Different rail stations but sharing the same platform?

[Howardh]

Stumbled across this; it appears Manchester's Exchange and Victoria stations "shared" a very long platform (did any trains stop at one end ie. Victoria and then stop at the other Exchange??) which made me wonder if that was unique in the UK, or whether in the past (or even today) two distinctly different stations share a platform? Or, more likely, anything close to this?

Disused Stations: Station

On 1 January 1922 the LYR was absored into the LNWR and a year later the LNWR became part of the London Midland & Scottish Railway. In 1929 the LMS combined platform 3 at Manchester Exchange with platform 11 at Manchester Victoria to make a continuous platform of 2235 ft: this was the longest platform in Europe. Its benefit was to offer the LMS operational flexibility so that it could route the most appropriate trains into the more appropriate station.

 

[DelW]

I don't know if you'd count them, but some Liz Line stations have platforms with one end adjacent to one tube station and the other end adjacent to a different one. Farringdon/Barbican and Moorgate/Liverpool St are two examples. Of course tube stations are often closer together than main line ones are.

 

[Howardh]

I don't know if you'd count them, but some Liz Line stations have platforms with one end adjacent to one tube station and the other end adjacent to a different one. Farringdon/Barbican and Moorgate/Liverpool St are two examples. Of course tube stations are often closer together than main line ones are.

Hmmm, I'd like to see a map/diagram of those and where one station ends and the other begins! But in my example it was one solid platform covering two stations, and I reckon that must be unique. I suppose in the past it could have been possible to have a platform 15 at Piccadilly which could also be used by the adjacent, but definitely different, Mayfield station.

 

[Dr Hoo]

New Holland might be a candidate. The Town and Pier stations were sometimes treated as one and at other times as two. Although arrangements on the pier itself changed somewhat over time to address storm damage, new ferries and so on, it appears that the (narrow) 'roadway' for wheeled vehicles was actually along a 'platform' linking the two. This was on the west/upstream side of the pier. Most rail passengers boarded and alighted on the east/downstream side. Obviously there were also traffics like livestock that we don't necessarily think of these days.

I have actually used the pier by train and squeezed along it in a car from the ferry before it closed - replaced by the Humber Bridge - but don't really recall too much of the detail.

Hopefully someone else may be able to flesh this out a bit.

 

[Gloster]

New Holland might be a candidate. The Town and Pier stations were sometimes treated as one and at other times as two. Although arrangements on the pier itself changed somewhat over time to address storm damage, new ferries and so on, it appears that the (narrow) 'roadway' for wheeled vehicles was actually along a 'platform' linking the two. This was on the west/upstream side of the pier. Most rail passengers boarded and alighted on the east/downstream side. Obviously there were also traffics like livestock that we don't necessarily think of these days.

I have actually used the pier by train and squeezed along it in a car from the ferry before it closed - replaced by the Humber Bridge - but don't really too much of the detail.

Hopefully someone else may be able to flesh this out a bit.

When I used the ferry shortly before closure I walked along the platform on the east side of the pier from Town to the pier head, while vehicles used the platform on the west side. The passenger side was mostly timber and probably the most rundown piece of operational railway infrastructure that I have ever used; the road access wasn’t much better.

 

[6Gman]

Hmmm, I'd like to see a map/diagram of those and where one station ends and the other begins! But in my example it was one solid platform covering two stations, and I reckon that must be unique. I suppose in the past it could have been possible to have a platform 15 at Piccadilly which could also be used by the adjacent, but definitely different, Mayfield station.

Can't see that could have worked in Manchester given Mayfield was a terminus with a wall round it (if my memory serves me right).

But New Holland seems a possibility - on my only visit I seem to recall a platform much/most/all of the way.

 

[Howardh]

Interesting replies! if Newhaven Marine and Newhaven Harbour were open at the same time (??) it looks like there could have been a platform - or something akin to a platform - between the two. Wonder if Harbour still has anything related to Marine still usable?

