Platform numbering on SW Main Line

[RedPostJunc]

I have always wondered why the platforms at Southampton Central are numbered:

<<<<Main entrance >>>
----------- 1 ------------- up
----------- 2 ------------- up
----------- 3 ------------- down
----------- 4 ------------- down
<<<<South entrance>>>

But the platforms at Basingstoke are numbered:

<<<<North entrance >>> ---5--- Reading stopper
----------- 4 ------------- up
----------- 3 ------------- up
----------- 2 ------------- down
----------- 1 ------------- down
<<<<Main entrance>>>

Is there a historical reason for that, maybe that the platform nearest the main entrance is 1?

Note. I know some (all?) of these lines are bi-directional, but up/down shows their main use

I also find it a bit puzzling that the main entrance at Southampton is on the side furthest from the city centre.
Was there not sufficient room on the south side when the station was constructed?

 

[Gloster]

As far as I can remember (*) when Southampton was opened there were mudflats pretty well up to the railway and it mainly served the area to the north.

* - When I say ‘remember’ I mean ‘I have read’. I think the situation continued right up to the middle of the last century.

 

[fgwrich]

I have always wondered why the platforms at Southampton Central are numbered:

<<<<Main entrance >>>
----------- 1 ------------- up
----------- 2 ------------- up
----------- 3 ------------- down
----------- 4 ------------- down
<<<<South entrance>>>

But the platforms at Basingstoke are numbered:

<<<<North entrance >>> ---5--- Reading stopper
----------- 4 ------------- up
----------- 3 ------------- up
----------- 2 ------------- down
----------- 1 ------------- down
<<<<Main entrance>>>

Is there a historical reason for that, maybe that the platform nearest the main entrance is 1?

Note. I know some (all?) of these lines are bi-directional, but up/down shows their main use

I also find it a bit puzzling that the main entrance at Southampton is on the side furthest from the city centre.
Was there not sufficient room on the south side when the station was constructed?

From memory, no. The larger entrance on the south side of the station is a relatively newer addition - I remember there being a much smaller, far more low key effort originally.

Regarding Basingstoke, that may also come in part thanks to the later addition on the north side - Platform 1 and the main station entrance of course is closer to the town centre, Platform 5 is a slightly later addition following the closure of the now long gone GWR station, following the conversion of the Reading line from the GWRs Broad Gauge to the now standard gauge (it was originally a through line but truncated back to a Bay Platform in the 1980s).

 

[adamello]

The larger entrance on the south side of the station is a relatively newer addition - I remember there being a much smaller, far more low key effort originally.

Google streetview, with timeline (may only be viewable on desktop, not mobile) shows back in 2011 the old entrance https://goo.gl/maps/dLZuedv39BBFKvMh7

 

[D6130]

Woking has the opposite situation. The platform nearest the main (South side) entrance is numbered 5 and the Up slow platform - nearest the town centre - is platform 1. This is all the more strange when you consider that, when the station originally opened in 1838, the original settlement (Woking Common) was on the South side of the line....with the modern town centre developing later as a result of the coming of the railway. I suspect that the current platform numbering may date from the 1937 rebuilding of the station for the Portsmouth/Alton electrification.

 

[DelW]

The main Southampton station was the original terminus, located at the Canute Road / Terminus Terrace junction near the docks.
When the line was extended westward, what was then West station was built on the shoreline, as per Gloster's post above.
This screenshot from NLS maps shows the different geography of those days:

(historic map of Southampton city centre)

It's quite clear on there why the main entrance was on the north side!

 

[swt_passenger]

Modern Southampton Central is a development of the second Southampton West opened in 1892, the first West station (named Blechynden up to 1858) was a bit nearer the tunnel, both were originally only two platform stations. It can still be seen that there are completely different types of platform side walls under the copings, P1 and P2 being mainly arched brickwork.

As said in the earlier posts it was effectively right on the tidal foreshore before the railway built the western docks in the 1930s, the station expansion southward to 5 platforms was done in 1934/5.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Jul 2022 ==

Google streetview, with timeline (may only be viewable on desktop, not mobile) shows back in 2011 the old entrance https://goo.gl/maps/dLZuedv39BBFKvMh7

If you also follow the Streetview images round into the station car park you get the new entrance setup as well, which is handy for comparison. AIUI the overall down side building footprint remains exactly the same as it was, but the internal areas have been re-purposed and a new main doorway cut through. I believe the whole concrete building structure dates from the 1935 work. Pre WW2 the station would have still had the old 1892 building on the up side, and a much newer south side structure.

