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

[swaldman]

Thurso has somewhat of a platform 2, although right at the far top and would probably not fit a 158 (the track is very rusty and clearly not used much but it does have a signal at the end)

Thurso has a second track, but there isn't actually any platform there - just the wall of the shed.
Unless you mean the one on the other side of the platform, but that has a fence against its platform edge...


The main one I'd nominate for this thread (and I don't *think* anybody has) is Inverness P7. If they do use it, good luck on any passengers actually finding it...

 

[479956]

Bridgend P3, the westbound bay platform at Bridgend is not used. It was meant for trains from the Maesteg branch to terminate but now they run through to Cardiff/Cheltenham .

 

[Western 52]

Bridgend P3, the westbound bay platform at Bridgend is not used. It was meant for trains from the Maesteg branch to terminate but now they run through to Cardiff/Cheltenham .

It does sometimes get used during engineering works or disruption, but normally not used.

 

[Old Yard Dog]

And unlike other merseyrail car parks as it's run by the council you can leave the car in there overnight.

Useful if you are going on a weekend getaway

Cheshire West and Chester Council in fact, not Merseyside. Hooton is in Cheshire but is treated as being in Merseyside for ticketing purposes. This means fares from Hooton are often considerably cheaper than those on the Ellesmere Port branch which leads to reductions in patronage on the latter (coupled with a shortage of safe parking near the branch).

 

[FenMan]

The former platform 3 at King's Lynn? It's no longer numbered, but I think it may still be used for stabling.

 

[Tremzinho]

Edge Hill has a now trackless bay platform that would've been useful when Liverpool Lime Street has been out of action.

 

[Purple Train]

Slough. Platforms 2 and 3 are fenced off and while there's a working sign up, I've never seen the platform in use. Platform 1 is Windsor, platforms 4 and 5 are services on the Reading to Paddington line (plus Elizabeth Line) but I presume the line behind the fence is used for high speed trains passing through.

Here's a discussion of it on our forum: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/slough-fencing-fast-platforms.243242/ -- it looks like it was only done relatively recently, but to be fair I've only been travelling regularly through Slough since last November.

Indeed, it used to have an hourly call by services between Paddington and the Cotswolds. It does make things seem a lot safer when waiting for a crowded Windsor train - I can't imagine it would have been pleasant with nothing to separate you from the expresses! I think I've seen platform 2 used once since the fence was put up: certainly since the timetable change when the calls on the fast trains were removed, there really isn't any point in not fencing them off. However, they do have laminated paper signs up on the fence pointing the way over the new footbridge to "PLATFORM'S 3, 4, 5" [sic] - I'm not entirely sure when my patience is going to snap and make a furious complaint!

Another one that comes to mind is Barking platform 1, virtually unused since Barking Riverside was opened. I do find it interesting how platforms fall into and out of use with relative regularity, especially when stations themselves are no longer shut (albeit with some having been "mothballed", he says with an accusatory stare at Redcar British Steel, IBM, and Stanlow & Thornton!). In a similar vein, I would also like to nominate Tattenham Corner platforms 1 and 3 - which are timetabled to be used, at nights and Sundays, but are still used comparatively rarely (and, indeed, I believe that it isn't awfully uncommon for those services just to use platform 2 anyway). Termini do seem to often be an interesting hangover from the days when turning a train round was a far more complicated matter than walking from one end of the unit to the other!

 

[BazingaTribe]

Re: Slough, yes, indeed.

As regards complaints...apostrophe abuse is the least of my concerns with that station. (Even Starbucks forgets that you can spell paninis without one.) I will be going there tomorrow so I can take a peek, but I will be very annoyed if there are still benches on those fast platforms that haven't been reassigned to the Windsor platform, which needs them badly. The only one on that stretch of station is way up back next to the stairs, but it's awkward to sit there and see how long you have to wait for the Windsor train. (For context, I'm lame -- I can walk, and try to do so as much as I can, but I can't stand for very long or my ankle starts complaining where I broke it cleanly and decisively four years ago. People are awfully kind individually speaking, but they're not always good at designing accommodating station platforms.)

