Do you have a favourite train station in the North East? Maybe there’s one with an above average coffee shop inside or one with seats so comfy you never want to leave.
Well, one train station in the region has been criticised by a travel writer at The Telegraph for being “bitterly cold”.
Darlington train station was featured among author Rob Crossan’s five train stations he liked “the least” (as well as London Euston), after visiting 400 of them around the UK.
Introducing his “best and worst” train station guide, Chris said: “Here’s my take on the finest and the most desperate places in Britain to wait for your delayed 1046 service where, if you’re lucky, ‘there will be no trolley service today’.”
@rebbeebee18 This was just the canniest thing 😊 looked like one friend was trying to teach the other how to play. Wholesome content! #darlington #northeastengland #durham #newcastleupontyne #geordie #uk #wholesome ♬ original sound - Newcastle lass
Why is Darlington train station among ‘least liked’ by travel expert?
Although Rob praised Darlington train station for its “epic” roof and “magnificent” platform clock, he did claim pigeons are “regularly seen wearing Gore-Tex” – have you seen any?
Rob wrote: “OK, so this is where the whole railway story begins, with George Stephenson’s Locomotion travelling between here and Stockton 200 years ago.
“And it’s hard not to be impressed by Darlington’s epic roof and magnificent platform clock.”
“But the winds that rage through the station mean it’s always so bitterly cold.”
He joked: “This is a station where pigeons are regularly seen wearing Gore-Tex, where piping hot coffee turns to ice in styrofoam cups.”
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However, one person on Tripadvisor left a review about Darlington train station which said: "I travel regularly on the train using Darlington station at least once a month. Always clean with plenty of refreshments available.
"Free charging in a warm room while waiting for the train. Friendly staff always ready to help direct you to the right platform."
Elsewhere in the North East, Sunderland train station was also among Rob’s “least liked” as he slammed its new structure for having “an interior like an abandoned Amazon warehouse, minus the goods”.
Do you agree with Rob’s views on Darlington and Sunderland train stations? Let us know in the comments.
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