Stations that should have their platforms renumbered

Intercity 225 · 1 Jun 2019

Hi,

Sheffield platform 2c has always confused me with it’s numbering, it’s undoubtedly a platform in its own right and in my view should be called platform 3 with the existing platform 3 being renamed platform 4 and so on. I’d be willing to bet that 2c’s numbering has caused customer confusion on many occasions, particularly amongst the travelling public who seldom use the railway.

Sheffield station layout for those unaware:

This leads me to three questions:

Why is Sheffield platform 2c numbered as such?
What would the barriers be to renumbering Sheffield’s platforms to something more customer friendly?
Are there any other stations across the network that suffer from similar issues or could do with being renumbered for other reasons?

Many Thanks

RailUK Forums

swt_passenger · 1 Jun 2019

The usual problem is that the platform numbers are hard-wired into the local signalling system, eg the theatre box indicators on signal posts, and all the obvious controls in the signal centre.

So when an extra platform is added it is usually much cheaper to just add the new “stuff” using suffix letters, rather than renumber on average half a station.

This is also why there are various platform zeros around the country...

yorkie · 1 Jun 2019

1) for cost reasons
2) cost
3) yes! If you want people to list examples of these, please edit your thread title and prefix it with the word 'Trivia', thanks

hexagon789 · 1 Jun 2019

Intercity 225 said:
Are there any other stations across the network that suffer from similar issues or could do with being renumbered for other reasons?

Not sure of it still applies but Oban's two platforms are/were numbered 3 and 4. Stirling no longer has a platform 1, Aberdeen's platforms are numbered 3-7.

Not perhaps confusing as with some station layouts but could do with a renumbering to simplify matters so the numbers run from 1 up.

Ken H · 1 Jun 2019

Why is Carlisle the wrong way round? Most stations have 1 nearest the barrier, but Carlisle its the one furthest away.

And why do some 2 platform stations have platform numbers and others dont?

And why does betws-y-coed have a platform 1 .... and nothing else?

Surreytraveller · 1 Jun 2019

Renumbering platforms would also need drivers to be briefed, otherwise they'd get signalled into platform 2, but wonder why they're going into what they believe is platform 3!
Also regular passengers would also be confused, as they would end up on wrong platforms.
And its also intrigued me some stations have their platforms numbered the wrong way round - Haywards Heath being another example And Selhurst

reddragon · 1 Jun 2019

Stratford wins on this one easily!!

ashkeba · 1 Jun 2019

King's Cross platform zero should die. Not only a silly number but a dark grotty platform that fills with fumes if a diesel is in 1 and the wind is unkind.

I'm sure Cambridge's layout made sense to someone once but it's been butchered with shortenings and the long platform isn't split into A and B but 1 and 4!

King's Lynn might be saving up for a platform zero too but I think layouts would have to change to ease acres so hopefully they'd renumber.

47271 · 1 Jun 2019

Waverley was partially renumbered over ten years ago.

http://www.scot-rail.co.uk/page/Edinburgh+Waverley+New+Platform+Numbers

Which has set it up nicely for more recent expansion, in particular the creation of P5 & P6.

Talking of P5 & P6, reading that old scot-rail webpage from 2007 is a bit of a way back machine. 'GNER Executive Car Park' is like something out of the 1980s now - and is about half way along a London train waiting to leave in the current layout!

Haymarket has a bay P0 added a bit more recently, so you could argue that this needs to be changed, but does it really matter?

thenorthern · 1 Jun 2019

Stafford as it doesn't have a platform 2 so it is numbered 1, 3-6.

Stirling also has an odd layout if I remember the highest platform number is platform 9 although there is no Platform 1 or 7.

Cherry_Picker · 1 Jun 2019

Surreytraveller said:
Renumbering platforms would also need drivers to be briefed, otherwise they'd get signalled into platform 2, but wonder why they're going into what they believe is platform 3!
Also regular passengers would also be confused, as they would end up on wrong platforms.

