Trivia: Stations with bay platform which can take HSTs

[sprinterguy]

So a HST is 0.25km long?

0.22km long for a 2+8 set and 0.24km for a 2+9 set, yep.

I'd also guess the buffered sets are different lengths.

Yes, Grand Central, who lease all the buffer fitted power cars that have not been taken into test train use, operate a mix of shorter 2+5 and 2+6 sets.

 

[glbotu]

So a HST is 0.25km long?
I'd also guess the buffered sets are different lengths.

A 2+9 HST is 243m, a 2+8 is 220 m.

(18m HST + 23m MkIII)

So, to the nearest quarter kilometre, yes on EC.

 

[Darandio]

York I think could.

York certainly can, I've seen a 91/Mk4 set in there on more than one occasion. In fact, here is a (not mine) photo.

 

[Starmill]

There are three categories coming out here. The first is what IanXC was actually thinking about - and is fairly rare. Platforms where HSTs regularly call which could be described as 'bays'. Aberdeen, York and Leeds have all been mentioned many times and they regularly take 2+9 HSTs (although only just at Aberdeen ). The rest are mostly bay platforms that have been set up to take 10-12 20m commuter EMU vehicles mostly, and are typically in places HSTs have never ventured. Often these just happen to be bays for some reason and in some cases these are bays by accident more than design (like at Portsmouth and Southsea). I suppose a final category takes that one step further to include places like Manchester Piccadilly and London St Pancras - where it really depends how far we're willing to stretch the definition of a bay in order to include them.

 

[PHILIPE]

Bristol Temple Meads, surely... At least one side of one of the islands has only a buffer stop at one end.

Platform 13 which, together with 15, is used all day for the half-hourly Paddington turn-rounds.

 

[Mag_seven]

I'me sure at least one of the east facing bays at Edinburgh Waverley (P3 or P4 or both) can take an HST?

 

[30907]

York was in the OP, I don't think the Newcastle bays would take HST's, certainly not 2+9 anyway.

The surviving East bay at Newcastle was used for terminating Cross Country HSTs but they were 2+7, but I think that was before the additional through platforms were built. They had to run via the HL Bridge.

 

[Quakers Yard]

Fareham?

 

[Clip]

Is plat 4 at Margate long enough? Seems it can hold a double javelin set

 

[DarloRich]

Technically, an HST fits at least one of the bays at Darlington - but again I assume you mean to discount anything less than a 2+8 set?

Only a fun size one

York has long bay platforms.
Newcastle Central has HSTs in bays now I think.

York is used regularly. I often use the 16:01 to Kings Cross which runs out of Platform 6
The bays at Newcastle are too short.

 

[jopsuk]

At York, having a through EC train that has limited stops south of there pull in to the end of platform 5 allows cross platform changes to the following stopping services out of platform 6.

 

[306024]

Colchester P4 apparently has 256m in use. I can't quite tell it it's a bay though, I've never been there and NRE says it's disused!

And if you did visit you would find it in use all the time. Platform 4 joins to the up main through platform 3. The not in use bit is misleading as that is where you walk between 3 and 4, but as the track physically moves away from the platform edge you can't board a train from that bit.

So 4 isn't a bay but 5 and 6 are. 5 would take a proper HST, 6 would be a squeeze but OK for shorter ones.

Add platforms 1 and 3 at Harwich International to the list, but you may be in for a long wait.

 

[SignalSighting]

I'me sure at least one of the east facing bays at Edinburgh Waverley (P3 or P4 or both) can take an HST?

Crosscountry HSTs used to change ends in the West end docks at the Waverley every day. Years ago I was on an Aberdeen to Penzance service which used 16, for example.

 

[smudga331]

Harwich International P3 would. It has comfortably held a 90 with 9 MK3's and a MK3 DVT on many occasions for the old boat train. Until they started using a 12 carriage 321 for them

 

[Busaholic]

Truro used to see failed Virgin CrossCountry HSTs in the bay platform next to the London bound platform, NOT the Falmouth branch bay. Happened at least two or three times in the late 1990s.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Harwich International P3 would. It has comfortably held a 90 with 9 MK3's and a MK3 DVT on many occasions for the old boat train. Until they started using a 12 carriage 321 for them

Aren't HSTs banned/not passed on the GEML though?

 

[swt_passenger]

The surviving East bay at Newcastle was used for terminating Cross Country HSTs but they were 2+7, but I think that was before the additional through platforms were built. They had to run via the HL Bridge.

That seems to be a far longer train than platform, a 2+7 HST is over 190m, and measuring back from the current platform end it would have to reach almost the centre of the main train shed, which would have been well beyond the buffers. I don't think the platform has been reduced in length at all?

 

[matchmaker]

Stirling (Platform 10).

Are you sure? Doesn't look long enough to me.

 

[30907]

That seems to be a far longer train than platform, a 2+7 HST is over 190m, and measuring back from the current platform end it would have to reach almost the centre of the main train shed, which would have been well beyond the buffers. I don't think the platform has been reduced in length at all?

Platform 1 (as it now is) can hold 8 cars according to Trackmaps, so the difference isn't that great. Can't find a photo online at the moment.

 

[Craglad1975]

Inverness can take a HST

 

[Liam]

Inverness can take a HST

Yes it can, but it's a terminal station.

 

[najaB]

Inverness can take a HST

Ah, but is Inverness a 'through station' as per the OP?

Edit: Must remember to go to the next page before hitting reply - beaten to it by a mere 11 hours!

 

[Railsigns]

Ah, but is Inverness a 'through station' as per the OP?

It may become so, as there is an aspiration to build a platform on the Rose Street Curve.

 

[43074]

Aren't HSTs banned/not passed on the GEML though?

There were various HST charters in the late 90s IIRC? They visited Norwich, Southminster & Southend Victoria amongst other places. There are various photos somewhere too.

Also Mk3s are regulars on the GEML so I don't see why an HST should be an issue?

 

[najaB]

It may become so, as there is an aspiration to build a platform on the Rose Street Curve.

That'll be interesting! Do you have any links to what's being proposed? I've had a quick search but nothing's come up. Thanks.

 

[Railsigns]

That'll be interesting! Do you have any links to what's being proposed? I've had a quick search but nothing's come up. Thanks.

I haven't seen anything on-line yet but there is a desire for regular (hourly?) services between Dingwall and Elgin. The new platform at Inverness, together with other infrastructure enhancements (e.g. a new loop and station at Dalcross) would be needed to facilitate this.

 

[najaB]

I haven't seen anything on-line yet but there is a desire for regular (hourly?) services between Dingwall and Elgin. The new platform at Inverness, together with other infrastructure enhancements (e.g. a new loop and station at Dalcross) would be needed to facilitate this.

Ah, I've seen that mentioned in the the Aberdeen-Inverness improvement proposals, but always assumed they were talking about journey opportunities (change at Inverness) rather than actual through trains. Guess I need some comprehension practice.