Trivia: Current stations which used to have more platforms.

[steamybrian]

We must mention what served the Somerset & Dorset Railway-

Templecombe in its prime had 5 platforms (?)- including low level -and now has one in use.
Highbridge in its prime had 5 platforms (?) and now has two

 

[sprinterguy]

On a similar note to above, didn't Sunderland once have two islands?

Yep, the redundant West island is still there: The screen wall that was put up at the time of the Metro extension is built on the edge of it.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Dumfries - unsure if it was 1 or 2 bays where the lines from Stranrar and the West used to terminate, now staff parking. be good in my opinion to use some carpark on the Carlisle side to create a new bay and offer an hourly service to Carlisle which, assuming a 100mph capable DMU was used, making the stretch from Gretna to Carlisle on the WCML faster and easier to path, would be possible I think?

better still wire up Gretna>Dumfries making the whole thing a faster more viable proposition and with a bit of luck removing some traffic from the A75.↲

 

[317663]

We must mention what served the Somerset & Dorset Railway-

Templecombe in its prime had 5 platforms (?)- including low level -and now has one in use.
Highbridge in its prime had 5 platforms (?) and now has two

did crewkerne have quite a few back in the 1900s? Obviously it has one but * am sure i read or heard somewhere....

 

[Maxfly]

Kilmarnock

Helensburgh Upper
Stromeferry
Beauly
Conon Bridge
Fearn
Wemyss Bay
Oban
Kilmaurs

 

[Eeveevolve]

Huddersfield used to have platforms 3 and 7.

They haven't even numbered the remaining 6 to take that into account.

 

[RichmondCommu]

Yep, the redundant West island is still there: The screen wall that was put up at the time of the Metro extension is built on the edge of it.

When was the island platform taken out of use?

 

[Springs Branch]

Wigan North Western, before rebuilding in the early 1970s, had 10 platforms. Five through roads, four south-facing bays and one north-facing bay (used when there were trains to Blackburn via Boar's Head and Chorley)

 

[RobShipway]

Prestatyn, used to have 4 platforms in use and now only has two platforms.

 

[jopsuk]

Stirling's Platform 1 is conspicuous by its absence

 

[Mark62]

Bridlington had 6 platforms. Sadly there is a new housing estate on most of them now.

In days gone by on summer Saturdays, long distance trains with 12 carriages would go to places like London, Birmingham, Glasgow , Newcastle. Plus there were many merrymaker excursions running to Bridlington.

All that is left now are 2 coach DMUs running up down between Scarborough and Hull. People from further afield simply don't bother travelling to Bridlington, Filey and Scarborough because its too much hassle to change trains, carry heavy cases and have to stand on overcrowded 2 coach trains.

You would have to be insane to put yourself through that kind of hell. If the trains don't run then people can't travel. There is absolutely no interest in the North of England in providing travel opportunities for holiday makers.

Oh yes Scarborough also has lost most of its platforms and sidings. I remember them being full of lines of coaches every weekend between May and September. Now there aren't any trains and consequently there are not any holiday makers any more. If people want to travel there are enough disincentives not to bother.

Progress? Don't make me laugh.

 

[mlambeuk]

York used to have 11 bay platforms, 2 Northbound, 5 west/ South bound and 4 East bound (Scarborough branch). Now it only has 5 bay platforms (2 north bound, 3 West/ south and 1 East). I think the number of through platforms has remained the same though (6).
Scarborough is has lost a few platforms, to a car/ bus park.

 

[steamybrian]

Kemble used to have 4 now has 2
Swindon had more platforms than now but unsure how many?
Chippenham had 4 but now has 2
Westbury had 4 now has 3
Honeybourne had 4 was then closed, reopened with 1 now has 2.

 

[CalderRail]

The original station at Sowerby Bridge was on the site now occupied by Tesco, almost opposite what was the mpd.

Then, the "new" station at Sowerby Bridge, completed in 1876, had 5 platforms!

I stand corrected.

Thanks for the info on Halifax. Have you a link to any more detail, as Google only finds a Network Rail document from 2011 saying unspecified capacity enhancements may be needed.

