Trivia: Stations which have had platforms removed.

[65477]

Two odd examples in East Anglia. Sudbury and Sheringham both lost a platform when they became termini but then the remaining platform in each case was replaced by a new, single platform, station.

 

[AM9]

There are also the central island platforms that are sealed off along the SWML along the 'paired by direction' section:

New Malden​

Esher​

Walton-on-Thames​

West Byfleet​

Farnborough​

Winchfield​

& Hook​

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Two odd examples in East Anglia. Sudbury and Sheringham both lost a platform when they became termini but then the remaining platform in each case was replaced by a new, single platform, station.

Isn't the present day Sudbury station in Suffolk essentially a re-sited station? (And fairly sure that the previous station only had a single operational platform by the late 1960's, so removal/closure of what was once there previously, will be outwith the OP's timeframe).

 

[weepingwillowb]

Bricket Wood lost one of its two platforms when the crossing loop was removed in the mid-1960s.

 

[Bigfoot]

There are also the central island platforms that are sealed off along the SWML along the 'paired by direction' section:

New Malden​

New Malden platform is actually still 'open' for use and a couple of times a year it will be used to detrain during an incident. The other stations either have no platform at all or are not certified for passenger use.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Think it was 1-3 that went during the remodelling.

Fairly sure it was platforms 1-4 (at Manchester Victoria) that went out of use in 1973.

 

[uglymonkey]

Exmouth 4 to 1 ( nearly 0) - ok Beeching.

 

[Stuwhu]

Bridlington has lost a fair few over the years

 

[steamybrian]

There are also the central island platforms that are sealed off along the SWML along the 'paired by direction' section:

New Malden​

Esher​

Walton-on-Thames​

West Byfleet​

Farnborough​

Winchfield​

& Hook​

All were closed many, many years ago.
I thought the discussion was about platforms closed in recent times since the 1990s

Moorgate and Barbican both lost two platforms when the Thameslink services were withdrawn to these stations.

 

[Western 52]

Carmarthen went from 5 platforms to 1, but one since reopened.

 

[Falcon1200]

West Kilbride and Fairlie each lost one due to singling

And Ardrossan South Beach! But great list BTW.

 

[noddingdonkey]

Huddersfield is missing 3 and 7, and the current 2 is not the original. Platform 1 was widened building over the original line and using a through line between platforms as the new platform 1 line. The new 2 is what remains of the original 1.

 

[adc82140]

There are also the central island platforms that are sealed off along the SWML along the 'paired by direction'

Farnborough​

Farnborough also had London facing bays both up and down side which were removed around the time of electrification due to platform lengthening.

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

Newton Abbot lost one main up platform in 1986 resignalling - the isolated Moretonhampstead bay went in 1959, but used for some years by Motorail.

Newquay reduced to one platform (from 3) in 1986, but happily a second platform is being reinstated.

Plymouth had through Platforms 2 and 3 converted to bays in 1974 - only Platform 3 (west) now in use for Gunnislake. Platform 1 (Tavistock GW bay) long gone.

Truro lost one up platform in the '70s . Barnstaple Junction reduced to one platform in 1987 - talk of reinstating a second platform.

 

[Wychwood93]

Basingstoke - the former Alton branch - still there and adjacent to the current platform 1. I am uncertain whether there were formerly one or two platforms for the GWR branch from Reading. If it was two, then that would be another one to add!

 

[geordieblue]

Harrogate has a north end bay which I don’t think has been used for passengers since the 90s, although it’s still used for stabling. If it faced in the Leeds direction it’d probably be more useful!

 

[satisnek]

The examples mentioned pale into insignificance compared to the original Birmingham Snow Hill!

Well yes, Birmingham Snow Hill (the present one) which lost Platform 4 to make space for the original alignment of the tramway. Not clever, but it provided a great excuse for reinstating a couple of the terminal platforms at Moor Street

 

[MadMac]

And Ardrossan South Beach! But great list BTW.

I wondered about South Beach, just couldn’t remember the configuration there.

 

[bramling]

Surprisingly in recent years there has been a few stations that have lost platforms. So i am trying to make a list of stations which have had the amount of platforms reduced.

I am sure there are probably hundreds and hundreds of examples back in the Beeching days. Especially when many lines were singled and stations were reduced. So i guess for the purpose of this thread i am looking at platforms removed in recent times. So maybe since the 1990s.

