Stations with the most disused platforms?

[Shenandoah09]

Aberdeen must be a contender with two through platforms in situ but out of use (the track between them has been singled so they can't be used any more), one south facing platform still operational but only ever used for storage, and I think four north facing platforms completely lost to redevelopment and parking. The platforms in use are numbered 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 IIRC.

Cleethorpes has three out of use platforms and I'm not sure if the three operational platforms are all used regularly

Close!
Aberdeen used to have 13 platforms. 8 are out of use and only 5 are used for passenger services.

1 & 2 (South facing bays), still fully tracked but only have shunt signals now, only used for berthing trains between duties it seems.

3 - 7 the active platforms.

8 & 9 (through platforms), currently has a headhunt in the middle of the trackbed, is just used to access the train washer at Clayhills.

10 - 13 (North facing bays), they've all been filled in and are long gone due to buildings now built to the north of the station, the canopies for the old platforms are still in situ though.

There was talk of them restoring pl 8 but that was a few years ago. No idea if it's still an idea they were wanting to do.

 

[satisnek]

You just have. Six platforms, numbered 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 still in place but only two (3 + 4) normally ever in use.

When did platform 1 at Skeggy go?

Platform 2 is also available for use according to another thread but that's still less than 50% of the whole original station.

Looking at old maps, Platform 1 was lifted at the same time as the goods yard - circa 1970 but I can't be any more precise.

 

[d9009alycidon]

Most if not all of the disused platforms have now been removed from Rutherglen now due to realignments and restructuring, it is hard to believe that the station that is currently one island platform with two faces once boasted 12 platform faces.

 

[kermit]

There were some with extra platforms for horse racing
eg Esher

.....that sounds terribly unsafe!!

 

[Snow1964]

Christ’s Hospital had 7 platforms, now reduced to 2

 

[lachlan]

Close!
Aberdeen used to have 13 platforms. 8 are out of use and only 5 are used for passenger services.

1 & 2 (South facing bays), still fully tracked but only have shunt signals now, only used for berthing trains between duties it seems.

3 - 7 the active platforms.

8 & 9 (through platforms), currently has a headhunt in the middle of the trackbed, is just used to access the train washer at Clayhills.

10 - 13 (North facing bays), they've all been filled in and are long gone due to buildings now built to the north of the station, the canopies for the old platforms are still in situ though.

There was talk of them restoring pl 8 but that was a few years ago. No idea if it's still an idea they were wanting to do.

Thank you, yes recently there was talk of demoliting Atholl House and potentially reinstating one or more platforms underneath a new development, not sure if that's still on. Given the locals now continue south they'd only be useful for the Aberdeen-Inverness services.

 

[TrainTrackJack]

Platform 3 at Shrub Hill is unused at the moment, too.

Old diagrams and maps suggest that there was a westbound bay, too (i.e. the other side of the current platform 1B), though I don't know if it was ever in passenger use.

Yes, that reminds me, there was another platform at the Foregate Street end of 1. I believe this was for parcels/mail as well, and is now a staff car park. This brings Worcester to have 2 platforms in use, 3 disused (although Platform 3 may be occasionally used for the stabling of stock but not timetabled public services) and 1 shut and filled in.
Below is a photo of Platform 3 being used in 2004, however the downside is in most cases only 1 coach can be accommodated!

 

[Jorge Da Silva]

Cleethorpes? Once had 6 platforms (now just 3).

 

[Shrewbly]

Platform 3 at Shrub Hill is unused at the moment, too.

Old diagrams and maps suggest that there was a westbound bay, too (i.e. the other side of the current platform 1B), though I don't know if it was ever in passenger use.

Unless my memory is failing me (easily possible!) I saw a Motorail service being loaded in the westbound bay at some time in the mid-1970s.

 

[Bonemaster]

Rugby would be an oddity in that it has lost 4 northern bays, 1 southern bay (plus another southern bay not in regular use), as well platform for the Leicester line where the postal sorting office now is. The station also had scissor crossings on both the through platforms that were removed in the 1960s meaning the through platforms reduced from 4 to 2. Giving a total reduction of 8 or 9 platforms depending on how you count. But has also had new platforms built as well

 

[TheDavibob]

A quick bit of looking up, but March (Cambridgeshire) currently has two platforms, and historically had seven (four through, 3 bays). Google Maps suggests that, as well as the two northern through platforms being very much in existence, there's a pair of fairly obvious filled in bay platforms visible too.

 

[Doctor Fegg]

Unless my memory is failing me (easily possible!) I saw a Motorail service being loaded in the westbound bay at some time in the mid-1970s.

Corroborated at https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/motorail-facilities.168336/#post-3636186 . Well well!

 

[Purple Orange]

The shocking thing about Newcastle is none of the four south end bays can take 5 coaches thus ruling out Voyagers and Azumas in 5 car formations and the new TPE stock but was subject to a like for like only two or three years ago when some rationalisation should have been considered particularly as XC were effectively restricted to running 4 car Voyagers on services where five might have been more appropriate - so what if one (or even two) bays would be lost, they are of minimal practical use as they are and require terminating five car trains to clog up through platforms. .

