Why does Hayes & Harlington have a bay platform?

[Jorge Da Silva]

Here is my question:

All of the supposed Crossrail timetable diagrams suggest that no services will terminate at Hayes & Hartington so why did they keep Platform 5. Is there any plans for it long term when Crossrail is fully running. There is no suggestion that services that terminate from Paddington will stay.

 

[Bald Rick]

It’s in use now. And when I say now, I mean right now!

 

[Jorge Da Silva]

It’s in use now. And when I say now, I mean right now!

I know that but what happens when the full timetable is in. Like this timetable diagram from Londonist suggests no services will terminate at the station after the full timetable is in operation.

http://assets.londonist.com/uploads/2018/08/purple_train_frequencies_large.jpg

 

[mattdickinson]

I know that but what happens when the full timetable is in. Like this timetable diagram from Londonist suggests no services will terminate at the station after the full timetable is in operation.

http://assets.londonist.com/uploads/2018/08/purple_train_frequencies_large.jpg

It's quite useful if the Heathrow branch is not available for any reason.

 

[Jorge Da Silva]

It's quite useful if the Heathrow branch is not available for any reason.

So its probably likely to be used for a back up in case the Heathrow tunnels are out of use?

 

[Bald Rick]

Sorry, I read your question as “why did they keep the bay platform”. It was kept because it is needed. When, eventually, the full Crossrail service starts, it won’t be used in normal service. But there’s no point spending cash to unbuild something that costs next to nothing to keep.

 

[coppercapped]

If one considers the situation it is clear that it is being retained because it's a useful bolthole to hold and reverse services from the east if anything blocks either the Airport branch or the Relief Lines further west. It may be the key to keeping Crossrail running at all if things go belly up.

A bit of redundancy can come in useful.

 

[Jorge Da Silva]

Sorry, I read your question as “why did they keep the bay platform”. It was kept because it is needed. When, eventually, the full Crossrail service starts, it won’t be used in normal service. But there’s no point spending cash to unbuild something that costs next to nothing to keep.

If one considers the situation it is clear that it is being retained because it's a useful bolthole to hold and reverse services from the east if anything blocks either the Airport branch or the Relief Lines further west. It may be the key to keeping Crossrail running at all if things go belly up.

A bit of redundancy can come in useful.

Seems to answer my question. A useful backup. Seems sensible

 

[coppercapped]

Yup. Sometimes people know what they are doing...