsby services operated, reversing at Hooton, connecting into electric trains to Liverpool from there. Since then, the Ellesmere Port - Helsby section has been reduced to just this handful of trains a day.

[@norbitonflyer5625]

@@ianmcclavin and before that, the electrics ended at Rock Ferry and there were diesel services from there to both Chester and Helsby

[@kimflycht2258]

It is a well done video!! Take pride in this, even though You do not get the views it deserve!!!! Kind regards from Denmark

[@europeantransporttv212]

Super vid Geoff. Keep up the great work

[@bensan94931]

I've heard that the Ellesmere Port-Helsby line can't be electrified due to concerns about this being a combustion risk near the oil refinery. However, next year, Merseyrail intends to test whether its new trains can run on the line using battery power! So we might see through services to Liverpool on the line in a few years.

[@caw25sha]

But back in steam days engines spat out fire all the time.

[@qwertyTRiG]

@@caw25sha But there were significantly fewer oil refineries.

[@nigelkthomas9501]

I heard that lame excuse too! And that’s exactly what it is; a lame excuse not have electrified it through to Helsby. The former Chester-Hooton-Helsby service used to be half hourly. The current situation is ludicrous!

[@AutieDino]

😂 I love that this is 3 years old and they’ve not even tested the trains on their existing network yet

[@pendolino_pete4621]

Waited soooo long for this!!!!!

[@HebrewsElevenTwentyFive]

This was fascinating, thank you🤙🏾

[@billabobyt]

Looks like you really got to know the Ince and Elts of Cheshire

[@sherondalewis8053]

HA! I see what you did there😉.

[@schrodingersduck]

There is actually a reason Merseyrail doesn't run past Ellesmere Port: they weren't allowed to run third rail through the Stanlow oil refinery because of the risk of sparks - which could cause an explosion if there was a leak. Maybe if they got bi-modes they could do it, but with either the current stock or the new 777s it's a no go

[@schrodingersduck]

(Plus, now the Halton curve has reopened, Helsby has regular direct services to Liverpool anyway, which has killed the one big argument in favour of extending Merseyrail through Stanlow and Thornton)

[@rockerjim8045]

@@schrodingersduck fine unless you live in Elsemere Port and wish to travel to and from Liverpool Airport via Liverpool South Parkway

[@rockerjim8045]

If there was a leak the flame from the stack would cause an explosion. Would love how the Refinery would explain that.

[@AutieDino]

Tbh I think they hate they they run past Hooton on that branch - I’ve heard staff say they’ve not been there for 6 months & it is one of the areas MR tried to just take trains from a few years back for 3 days

[@grahamnancledra7036]

@@rockerjim8045 In 53 years in the Oil and Gas Industry, I've never heard of a fire being caused by a flare. Flares are well isolated from the rest of the refineries in what's called a sterile area, No vegetation or humans allowed in the area, birds, insects, small mammals etc can. Any flash from a third rail would have to have enough heat to cause the correct mixture of gas and oxygen to five a fire. Not aware of the Stanlow refinery and it's set up to the railway though. Shell who used to own the refinery never liked the idea of a third rail.

[@TheAerospaceChannel]

Love your videos Geoff!

[@mousecharger]

Just come across your vid by coincidence as I've started visiting mum in Rochdale and on train and in way home I now get train to Helsby its always extremely quiet train usually am only passenger. Great video👍

[@Pwecko]

I remember when the trains went to Helsby. It was nice to get the train from Ellesmere Port to Helsby in the morning, climb up Helsby Hill, have a picnic and take the train back in the evening. Getting to Helsby from Ellesmere Port by public transport now is a pain in the backside.

[@Whiggism]

Its nearly been 3 years since the first episode of least used stations already wow

[@stephen5608]

I'm so glad to see this video, I live in in that area!!

