Trivia: Platforms you never see certain trains depart from

[DanNCL]

Platform 8 at Newcastle never seems to get used for much, but as it can't take anything longer than a 2 car Pacer it isn't really of much use. I don't even think I've seen a 156 in platform 8.

 

[driver_m]

When was the last time VTWC used a Voyager at Manchester ?

They've probably gone through 13 or 14 a few times, but as for an actual Manchester service . I can't recall one for years. Picc & Euston drivers don't all sign Voyagers so it is real last resort stuff to use one and likely also need an electrical isolation somewhere enroute as well to require one.

 

[fairysdad]

158881 at EXD

• fairysdad
• 11 Mar 2018

SWT 158881 sat in Platform 2 (the north-facing bay platform) at Exeter St Davids station.

Looking through the photos copied from my old phone, came across this one - SWT's 158881 sat in the (north-facing!) bay platform (2) at Exeter St Davids back in August 16. My guess is that the usual sidings SWT use were full or otherwise not available for some reason that day.

 

[Bungle965]

When was the last time VTWC used a Voyager at Manchester ?

Most likely this.
https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/virgin-birmingham-to-manchester.152961/#post-3109064
Sam

 

[Clansman]

Edit: Indeed, the Plymouth service does, based on RTT.

I've used that one a few times and it's always sitting at 2.

 

[najaB]

I've used that one a few times and it's always sitting at 2.

It's scheduled to use 1S and I've caught it from there, though it was a couple of years back.

 

[xotGD]

I arrived into Platform 1 at Manchester Oxford Road on a westbound TPE service during the snow. First time I've known that to happen.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

158881 at EXD

• fairysdad
• 11 Mar 2018

SWT 158881 sat in Platform 2 (the north-facing bay platform) at Exeter St Davids station.

Looking through the photos copied from my old phone, came across this one - SWT's 158881 sat in the (north-facing!) bay platform (2) at Exeter St Davids back in August 16. My guess is that the usual sidings SWT use were full or otherwise not available for some reason that day.

Would SW crews sign that bay? More likely it's a set loaned to GWR, especially as its a 158 rather than 159.

 

[Howezy_21]

Theale Platform 3, usually only used by freight trains but during the week long engineering works on the B&H line between Newbury and Theale it is being used as the terminating platform for the shuttle trains to Reading

 

[PHILIPE]

Would SW crews sign that bay? More likely it's a set loaned to GWR, especially as its a 158 rather than 159.

I should think they would sign it as they go past it all day into the Sidings. This is most likely to be the regular hire which, on occasions, swapped jobs and worked 1C45 1318 Bristol TM to Exeter into Platform and stabled there for a while before going off to Paignton.

 

[Millisle]

Inverness Platform 7 is *weird*. I departed from it once and had a bit of a panic until I worked out where it was... I think there are only two (?) in the shed that link to the line going north, so presumably a third is occasionally required...

I've never seen anything use Platform 0 (the west-facing bay) at Haymarket.

Platform 7 at Inverness used to be much less obscure, extending quite close to the trainshed until truncated to create a car park. I remember it well as it was. Perhaps others recall exactly when that happened, but I could only now estimate vaguely the '80s to the early '90s.

 

[gsnedders]

Platform 0 was created for the electrification of the Haymarket tunnels when services were running around the Sub. These days it only generally sees use during periods of disruption (e.g. the Forth Road Bridge closure mentioned above).

My only times in there have been during the electrification of the Haymarket tunnels and once since, on an ex-Aberdeen train which was terminated short so that the return working would be on time (how they dealt with the trolley I don't know; staff at least can just be put on a train to Haymarket once the decision to terminate had been made, though we were only told quite close to arriving).

The early morning XC service to Penzance used to use it, not sure if that's that's still the case.

Edit: Indeed, the Plymouth service does, based on RTT.

There's some ScotRail train booked in 1, then, right?

 

[hexagon789]

Largs platform 1 never seems to get used, everything leaves from no. 2.

 

[najaB]

There's some ScotRail train booked in 1, then, right?

That's the way I remember it, yes.

 

[lewisdicks]

Largs platform 1 never seems to get used, everything leaves from no. 2.

