(Hence the reason I always got mum to pick me up when I came home late, or alternatively, got a train a few stops up and got the bus home.)

Oh yes. And there's nothing worse than asking someone to give you a lift from a creepy, unmanned station at night and having them be late. I'm always paranoid I'll be murdered in the two minutes I'm waiting, mentally going through that list of Ways To Use Keys As Lethal Weapons. :P