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Largest Station reduced to almost a 1 platform Halt

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5562

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Not in the same league as the big termini but Chinley went from 6 platforms (including one bay) in the 60s to an island platform akin to the GC country stations.
 
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HSTEd

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How about Skegness?

Reduced from six to perhaps two active platforms
 

Anonymous10

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Not strictly counted but Carmarthen a former hub for transport in West Wales went from a 5 platform to a 2 platform although serving all 3 Pembrokeshire likes it formerly served at least a further 3. This station now only uses its second platform for when 2 trains arrive at same time and to stable units
 

Helvellyn

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I know Manchester Victoria has been mentioned (Seventeen platforms reduced to six for a net loss of eleven), but given the physical link between Victoria and Manchester Exchange (the combined platform 11/3 that was 2,238 feet in length and could accommodate three trains), then as a station "complex" you actually have Twenty-two platforms reduced to six.

Exchange was built to allow the LNWR to vacate the Lancashire & Yorkshire owned Victoria. They were linked by the LMS in 1929 and upon closure of Exchange to passenger traffic in 1969 all traffic switched back to Victoria. Services using the through platforms at Exchange going East would pass through Victoria non-stop.

Useless fact - by virtue of the combined Platform 11/3 you could walk between two stations without leaving the station environs, but at the same time you were walking between two cities (Victoria is in Manchester; Exchange was predominantly in Salford).
 
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Busaholic

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I know Manchester Victoria has been mentioned (Seventeen platforms reduced to six for a net loss of eleven), but given the physical link between Victoria and Manchester Exchange (the combined platform 11/3 that was 2,238 feet in length and could accommodate three trains), then as a station "complex" you actually have Twenty-two platforms reduced to six.

Exchange was built to allow the LNWR to vacate the Lancashire & Yorkshire owned Victoria. They were linked by the LMS in 1929 and upon closure of Exchange to passenger traffic in 1969 all traffic switched back to Victoria. Services using the through platforms at Exchange going East would pass through Victoria non-stop.

Useless fact - by virtue of the combined Platform 11/3 you could walk between two stations without leaving the station environs, but at the same time you were walking between two cities (Victoria is in Manchester; Exchange was predominantly in Salford).
:)I find that an interesting fact - I must get out more.
 

Springs Branch

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Not quite what the OP was asking, but maybe worth adding to the discussion; Manchester Victoria went from 17 platforms to 6, so a reduction of 11. Can anywhere beat that?
Given that some of those original 17 platforms served trains for the Bury and Oldham/Rochdale lines, and there are still "rail" services on those exact routes from Victoria, should we count the three Metrolink platforms on top of the six National Rail? That makes the net loss a mere 8. ;)
 

xotGD

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Given that some of those original 17 platforms served trains for the Bury and Oldham/Rochdale lines, and there are still "rail" services on those exact routes from Victoria, should we count the three Metrolink platforms on top of the six National Rail? That makes the net loss a mere 8. ;)
Using that approach we should include the two Metro platforms 'downstairs' at Newcastle as replacements for the old P1-3.
 

WL113

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The magnificent Birmingham Snow Hill was indeed disgracefully reduced to two bay platforms in regular use by 1972, just platforms 3 and 4 for the Wolverhampton and Langley Green services. Platform 1 had not been used since main line services ceased in 1967 but saw the last train leave from there, 4 March 1972.
 

Journeyman

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Ryde Pier Head had 4 platforms in steam days, reduced to three platform faces but with only two tracks after electrification. Only one has been used since about 1990, but all of it is still there, gradually rusting and crumbling away. It'll be interesting to see whether the forthcoming closure for upgrades prior to the D-Trains going over to the island is used as an opportunity to rationalise disused infrastructure, which seems in plentiful supply on the island.
 

Journeyman

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What happened to Nottingham Victoria immediately before it closed? That had 12 platforms originally, but in the last year or two it was only used for the DMU shuttle to Rugby. Presumably only one platform was required. That service, of course, was cut back to Arkwright Street before closing in 1969.
 

Journeyman

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Craigendoran used to have 5, two on the line to Helensburgh Central, one serving the pier and two high level on the West Highland Line. The latter closed in 1964, the pier platform closed in 1972 and the Helensburgh line was singled in 1984, so now down to one. It's quite bleak there these days.
 
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d9009alycidon

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A surprising candidate is Rutherglen, still open with one island platform with two faces, but at its peak had a total of twelve platforms. Two island platforms (4 faces) and a side platform on the WCML, two platforms on the existing passenger route, and two through platforms and three bays on the other fork! In the middle was a set of carraige sidings.
 

Sprinter107

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A surprising candidate is Rutherglen, still open with one island platform with two faces, but at its peak had a total of twelve platforms. Two island platforms (4 faces) and a side platform on the WCML, two platforms on the existing passenger route, and two through platforms and three bays on the other fork! In the middle was a set of carraige sidings.
That sounds really impressive. I caught a train from there a few years ago, but wouldve never realised. Would be interested to see a picture. I think the main feature of that station was a road flyover.
 

Grecian 1998

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Templecombe managed to go from 4 platforms before 1966 (two Waterloo - Exeter through platforms, one S&D terminus and one S&D through platform which was almost never used) to 0 and then back to 1 in 1983 when the station reopened. The down platform was then extended out so the up platform and footbridge could be closed in 2012, although they're both still there.
 

Bedpan

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Point of Order M'Lord! The nine platform Epsom Downs station is no longer open. When it closed it was replaced by a different station bearing the same name which was built a quarter of a mile or so to the east.
 

Revaulx

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A surprising candidate is Rutherglen, still open with one island platform with two faces, but at its peak had a total of twelve platforms. Two island platforms (4 faces) and a side platform on the WCML, two platforms on the existing passenger route, and two through platforms and three bays on the other fork! In the middle was a set of carraige sidings.
Three bays facing away from the city centre is interesting. What services terminated there?
 

d9009alycidon

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Three bays facing away from the city centre is interesting. What services terminated there?

Rutherglen was the Eastern Terminus of the Glasgow Central Low Level line, trains started from here through the low level to Dalmuir, Dumbarton, Maryhill etc, although I was never quite sure what services used the two through platforms on the west to north side of the triangle. The station evolved over the years, my earliest memories of it was just the two island platforms on the WCML with very dreary run down buildings etc. The sidings in the centre of the triangle were still being used for DMU storage up to the early 1970s when the station was redeveloped for the WCML electrification. The tracks had been S/F/F/S, this was changed to S/S/F/F and the southernmost island platform was removed. The other island platform was redeveloped with new station building and stairs, but this all changed when the Central Low Level was reopened, and a new island platform was constructed on the present day site. When services started serving this platform the old platform was initially mothballed but over the years the buildings were removed and it gradually faded to the remains that are there today.
 

Revaulx

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Rutherglen was the Eastern Terminus of the Glasgow Central Low Level line, trains started from here through the low level to Dalmuir, Dumbarton, Maryhill etc, although I was never quite sure what services used the two through platforms on the west to north side of the triangle.
Thanks; that makes sense. The platform provision was certainly generous!
 
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