Looking at a satellite it does look suspiciously like a long platform used to exist between the two, but then again they would both have to be open at the same time. I'm aware that Harbour was open when Marine technically was - a "parliamentary station" if you like! So even though not used for passengers, Marine was accessible by foot to catch a taxi - so wonder if the walk from Harbour was, indeed, one long platform?

Image of the closeness of both stations and the possibility they were once joined

 

[Flying Snail]

Interesting replies! if Newhaven Marine and Newhaven Harbour were open at the same time (??) it looks like there could have been a platform - or something akin to a platform - between the two. Wonder if Harbour still has anything related to Marine still usable?

Looking at a satellite it does look suspiciously like a long platform used to exist between the two, but then again they would both have to be open at the same time. I'm aware that Harbour was open when Marine technically was - a "parliamentary station" if you like! So even though not used for passengers, Marine was accessible by foot to catch a taxi - so wonder if the walk from Harbour was, indeed, one long platform?

Image of the closeness of both stations and the possibility they were once joined

The level crossing between them would have been a slight issue there.

 

[Howardh]

The level crossing between them would have been a slight issue there.

Ah, so one platform was on the eastern side and the other west - what a pity!

 

[Flying Snail]

Ah, so one platform was on the eastern side and the other west - what a pity!

No, there was a level crossing, a road crossing the rail line, between the 2 stations.

Newhaven Harbour had and has 2 platforms, it is just a regular station on the line to Seaford, Marine was a joint rail/ship terminal for the ferry service as was common until low cost air travel killed the market.

The ferry berth has been moved (unusually) further inland and now the nearest rail station with passenger access is Newhaven Town.


Photo taken from Newhaven Harbour footbridge of a charter train leaving Newhaven Marine station.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/chris...-2oxaYxC-ahd3oJ-4r4Efb-2ngNK7y-2mLqLpK-qxRQZ3

 

[Taunton]

Not UK but I'll chip in with the Chicago State Street Subway, the Red Line, where the Downtown city portion has four underground stations in close proximity, with a continuous platform between all, an island between the running tracks, with entrances on the surface at various points. Trains stop at each of the four in turn, about two train lengths apart. You can walk the length of the platform if you wish. Claimed to be the longest platform in the world, about 3/4 mile.

Between 38:30 and 42:30 in this video.

 

[bangor-toad]

Perhaps drifting a little OT here but...

The Newhaven stations have a fascinating and complex history.
The current "Newhaven Harbour" station was known originally as Newhaven Wharf and then became Harbour Hotel Station. It was renamed to Newhaven Harbour in the 1950's. This has always had two platforms, one on the east of the tracks and one on the west.

The current (or I suppose more accurately 'ex') Newhaven Marine was originally called Newhaven Harbour. I believe this only ever had one platform which was to the west of the tracks. There was never a platform connection between the stations.

Of course it's even more complex than that though!
Prior to closure Platforms 1 and 2 were at Newhaven Harbour and Platform 3 was at Newhaven Marine.


If you like your rail history do have a look at the Newhaven area. The link across the swing bridge and out to the breakwater is interesting and then there's the whole area of the Tide Mills just to the east.
Cheers,
Mr Toad

 

[Howardh]

Perhaps drifting a little OT here but...

The Newhaven stations have a fascinating and complex history.
The current "Newhaven Harbour" station was known originally as Newhaven Wharf and then became Harbour Hotel Station. It was renamed to Newhaven Harbour in the 1950's. This has always had two platforms, one on the east of the tracks and one on the west.

The current (or I suppose more accurately 'ex') Newhaven Marine was originally called Newhaven Harbour. I believe this only ever had one platform which was to the west of the tracks. There was never a platform connection between the stations.

Of course it's even more complex than that though!
Prior to closure Platforms 1 and 2 were at Newhaven Harbour and Platform 3 was at Newhaven Marine.


