The largest town in Britain without a railway station is generally considered to be Gosport, Hampshire, with a population of around 70,000.
Why doesn’t Gosport have a railway station?
- It previously had a railway, but the line was closed in 1953 to passenger services.
- The town is located on a peninsula, making railway expansion difficult.
- Nearby Portsmouth and Fareham provide rail connections, with many residents commuting via bus or ferry.
Other large towns without a station include:
- Leigh, Greater Manchester (~50,000 residents) – lost its station in 1969.
- Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire (~75,000 residents) – relies on nearby Stoke-on-Trent.
- Ilkeston, Derbyshire (previously on the list but regained a station in 2017).
Many of these towns rely on bus services or nearby railway hubs for transport. 🚉