Perth is a good shout - The station could probably survive with two fewer platforms, although I think these platforms see stabling overnight.Perth
Largs is always an odd one as platform 1 I believe hasn't been used in quite a few years but has been fully updated and maintained
3 times currently.Isn't platform 1 needed once or twice a day?
Perhaps Hooton, P1 gets used for stabling at night and occasional turnbacks, but P0 is used once every few years!The bay platforms at Rock Ferry are used for stabling trains overnight.
As does MargateSeaside terminal stations seem to be somewhat known for this. Skegness springs to mind
The bay platforms which were the originally the terminal platforms for the Mersey Railway are used for stabling at quiet times so I suppose are used. Most BLS railtours including this year's Batteries Not Included usually stop have a stop in the bay. Hooton has the curious terminal platform 1 which has also been used occasionally for a rail tour and of course the unnumbered platform which could be used to turn around loco hauled excursions as the run round lies beyond the bridge.Rock Ferry
Actually saw a train stabled in 1 during the day about 2 weeks ago.Perhaps Hooton, P1 gets used for stabling at night and occasional turnbacks, but P0 is used once every few years!
Shawford? Although the third platform is useful for adhoc useage when they need to get a SWR stopper out the way of a late running Cross Country or Weymouth rrain
No i really meant i think it does need it - its also by the depot so you are going to need spare capacity should a train breakdown in the station to shunt another one in and once a month they also have a network rail train that spends all day in platform 2. Seems quite sensible foresight to meDid you mean to say 'doesn't need'?
Not sure what's still operational at Skeggy.
Platform 2 and 7 I'm pretty sure have been out of use for years. Not sure about 3/4/5/6 though.
Most of the time it could manage with just one platform - LO effectively operate out of one platform at Euston. With a 15 minute frequency and 12 minute turnarounds you don't really need more than that. The only issue is stabling - many of the stations suggested here have platforms used overnight or at weekends etc. for stabling.Could Watford Junction manage with 2 or 3 platforms for the Overground services instead of 4, whilst Watford Met has 2 for the same (or higher during peak times) frequency?
It could certainly make do with fewer, though having 6 platforms does afford a greater level of flexibility.Id say Blackpool North needs all 6 platforms - it has 4 departures an hour 5 with Avanti every couple of hours over a 2 track railway to preston -
Nuneaton probably doesn't strictly need platforms on the Fast Lines, but as the island platforms are in place to serve the Slow Lines, there's no point not having Fast Line faces to those islands. The Coventry 'bay' and Leicester platforms are all needed and it's a reasonably rare example of a station where different lines are fully segregated in this manner.Nuneaton. Used to have five platforms but that was increased to seven when they binned the through Coventry to Nottingham service.
The bays are used for stabling.Rock Ferry
Bridlington, yes that could probably make do with fewer platforms, though having the ability to pass trains as well as recessing them can be useful at time.Bridlington
Cleethorpes
Perth
Southport
Huddersfield certainly could do with more platforms - very little flexibility there. It will be better after TRU.Huddersfield doesn't need platform 5 for the foreseeable...
There's also the fast line platforms at Esher and Walton on Thames, although they're blocked off and disused so probably don't count.
Stockport can, at times, be a limiting factor on capacity in and out of Piccadilly. It could certainly do with an additional northbound platformI would argue stockport.
It has 6 platforms total, 3 southbound through (0,1 and 2), 2 northbound through (3 and 4) and 1 north facing bay (3A).
The extra southbound platform is (or at least was pre-covid) sometimes used for overtaking moves, but It's utility is somewhat limited by the fact that access from the fast lines to platform 1 requires running over some very tight pointwork and by the fact there is no corresponding extra northbound platform.
The bay sees one passenger service a week. At least pre-covid it also saw some late night empty coaching stock reversals but I suspect those could be handled in platform 1 if 3A wasn't available. Alternatively the junction could be tweaked to let trains from manchester run into the carriage maintinance depot without the current double reversal.
Earlier in the year there were rumours that the feasibility of bringing the unused platforms on the south side of the station back into use was being undertaken. At certain times of the day it is quite busy, the Scarborough - Sheffield services pass at Hull and often exchange staff, you have stoppers to York and Doncaster, Hull - Brid shuttle during the summer months, TPE (hourly) and Hull Trains (every 2hr or so) services, as well as 1 LNER service a day and a few Northern services to Halifax.Hull Paragon
If you count normal service trains then yes, but station is used for stabling at night, and there are regular (Thursdays last year) Summer steam hauled services as well as the other occasional excursions.Scarborough
Now has just the one bay platform, you could manage without it but any delays would quickly escalate as there would then be nowhere to park an out of service train.Bridlington
Waterloo does have an abundance, but it is (was) the busiest station on the network at nearly 100mil passengers, I’d say both of them are justified for the service frequency they provide. Victoria (SN side) runs on half the number of platforms that Waterloo has, for a very intensive service.After Covid could Waterloo and Victoria be added onto the too many platforms list?
For its services levels, Perth could make do with 5 at a push but any less would give you problems given the geography of the station and what ScotRail need from it.Perth is a good shout - The station could probably survive with two fewer platforms, although I think these platforms see stabling overnight.
Aberdeen probably has a platform or two more than required too.
Why Cromer? Trains are booked to pass there twice weekday mornings. Both platforms are also used together for the NNR dining train to operate & during Cromer Carnival and through autumn when the RHTT traverses the line.I’d very much echo these thoughts - Great Yarmouth and Cromer to add to the seaside list.
Perth is absolutely rammed on the nightshift with stabled units and fuelling. Every platform is full from about 23.45.Perth is a good shout - The station could probably survive with two fewer platforms, although I think these platforms see stabling overnight.
Aberdeen probably has a platform or two more than required too.
Hereford could probably survive without Platform 4 - I don’t think this sees any booked departures currently but maybe it does see some during engineering works south of Hereford?
Cromer often needs both platforms in the autumn for the RHTT services and as slack in the event of disruption.I’d very much echo these thoughts - Great Yarmouth and Cromer to add to the seaside list.
Good point, well presented.Why Cromer? Trains are booked to pass there twice weekday mornings. Both platforms are also used together for the NNR dining train to operate & during Cromer Carnival and through autumn when the RHTT traverses the line
Thank you. I have my moments rare as they are lol.Good point, well presented.
Interesting that. Something like 31 scheduled departures from Southport today (towards Wigan Wallgate).Southport is probably one of the rare examples where there really is an excessive number of platforms, certainly on the non-electrified side of the station. Even with excursion trains and 2tph Northern services you could make do with just 2 platforms.
Unfortunately AIUI the signalling is old and the junctions in and out of the station are rather space-constrained.Stockport can, at times, be a limiting factor on capacity in and out of Piccadilly. It could certainly do with an additional northbound platform
Understatement and a half! It's an outpost of 19th Century Absolute Block amongst a sea of TCB controlled (though partly using axle counters) signalling.Unfortunately AIUI the signalling is old and the junctions in and out of the station are rather space-constrained.