Long term there might need to be a remodelling at Newcastle, but the question would be what would the bays be required for? This is one for the speculation thread, but perhaps getting rid of the bays and instead ‘knock through’ from P9 & P10 to P1 to create two more through platforms. Keeping P11 & P12 as bays might be useful for Carlisle services.

 

[Doomotron]

Ashford International has had the current Platforms 1 and 4 built, split and rebuilt once or twice, does that count?

On a related note, are the bay platforms at Twickenham still used?

 

[TheSel]

For having many disused platforms.

At present, only two in regular use.

Originally had seven.

Isn't it three [in regular use]? 2338 Chester - Hooton (daily, including Sundays) is booked to terminate in Platform 1.


And in terms of the original question, is it stretching a point to suggest Blackpool Central. 14 platforms, all now disused!

 

[Deafdoggie]

And in terms of the original question, is it stretching a point to suggest Blackpool Central. 14 platforms, all now disused!

All filled in of course, but until very recently the platforms and edging could be clearly seen-particularly from the top of the tower! But the car park has now been resurfaced and all remaining traces are gone.

 

[jamesst]

Isn't it three [in regular use]? 2338 Chester - Hooton (daily, including Sundays) is booked to terminate in Platform 1.


And in terms of the original question, is it stretching a point to suggest Blackpool Central. 14 platforms, all now disused!

Hooton- 7 platforms, 3 have long ago had rails lifted and are not even part of the station anymore.
2 (platform 2&3) are the main through platforms.
1 (platform 1) is used daily as stated and is very useful especially during disruption.
1 (platform 0) isnt electrified but is still used by maintenence trains and the mpv.

 

[24Grange]

Going a little off topic here but there must be other examples where former railway land has been used to make a bus interchange? I believe (though not 100%) that Aberdeen bus station was railway land up until the 50s.

Off topic,but Exmouth had a bus station interchange built next to it, when they demolished the old station. since demolished for an M & S.

 

[steamybrian]

Christs Hospital had 7 platforms until the mid 1960s and now has only 2 in use.

 

[Journeyman]

Broad Street originally had about nine platforms that progressively fell into disuse as the station crumbled away around them. It dropped down to 3 for most of the final few years, and one at the very end.

 

[30907]

Christs Hospital had 7 platforms until the mid 1960s

but only 4 running lines and a parcels loop or siding

 

[BoroAndy]

Scarborough used to have 9, but 6-9 are now a car park. Plus I think a track next to P9 used to be used for daytime berthing of specials locos. Even now P5 seems to never see any action, wonder why? Maybe will be used if the Northern Sca-Yrk service ever starts.

 

[steamybrian]

Broad Street originally had about nine platforms that progressively fell into disuse as the station crumbled away around them. It dropped down to 3 for most of the final few years, and one at the very end.

Epsom Downs in its prime had 9 platforms but they progressively fell into disuse until one remained. Even that was swept away in 1989 when a new station was built about quarter of a mile short of the old station.

 

[d9009alycidon]

There were quite a number of now totally closed stations that for the last few years of their existence remained open with considerably fewer platforms in use compared to their heyday, Liverpool Exchange and Central come to mind, and Glasgow St Enoch remained open for parcels traffic with that traffic using two platforms

 

[Western Lord]

There were quite a number of now totally closed stations that for the last few years of their existence remained open with considerably fewer platforms in use compared to their heyday, Liverpool Exchange and Central come to mind, and Glasgow St Enoch remained open for parcels traffic with that traffic using two platforms

On that basis, Birmingham Snow Hill and Nottingham Victoria must take the biscuit.

 

[Ian Hardy]

Ashford International has had the current Platforms 1 and 4 built, split and rebuilt once or twice, does that count?

On a related note, are the bay platforms at Twickenham still used?

Twickenham pt 1 has been closed and was not included in the recent resignalling. Pt 2 has been given a new signal but on 11/04/2021 there was a metal temporary fence across it about where the public footbridge goes across the station, which was probably left from the station refurbishment.

 

[thedbdiboy]

Broad Street originally had about nine platforms that progressively fell into disuse as the station crumbled away around them. It dropped down to 3 for most of the final few years, and one at the very end.

Broad Street was built with 8, had a ninth added, was reduced to 5 in 1970, down to 4 from 1977, and then from 1985 to closure in mid-1986 only had one in use.

 

[ClagLover]

Ormskirk has one platform out of use with the track lifted. Both the Preston and Liverpool services arrive/depart from opposite ends of the same platform.

 

[topydre]

Aberystwyth: 5 - > 1. Even the Vale of Rheidol no longer uses the Carmarthen bays.
Of course, when the VoR had a separate station just next door to the 5-platform GWR/WR Station (before the Carmarthen Line closed) , it could be argued to have more than 5...

 

[Quakers Yard]

Pontypridd has 6 or 7 if you include the cattle/fish dock platform which still has track.