I used to live in Largs: The 0722 and 1953 services to Glasgow Central use these platforms. Also used to store the last services from Central. Generally only ever used when Platform 2 is occupied (but the numbering is confusing)

 

[hexagon789]

I used to live in Largs: The 0722 and 1953 services to Glasgow Central use these platforms. Also used to store the last services from Central. Generally only ever used when Platform 2 is occupied (but the numbering is confusing)

Not least because platform 2 used to be 3 and 1 was 4 I believe. I'd no idea that 1 was ever used as such, I suppose it's to keep the rails clean in effect.

 

[Andrew Nelson]

Platform 2 a Hartlepool?

 

[DanNCL]

Platform 2 a Hartlepool?

That's used by the parliamentary service to Darlington on a Sunday, but otherwise isn't used for anything.

 

[Andrew Nelson]

That's used by the parliamentary service to Darlington on a Sunday, but otherwise isn't used for anything.

Really?

Good to know.

Always looked very much rusted over.

 

[driver_m]

I'll give you a challenge. Platform 3 at Holyhead. Have any of you ever seen a Voyager in there in recent years?

Also platform 7 Chester?

Think this has already been mentioned, anything of ours from p2 at Milton Keynes?

 

[pompeyfan]

I’ve got one, trains traveling up the down at Fratton, not including services that have been turned back at Fratton.

 

[Cletus]

Javelins from platforms 1 or 2 at Ashford International.

Because it's physically impossible to reach HS1 from those platforms without reversing at least once!

Was at Ashford a year or so ago when there was 1x 395 at platform 5, 2x395 at platform 6 and 2x395 sitting at platform 2.

 

[route101]

Class 390s , 220/221s and 91 set on Glasgows platforms 9 to 11. Not seen one in a while .

 

[najaB]

Class 390s , 220/221s and 91 set on Glasgows platforms 9 to 11. Not seen one in a while .

As noted above, 11-carriage 390s are too long, so VT stick to 1 and 2.

 

[Marton]

That's used by the parliamentary service to Darlington on a Sunday, but otherwise isn't used for anything.

Is this a parliamentary service now GC use the line to Eaglescliffe ? Or don’t open access services count as they’re not part of a formal franchise?

 

[DanNCL]

Is this a parliamentary service now GC use the line to Eaglescliffe ? Or don’t open access services count as they’re not part of a formal franchise?

Its a parliamentary service as it's the only train of the week to link Hartlepool and Darlington, and it's also the only train that stops at Teesside Airport.

 

[route101]

As noted above, 11-carriage 390s are too long, so VT stick to 1 and 2.

Ive seen pendos in there before , im sure 11 is the longest at central .

 

[DenmarkRail]

In all my years of frequent rail travel around Birmingham & Manchester, i've never seen:

4) Stafford P4 or 5 being used for fastest Euston services via Nuneaton

Over the Xmas period VTWC operated an hourly service alternating to Glasgow and Edinburgh, and then the return to London via BHM... Although not via Nuneaton as you said. these used platform 4 and 5... I also think the daily Preston and Hollyhead services use these platforms, and the daily VT Manchester runs, although may be wrong.

G

 

[DenmarkRail]

Over the Xmas period VTWC operated an hourly service alternating to Glasgow and Edinburgh, and then the return to London via BHM... Although not via Nuneaton as you said. these used platform 4 and 5... I also think the daily Preston and Hollyhead services use these platforms, and the daily VT Manchester runs, although may be wrong.

G

Just checked this out, and it appears VT do operate on Platform 4 / 5 although all trains on these lines go via BHM.

 

[Deafdoggie]

Just checked this out, and it appears VT do operate on Platform 4 / 5 although all trains on these lines go via BHM.

Stafford platform 1 is for Trent Valley to London
Stafford Platform 3 is for Trent Valley from Euston
Stafford Platform 4 is for Birmingham
Stafford Platform 5 is from Birmingham
Stafford platform 6 was for local services via Rugely to Hednesford (south end) and local service to Norton Bridge, Barlaston and Wedgwood (North end) So is no longer used at all!
Stafford Platform 2 does not exist

Using platforms other than for this causes conflicting movements, which the remodelling at Norton Bridge was designed to avoid, so very unlikely to see anything different in normal circumstances