 

[najaB]

The main one I'd nominate for this thread (and I don't *think* anybody has) is Inverness P7. If they do use it, good luck on any passengers actually finding it.

I'm about 99% sure that I once caught a train that started from P7. Distinctly remember it being a bit of a trek to find it.

Edit: There's at least one train that terminates in P7 at 1722 on Sundays.

 

[MarlowDonkey]

Indeed, it used to have an hourly call by services between Paddington and the Cotswolds.

There used to be a bizarre evening piece of platform use at Slough back before electrification. One of the evening stopping Turbos would cross to the main lines and then park itself in platform 2 for quite a number of minutes. The odd HST would go past it using platform 4. It would wait at Slough for the next Turbo service which arrived in platform 4 and left first. The waiting train then crossed back to the Reliefs and followed the overtaking train to Maidenhead and beyond. Most evenings the Marlow branch train left before the arrival in Maidenhead of the passed train.

 

[xotGD]

There used to be a bizarre evening piece of platform use at Slough back before electrification. One of the evening stopping Turbos would cross to the main lines and then park itself in platform 2 for quite a number of minutes. The odd HST would go past it using platform 4. It would wait at Slough for the next Turbo service which arrived in platform 4 and left first. The waiting train then crossed back to the Reliefs and followed the overtaking train to Maidenhead and beyond. Most evenings the Marlow branch train left before the arrival in Maidenhead of the passed train.

I was once on the last train of the day from Windsor. We came off the branch and terminated in P2 at Slough. Presumably so the stock could head straight off to the depot. This was on a Class 101.

 

[Class15]

Kentish town Platform 4 is very little used, it has no connection to the TL core so is basically useless, have often seen an EMR 222 stabled in it however.

 

[30907]

Nobody has apparently mentioned the Down Loop at Kent House.

I don't think any passenger train has been timetabled to use it for years, only for out-of-course running. I have a vague recollection that post 1967 one of the Kent House terminators used it and then went forward ECS - has that happened since the 80s?

 

[Leogilbert007]

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

Chester P0 (bay next to P1)
Crewe P13 (other side of P12 island)
Hooton P0 (non-electrified track, used v rarely for excursions)
Ellesmere Port east facing bay (never even had track)
Preston Res platform (used for specials to The Open at Lytham St Annes)

What other examples are there?

Balham platforms 3 and 4, almost exclusively passed through by non-stopping fast trains

 

[Howardh]

Bolton P2 - rarely used if ever (I haven't used it for years) could be used as the terminus for a shuttle to P5 at Oxford Road! Think there's room for a P6 (terminal) at Oxford Road - can't recall there ever being one but wonder if there was?

 

[Topological]

Bolton P2 - rarely used if ever (I haven't used it for years) could be used as the terminus for a shuttle to P5 at Oxford Road! Think there's room for a P6 (terminal) at Oxford Road - can't recall there ever being one but wonder if there was?

There was a Platform 6 at Oxford Road, but in those days there was no Platform 1 (as now is) so there was never a time with 6 platforms (if that makes sense).

A shuttle from Oxford Road to Bolton seems sensible, but the number of conflicting moves is high so I am not sure it would fit. Rochdale to Bolton has more hope if Rochdale is ever electrified, but I am not sure TfGM are looking at that one.

Extending anything from Stalybridge through Victoria to Bolton might render platforms 1 and 2 at Victoria answers to this thread.

Of all the stations I regularly pass, only Platform 0 at Stockport has qualified and I think that has re-opened after a long period of avoiding being used.

 

[D6130]

Extending anything from Stalybridge through Victoria to Bolton might render platforms 1 and 2 at Victoria answers to this thread.

The 1Jxx semi-fasts to/from Leeds via the Calder Valley will still need to use them.

 

[Kite159]

There was a Platform 6 at Oxford Road, but in those days there was no Platform 1 (as now is) so there was never a time with 6 platforms (if that makes sense).

