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Stations with just two platforms ...that could really do with three

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Ianno87

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Salford Central, which could not just do with 3 platforms, but could do with there being 5.

I'd add Salford Crescent - to give a bit more resilience to trains approaching from Bolton/Atherton prior to entering central Manchester.
 

The Planner

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A case could be made for many two track stations with terminating services.
 

Mcr Warrior

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A case could be made for many two track stations with terminating services.
Isn't that effectively achieved at many locations by simply having one or more refuge sidings? E.g. Alderley Edge in Cheshire, and Cumbernauld in Central Scotland.
 

The Planner

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Isn't that effectively achieved at many locations by simply having one or more refuge sidings? E.g. Alderley Edge in Cheshire, and Cumbernauld in Central Scotland.
Yes and no, bear in mind you would normally have to check you are empty etc before moving off to a refuge siding as an ECS so it will extend the dwell time, then the turn round time in the siding and any margins required. Do it in a spare platform and it is effectively just a driver changing ends.
 

py_megapixel

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Any Hope Valley local station, so as to provide a loop for the stopping service to be overtaken.

Warrington Central (for a similar reason).
One would assume that could be done by simply adding an extra track without a platform (and therefore not having to go through all the costs associated with adding a new platform)
 

xotGD

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Middlesbrough is supposed to be getting one, so I'll say Middlesbrough.
 

Clansman

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Arbroath and Montrose

Dunbar, Gleneagles, Inverurie, and Lockerbie in the not so distant future if patronage returns to pre covid levels and increases in the next 10 years.
 
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JonathanH

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Crawley (a bay to allow the Victoria to Reigate service to terminate there instead of Gatwick or Three Bridges when it is diverted away as a more natural traffic destination).
 

Halifaxlad

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... and you didn't add Halifax, Halifaxlad? :lol:

Actually I would rather see a third platform at Sowerby Bridge to facilitate a potential direct service from Huddersfield which should be more than possible when TRU is done between Huddersfield and Dewsbury. As for Halifax whilst a third platform would be nice and useful for Hull terminators I would explore the possibility of creating a turnback at Greetland junction adjacent to the mainline, preferably with a single platform so it could also double up as a park and ride for Halifax.
 

bramling

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This is a spin off idea I had from:

https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...latform-that-could-really-do-with-two.156721/ started by UPTON in 2017.

Basically the same principle although focusing on stations that now have 2 platforms that could benefit from 3.

It doesn't matter if they're was 3 or more historically.

One of Letchworth or Baldock could benefit from a third platform to accommodate terminating services. The current arrangement where Baldock trains use a facing crossover to reverse is quite problematic when there is late running in the area.
 

Ianno87

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One of Letchworth or Baldock could benefit from a third platform to accommodate terminating services. The current arrangement where Baldock trains use a facing crossover to reverse is quite problematic when there is late running in the area.

Or Royston arguably, which might be a more natural destination than Baldock (short of going through to Cambridge)
 

Mike395

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St Pancras Int'l Low Level - when everything's running well it works fine as-is but there's currently zero redundancy anywhere in the Core and turning trains back there can take a while, blocking up a platform.
 
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Burgess Hill, Wivelsfield and Hassocks, although the useful bit would be the extra track rather than the platforms themselves.

If Bedwyn had an extra platform the terminating train could sit there rather than wait in the siding, and therefore get out the way of the fast trains sooner (similar to the Newbury terminator). It's the kind of thing that isn't worth spending the money to build, but if it was there already, it would be used
 

Mcr Warrior

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Burgess Hill, Wivelsfield and Hassocks, although the useful bit would be the extra track rather than the platforms themselves.
Can't ever imagine that an extra platform (or track) would ever be possible at Wivelsfield with the station there being high up on an embankment.

Probably not at Burgess Hill either, but maybe, just maybe at Hassocks, similar to the three track section of the Brighton main line at Preston Park.
 

YorksLad12

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Actually I would rather see a third platform at Sowerby Bridge to facilitate a potential direct service from Huddersfield which should be more than possible when TRU is done between Huddersfield and Dewsbury. As for Halifax whilst a third platform would be nice and useful for Hull terminators I would explore the possibility of creating a turnback at Greetland junction adjacent to the mainline, preferably with a single platform so it could also double up as a park and ride for Halifax.

Interesting idea. Huddersfield to Sowerby Bridge would be about 22 minutes, so one unit on an hourly frequency would suffice. I thought about extending that back to Marsden but that would be 33 minutes.
 

adamedwards

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Welwyn North, so as to get stopping trains out of the way of fast trains. Not realistic without a new tunnel and bridge, so HS2 probably cheaper.
 

Richard Scott

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Cheltenham, to allow for terminating trains from London/Swindon. Can remove need for Alstone sidings then, trains can then load/unload at their leisure instead of blocking platform whilst they are checked to ensure they are empty before going to siding.
 

30907

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Or Royston arguably, which might be a more natural destination than Baldock (short of going through to Cambridge)
Looks do-able using the siding on the down side (assuming it's still there). Letchworth of course was designed for 4 tracks, but it's probably not the most useful terminating point.

Cheltenham, to allow for terminating trains from London/Swindon. Can remove need for Alstone sidings then, trains can then load/unload at their leisure instead of blocking platform whilst they are checked to ensure they are empty before going to siding.
Also has the advantage of being possible, though there seems to be a building to demolish.
 

SwindonBert

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Cheltenham, to allow for terminating trains from London/Swindon. Can remove need for Alstone sidings then, trains can then load/unload at their leisure instead of blocking platform whilst they are checked to ensure they are empty before going to siding.

In the 80s was sat at Cheltenham waiting for the next train to Swindon & then there was an announcement it was due at platform 3, it did cause a certain level of laughter amongst those of us who regularly used the service & concern as to where platform 3 is amongst those unused to the station
 

ABB125

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Cheltenham would also be my suggestion, but "they" decided against it in the current station rebuild. Alternatively, fill in the paperwork to make Alstone siding allowed to take passengers, so there is no need to check the train at the station, blocking the platform.
Or, my preferred alternative, build a new platform at Ashchurch and extend all Cheltenham terminators there. Not that I would benefit personally of course.... :D
 
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