Stations with "platforms" which could in principle be used but (almost) never are

[frodshamfella]

Platform 1 at Acton Bridge,.one of the Southbound platforms, I have used it, but rarely.

 

[43055]

I suspect the last time that was used, was during the resignalling, for an hourly service to London and to Matlock.

It sometimes gets used in disruption normally for terminating services.

I have a feeling there is a restriction on the signalling for it to be used for passengers, but I may be mixing up with somewhere else and that it isn’t used simply because operationally it isn’t much use


It may have varied at different stages of the works to be honest - my memory is hazy but there may have been a period of no through services at all leaving 7 free to
handle the terminators

At one point I think it was just 7 in use as the rest of the south end was dug up.

 

[Trainman40083]

I have a feeling there is a restriction on the signalling for it to be used for passengers, but I may be mixing up with somewhere else and that it isn’t used simply because operationally it isn’t much use


It may have varied at different stages of the works to be honest - my memory is hazy but there may have been a period of no through services at all leaving 7 free to
handle the terminators

I think you are right about there being an issue re signalling restricting it's use.

 

[bishdunster]

Is platform 4 at Bournemouth used these days?

 

[Old Yard Dog]

Mirfield p2. Many services pass it but it has no booked use for passengers (and doesn't, or at least didn’t, have a PIS screen)

Funnily enough, I have used it - a GC service was held in p3, I think because of a freight stuck ahead of it, so the TPE stopper got routed through p2. No announcement and I think I was the only passenger to make, likely only because I was tracking proceedings on Traksy at the time!





I remember using it - I feel like for a while it was the only through platform open and was used by a select few services to operate a through service. I think the Matlock used another through platform that was temporarily made into a bay

A few years back, I visited Mirfield station for the first time and needed to get a train to Brighouse. There was absolutely no indication anywhere on the station as to which platform it would go from, P2 or P3. P2 actually seemed the more natural. The distance between the two platforms was such that waiting & seeing might not work if I got it wrong. In the end another passenger turned up and correctly advised me to use P3.

Was this lack of platform information ever resolved I wonder before the station became the building site it seems to be now?

 

[Crossover]

A few years back, I visited Mirfield station for the first time and needed to get a train to Brighouse. There was absolutely no indication anywhere on the station as to which platform it would go from, P2 or P3. P2 actually seemed the more natural. The distance between the two platforms was such that waiting & seeing might not work if I got it wrong. In the end another passenger turned up and correctly advised me to use P3.

Was this lack of platform information ever resolved I wonder before the station became the building site it seems to be now?

I lived in Mirfield until 2021 and I don't recall seeing any indication up to then of p2 being unused - just locals knowledge I suppose! I haven't been to the station for a while now and certainly not since TRU work got underway, so can't speak for the current situation

 

[Bill57p9]

Given it would require hand pumping, I doubt Corrour "platform 2" has been used in a very long time (and last time I was there earlier this year the colour of the rail strongly suggested this)

 

[nr758123]

I don't think anyone has mentioned Marsden platform 3 yet.

 

[DenmarkRail]

Stafford Bay Platform? Wouldn’t fit much, but think it can still be used!

 

[richard1976]

Sheffield
Platform 2C (bay platform) separate from the rest of platform 2. Don't think it is now used by any booked services now, it was used by the Hope Valley stopping service but now that it is 3 car 195 they don't fit the platform.

 

[EUC]

Carmarthen Platform 3 is fenced off from passenger use. Used for stabling.
There's also a south west facing bay, which could be a short Platform 0, but has had its track lifted. (Its twin on the NE side has long since been filled in. There are prefab structures on top.)

 

[Pokelet]

Worcester Shrub Hill platform 3. I did catch a train from there once but it was years and years ago and it was a bit unusual even then.

Similarly, I suppose, platform 4, or whatever you call the counterpart of platform 3 at the north end, which I don't remember ever seeing numbered. I remember it being used once to park some kind of exhibition train for people to visit, though I can't remember what the exhibition was about. I've half an idea I once knew a service train to use it for some kind of disruption-recovery reason, but I'm not sure about that.