[@NedsTrains]

Finally @geoff Marshall, you do my local Least used station! Stanlow and Thornton. Just some information for you the 195’s that now run on the line are brand new and have only been introduced, and as you can probably tell the trains are too long for the platform. Now the service used to be a 3 a day thing between Warrington BQ and Ellesmere Port. But now as the 195’s have been introduced on the Calder valley lines between Chester and Leeds Via Warrington and Manchester Vic, there’s a new service between Ellesmere Port and Leeds, meaning that all of the trains on the line are all brand new 195’s and not the Good old sprinter units! Hope you find this information useful Geoff and viewers. This was all written from a Warrington local’s point of view.

[@Jayfive276]

Godspeed slightly late bright red haired lady with suitcase!

[@LeoStarrenburg]

Ships that pass in the night (figure of speech ?)

[@baseballfan99]

I travelled on this line in the early 1990’s when it ran hourly from Hooton to Helsby as Merseyrail electrics had been extended from Rock Ferry by that point. I was not from the area so was extremely surprised that it basically passed through the oil refinery.

[@TrainDriverSam]

Glad I wasn't in the room next door to you 😂 Great video as always though! I always keep an eye out for you when I'm at work

[@lauraallard8999]

I’m not from Cheshire, but will be visiting it soon, and when I looked at the map around Ellesmere Port I couldn’t get over just how many stations there are particularly going up towards the Wirral. I wish all areas were so well connected by rail!

[@nicksteele9436]

About 1 - 2 minutes between stations between Ellesmere port and Liverpool. The major wait is definitely time spent at the stations.

[@funnyusername9072]

Love your videos 🥰🥰🥰

[@29brendus]

Great adventure, great entusiasm, always cheers me up, these videos. Fun filming, but not if you're on way to routine work, I daresay! Ah, you's miss the London overcrowding.

[@tomhoward4905]

I believe Ince & Elton service is expanded due to the glass factory, Encirc, in Elton. Nice to see Stanlow getting some love! Grew up in Ellesmere Port and live in Needham Market.

[@jacquelineharrod6386]

Brave to suffer like this for our enjoyment. Thank you.👏👏

[@SBCBears]

Well, I enjoy the videos, but it's his job and an easy one at that.

[@harrierjames7727]

In the "station with features like a non-league ground" stakes, I raise you the corrugated metal stands at Chester Road station, very much like all stands built late 90s onwards!

[@bitesthedust]

Excellent video.

[@dettrains]

This is why I subscribed!!

[@powderedground78]

How hilarious is Karl though! Great video

[@HenrysAdventures]

The was a regular train service on this line until 1992. It was when they electrified the line from Hooton to Ellesmere Port to become part of the Merseyrail network that the Ellesmere Port to Helsby section lost out to become the backwater it is today.

[@dranorter]

The filming at night turned out looking surprisingly good!

[@maggusmala]

According to Liverpoolecho this station in fact shares the place of the least used station in the whole of the UK with Denton Station in Tameside with only 46 Passengers per year in 2018/2019.

[@pikachu8508]

tied with Denton station in Manchester

[@whi5tler_1337]

_GEOFF, I LOVE THE WAY YOU DON'T CARE WHAT YOU WEAR WHEN ON CAMERA, YOU REALLY WILL WEAR ANYTHING, YOUR A INSPIRATION_ 😁

[@bucephalus00]

Cracking intro to the video

[@RichardGMoss]

Grew up 7 miles away but never went that way by train but do recall the refinery. Tankers used to be able to enter the river but now have to anchor off Anglesey and the oil is pumped to the refinery.

[@wendydee3007]

I used to go to Rock ferry from Helsby on that line, in the 1970s

[@trfccurt07]

Didn't expect to stan quite as much when you mentioned Rock Ferry but here I am.