That's not always the case, when the platforms were renumbered at Birmingham Moor Street following the reopening of the bays (there was a brief period where the order was 4-3-1-2) it was done quietly and seemingly without a lot of people even noticing. Luckily there the through platform are labelled as up and down rather than by numbers in the signalling system which probably made it easier to implement.

Kite159 · 1 Jun 2019

thenorthern said:
Stafford as it doesn't have a platform 2 so it is numbered 1, 3-6.

Stirling also has an odd layout if I remember the highest platform number is platform 9 although there is no Platform 1 or 7.

Stirling has a platform 10, the bay platform opposite platform 9. Also platform 7 is one of the south facing bays. Platform 1 is missing and platforms 4 & 5 are not numbered and can only be used by arriving trains from the north (ECS only for departures due to signalling)

hexagon789 · 1 Jun 2019

Kite159 said:
Stirling has a platform 10, the bay platform opposite platform 9. Also platform 7 is one of the south facing bays. Platform 1 is missing and platforms 4 & 5 are not numbered and can only be used by arriving trains from the north (ECS only for departures due to signalling)

1 is now the car park

ANDREW_D_WEBB · 1 Jun 2019

West Ealing only has platforms 3-5.

Hanwell has platforms 1-3, platform 1 being on the same up main. Given the very large gap in height between train and platform I doubt platform 1 can be used

benbristow · 1 Jun 2019

Doncaster could probably do with being re-numbered. They've recently built a new platform there and it's going under the number 0. I think that's a good a reason as any...

Rail Ranger · 1 Jun 2019

Blackburn is a strange one where the bay is numbered out of sequence. From memory, the platforms are numbered (from the station entrance) 1, 3, 2, 4.

Highlandspring · 1 Jun 2019

Kite159 said:
Stirling has a platform 10, the bay platform opposite platform 9. Also platform 7 is one of the south facing bays. Platform 1 is missing and platforms 4 & 5 are not numbered and can only be used by arriving trains from the north (ECS only for departures due to signalling)

Passenger trains are not allowed to arrive or depart from 4 & 5 at Stirling due to the signalling being unsuitable (hand points and shunt class routes).

southernyoshi · 1 Jun 2019

Bristol. Temple. Meads. Numbered to 15, but it’s only got 9 platforms even if you count the unused platform 2. Not to mention the disappearing number 14. I’m sure the numbering system is only there to make GWR think it’s bigger than it is

martinsh · 2 Jun 2019

Wolverhampton. Current layout is

5 - 6 (bays)
1
2
3
4

Given that 4 is a fairly recent addition, it must have been renumbered at that time into this daft sequence

centraltrains · 2 Jun 2019

Small Heath only has 3 & 4, 1 & 2 abandoned. Would make more sense to renumber the active ones 1 and 2...

reddragon · 2 Jun 2019

Stratford Station - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratford_station#Station_layout

The high-level platforms from north to south: -

Platforms 1 (was 14) and 2 (was 13) are used by the London Overground's North London Line.
Platforms 12 and 11 are used for the limited Greater Anglia services to Bishop's Stortford that start from Stratford.
Platform 10A (was 10), 10 (was 9) and 9 are used by Greater Anglia services on the main line out of Liverpool Street towards Norwich and intermediate stations and branch lines.
Platform 8 is used by TfL Rail east bound
Platform 7 is disused.
Platform 6 are used by the London Underground Central line eastbound. Platform 6 is an island platform providing cross-platform interchange with the TfL Rail operating from platform 8.
Platform 5 is used by TfL Rail west bound.
Platform 4 is disused.
Platforms 3 is used by the London Underground Central line westbound. Platform 3 is an island platform providing cross-platform interchange with the TfL Rail operating from platform 5. Platform 3A has a direct step-free connection at mezzanine level on the opposite side of the train.
Platforms 4A and 4B (signposted as "platform 4") are used by the DLR for services to Canary Wharf, Greenwich and Lewisham. They are formed of an island platform.

