Inverness Station

[Daz28]

Anyone know why there is a very specific piece of legislation exempting Inverness from the usual service closure processes?

This Order provides that section 39 of the Railways Act 1993 (closure of operational passenger networks) is not to apply to the networks consisting of the final 23 metres of track adjacent to platform 1 and the final 43 metres of track adjacent to platform 7 (together with any associated installations) at Inverness Station.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2000/1178/pdfs/uksi_20001178_en.pdf

 

[30907]

I presume both platforms (or rather their tracks) were shortened at the buffer stop ends?
But no idea - not having read it - why the primary legislation might consider that to be a "closure"?

 

[dysonsphere]

Well if you can do that it looks like a handy way of closing any bit of railway. Maybe someone who understands these things could look into it a bit further.

 

[fraser158]

I presume both platforms (or rather their tracks) were shortened at the buffer stop ends?
But no idea - not having read it - why the primary legislation might consider that to be a "closure"?

Both platforms 1 & 7 have had a small amount of the buffer stop end filled in, but they are still in use.

Out of all 7 platforms these are the least used.

Platform 1 is mostly used for the sleeper and the morning HST to London and platform 7 is used to store units and when the platform 5/6 line is being blocked by the ECS of that evenings HST arrival from London.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

I'm intrigued to learn WHY platform one was reconfigured. I'ts maybe not a long walk, but for passengers walking that extra distance to reach the station's long distance services, and who therefore carry the bulkiest luggage, it's a pain that wouldn't otherwise be necessary. Or in my case, the extra seconds wheeling a bike to the van.

It seems to correspond to the plot of land alongside the station perimeter railings (and where the 2 side gates are) and which is separated from the access road by bollards, so it's unavailable for use by railways, by road users or by anything else - though, as a site that is under the canopy, it's a plot that could be useful for cycle racks if it was brought back within the fence line.

Is it because the last 20 meters would be under the canopy and the exhaust fumes from engines remaining there for many hours would be confined? Seems possible, but not enough reason to fill in the track bed between the platform.