[@davesayswords]

I love these videos, and I have many things I want to comment on relating to travel and infrastructure but... all I can think of the people in the rooms adjacent/next to your room at the beginning must have hated you haha. In the corridors at 5 45 lol

[@peterhanahoe4913]

Enjoy your videos very much, looking forward to Roman Bridge. I see a lot of people have commented on the lack of need for the line between Helsby and Ellesmere Port and especially with so few passengers using these two stations. The thing with Ince and Elton is that, as you stated, the only point of it is for refinery workers. However, you also showed how access from the station over the purpose built footbridge, has been blocked off. The bridge used to span a good number of sidings. Workers aren't going to use that to commute if they can't get to work from the station are they? If there were better access for workers, oh and a train service that was of some use, perhaps they could use it for work. Imagine if they had a regular service for the Liverpool Metropolitan area too. Also, people comment that nobody really wants to get to Helsby but what about people from the likes of Hooton and Ellesmere Port and the surrounding area who want to get to Warrington (I know they can change at Helsby, or could if there was a use-able service) or a direct service from Ellesmere Port to Manchester Airport. A wider view needs to be taken rather than just looking at the line from an imagination used to stimulate traffic and make it more attractive than going by car.

[@666Pixs]

Awesome video as usual. just never do it in the evening 😂 well autumn evening its scary

[@Karlinski73]

Kyle Suku Hi Kyle. Yeah, we were lucky in that we knew that the sun would be rising fairly soon after we got there. In another 2-3 weeks it wouldn’t be rising until much later.

[@666Pixs]

@@Karlinski73 its a gamble. but yeah you was lucky. damn dark mornings / early dark evenings.

[@LisaSargent03]

Thames Haven line in Essex, had an oil refinery surrounding it and so did the Corringham Light Railway.

[@Grimbo798]

I had a job with an agency back in the 80's, and used this station regularly. Back then I lived in Eastham and would have to catch the train form Hooton to there and back as Eastham Rake station didn't exist back then. I'm sure, before the days of private car ownership, this station would have been very well used.

[@one42chrisp]

According to my summer 1986 timetable, that I bought in 1986, Stanlow and Thorton had 30 minute service in the peak hours and hourly service during the day, Monday to Friday, hourly service on Saturdays but nothing on Sundays.

[@caw25sha]

If you had waited 30 years you could have got it a lot cheaper on eBay.

[@one42chrisp]

LOL! I don’t know, it was only £2.95😀

[@sunjamm222]

The train announcement sounded like do I have to, when they got on the train at the end.

[@minghonglim9255]

The train announcement sounded more like it is feeling sad, like the person doing the train announcement is missing someone the person know.

[@realnoahsimpson]

that alarm gave me TRAUMA

[@Sim0nTrains]

At 10:20 ish, when you were talking about how much it would cost to extend the line. Last year I visited Liverpool to have a look at the Class 777 mock up and I was chatting to some Merseyrail people who were there and chatted about that Merseyrail could extend with these new trains, but they did state and quote 'they are not allow to build any more 3rd rail in this country' even now the Isle of Wright when the loop at Brading when it be built will have to be 3rd rail! However, the Class 777 will be fitted with small battery sets so they can run further from Ellesmere Port towards Helsby and even Warrington but on Battery than 3rd Rail. but if they wanted to as well, they can electrify the route with overhead wires since the new trains will have a pantograph on them.

[@geofftech2]

thanks simon! interesting that no more 3rd rail is allowed. i have subsequently heard about the 777's being battery too, so maybe they could extend! maybe ...

[@Sim0nTrains]

Geoff Marshall the one thing about the rail industry is that everything changes, because a great example is coming up soon, the Southern DMUs that run on the Uckfield Line and out of Ashford, they going to be transferred to East Midlands Railway and converted back to 170s but there no replacement rolling stock for these lines. Again they might be looking into Batteries and might be putting batteries on the Class 377s so they ran run off the 3rd rail system but they may have to reverse the decision about 3rd rail, but they may had done since that the new Isle of Wright Trains (D78) will be 3rd Rail and if they got to build a loop at Brading then that part will have to be 3rd rail built.