A shuttle from Oxford Road to Bolton seems sensible, but the number of conflicting moves is high so I am not sure it would fit. Rochdale to Bolton has more hope if Rochdale is ever electrified, but I am not sure TfGM are looking at that one.

Extending anything from Stalybridge through Victoria to Bolton might render platforms 1 and 2 at Victoria answers to this thread.

Of all the stations I regularly pass, only Platform 0 at Stockport has qualified and I think that has re-opened after a long period of avoiding being used.

In theory a Stalybridge - Bolton stopper would make sense, using an EMU. Giving Ashton back it's 2tph service and removing the calls at the likes of Moses Gate from a Southport service (considering a 769 is far slower to accelerate than a moment 331).

 

[Howardh]

In theory a Stalybridge - Bolton stopper would make sense, using an EMU. Giving Ashton back it's 2tph service and removing the calls at the likes of Moses Gate from a Southport service (considering a 769 is far slower to accelerate than a moment 331).

Outside of commuter/peak hours, could these stations be "request" stops, so if the Southport service is running late it's possible to skip and catch up a bit of time?

 

[dodecahedron67]

The 1Jxx semi-fasts to/from Leeds via the Calder Valley will still need to use them.

The Manchester Vic - Scarborough service will use them as well from December

 

[Ashley Hill]

Sampford Courtney could easily fall into this category, but alas ,I understand it was used yesterday to evacuate passengers off a stranded Okehampton service.
*Update* It was and the 158 is still there. Driver and fitters en route by van 0930 today 22/11.

 

[xotGD]

The 1Jxx semi-fasts to/from Leeds via the Calder Valley will still need to use them.

Plus, like yesterday, when late running Leeds - Chester services get terminated short at Victoria.

 

[devon_belle]

Balham platforms 3 and 4, almost exclusively passed through by non-stopping fast trains

In the last year when commuting I have called at these a couple of times ad hoc. Very useful if something blocks the slow line platforms, as the station and connection to the underground are well-used in the peaks.

In one case a signal failure knocked out the slow lines through Balham area, in the other a driver was taken ill from their train on P2, and we made use of the double crossovers to go around.

In the same sense as Balham, Vauxhall has a couple of platforms which would provide a useful connection from long distance commuter towns to the tube in the 'up' morning/'down' evening peaks. Wimbledon too, but these are called at more regularly on Sundays, I believe.

 

[GrahamD83]

Does Margate Platform 2 get used very often? I only visit once a year but in all of the times I have used the station I have never seen any departures scheduled from platform 2.

 

[BrummieBobby]

Wolverhampton P6 (bay N end of P1), Signalling for passenger trains to leave, but only possible to enter by a shunt move.
Back in the 70s & 80s Shrewsbury line trains departed from there (presumably having terminated P2B & then shunted across), but nothing timetabled for decades AFAIK.

The most recent (By which I mean around 15 years ago) regular service was the first train of the day Wolves to Shrewsbury, which departed from P6. I used to catch this train to work.

There was also a special service that ran Wolves P6 to the bay platform at Wellington on the Sunday of the Cosford Airshow each year; I am unsure if this service still runs.

 

[Class15]

I have however seen a 720 terminate in there according to RTT but I think that was either wrong it was a one off thing

To add to @jammmmmsssssss, Liverpool Street IECC have a policy of leaving ‘N720’ in the signal berth and I believe the signal is also generally left ‘collared’, meaning that there is no chance of the signaller making a mistake.

Another one in the London area is Willesden Junction Low Level platform 2. It’s main use is for empty coaching stock out of Willesden Depot onto the North London & Barking lines, although there are a few trains a day on a Saturday (both early morning and late evening) that have ’2Mxx’ headcodes (2M07 is the early morning train and 2M23 and 2M25 being the late evening ones I think). Additionally I have travelled to it twice, once during Primrose Hill diversions and once when the North London line was disrupted and the train was starting from P2 instead of Clapham Junction to make up time. A better-than-usual interchange of the DC lines!

 

[Y Ddraig Coch]

You could put some track down on the opposite side of platform 2 bay at Llandudno Junction and make it a double bay. I think there did actually used to be track there but before my time.