Platform 3 used to be used for the Gloucester shuttle in LM days and also for some West Country services that started at WOS. Once saw a turbo in there on a Cotswold service during disruption but that would be rare. Only the first carriage is on the platform and the guard would normally only open one set of doors on local.

The other 'end' of platform 2 at the Droitwich end has only one platform face, the other face is too low and the track along side it isn't a continuation of platform 3. Train crew will access units from it though. It's more common to see GWR stock stabled overnight in there. I believe it's one of the 'Hereford Sidings'.

 

[Pigeon]

It's true that the exhibition train parked there was boarded by means of little portable staircases, but they were only two or three steps - it's hardly a Giggleswick*; and the pedestrian surface is level and continuous with platform 2. I think the thread title of "platforms" which could in principle be used implies that either we're not fretting about the platform height not meeting some specification which didn't exist when it was built, or we're not restricted by people insisting that some simple operation like lowering the trackbed would cost 50 million pounds and involve closing the whole station for 8 months, so "in principle" it could indeed be used, eg. for terminating Birmingham services.

*I know Giggleswick's not like that any more but it's imprinted in my mind as a spectacular example.

Platform 3 always makes me want to see a GWR 0-4-2T and auto-coach in it

 

[northscots]

Stirling platforms 4 and 5 don't serve much use any more. I don't think they are at passenger standards though.

It doesn't have a number, but there are the remains of an old platform in Aberdeen next to Platform 3. It's commonly used to store ECS I think, but it's not available for passenger use.

Platform 4 and 5 at stirling aren't in passenger use.

Platform 1 and 2 at Aberdeen aren't in passenger use and are used for stabling units between services.

Aberdeen has platforms 1 & 2 which are not in passenger use but do store empty stock. Platforms 8 & 9 exist but have no track (there is a single track running through the centre of the trackbed) but are still maintained and could be brought back into use after track and signal work.

Keith has a platform on the old branch line which still sees occasional use for charter services.

Arbroath has the old platform 3 which is still tracked but exceptionally overgrown. I believe there was talk of this being reinstated for local Dundee services but I’m not sure at what stage it is at.

Montrose has a tracked south facing bay platform and a north facing bay with no track, which would require a fair degree of work to bring back into use.

Stonehaven also has what appears to be a short north facing bay platform, albeit I’m not sure how easily it could be brought back into service or even how easily it could hold a two car unit. There is track leading to it and it appears to have seen use as a small siding at one time or other.

Stonehaven bay platform has largely been filled in and forms part of the car park.

Arbroath platform 3 isn't signaled and is disconnected from the main line.

Montrose north facing bay has been filled in. The south bay is also largely filled in and is part of the car park.

Platform 3 at Perth rarely sees passenger services unless there's disruption. It's generally used to stable units when moving things in and out of the depot.

 

[Sean Emmett]

I have arrived in Aberdeen P2 behind 'Tornado', departed and arrived at Southall P0 on the (steam) railmotor, arrived and departed at/from the down platform at Yeovil Jn on various specials.

Departed from Kyle down plat (P2?), only to be shunted to the main up plat, behind a 37 before finally heading away to Inverness.

I'm sure there's a few more!

I have arrived in Aberdeen P2 behind 'Tornado', departed and arrived at Southall P0 on the (steam) railmotor, arrived and departed at/from the down platform at Yeovil Jn on various specials.

Departed from Kyle down plat (P2?), only to be shunted to the main up plat, behind a 37 before finally heading away to Inverness.

I'm sure there's a few more!

No-one mentioned P8 at Clapham Jn yet?

 

[thenorthern]

There was a bay platform at the north end of Stafford Station, used in 1985 for a dmu shuttle to Crewe when the Crewe rebuild was on. Is it still there?

No although there is the bay platform at the southern end of Platform 1 which I think might have been Platform 2 at Stafford which could in theory be used. Also at Stafford the Royal Mail platform could in theory be used for mainline services but I doubt it ever will.

