Are you including through lines without a platform adjacent to other lines which aren't in the centre? For example if I remember correctly Rugby has a southbound one which is sometimes used by Avanti to allow a following service to overtake.
XC used to run a single service in each direction via Weston-super-Mare on Saturdays, don't know if they still do. No doubt because Weston is traditionally a major seaside destination for Birmingham.
No. And in any event, isn't the only line through Rugby station that doesn't run alongside an adjacent platform, the (Northbound) Down Fast line, between platforms 1 and 2?
Decent call that, the Styal line was essentially originally built in the late 1900's as a means for express trains to avoid running through Stockport. The stations on the Styal line, now quite busy, were a bit of an afterthought.
Moot point, given that the main line (via Weedon) was built and operational several decades before the line to / the loop via Northampton (Castle) station was open.
At Weston super-mare too the avoiding line is the original route, and the same may be true of Lewisham.
When they did the Crewe resignalling in the 1980's I travelled from Lancaster to Euston. We went via the Independent lines. Why can't they be used now?
What number of passenger services along the ECML completely avoid Darlington station?
Wasn't their removal partly a result of damage by a runaway train?
On 1 May 1984, I now read. Nearly 40 years ago, wow!
There’s 8 in number Lumo stay on the through lines, and currently only 1 x LNER but I think more of them skipped Darlington in the pre Covid timetable
On a similar note, Darlington?
Virtually every southbound Lumo service avoids Darlington station, however most northbound services are routed through the northbound platform (platform 4) to allow trains to enter and exit the southbound platform (platform 1). Some northbound services do get routed on the main line avoiding the station but not many.
40 years ago, no one signs them and I don't believe they are passed for passenger use currently. If they were available do you not think there would be trains over them?
If Darlington counts, so presumably does Dunbar.
Just beat me to it, Dunbar would have been an obvious one until fairly recently but now there is a platform on what used to be the down avoiding line and as a result the up 'avoiding' line is now situated between the platforms albeit remote from the longstanding up/reversible platform.
Presumably when diverted via ECML the Caley sleepers would normally stick to the main line by passing the platforms at Darlington.
Fails the “major” part, though.
There is still a service using the Rhubarb curve:
Certainly not the biggest of stations, but probably busier than Frome, which was mentioned upthread. Debatable though as to whether the ECML is an "avoiding line", or whether the (Southbound) 'Up Berwick' line merely runs through the centre of Dunbar station, albeit not adjacent to any platform face.
That's as may be, but it's not a current service, is it?
Well spotted!There is still a service using the Rhubarb curve:
Realtime Trains | 2R23 1559 Filton Abbey Wood to Bath Spa | 30/05/2022
Real-time train running information for 2R23 1559 departure from Filton Abbey Wood to Bath Spa on 30/05/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.www.realtimetrains.co.uk
Inverness is not an example here. Whilst there is an avoiding line ‘Rose Street Curve’, it is not used by any passenger service trains to avoid Inverness altogether.