Where was the bay at Todmorden? I can't see any room on either side on aerial photography, and the buildings look as if they would prevent anything longer than 2 cars even if the relevant platform was extended towards the viaduct. In any case I can't see the need for the Blackpool train to reverse here, as it would make an already fairly slow train take 10 or so minutes longer, with the only advantage being that passengers between Todmorden and beyond Blackburn would avoid a change of train somewhere in between.

Bear in mind that since the Holme Tunnel works there's a lot more slack in the timetable, as Trains can do 45mph (rather than 20) through the Tunnel.

That said, the forthcoming re-timetabling (which I have a copy of, if anyone is interested) may shave that slack back down again.

As I've said before on these forums, an integrated bus/rail exchange in Halifax was an opportunity missed when goods lines were removed and the station rationalised in the 1970s; and again, later, when the original bus station was moved from the Crossfield site to the existing "new" one off Winding Road.

I am very interested to read from your post that there are now actually plans for a bus station to be built by the removal of the bridge, taxi-rank and car-park area. Someone has been listening to me!!

However, as any such new interchange would be on the site of the present car-park for Eureka! [and as far as I know, although they may be giving-up their premises on platform 3, they are remaining in their present building on what used to be the goods yard].

So I'm afraid I'll reserve my full rejoicing until I see the actual plans! So, can you provide a source, please?

It was an item in the Calderdale Council budget consultation, over matched funding discussions between the Railway, West Yorks Metro, Westminster and the Council.

It's all tied into the council's remodelling of the Piece Hall & Square Chapel area to give greater access from the station area to the Market Street area.

 

[Welshman]

It was an item in the Calderdale Council budget consultation, over matched funding discussions between the Railway, West Yorks Metro, Westminster and the Council.

It's all tied into the council's remodelling of the Piece Hall & Square Chapel area to give greater access from the station area to the Market Street area.

Right- thank you.

I shall look forward to seeing any progress based on that consultation.

 

[Joseph_Locke]

Bolton used to have five but currently has 4. The station manager claims Network Rail has plans to re-add the 5th next year but there's a lot of scepticism around his claims as he hasn't shown any proof.

He hasn't got any proof, yet, but neither is he lying ...

 

[AndyHudds]

Huddersfield used to have platforms 3 and 7.

They haven't even numbered the remaining 6 to take that into account.

Was frantically searching and couldn't believe no one had mentioned Huddersfield......but then I came across your post. Yes, there was two bays, one next to Platform form 2 and one at the Leeds end of the Platform 1 and yes they haven't either bothered renumbering the other platforms to take the omissions into account.

 

[jopsuk]

The old Alloa station had two through platforms and two (west facing) bays, all as a single island. The current Alloa station, on a different site, has a single bay (that could be converted to a through by the addition of points to the east)

 

[TB]

Ilkley had two additional platforms (now buried under the M&S car park)
Keighley had one (a bay platform on the Leeds/Bradford side of the tracks)
Skipton had one (used for trains to Ilkley, platform itself may still be in situ?)

 

[Kite159]

Twickenham had 2 platforms to the north of platform 3 which are not used anymore (I think the track is still in place, but they have been fenced off)

 

[CalderRail]

Right- thank you.

I shall look forward to seeing any progress based on that consultation.

Oh no, the consultation was on the budget!

My understanding is that the station works is a done deal. That's why there are track elements piled up on the disused trackbed south of the station, and why there was that weekend of signal works closing Halifax a few weeks back.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Was frantically searching and couldn't believe no one had mentioned Huddersfield......but then I came across your post. Yes, there was two bays, one next to Platform form 2 and one at the Leeds end of the Platform 1 and yes they haven't either bothered renumbering the other platforms to take the omissions into account.

Switching to pedant mode for a moment, at Huddersfield the current Platform 2 is on the alignment of the original Platform 1- which was built out and widened in the late 1980s. The original Platform 2 is where the old Mk.1 is berthed, opposite the current one. Platform 3 was at the Leeds end of platform 1, and prior to being removed was usually used for parcels or berthing an 08 or a spare loco. Platform 7 is now the flowerbed between 4 and 8, behind the signal box, and doesn't look like it could've accomodated anything longer than a 2-car DMU- though it might have been longer before the signal box was built (in around the 1950s I think). There is a new through platform planned beyond P8, though I'd expect the numbering to be tidied up at that time, given that the signalling will likely be renewed as part of the electrification works.