 

[dcsprior]

Haymarket platform 0 (IIRC it was built to allow some trains from the North/West to terminate there while the lines between Haymarket and Waverley to be wired - now this has been done no trains from the North/West terminate at Haymarket)

Stirling Platforms 7 & 8 (I believe they're each used for only 1 arrival + 1 departure per day, so a couple of trains can be parked there overnight)

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Mirfield p2. Many services pass it but it has no booked use for passengers (and doesn't, or at least didn’t, have a PIS screen)

Funnily enough, I have used it - a GC service was held in p3, I think because of a freight stuck ahead of it, so the TPE stopper got routed through p2. No announcement and I think I was the only passenger to make, likely only because I was tracking proceedings on Traksy at the time!

You'd struggle to use it now, as it was dug out as part of the upgrade works, so it probably doesn't qualify for this thread any longer. This allowed the up fast to be realigned slightly to lessen the harsh 'jolt' that non-stopping services used to suffer when passing. Prior to spades going in the ground on the upgrade, it was served once daily by the Leeds to Wigan service in the 18xx hour (I forget the exact scheduled calling time).

As for the issue of those unfamiliar with the station not knowing it was so rarely used, I was occasionally asked which platform to use for Huddersfield or Brighouse as there wasn't much in the way of signage. The biggest giveaway was the lack of any PIS screens or benches on the P2 face.

 

[Crossover]

You'd struggle to use it now, as it was dug out as part of the upgrade works, so it probably doesn't qualify for this thread any longer. This allowed the up fast to be realigned slightly to lessen the harsh 'jolt' that non-stopping services used to suffer when passing. Prior to spades going in the ground on the upgrade, it was served once daily by the Leeds to Wigan service in the 18xx hour (I forget the exact scheduled calling time).

As for the issue of those unfamiliar with the station not knowing it was so rarely used, I was occasionally asked which platform to use for Huddersfield or Brighouse as there wasn't much in the way of signage. The biggest giveaway was the lack of any PIS screens or benches on the P2 face.

Fair enough - as I mentioned, it has been some time since I have used the station now. May have to have a nosey next time I am in the area!

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Fair enough - as I mentioned, it has been some time since I have used the station now. May have to have a nosey next time I am in the area!

It's a few weeks since I passed through too, but when I was last there the construction of the replacement island platform (on the opposite side of the bridges over Station Road, in alignment with Platform 3) was moving at a rapid pace. What's left of the old Platform 2 face is now behind hoardings from the Platform 1 side, meaning the station is no longer the "Photter's Paradise" it used to be!

 

[northscots]

I have arrived in Aberdeen P2 behind 'Tornado', departed and arrived at Southall P0 on the (steam) railmotor, arrived and departed at/from the down platform at Yeovil Jn on various specials.

Departed from Kyle down plat (P2?), only to be shunted to the main up plat, behind a 37 before finally heading away to Inverness.

I'm sure there's a few more!


No-one mentioned P8 at Clapham Jn yet?

You'd not have arrived in platform 2 at Aberdeen in passenger service?

 

[CharlieSpotted]

I can see that P6 at Wolverhampton has been discussed and just wanted to note that it is used at least sometimes, and can accomodate class 196.

As proven in this photo taken by my partner on her way to Shrewsbury during recent disruption:

 

[High Dyke]

I don’t think the bay platform, platform 3, at Grantham has any booked use anymore.

Isn't there a booked train to use it on a Sunday where a LNER service is overtaken by another train? Or has that ended in the current timetable

AIUI, the only time the bay is used at Grantham is when the line is shut between there and Peterborough, when EMR turn their Liverpool to Norwich services. But even then, I believe the bay can only take a 2 car 158 or 17170.

Harrumph! That's a current soapbox moment for me.

