diff --git a/src/saveload/station_sl.cpp b/src/saveload/station_sl.cpp
--- a/src/saveload/station_sl.cpp
+++ b/src/saveload/station_sl.cpp
@@ -62,8 +62,7 @@ void MoveBuoysToWaypoints()
 		TileIndex xy       = st->xy;
 		Town *town         = st->town;
 		StringID string_id = st->string_id;
-		char *name         = st->name;
-		st->name           = nullptr;
+		std::string name   = st->name;
 		Date build_date    = st->build_date;
 		/* TTDPatch could use "buoys with rail station" for rail waypoints */
 		bool train         = st->train_station.tile != INVALID_TILE;
@@ -176,7 +175,7 @@ static const SaveLoad _old_station_desc[
 	SLE_CONDNULL(1, SL_MIN_VERSION, SLV_4),  ///< alpha_order
 
 	    SLE_VAR(Station, string_id,                  SLE_STRINGID),
-	SLE_CONDSTR(Station, name,                       SLE_STR | SLF_ALLOW_CONTROL, 0, SLV_84, SL_MAX_VERSION),
+	SLE_CONDSSTR(Station, name,                      SLE_STR | SLF_ALLOW_CONTROL, SLV_84, SL_MAX_VERSION),
 	SLE_CONDVAR(Station, indtype,                    SLE_UINT8,                 SLV_103, SL_MAX_VERSION),
 	SLE_CONDVAR(Station, had_vehicle_of_type,        SLE_FILE_U16 | SLE_VAR_U8,   SL_MIN_VERSION, SLV_122),
 	SLE_CONDVAR(Station, had_vehicle_of_type,        SLE_UINT8,                 SLV_122, SL_MAX_VERSION),
@@ -389,7 +388,7 @@ static const SaveLoad _base_station_desc
 	      SLE_VAR(BaseStation, xy,                     SLE_UINT32),
 	      SLE_REF(BaseStation, town,                   REF_TOWN),
 	      SLE_VAR(BaseStation, string_id,              SLE_STRINGID),
-	      SLE_STR(BaseStation, name,                   SLE_STR | SLF_ALLOW_CONTROL, 0),
+	     SLE_SSTR(BaseStation, name,                   SLE_STR | SLF_ALLOW_CONTROL),
 	      SLE_VAR(BaseStation, delete_ctr,             SLE_UINT8),
 	      SLE_VAR(BaseStation, owner,                  SLE_UINT8),
 	      SLE_VAR(BaseStation, facilities,             SLE_UINT8),