2. 6 and 12 car trains on the Hayes line?

[frankmoh]

I've seen at some stations on the Hayes line that by the platform cameras that there are panels denoting that it is where 2 car, 6 car and 12 car trains should stop. Despite this, I have never seen a train of this arrangement stop on the line at any point in my life. What would the 2 car trains serve on that line anyway? The closed branch to Addiscombe? 12 car trains also seem silly considering 10 car trains pretty much take up the whole platform of most stations on the line.

 

[30907]

Fairly certain the Mid-Kent platforms were lengthened for 12 cars along with the rest of the "Southeastern" suburban network.

While 2-car trains (466s) are no longer permitted solo in passenger service, that's relatively recent and the custom has been to cater for every permutation.

 

[yorkie]

I've seen at some stations on the Hayes line that by the platform cameras that there are panels denoting that it is where 2 car, 6 car and 12 car trains should stop. Despite this, I have never seen a train of this arrangement stop on the line at any point in my life. What would the 2 car trains serve on that line anyway? The closed branch to Addiscombe? 12 car trains also seem silly considering 10 car trains pretty much take up the whole platform of most stations on the line.

12 car trains were announced in 2021:

Southeastern Timetable Change - 12th September

https://newsroom.southeasternrailway.co.uk/news/more-trains-back-in-southeasterns-timetable-from-12-september Southeastern is introducing a new timetable with more frequent services and longer trains on many routes from 12 September. The changes will see the frequency of trains increased on...

www.railforums.co.uk

• The 07:00, 07:30 and 08:00 Hayes-London Charing Cross services will start 2 minutes earlier. These trains will be formed of 12 carriages.

 

[NSE]

Six coaches would easily be done with a 465 and a 466. I’m sure that’s been done before. Even if they’re not booked for it, I’m sure a 10 coach 465/465/466 formation has had a 465 fail and run short formed as a six at one point in history.

 

[PGAT]

Six coaches would easily be done with a 465 and a 466. I’m sure that’s been done before. Even if they’re not booked for it, I’m sure a 10 coach 465/465/466 formation has had a 465 fail and run short formed as a six at one point in history.

6 car formations are quite common out of Victoria usually to Gillingham or Gravesend

 

[NSE]

6 car formations are quite common out of Victoria usually to Gillingham or Gravesend

Across the SE network, yes, I was referring to the OP’s query about the Hayes line in particular.

 

[frankmoh]

Fairly certain the Mid-Kent platforms were lengthened for 12 cars along with the rest of the "Southeastern" suburban network.

While 2-car trains (466s) are no longer permitted solo in passenger service, that's relatively recent and the custom has been to cater for every permutation.

Can't fit an accessible carriage if it's half the train! I've always noticed that the 466s are always dirtier than the 465s they are now coupled to, both inside and out. I guess SE doesn't really care about them anymore since they didn't want to run them like that in the first place.