Stations in the UK with more platforms than they need

[johnnychips]

There is a thread currently about stations only having one platform when they really need two or more - and I don’t know how to link to that: I’m sure someone will oblige. But what about the converse? Are there any stations which have operational platforms they just don’t really need?

I can’t think of any offhand, though I’m sure anybody travelling in some European countries will have been astounded by how many platforms some apparently minor stations have compared to ours.

 

[MG11]

Oxenholme Lake District, Scunthorpe, Peterborough

 

[Condor7]

Oxenholme Lake District, Scunthorpe, Peterborough

I’m struggling to work out how Oxenholme has more platforms than it needs. It only has three and all are used regularly!

 

[trash80]

Stechford has a third platform but i believe the 3rd is no longer in use?

 

[whhistle]

Stechford has three because it's a diverging junction. The 3rd isn't officially a platform as far as I'm aware?

Nuneaton is one that has more than it needs.

 

[trash80]

Stechford has 3 platforms according to the NR station map anyway. I've never seen platform 3 used TBH.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Most seaside terminals (Llandudno, Skegness, Blackpool North - even after remodelling there will still be 6).

 

[Trainfan344]

Oxenholme Lake District, Scunthorpe, Peterborough

Peterborough?! It needs all the platforms it has at the moment, they had to build 2 more...

 

[A Challenge]

Mudchute DLR doesn't need P3

 

[Taunton]

London Waterloo. Which has sat with five unused platforms for 10 years now.

 

[jopsuk]

London Waterloo. Which has sat with five unused platforms for 10 years now.

Eh? Much of that time has involved planning and then construction works to convert them to be suitable for use for domestic services as the configuration and track layout were unsuitable but the existing platforms were creaking at the seams.

If Stirling had better siding facilities it wouldn't need the north end bays, they're not used in passenger service

 

[Ianno87]

Oxenholme Lake District, Scunthorpe, Peterborough

Hasn't Scunthorpe got two platforms? In for one direction, the other for the other. How decadent.

(I agree with others, those are 3 pretty bizarre choices)

 

[mrcheek]

Taunton has a couple of bays, and one side of an island that are barely used.

although the spare island one is useful when a GWR London service and XC service arrive close together

Glentrothes with Thornton has one platform thats only used once or twice a day

Does Rugby need all those platforms?

Blackpool only needs 2.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

Blackpool only needs 2.

Blackpool South could do with two

 

[noddingdonkey]

Platform 2 at Mirfield, although the line going through it is in constant use. Platform 2 at Marsden is currently redundant until the TPE skip-stop arrangement comes into force

 

[BigCj34]

Ulverston technically has three.

 

[backontrack]

Platform 7 at Inverness.

 

[The Planner]

Does Rugby need all those platforms?

I'm sure we did a thread like this a while back. Rugby arguably doesn't need platform 3 as the Rugby starter doesn't exist anymore, you wouldn't want rid of any others though.

 

[AlterEgo]

Polesworth!

 

[Taunton]

Eh? Much of that time has involved planning and then construction works to convert them to be suitable for use for domestic services as the configuration and track layout were unsuitable but the existing platforms were creaking at the seams.

What, 10 years?

 

[JohnRegular]

Fareham P2 isn't often used, only when the Cardiff-Pompey gets turned short, when trains can't run down to Portsmouth, or one or two late night working.

 

[dk1]

Peterborough?! It needs all the platforms it has at the moment, they had to build 2 more...

That one completely through me too. Peterborough can be desperate for platforms at times.

 

[DanTrain]

Polesworth!

Pilning I mean one isn't even accessible!

 

[swt_passenger]

Fareham P2 isn't often used, only when the Cardiff-Pompey gets turned short, when trains can't run down to Portsmouth, or one or two late night working.

You forgot the frequent use by SN when the Victoria or Brightons arrive late. It would be much more useful if accessible at the down end...

 

[Stopper]

Stirling has a lot of platforms just used for stabling units, however in terms of passenger trains it has far too many. It only really needs 2, 3, 6 & 7. I’ve hardly ever seen 8 used and 9 isn’t necessary given that 6 is bi-directional. I’ve barely seen 10 used since the Alloa link was reopened and I’m sure 4&5 aren’t open to passengers.

Springburn platform 4 is never used, and 3 is barely used now. I think that’ll change soon though.

 

[MarkyT]

What, 10 years?

There was an ownership issue at Waterloo as well. The old International terminal wasn't NRs property to waltz into and start work on. The whole process to get to a point where design and construction could start was painfully slow however but that can only be blamed on successive governments' inertia. There was a 'study' after Eurostar left in which all high level options were looked at, even complete closure and conversion to a shopping centre. Although slow to materialise, I am sure we can agree the final outcome has been the right one.

 

[LC2]

Platform 1 at Battersea Park is a little superfluous.

 

[route:oxford]

Stirling has a lot of platforms just used for stabling units, however in terms of passenger trains it has far too many. It only really needs 2, 3, 6 & 7. I’ve hardly ever seen 8 used and 9 isn’t necessary given that 6 is bi-directional. I’ve barely seen 10 used since the Alloa link was reopened and I’m sure 4&5 aren’t open to passengers.

Aren't 7 & 8 used for the first trains of the day. Platform 10 - isn't that one of the designated Royal Train stabling points?

Platform 9 is awkward as it is difficult to access from the rest of the station as it has no lift access. Although I do recall that when there are problems with the lifts, it can be used for disabled access via Riverside. In the olden days when I used to commute to Glasgow, the service would occasionally use Platform 9 in the morning to accommodate a wheelchair user. From memory there is an underground passageway between the platforms so technically a lift could be installed between the central platforms and remote.

It's years since I've been on a service from Platform 4/5. If I'd done a night shift in Stirling, the units stabled there would often form the first Northbound service to Bridge of Allan & Dunblane.

It would take some engineering works, but platform 4/5 could potentially be used as terminus platforms for a Alloa shuttle.

 

[takno]

Platform 1 at Battersea Park is a little superfluous.

If you're going to count platforms with no track and no public access this list could get very long!

It's years since I've been on a service from Platform 4/5. If I'd done a night shift in Stirling, the units stabled there would often form the first Northbound service to Bridge of Allan & Dunblane.

It would take some engineering works, but platform 4/5 could potentially be used as terminus platforms for a Alloa shuttle.

platforms 4 and 5 share a single shunt signal, so you couldn't really use them for passenger services. If you had an Alloa shuttle in platform 6 and needed a train to pass northbound it would likely be more useful to make platform 9 bi-directional than to add in a route from the bays to the Alloa line.

 

[Ianno87]

Blackpool South could do with two

Again, a second platform at the end of a long single track branch serves no benefit for capacity.

You need a loop somewhere around Lytham to permit going half-hourly (which might stimulate more 'local' demand than the present hourly service).