If you like your rail history do have a look at the Newhaven area. The link across the swing bridge and out to the breakwater is interesting and then there's the whole area of the Tide Mills just to the east.
Cheers,
Mr Toad

That's interesting! So although not connected by a single platform, numerically they kind of were! New one on me, thanks!

Always thought that on a similar theme Wigan Wallgate and NW should be one station (two separate buildings) and the platform numbers start at NW (1) and finish at Wallgate (8)!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Apr 2025 ==

Not UK but I'll chip in with the Chicago State Street Subway, the Red Line, where the Downtown city portion has four underground stations in close proximity, with a continuous platform between all, an island between the running tracks, with entrances on the surface at various points. Trains stop at each of the four in turn, about two train lengths apart. You can walk the length of the platform if you wish. Claimed to be the longest platform in the world, about 3/4 mile.

Between 38:30 and 42:30 in this video.

Yes, that's a very good example!

 

[StephenHunter]

Outside the UK, you've got Bayerisch Eisenstein and Železná Ruda, on the German/Czech border; the frontier literally going through the station building. That kind of counts:

Map – Bayerisch Eisenstein station

An interactive map provides information on the locations of elevators, stairs, escalators, toilets, parking facilities and public transport stops.

www.bahnhof.de

Map page only

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Always thought that on a similar theme Wigan Wallgate and NW should be one station (two separate buildings) and the platform numbers start at NW (1) and finish at Wallgate (8)!

I've always thought it would be best to have Wallgate as A (1), B (2) and C (3), with North Western not being changed.
Even without merging the names I think it makes sense, it also makes A for Atherton and B for Burscough.

Probably still wouldn't stop people constantly ending up at the wrong station.

 

[edwin_m]

Leeds City was formed in 1938 by combining the adjacent Leeds New and Leeds Wellington stations. I'm not sure if they ever shared platforms before that.

 

[Rescars]

Not UK but I'll chip in with the Chicago State Street Subway, the Red Line, where the Downtown city portion has four underground stations in close proximity, with a continuous platform between all, an island between the running tracks, with entrances on the surface at various points. Trains stop at each of the four in turn, about two train lengths apart. You can walk the length of the platform if you wish. Claimed to be the longest platform in the world, about 3/4 mile.

Between 38:30 and 42:30 in this video.

With a short train this would be a nice option at City Thameslink!

 

[CyrusWuff]

With a short train this would be a nice option at City Thameslink!

Back in the days of 319s, I travelled on a couple of services formed of four carriages that stopped at both ends of the platform and released the doors in both cases.

 

[Rescars]

Broadening the OP slightly, are there any locations where a standard gauge and narrow gauge line meet head on and a single platform connects both?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Apr 2025 ==

Back in the days of 319s, I travelled on a couple of services formed of four carriages that stopped at both ends of the platform and released the doors in both cases.

How very civilised!

 

[norbitonflyer]

Does Wrexham Exchange/General count ? (opposite faces of the same platform)

 

[zwk500]

That's interesting! So although not connected by a single platform, numerically they kind of were! New one on me, thanks!

Numbered to avoid confusion, an alternative to the practice at Waterloo East and New Cross where they lettered the platforms to avoid confusion with the nearby Waterloo/New Cross Gate stations. Not far away from Newhaven, the Bluebell Railway's platform at East Grinstead is also numbered 3 in a similar vein (although they are also doing it to make a point!).

The current (or I suppose more accurately 'ex') Newhaven Marine was originally called Newhaven Harbour.

Definitely ex now, Newhaven Marine has been completely redeveloped as a freight terminal. The platform coping stones appear to just about be there but there's no remains of the station and it's now sidings (8 car lengths is electrified to allow trains to terminate at Harbour and shunt if Seaford is blocked for any reason).

The ferry berth has been moved (unusually) further inland and now the nearest rail station with passenger access is Newhaven Town.

