Barbican station (National Rail)

[TurboFintan]

Looking at the national timetable (Dec 2007) when the Moorgate branch or Widened lines was in operation, I noticed a peculiarity: all passenger trains towards Moorgate called at Barbican station but this was not the case for the opposite direction as according to the timetable, first stop for ex-Moorgate trains was Farringdon. I assume it was like this until closure in 2009, so why was this the case and when did northbound trains cease calling there?

 

[transmanche]

It was because of a short platform at Barbican, IIRC.

 

[swt_passenger]

It was because of a short platform at Barbican, IIRC.

Short and also relatively narrow? Probably concerned there just wasn’t enough waiting space at all. Weren’t the access stairs fairly small as well?

 

[PeterC]

My 1989 timetable shows northbound trains calling at Barbican.

 

[transmanche]

Short and also relatively narrow? Probably concerned there just wasn’t enough waiting space at all.

I think they were narrow too.

This post on District Dave's forum quoting a 1987 timetable booklet says:

Barbican Station short platforms
On trains going towards Moorgate use only the front 7 coaches
On trains going from Moorgate use only the front 4 coaches

 

[TurboFintan]

I think they were narrow too.

This post on District Dave's forum quoting a 1987 timetable booklet says:

Thanks for the link. Looking at the images online, the northbound platform does look significantly smaller than the southbound.

 

[Dr Hoo]

I worked on the start of the original Midland Suburban Electrification (MSE) project (later more commonly known as 'Bed-Pan') in the late 1970s. This originally took most of the suburban service into Moorgate until Thameslink came along. We always knew that the platform at Barbican was going to be too short for 2x4-car Class 317s and could not feasibly be extended.
Restricted door opening was always in the plan. Given that the units had corridors and Barbican was not a particularly busy station (with no significant interchange potential) it seemed to be bearable.

 

[bionic]

Used to see 8 car 319s at Barbican on the up with a coach out the back unless I'm very much mistaken. Right up until closure. Don't think 319s had end door cut out so presumably they just trusted people in the rear coach not to be silly?

 

[30907]

Used to see 8 car 319s at Barbican on the up with a coach out the back unless I'm very much mistaken. Right up until closure. Don't think 319s had end door cut out so presumably they just trusted people in the rear coach not to be silly?

ISTR Barbican was pick up only?

 

[Journeyman]

Short and also relatively narrow? Probably concerned there just wasn’t enough waiting space at all. Weren’t the access stairs fairly small as well?

That's it. The access was particularly constrained and the platform was VERY narrow - it wouldn't take much of a crowd to make it unsafe, and as usage went through the roof from the late eighties onwards, it must have made people panic.

 

[swt_passenger]

That's it. The access was particularly constrained and the platform was VERY narrow - it wouldn't take much of a crowd to make it unsafe, and as usage went through the roof from the late eighties onwards, it must have made people panic.

I wonder if trains were also departing Moorgate completely full, because people who had a choice would probably try and get on there?