 

[scarby]

Scarborough is has lost a few platforms, to a car/ bus park.

Yes, Scarborough used to have 10, that's including including platform 1A for the Whitby branch.

Then for many years it had 9. Then as you state it "lost" 6-9, though the roofing is still there, the platforms have simply been removed and as you say, converted into a little-used car park.

It currently has 5 and needs all of those in the summer.

 

[L&Y Robert]

Where was the bay at Todmorden? I can't see any room on either side on aerial photography, and the buildings look as if they would prevent anything longer than 2 cars even if the relevant platform was extended towards the viaduct. In any case I can't see the need for the Blackpool train to reverse here, as it would make an already fairly slow train take 10 or so minutes longer, with the only advantage being that passengers between Todmorden and beyond Blackburn would avoid a change of train somewhere in between.

At the Leeds end, and on the Town side. It required some robust engineering to accommodate it, still to be seen from the road. They called it "The Bay", and it was long enough for a standard tank engine and 3 coaches. With my Ma and Pa and two sisters, I have caught the train for Burnley from there on many Saturday afternoons. The train was for Preston, possibly Blackpool.

There was also a through road on the other side, the hill side, which had a platform face for part of its length at the Manchester end. It meandered round behind platform 2 buildings and joined the running line just short of the viaduct. It was long disused at the time of my use of the Blackpool train above.

 

[deltic08]

Darlington had two bay platforms for Bishop Auckland till the '80s. Access was before the main station.

Northallerton had several including a low level station for a short period. Never sure how the mainline ones were as the station is now on a fairly narrow embankment.

Northallerton High Level had 6 platforms. There was a south facing bay to the east of the current up platform and is still in situ without track but fenced off. The current down platform was part of an island platform and part of he outer face is still in situ fenced off but the northern end has been removed, together with the two north facing Hawes bay platforms within the island, for car parking. The outer face and south facing bay were decommissioned with the closure of the Ripon line in 1967.

Harrogate used to have 9 platforms now only two with an out of use east facing bay used for stabling units overnight. Again most decommissioned after closure of the Wetherby line in 1964 and Ripon line in 1967.

Lydney Junction had 5 platforms until the line across the Severn Bridge to Sharpness was severed in November 1960 reduced it to 3. The rarely used up bay platform was decommissioned sometime in the 1960s and track removed when Westbury-on-Severn, Newnham and Awre stations closed. Grange Court Junction also lost two platforms on the main line at this time but retained two on the Hereford branch until closure in 1965 together with Oakle Street station.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Bridlington used to have 8 platforms, two through platforms and a bay 1-3 on the west side and two through platforms, 4&5 and three excursion bay platforms 6,7,8 on the east side. 1-3 were taken out of use about 1980 and short-sightedly sold for housing. Excursion platforms 7&8 were decommissioned at about the same time but still present and derelict in 2007 leaving only three platforms 4,5,6.

 

[03_179]

Can't believe no one has mentioned Clapham Juntion:

17 platforms listed but Platform 1 never used and track removed.

Whitby used to have 4 platforms and now just the one (until the NYMR extrnsion is finished then there will be 2)

 

[sprinterguy]

When was the island platform taken out of use?

The Western island was taken out of passenger use when the station was rebuilt in 1966. It was, however, retained for use by parcels services and I am unsure how long it survived acting in this capacity: Perhaps until 1981, when the nearby Brian Mills parcel depot closed? Looking at photos online, the track had certainly been lifted by 1987, which is the only state that I ever saw it in.

 

[Elecman]

Kings Cross appears to have lost platform 93/4

 

[03_179]

Kings Cross appears to have lost platform 93/4

It's still there next to the bookshop.

 

[D6975]

Weston S-M is another seaside town that used to have a load of excursion platforms. Just 2 platforms now. The excursion platforms even had their own name despite being immediately adjacent to the 'main' station.