AIUI the berth itself hasn't really moved, although there is a 2nd berth upriver of the former railway berth that used to be used when the fast ferry was in service but now doesn't see much, if any use. The bit that's moved upriver is the terminal entrance, which is now adjacent to Newhaven Town station to allow for the marshalling areas for the Car and Lorry traffic that is now the bread-and-butter of the ferry. The area now used as the car marshalling area was the rail-served freight yard for what was then 'Railway Wharf'.

 

[YorksLad12]

Leeds City was formed in 1938 by combining the adjacent Leeds New and Leeds Wellington stations. I'm not sure if they ever shared platforms before that.

They never shared platforms, before or after. Wellington had no through platforms, so it doesn't meet the OP's requirement.

Manchester Victoria/Exchange was always my favourite. Not only could you travel between two stations without using a train, you could travel between two cities (Salford and Manchester).

 

[30907]

Does Wrexham Exchange/General count ? (opposite faces of the same platform)

Afraid they aren't.

Broadening the OP slightly, are there any locations where a standard gauge and narrow gauge line meet head on and a single platform connects both?

La Tour de Carol has a mixed gauge platform, Cambridge style, but I think it's only used by the SNCF sleeper now. However, there is a second platform where SNCF and RENFE regional trains meet, though not quite head on if you look at the satellite image.
(Bayerisch Eisenstein, mentioned upthread, is somewhat similar these days, although through running is possible and was briefly practised (from the German side) about 20 years ago..

 

[Howardh]

Does Wrexham Exchange/General count ? (opposite faces of the same platform)

Don't think so - the branch platform is part of General?

 

[Gloster]

Until 1981 the station on the line to Wrexham Central, now Platform 4, was a separate station, Wrexham Exchange. This reflected its history as part of the Wrexham, Mold & Connah’s Quay, Great Central, and London & North Eastern Railways. (General, only so named in 1951, was Shrewsbury & Chester and Great Western.) Platform 3, from which trains can reach the Bidston line, was always part of General.

 

[Rescars]

Back in the days of 319s, I travelled on a couple of services formed of four carriages that stopped at both ends of the platform and released the doors in both cases.

How very civilised!

 

[Taunton]

Yes, that's a very good example! [Chicago]

The difference with this one was it didn't just evolve from different stations, later merged together in some fashion, but was built like this from the start in the 1940s when it replaced the Elevated system.

 

[Howardh]

Until 1981 the station on the line to Wrexham Central, now Platform 4, was a separate station, Wrexham Exchange. This reflected its history as part of the Wrexham, Mold & Connah’s Quay, Great Central, and London & North Eastern Railways. (General, only so named in 1951, was Shrewsbury & Chester and Great Western.) Platform 3, from which trains can reach the Bidston line, was always part of General.

So the platform was one side belonged to one station, yet the other side a different one? If so then that counts as one platform two stations! Is there an old map/plan available?

 

[Gloster]

So the platform was one side belonged to one station, yet the other side a different one? If so then that counts as one platform two stations! Is there an old map/plan available?

From the east you had the Up GWR, now Platform 1; an island with the Down GWR, now Platform 2, and a further Down GWR Loop platform on the far side, that is now Platform 3. Until 1943 there was no direct connection from the GWR to the LNER, after which a double junction was put in north of where the Loop Platform line rejoined the Down Main. This lasted until 1986 when the Loop Platform was connected to the Bidston line only at its north end.

Exchange was a separate station with side platforms on a double line. The line was singled in 1973 by removal of the Down line (the westernmost one) and all that was left was platform, now Platform 4, on the single line.

 

[Dr Hoo]

So the platform was one side belonged to one station, yet the other side a different one? If so then that counts as one platform two stations! Is there an old map/plan available?

No. At Wrexham (General) the current platforms 2 and 3 are an island. Wrexham (Exchange) had flank platforms so what is now 'Platform 4' is not part of or contiguous with any other platform face.