I can think of the following six:

• Blackpool North - Went from 8 to 6 platforms. It lost P7 and P8 in 2016. This was done to provide space to extend and widen the other six platforms.

• London Euston - Went from 18 to 16 platforms. It lost P17 and P18 in 2019. This was done to make space for the new HS2 station construction.

• London Liverpool Street - Went from 18 to 17 platforms. It lost P18 in 2021. This was done to provide space to extend and widen P16 and P17.

• London Paddington - Went from 14 to 13 platforms. It lost P13 in 2016. This was done to provide space to extend P12 and widen P14.

• Newcastle - Went from 12 to 11 platforms. It lost P12 in 2023. This was done to provide space for a signal to be relocated so longer trains could use P11. This platform still fully exists but has just simply had the track removed so there is an empty trackbed.

• Portsmouth Harbour - Went from 5 to 4 platforms. It lost P2 in the mid 1990s (not sure on the exact year). This was done because of some structural problem. This platform still fully exists but has just simply had the track removed so there is an empty trackbed.

I am sure there are probably others i have missed? Can anyone think of any other stations that have lost platforms in recent years?

Couple of obscure ones:

* Putney Bridge and Mansion House lost their bay platforms as part of preparations for the recent resignalling
* Chalfont & Latimer effectively lost its bay platform as part of preparations for the S stock, though is remains in situ but no passenger trains are short enough to be able to use it
* North Shields bay platform is now unavailable for passenger use, but still in situ.

 

[plugwash]

• London Liverpool Street - Went from 18 to 17 platforms. It lost P18 in 2021. This was done to provide space to extend and widen P16 and P17.

OTOH it gained platforms A and B in 2022. So overall a net increase.

 

[cadder toad]

Milngavie, Helensburgh Central, Oban. Not sure about Coatbridge Central.

 

[james73]

Wigan North Western - platform 2 was taken out to extend the length of P3
Glasgow Central - gained one platform overall when 11a was taken out and the lines run into the shed for what is now 12 & 13
Edinburgh Haymarket - gained P0
Largs - lost two platforms as part of the electrification programme in the mid 80s
Wemyss Bay - lost its P3 at some point 1987 or 1988

Largs only lost one in the 1980s. Platform 1 was taken out of use in the 1970s. The two middle roads in each bay were removed in the 80s, along with P2.

 

[dk1]

Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth have both lost platform 1. The former around 1970 with Yarmouth losing its in 2018. Both have never seen the other three platforms renumbered hence why they both now have 2, 3 & 4.

 

[CyrusWuff]

London Waterloo technically lost Platforms 25 and 26 when the Waterloo and City Line was transferred to London Underground in 1994.

 

[Falcon1200]

I wondered about South Beach, just couldn’t remember the configuration there.

Two lines through the station, and as at West Kilbride the former Up line is non-electrified and used only by Up freights (now hardly any, sadly). Conventional double (electrified) track resumes at the crossover (192 IIRC) between South Beach and Saltcoats.

Should a half-hourly Largs service ever be deemed necessary, not only would the Up Freight line from Hunterston require wiring, the missing platforms would have to be reinstated too.

 

[Mat17]

Amendment to my previous post. Lincoln's actually lost 3 platforms. The original 1 and 2, plus what I assume was platform 8, which is now the overgrown platform at the furthest end of the station.

 

[Bradford PA]

Baildon lost its P2 in 1983, & Shipley lost its P6 around 1979 I think due to 2 trains not being able to fit on P5 &6 at the same time due to the tight alignment

Shipley lost P1 around 1979 for the reason quoted above. P2 became bidirectional. A single platform (No.5), also bidirectional was introduced on the Leeds-Keighley side of the triangle. A further platform was later introduced opposite this for Leeds-bound trains and the platforms were then re-numbered. The newest platform is P1, P5 became P2 and P2 was changed to P5, P's 3 & 4 remaining as before. Shipley has never had 6 platforms at any one time.

 

[Ashley Hill]

Pangbourne lost its mainline platforms.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Pangbourne lost its mainline platforms.

When were the former fast line platforms at Pangbourne closed/removed?

 

[Ashley Hill]

When were the former fast line platforms at Pangbourne closed/removed?

I believe in the 1970s to allow 125mph running.