 

[Snow1964]

Southampton station (the current central station) was originally a fairly small halt adjacent to the tidal mud flats. Platform 1 is nearest any buildings, the other side was by the river. Originally called Bletchyden then Southampton West, but nearer the tunnel mouth) The whole area to South was reclaimed when the new docks were built (a small area had been reclaimed earlier where power station stood)

In the 1930s the Southern Railway relocated it, quadrupled it, closed the level crossing between old and new station (a public footbridge replaced it), a new road was built on reclaimed land which looped past a new entrance and over a bridge built to replace the level crossing (Central Station Bridge).

The new Southern station entrance had a very short life (it received direct hit by a bomb in the war), it has since been rebuilt in simpler style during Network SouthEast era. The platform 1 station buildings were replaced by a huge office block in 1960s (with station entrance through the building at ground level)

Link includes a 1934 photo of footbridge under construction, level crossing and the new platform 1 and 2 (the original West station with short platforms was other side of level crossing, nearer the tunnel).

Disused Stations: Southampton West End Station

So basically Southampton and Basingstoke had their number one platforms by their principle entrances. Basingstoke platform 1 was new as GWR station meant all the quadrupling was on South side, and why it’s buildings are from when the station was quadrupled.

 

[adamello]

Modern Southampton Central is a development of the second Southampton West opened in 1892, the first West station (named Blechynden up to 1858) was a bit nearer the tunnel, both were originally only two platform stations. It can still be seen that there are completely different types of platform side walls under the copings, P1 and P2 being mainly arched brickwork.

As said in the earlier posts it was effectively right on the tidal foreshore before the railway built the western docks in the 1930s, the station expansion southward to 5 platforms was done in 1934/5.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Jul 2022 ==


If you also follow the Streetview images round into the station car park you get the new entrance setup as well, which is handy for comparison. AIUI the overall down side building footprint remains exactly the same as it was, but the internal areas have been re-purposed and a new main doorway cut through. I believe the whole concrete building structure dates from the 1935 work. Pre WW2 the station would have still had the old 1892 building on the up side, and a much newer south side structure.

I didn't even think of going in the car park, the 2011 imagery is captured there as well: https://goo.gl/maps/NJm6k4NimEJ8uTiw6 and most recently.. https://goo.gl/maps/vEvdRPigECCTpjNr5

 

[Bob M]

At most stations, platform 1 is the up side. Nothing to do with entrances.

 

[zwk500]

At most stations, platform 1 is the up side. Nothing to do with entrances.

Except that the correlation between original entrance and Platform 1 is far stronger than the correlation between Up side and platform 1. Where the station building is perpendicular to the tracks generally platforms are numbered left to right, although King's Cross is a notable exception to that rule. As stations have been expanded and rebuilt, and as towns have developed, often the main entrance has shifted so it's not as obvious today where the reference point for platform numbers was.

 

[D6130]

Where the station building is perpendicular to the tracks generally platforms are numbered left to right, although King's Cross is a notable exception to that rule

Likewise Inverness, Marylebone, Fenchurch Street, Norwich and Skegness. There seems to be no real consistency, even within the same original railway company.

 

[Magdalia]

Where the station building is perpendicular to the tracks generally platforms are numbered left to right, although King's Cross is a notable exception to that rule.

Lots of terminal stations have platforms numbered right to left, including most country end terminals on the ex GER. Examples include Enfield Town, Chingford, Southend Victoria, Norwich Thorpe, Lowestoft Central and Yarmouth Vauxhall. I can't find anything that reminds me what happens at Clacton.

Platforms at Euston are also right to left.

Some stations have had their platforms renumbered. I've heard say that Chris Green, when heading NSE, had a thing about the lowest numbered platforms being in the London direction. On the GN both Welwyn Garden City and Hitchin had their platforms renumbered in the NSE era, though St Neots did not.

 

[Agent_Squash]

Except that the correlation between original entrance and Platform 1 is far stronger than the correlation between Up side and platform 1. Where the station building is perpendicular to the tracks generally platforms are numbered left to right, although King's Cross is a notable exception to that rule. As stations have been expanded and rebuilt, and as towns have developed, often the main entrance has shifted so it's not as obvious today where the reference point for platform numbers was.