[@norbitonflyer5625]

@@Sim0nTrains Brading won't be a new line though, just modifying an existing 3rd rail route. The D-trains for the Isle of Wight will have to be converted from 4-rail supply to 3rd rail, as would any adapted for Merseyrail

[@LillyDoesGamingandVlogs]

nice to see my hometown on the timetable

[@professormcgorgeous]

Karl waited outside Geoffs room all night just so he can do his piece to camera

[@Karlinski73]

professor mcgorgeous Damn. Rumbled! 😃

[@johnsmith-wx5fb]

Florczac? Are you 3 gen pole?

[@johnsmith-wx5fb]

3Rd

[@Karlinski73]

john smith Yes.

[@johnsmith-wx5fb]

@@Karlinski73 a real conversationalist😂 so was i right about 3rd gen?

[@pbannon7088]

Local Line for me! Excellent Video, The road is private - you can't get there by car unless you work at the Oil Refinery Merseyrail to Helsby more than likely will not happen because Network Rail said it would be too expensive.

[@geofftech2]

but it appears you ARE allowed to walk down Oil Site Road to get to/from the station, but no cars allowed.

[@pbannon7088]

@@geofftech2 Ah fascinating! Never knew that! Thanks very much I head down and explore! Been through stanlow and Thornton many times so it will be interesting to see

[@pbannon7088]

@@geofftech2 Ah fascinating! Never knew that! Thanks very much I head down and explore! Been through stanlow and Thornton many times so it will be interesting to see

[@dalek12002]

its been open this week with the other road being shut overnight for roadworks,i've biked it a few times(the block for cars is a gate halfway down),there's are some traces of the old rails left(the wasteland on the left where they were and the control box up boat museum end),the tracks in the road were still there till the road was re done a few years ago

[@matthewalbery8827]

@@geofftech2 so, the append-ment on the 'totum' about a pick-up point is somewhat erroneous? given that unless one piggy-backs you can not be picked-of-the-up?

[@hoover517]

The station is located on Oil Sites Road, a private road owned by Essar Oil. This is now closed to motor vehicles, except for access to the site. The original owner, Shell, had cited increased commercial traffic to its refinery and the number of public vehicles using the road, recklessly in some cases, as reasons for closure.[12] The road previously also allowed quick access to the villages of Ince and Elton from Ellesmere Port and beyond. Although it is theoretically accessible by foot, it involves a long walk from either Ellesmere Port, Ince or Elton. There are no bus or taxi services at this station due to the access restrictions.

[@rockerjim8045]

I’m sure when I went by road there were signs that said this . Only problem was I wanted to visit the station so I wanted access. No security to stop me so in I went.

[@legionnairegonk4425]

Stanlow oil refinery - inspiration for OMD in the song of the same name I believe? The video backdrop in their Liverpool orchestral concert showed it.... Check it out on KZbin.

[@a11oge]

sent here by your 234567 video. and well worth it.

[@roo.stewart]

I love Karl!!! The thinking man’s Paddy McGuinness

[@Jimste88]

Just watched vid 👍🏻 in the vid you mention about adding a 3rd rail but mersyrail have just announced plans to use the new trains that have batteries to extend the routes including the line from ellesmereport

[@SteamboatWilley]

Geoff: "How hard would it be to extent the 3rd rail?" Network Rail: "REEEEEE!"

[@tescotrain]

Now it's the least used station in the *whole of Britain*

[@andyramsden9791]

I want a copy of that book. It looks mint!!

[@markhh]

I have almost no idea what any of that was about. But I loved it all the same. Kind of like playing a game of “Mornington Crescent”. 💁🏼‍♂️

[@adriansmith38]

The "shelf" looks more like somewhere to hang fire buckets?

[@librarian16]

You beat me to it.

[@risvegliato]

@@librarian16 Looks to me where toilet cisterns might have been? (The old-fashioned type with the pull-chain?)

[@isctony]

fire buckets was my initial thought

[@leeproctor7622]

Stanlow oil refinery very busy with oil Trains in the 80s not so now shame.

[@johnmurray8428]

Fire buckets makes sense. They also look cast iron Victorian era, with a coat of BR era white paint! Classic, someone put a preservation order on them.

[@AviationFRuk]

4:00 i love the way karl holds his hat there lol

[@terranceparsons5185]

You guys represent 16 days of passenger traffic!

