Trivia - Platforms 3c and 4c Preston!! Made me wonder...

Howardh · 25 May 2019

a. Never knew they existed - though "c" was further down than "a" and "b"
b. Used for the first time ever for the pacer to Ormskirk, the platform isn't part of 3 at all but lies hidden between 3 and 4 at the southern end, one heck of a walk from the ticket office, a bit like platform 2 at Bolton but much further away.
Therefore -
What is the longest distance between the ticket office and start of a platform?

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Cletus · 25 May 2019

There’s a couple of distant platforms at Marylebone that will probably be in the top 5.

Glenn1969 · 25 May 2019

Platform 2c at Sheffield must be a contender. It's also a fair walk to Platform 2 at Huddersfield

61653 HTAFC · 26 May 2019

Glenn1969 said:
Platform 2c at Sheffield must be a contender. It's also a fair walk to Platform 2 at Huddersfield

2 at Huddersfield is nothing compared to many others.

The St Alban's Abbey branch platform at Watford Junction is a bit of a trek isn't it? Also the Looe branch platform at Liskeard.

LNW-GW Joint · 26 May 2019

Platform 1A at Paddington used to be a mysterious place.
Beyond the end of the main station, after the line started curving southwards, almost as far out as Royal Oak LU station.
I think it was normally a parcels bay platform, pressed into passenger use at peak times.
Much further to reach than to interchange between the two separate stations in Wigan, for instance!
I think it must have been eliminated in the 1990s remodelling.

Howardh · 26 May 2019

Extensive research (OK, Google Earth...) shows the distance to the start of the platform a smidge under 250m or .15 of a mile!

route101 · 26 May 2019

Glasgow Central old 11 a . Out over the Clyde

Ianno87 · 26 May 2019

Platform 13/14 at Piccadilly are a good example too.

Bolton Platform 2

Platforms 7/8 at Cambridge feel like a fair treck as well!

73001 · 26 May 2019

Platform 5 at Earlestown is a hefty trek from the ticket office at the far end of platform 1. Along platform 1, over the bridge, along platform 2, through a wood in the middle of the triangle, onto platform 4, along then over the bridge to platform 5.

Steamysandy · 26 May 2019

route101 said:
Glasgow Central old 11 a . Out over the Clyde

I've stood there watching trains many years aago!

Howardh · 26 May 2019

73001 said:
Platform 5 at Earlestown is a hefty trek from the ticket office at the far end of platform 1. Along platform 1, over the bridge, along platform 2, through a wood in the middle of the triangle, onto platform 4, along then over the bridge to platform 5.

Yes, that's around 250m; are the bridges wheelchair accessible?

Howardh · 26 May 2019

Ianno87 said:
Platform 13/14 at Piccadilly are a good example too.

Bolton Platform 2

Platforms 7/8 at Cambridge feel like a fair treck as well!

Bolton's 250m, which I found surprising but it's a walk over the bridge at first to get to the steps for 1/2/3, and the trains on 1/3 stop some distance away from the bottom of those steps, and 2 is even further away!

lxfe_mxtterz · 26 May 2019

From what I remember, Platforms 13/14 at London Paddington are quite far from the main concourse.

Although only having to disembark there just once, I vaguely remember the journey to the main concourse consisted of going up and over a bridge, then down a very long ramp and all the way to the end of one of the platforms, similar to Manchester Piccadilly.

adrock1976 · 26 May 2019

I would imagine Platform Zero at Doncaster is a fair hike as from what I remember the last time I passed through, it seems that a long footbridge connects it to the north end of the London bound island platform.

Ianno87 · 26 May 2019

Howardh said:
Bolton's 250m, which I found surprising but it's a walk over the bridge at first to get to the steps for 1/2/3, and the trains on 1/3 stop some distance away from the bottom of those steps, and 2 is even further away!

Quite a few people don't even realise there's a Platform 2 there at all!

KeithP · 26 May 2019

Platform 3 at Woking is a fair stroll.

Howardh · 26 May 2019

Ianno87 said:
Quite a few people don't even realise there's a Platform 2 there at all!

...and that's just the staff!!

Often wondered why this platform and Platform 5 at Oxford Rd couldn't be used as termini for a regular shuttle train between the two; just seems a natural fit!

Dr Hoo · 26 May 2019

Getting back to the OP, what is so special about ‘the ticket office’? So many stations and whole lines are effectively devoid of staffed ticket issuing facilities that some ‘platforms’ are dozens of miles away from the nearest ticket office.

Howardh · 26 May 2019

Dr Hoo said:
Getting back to the OP, what is so special about ‘the ticket office’? So many stations and whole lines are effectively devoid of staffed ticket issuing facilities that some ‘platforms’ are dozens of miles away from the nearest ticket office.

Nothing, it's just a bit of fun trivia.

vlad · 26 May 2019

Platform 2 at Crewe is quite a walk from the main entrance.

At least it's not used that often.

scrapy · 26 May 2019

Lincoln platforms at Retford are some distance.

PG · 26 May 2019

scrapy said:
Lincoln platforms at Retford are some distance.

Mention of Retford reminds me... I've recently disembarked at Retford low level and either I need my eyes checked as AFAIK there is a lift only for the Lincoln bound platform.
Anyone who can't manage the stairs would have to continue onto Worksop and doubleback unless I'm mistaken?

scrapy · 27 May 2019

PG said:
Mention of Retford reminds me... I've recently disembarked at Retford low level and either I need my eyes checked as AFAIK there is a lift only for the Lincoln bound platform.
Anyone who can't manage the stairs would have to continue onto Worksop and doubleback unless I'm mistaken?

Think there's a barrow crossing, there certainly used to be.

Bletchleyite · 28 May 2019

Howardh said:
Yes, that's around 250m; are the bridges wheelchair accessible?

I don't believe so.

73001 · 28 May 2019

Bletchleyite said:
I don't believe so.

x2, although looking on Google it appears that both the bridges between platforms 1 & 2 and 4 & 5 have been replaced by those with extended steps making it possible to cross with a pram but not a wheelchair. This has made the route longer but if I remember correctly the bridge between 4 & 5 was a very steep brick affair before - it's about 15 years since I called there though!

mirodo · 28 May 2019

Google Maps suggests it's around 260m from the ticket office at Burnley Manchester Road to platform 2 (through the car park, over the A682 road bridge and back down the very long ramp).

Howardh · 28 May 2019

mirodo said:
Google Maps suggests it's around 260m from the ticket office at Burnley Manchester Road to platform 2 (through the car park, over the A682 road bridge and back down the very long ramp).

Could be the winner, that!

BMIFlyer · 28 May 2019

Leeds ticket office to platform 17 is about 0.17 miles

Bevan Price · 28 May 2019

73001 said:
Platform 5 at Earlestown is a hefty trek from the ticket office at the far end of platform 1. Along platform 1, over the bridge, along platform 2, through a wood in the middle of the triangle, onto platform 4, along then over the bridge to platform 5.

Many years ago, Platform 5 (then known as Platform 6) used to have its own small ticket office...

Wtloild · 29 May 2019

Stoke platform 3?

Trivia - Platforms 3c and 4c Preston!! Made me wonder...

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