Due to restrictions on stock EMR issued a notice to drivers that P3 at Grantham can only be used in an emergency for trains of 3-car or longer (local door operation). Therefore, it's still justified to use it for 2-car trains. However, there seems a reluctance to do that. To the point that signallers would rather delay services until P4 is available. This comes from first hand experience. Now, it's not helped by a full length barrier down the P2 side, though that has not been an official platform face for many years.

Until the timetable change in Summer, there were two EMR services on a Sunday at Grantham at the same time. One was diagrammed for a 2-car unit, and was most Sundays. However, that issue changed with one service being retimed.

The Tuesday & Thursday RHTT working used to be booked in there, but many times it goes into the Up & Down Goods.

I'll check about the LNER in the Western platform this Sunday.

 

[swt_passenger]

Is platform 4 at Bournemouth used these days?

Yes. As the early service builds up a few trains that arrive ECS from the depot and depart to Weymouth are booked to start from P4. I’ve not sighted it happening myself though.

Does Woking platform 6 count?

2 passenger services per day use P6 according to RTT.

 

[GardenRail]

Sheffield
Platform 2C (bay platform) separate from the rest of platform 2. Don't think it is now used by any booked services now, it was used by the Hope Valley stopping service but now that it is 3 car 195 they don't fit the platform.

We use it surprisingly often. Especially if the 1Rxx or 1Lxx Norwich or Liverpool are only formed of 2 cars when running late.

Northerns 1Y01 or 03 typically depart from this platform early morning, depending on which unit gets platformed there, on adviyof the Shunters. Us Signallers typically just work to the Shunters instructions with regards stabling of units overnight.

I don't think anyone has mentioned Marsden platform 3 yet.

We use it a few times a day.... Not much booked to use it, but more for looping the stopper to get an express by when the service has gone to pot.

I lived in Mirfield until 2021 and I don't recall seeing any indication up to then of p2 being unused - just locals knowledge I suppose! I haven't been to the station for a while now and certainly not since TRU work got underway, so can't speak for the current situation

Mirfield platform 2 definitely doesn't get used anymore, as it's now non-existent since the track was slewed as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade.

 

[YorksLad12]

Mirfield platform 2 definitely doesn't get used anymore, as it's now non-existent since the track was slewed as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade.

It will return, once TRU upgrade is finished, as the island platform will be the one the stopping services use.

I thought all westbound stoppers used P3 at Marsden? it's the only accessible platform there (same as Mirfield).

 

[Kite159]

It will return, once TRU upgrade is finished, as the island platform will be the one the stopping services use.

I thought all westbound stoppers used P3 at Marsden? it's the only accessible platform there (same as Mirfield).

In the days when Northern ran the stoppers between Huddersfield & Manchester they used platform 3, however since TPE took over they use platform 2 (I think because P3 is too short for a 185?). Made more silly because Northern installed a TVM by the entrance to platform 3.

 

[sansyy]

Rock Ferry,
Don't think there are any regular timetabled services to use platforms 3 or 4 there, just used for stabling trains i think

The first trains of the day will usually depart of platform 3 or 4 either going to West Kirby after going around the loop or Ellesmere Port

Northwich also has a Platform 3 technically which I think is used for exclusively freight from the Middlewich, Greenbank-WCML line and then some sidings along the tracks.

 

[Royston Vasey]

You could probably just about board both ends of a 153 from the platform face of Collier Lane Siding at Carlisle, protruding from behind the wall of P6 and used for stabling units from the Tyne Valley. It's certainly putting "platform" firmly in inverted commas!

https://goo.gl/maps/Rpu3NENzn6nPHXwGA

Image credit: Carlisle 1457 (Alan J) on Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/carlisle1457/
https://flic.kr/p/yKss6z

 

[Leslie Fletcher]

The first trains of the day will usually depart of platform 3 or 4 either going to West Kirby after going around the loop or Ellesmere Port

Northwich also has a Platform 3 technically which I think is used for exclusively freight from the Middlewich, Greenbank-WCML line and then some sidings along the tracks

At the other end of the Middlewich branch, Platform 3 at Sandbach doesn't see much passenger use.