Then the Low-level platforms: -

Platforms 13 to 15 serve the Jubilee line.
Platforms 16 and 17 (previously platforms 1 and 2 until 2009) are now used by DLR services.

Then of course there is the International station within the same complex with its 2 DLR and 4 high speed platforms and High Street DLR stations 2 platforms close by.

Stratford%20SME%20map%20-%20Lower%20Level.jpg

XC victim · 2 Jun 2019

Anywhere with a platform 0

DanTrain · 2 Jun 2019

I challenge anyone to explain to me how the platforming is supposed to work at Dijon gare in France. Platforms are lettered A to J, make sense right. Execpt as far as I can tell there isn't a platform B, but there is a platform 37, as shown in this wonderful sign https://bit.ly/2wySKSu :lol:

Parallel · 2 Jun 2019

Cardiff Central could do with being renumbered. It won’t happen due to the station being listed but really should be 1-9 (if the plans to have Platform 5 reinstalled go ahead). I’d also probably have the first island platform (the current 1 and 2) remembered to 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B to match that of 3A, 3B etc.

ANDREW_D_WEBB · 2 Jun 2019

Paddington lost it platform 13 in recent years, but retains 14-17

Ianno87 · 2 Jun 2019

southernyoshi said:
Bristol. Temple. Meads. Numbered to 15, but it’s only got 9 platforms even if you count the unused platform 2. Not to mention the disappearing number 14. I’m sure the numbering system is only there to make GWR think it’s bigger than it is

Like Huddersfield... numbered 1 to 8, skipping 3 and 7 along the way (which are no longer there)

Adsy125 · 2 Jun 2019

Salisbury has platforms 1-6 but 1 and 5 aren't used, leaving just platforms 2,3,4 and 6.

xotGD · 2 Jun 2019

Before renumbering, there was a period where the lowest numbered platform at Newcastle was Platform 7.

AndyB28 · 2 Jun 2019

47271 said:
Waverley was partially renumbered over ten years ago.

http://www.scot-rail.co.uk/page/Edinburgh+Waverley+New+Platform+Numbers

Which has set it up nicely for more recent expansion, in particular the creation of P5 & P6.

Talking of P5 & P6, reading that old scot-rail webpage from 2007 is a bit of a way back machine. 'GNER Executive Car Park' is like something out of the 1980s now - and is about half way along a London train waiting to leave in the current layout!

Haymarket has a bay P0 added a bit more recently, so you could argue that this needs to be changed, but does it really matter?

Is Haymarket P0 still in regular use? Was this not supposed to be a temporary platform for Fife Circle services when Waverley was undergoing some serious restructuring a number of years ago? Mind you, it's more years than I care to remember since I was last on those services so things may have changed!

eddp · 2 Jun 2019

DanTrain said:
I challenge anyone to explain to me how the platforming is supposed to work at Dijon gare in France. Platforms are lettered A to J, make sense right. Execpt as far as I can tell there isn't a platform B, but there is a platform 37, as shown in this wonderful sign https://bit.ly/2wySKSu

There's no platform B as the A to J refer to the lines rather than the platforms, and there are no platforms serving line B - there's a track plan available at https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gare_de_Dijon-Ville#/media/File:Gare_Dijon_Ville_schema_voies.svg. There also appears to be a track K without any platforms.

Platform 37 (and platform 3) are a mystery though - at some other French stations I've noticed that numbered "platforms" are used for bus services operated by the railway, but there's a train (actual train as far as I can make out) scheduled to arrive on platform 3 shortly...

Stations that should have their platforms renumbered

Member

RailUK Forums

Veteran Member

Forum Staff

Veteran Member

On Moderation

On Moderation

Established Member

Established Member

Established Member

Established Member

Established Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Member

Member

Member

Established Member

Member

Established Member

Member

Established Member

Member

Member

Established Member

Member

Veteran Member

Member

Established Member

Member

Member