As is Euston.

 

[swt_passenger]

Some stations have had their platforms renumbered. I've heard say that Chris Green, when heading NSE, had a thing about the lowest numbered platforms being in the London direction. On the GN both Welwyn Garden City and Hitchin had their platforms renumbered in the NSE era, though St Neots did not.

Fareham was a SW division station switched to platform 1 for London at the start of the through electric service to Waterloo via Eastleigh and Basingstoke. Previously P1 was on the main (only) entrance side.

 

[zwk500]

Some stations have had their platforms renumbered. I've heard say that Chris Green, when heading NSE, had a thing about the lowest numbered platforms being in the London direction. On the GN both Welwyn Garden City and Hitchin had their platforms renumbered in the NSE era, though St Neots did not.

I have heard this as well, and would explain where the idea that 1 is 'always' on the London side came from.

 

[eMeS]

My limited local knowledge is from the WCML, around Milton Keynes.
Wolverton has platform #1 on the west side of the tracks; and I'm not aware it or platform #2 are ever used today, by scheduled stopping trains.
Milton Keynes has platform #1 on the east side of the tracks.
Bletchley has platform #1 on the west side of the tracks, and like at Wolverton, I'm not aware it or platform #2 are ever used today by scheduled stoppers. Then it gets more complicated, with two new platforms mounted on the new overbridge!

 

[zwk500]

My limited local knowledge is from the WCML, around Milton Keynes.
Wolverton has platform #1 on the west side of the tracks; and I'm not aware it or platform #2 are ever used today, by scheduled stopping trains.
Milton Keynes has platform #1 on the east side of the tracks.
Bletchley has platform #1 on the west side of the tracks, and like at Wolverton, I'm not aware it or platform #2 are ever used today by scheduled stoppers. Then it gets more complicated, with two new platforms mounted on the new overbridge!

Every Station on the WCML between Euston and Crewe has Platform 1 on the Down (or Western) side, heading away from London, except: Euston, Queen's Park, MKC, Northampton, Long Buckby, Stafford and Crewe. Not 100% sure about Atherstone.

 

[Grecian 1998]

From memory I think most of the stations on the SWML do now have lower numbered platforms on the up London-bound side. Not sure if it's always been like that - Bournemouth is another where the down side was presumably the main entrance as it's on the town side, and platform 3-4 is continuous. Christchurch and Wareham are others where the main building is on the down side. Possibly changed by NSE as above.

This isn't the case on the West of England line at those stations with two platforms - Axminster and Honiton both have the main westbound platform designated as platform 1. Exeter Central also has the up platform as the highest numbered (3).

Away from routes into Waterloo, Bath Spa has the main building on the London bound side, but platform 1 is the down platform towards Bristol, so is an exception to both generalisations.

 

[Dougal2345]

From memory I think most of the stations on the SWML do now have lower numbered platforms on the up London-bound side. Not sure if it's always been like that - Bournemouth is another where the down side was presumably the main entrance as it's on the town side, and platform 3-4 is continuous. Christchurch and Wareham are others where the main building is on the down side. Possibly changed by NSE as above.

I always wonder if Bournemouth is a bit confusing for the casual traveller - it looks at first glance like a 2-platform station (P1 being rather hidden, P4 just being a continuation of P3) - so I think people imagine P2 must be the main down platform, as it is on most/all other 2-platform stations on the line. And on the rare occasions that something is announced to be leaving from P4, there's a general feeling of bemusement amongst the crowd.

My solution would be to rename P 1,2,3,4 to P 0,1,2,2b....

 

[zwk500]

I always wonder if Bournemouth is a bit confusing for the casual traveller - it looks at first glance like a 2-platform station (P1 being rather hidden, P4 just being a continuation of P3) - so I think people imagine P2 must be the main down platform, as it is on most/all other 2-platform stations on the line. And on the rare occasions that something is announced to be leaving from P4, there's a general feeling of bemusement amongst the crowd.

My solution would be to rename P 1,2,3,4 to P 0,1,2,2b....

I suspect 99% of users, especially casual travellers at the station don't equate a platform number with London at all. They look for their train on the board and go to the indicated platform number. Renumbering Platform 1 to 0 is utterly pointless, although I could see the logic in renumbering 3 and 4 to one giant 3 split into A/B/C/D or similar.

 

[Deepgreen]

At Redhill the platform nearest the main entrance is 0 (now)!