Facts About UK Train Stations

Train stations are where so many journeys begin and end – whether it’s the daily commute or your latest holiday adventure. They’re such an integral part of our daily lives, and maybe that is why most of us don’t stop to consider the history behind train stations. How old is it? How busy is it? How far can it take me? To inject a little intrigue into your journey, here are some facts about UK train stations that you may not know. 

Longest train journey in the UK

For many years, CrossCountry has proudly held the title of the longest single train journey in the UK. Crossing Scotland and England, the Edinburgh to Penzance route operated by CrossCountry transports passengers from the home of the highlands to the land of the pirates with one direct service, covering more than six-hundred miles. 

First train station in the UK

Research by the Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway shows that the first railway station in the UK was Heighington and Aycliffe, proven to have been in use since 1827 (almost 200 years!). This station was part of the historic Stockton & Darlington Railway, the first railway in the UK designed to carry both passengers and freight. 

Unlike more modern stations with extensive infrastructure, early stops like Heighington were simpler but still provided a coordinated place for passengers to begin and end their journeys, setting the foundation for the railway stations we know today. The station fell into disrepair around the 1970s and though there have been efforts to bring it back to its former glory over the years, the station building is still not in use. 

Longest train platform

With a platform extending across 620m, the longest train platform in the UK is at Colchester station. One caveat to this record is that it is broken into two distinct sections, so if you’re eager to see the longest unbroken train platform you can find a 602m platform at Gloucester station. 

Oldest working train station

Heighington and Aycliffe railway station is believed to be the world's first passenger station, with Edge Hill following closely behind. However, both have since been decommissioned. Fortunately, Broad Green has remained in continuous use since 1830, making it the oldest train station in the UK - though little remains of its original buildings today. 

Longest train station name

At a whopping 58 letters long, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch is officially the longest train station name in the UK. In fact, it’s the longest place name in all of Europe, and only second in the world – thanks to an 85-letter town name in New Zealand. This crazy name didn’t come about by chance – the town name was contrived in 1869 as a publicity stunt to give the station the longest name in Britain. Suffice to say, the record remains. 

Busiest train station in the UK

As of 2025, London Liverpool Street is currently the busiest station in the UK, with an average of 260,000 people crossing its doors each day. It acts as an important gateway for commuters travelling from Essex, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and East Anglia into Central London. 

The Elizabeth Line alone brings thousands of passengers in daily, which is one of the reasons that London Liverpool Street has recently overtaken London Waterloo as the busiest UK train station. 

Smallest train station in the UK

At just 15m long, Beauly station is the smallest train station in the UK – that’s smaller than a single carriage of any train passing through! As a result, only one train door opens when it arrives. There is an announcement to passengers to ensure that anybody hoping to alight at Beauly is standing in the right place. 

Biggest train station in the UK

Though the UK has many large train stations sending passengers to and from exciting places, London Waterloo holds the accolade of being the biggest train station in the UK, with twenty-four platforms in operation. Edinburgh Waverley is the biggest station outside of London with twenty platforms. 

Highest train station 

Situated on the Corrour Estate along the West Highland Line is Corrour railway station, the highest mainline train station in the UK. It has been immortalised in cinema with an appearance in the film, Trainspotting, but make sure you take the train rather than walk – it is a twenty-mile hike to reach this station on foot. 

If you’re planning to see the stations behind the stats for yourself, don’t forget to book Advance rail tickets via our website or the CrossCountry app. While we don’t serve every station mentioned, you can still check scheduled train times to find the best journey for you. If you need more information, you can contact us here.