[@BirbarianHomeGuard]

That alarm triggered me. I am now fully awake.

[@JamesTheBell1]

Geoff put a ridiculous amount of effort into making a video of you making a cup of tea at 5am. This is why we follow him.

[@leedorney]

I can add the road which was pointed out is the access road for the Refinery and it can be traversed but their is a barrier and I've never drive it only cycled passed this place and didn't realise the station is soo out of the way, the read travels between Ellesmere Port and Elton.

[@alvidion]

Love Karl's accent!

[@rossnorthcote9164]

I've been waiting for the Cheshire one

[@craigr9881]

Looking forward to the least used Pret.

[@vinniesuperstar8923]

Ince and Elton brings back memories of Louise Woodward!

[@Simon-zk5eg]

So I’m a guard on MerseyRail and I have asked the question “why don’t we 3rd rail it up to Helsby?” And I was told we can’t because there is a danger over head or 3rd rail could arc and set the refinery on fire. In the 80s DMUs ran from rock ferry untill they installed the 3rd rail and withdrew the DMU :) Hope that helps!

[@geofftech2]

thanks Simon! good into, and good to know!! if only the new MerseyRail trains were BiMode, and could run diesel along that stretch ...

[@Simon-zk5eg]

Geoff Marshall No problem any questions about Mersyrail I’m happy to help :) So not to get you to excited but iv been told the new fleet will have battery’s on board capable of take the trains much further than the 3rd rail system goes...and the drivers are all talking about the trains running to Helsby to test the reliability before bidding to run ron the borderland line from Bidston to Wrexham :)

[@dalek12002]

they used to have rail lines running into stanlow for the oil etc,but they were removed in the 90s when they switched to road tankers

[@rockerjim8045]

I drove to it a while back but it does give the impression it is on private land

[@TobaT3]

Hello! Somebody else watching this but never been in UK?

[@Brettski_1234]

Yes I’ve never been in the UK only Australia and NZ

[@xXPyrophorusXx]

I have family, and have been many times, but I'm not in the UK. Two of my dearest friends are from Cheshire.

[@TobaT3]

So... 9 people?

[@buksi6342]

When I started watching these, I hadn’t been to the UK. Now I’ve been 5 times. Was supposed to go again last month, but due to obvious reasons, I couldn’t.

[@acozkan]

@@TobaT3 me too

[@EastMidlandsTrainspotting]

I always love Geoff’s least used stations

[@peebee143]

That 'shelf' had fire bucket hooks, rather than shelf brackets. They may originate from many, many decades ago when there may have been a proper station building at that location.

[@GregRobsonUK]

8:55 - No information point? But wait, it does have THE EYE OF SAURON watching over it. Not many stations can claim that (if any!) 12:15 - A solid local accent from the automated train announcements.

[@michaelbruchas6663]

Crazy, crazy routing! Geoff needs a new Winter hat!

[@CasperUK31]

That road you mention (Oil Sites Rd) used to be open 364 days a year but when the world became terrified of terrorists it was closed and I don't think it will ever open to the public again.

[@leigh8006]

I assume you’ll be visiting Worcestershire Parkway when it opens soon

[@fluffyfour]

...and today...at quarter to six in the morning...we will be....providing an early wake-up for everyone on our hotel corridor!

[@geofftech2]

... which is why ... we recorded it at 8pm the evening before!

[@fluffyfour]

@@geofftech2 Oh that's a good idea. Didn't think of that. So old, me, but so much still to learn!

[@roseharvey2664]

@@geofftech2 thoughtful.

[@RichardWatt]

Geoff, there are some railway stations in Russia that are just a flat piece of concrete at ground level with a fairly large gap up to the steps on the carriages themselves.

[@Lulu-jl5zd]

Surely 92 passengers is one person doing a return trip once a week for 46 weeks... sounds like an inspector for the refinery that can claim back the rail ticket. WHO ARE YOU???? Great vlog Geoff... thx :)