Braintree Railway Station

Well, what can I say about the station I have been commuting from for 25 years? Disappointing pretty much covers it. Not much has changed in all those years apart from a small extension of the platform and a few more coaches which are already getting full up whichever train you get before 9am. They still only run roughly 1 train an hour and the ticket office never seems to be open when you need it. It doesn’t help that you can’t speak to anyone actually at the ticket office when you ring but that, unfortunately, goes for any ticket office now I believe. The toilets are a desperate measure when they are open and there’s not much to do nearby. If you are unlucky enough to have missed your train you have a long, cold wait in store. In recent years the area has been advertised as easily commutable to/​from London but I don’t consider 1 train an hour at a price of £3,500 a year to be easy travelling. Staff have not been particularly helpful over the years (I know they take a bit of flack at times but who doesn’t in their job?) One exception is a local chap who seems to have been working there from the year dot. Those who are not new to the area will know who I mean. Talk of a loop line to create 2 trains an hour and a shuttle between Braintree and Witham gave a glimmer of hope but has been dropped down to sheer expense. Not a bad station if you only use it occasionally but don’t get your hopes up if you’re looking to commute.