Very late platform change at Cambridge

[CdBrux]

A few days before Christmas I was waiting at Cambridge (central) for a northbound train to Cambridge North, shown to be at platform 1. There was a southbound (to Stansted) cross country train due a couple of minutes before from platform 4. These are actually 2 ends of a long platform with an 'X' crossing (I have no idea of proper technical term) in the middle so trains can leave to, or arrive from, an adjacent line passing a train in the other platform which was presumably what was meant to happen....

At the very last minute, when both trains were in sight, there was a switch between the two. This meant all the passengers, or those who heard the announcement, had to switch causing some chaos as we passed each other along the platform.

My question is how come such a late change which did not seem necessary and just made customers lives much more difficult and will have delayed both trains as they needed to then wait for the people to pass each other on the platform

 

[that1pepfan]

A few days before Christmas I was waiting at Cambridge (central) for a northbound train to Cambridge North, shown to be at platform 1. There was a southbound (to Stansted) cross country train due a couple of minutes before from platform 4. These are actually 2 ends of a long platform with an 'X' crossing (I have no idea of proper technical term) in the middle so trains can leave to, or arrive from, an adjacent line passing a train in the other platform which was presumably what was meant to happen....

At the very last minute, when both trains were in sight, there was a switch between the two. This meant all the passengers, or those who heard the announcement, had to switch causing some chaos as we passed each other along the platform.

My question is how come such a late change which did not seem necessary and just made customers lives much more difficult and will have delayed both trains as they needed to then wait for the people to pass each other on the platform

Could be for a number of reasons, a driver leaving slightly early out of the previous station meaning they have to swap the road for it (aspecially if the early train is a 2 Headcode)

 

[Steve Harris]

A few days before Christmas I was waiting at Cambridge (central) for a northbound train to Cambridge North, shown to be at platform 1. There was a southbound (to Stansted) cross country train due a couple of minutes before from platform 4. These are actually 2 ends of a long platform with an 'X' crossing (I have no idea of proper technical term) in the middle so trains can leave to, or arrive from, an adjacent line passing a train in the other platform which was presumably what was meant to happen....

At the very last minute, when both trains were in sight, there was a switch between the two. This meant all the passengers, or those who heard the announcement, had to switch causing some chaos as we passed each other along the platform.

My question is how come such a late change which did not seem necessary and just made customers lives much more difficult and will have delayed both trains as they needed to then wait for the people to pass each other on the platform

The X crossing is called "scissors" and the adjacent line is called 'the through road'.

I have no idea why the platforms got swapped but the platforms 1 and 4 were plenty wide enough (when I last visited) to let passengers pass each other.

I used to nearly live on Cambridge Station in the 80's and back then platform 4 was predominantly used for northbound services, and 1 for southbound. Of course this was before the explosion of services to London, Brighton, Ely etc and the expansion of the station.

 

[30907]

As a matter of interest, did either train use the "booked" section of track to reach the other, or did both use the scissors crossover?

 

[Steve Harris]

As a matter of interest, did either train use the "booked" section of track to reach the other, or did both use the scissors crossover?

hmmm..... pedant alert... even if a train went from plat 1 to platform 4 they would have to go through the point blades of the scissors even if the train didn't 'cross', so technically they would have to have both gone through the 'scissors'.

Space has always been tight at Cambridge and I believe the scissors is 1 complete track panel (that includes the sides as well as the actual crossing part).

 

[J-2739]

This always happens at Cambridge. You'll be entering the station platform only to be crossed by a stampede of King Lynn-bound passengers heading to platform 4 because of a platform alteration.

 

[dk1]

There are various reasons this happens at Cambridge but they are usually do to operational reasons as even the slightest delay to one service can cause platforming issues. Rest assured it’s done for the greater good.

 

[bspahh]

I have no idea why the platforms got swapped but the platforms 1 and 4 were plenty wide enough (when I last visited) to let passengers pass each other.

There are now also railings along the platform edge near the barriers.

 

[dk1]

There are now also railings along the platform edge near the barriers.

Been expecting those for many years now.

 

[Magdalia]

I have watched a lot of trains come and go at Cambridge for more than half a century.

I think it is not possible to have a down train arriving in platform 1 simultaneously with an up train arriving in platform 4, because a SPAD would be likely to result in a collision, so one or both would have to be brought to a stand outside the station until the other had stopped. However, if the down train runs through to platform 4, the up train can run on the through road up to the scissors crossing then cross into platform 1 after the down train has passed. Furthermore, a down train in platform 4 can depart simultaneously with an up train from platform 1, whereas that's obviously not possible the other way around.

 

[dk1]

I have watched a lot of trains come and go at Cambridge for more than half a century.

I think it is not possible to have a down train arriving in platform 1 simultaneously with an up train arriving in platform 4, because a SPAD would be likely to result in a collision, so one or both would have to be brought to a stand outside the station until the other had stopped. However, if the down train runs through to platform 4, the up train can run on the through road up to the scissors crossing then cross into platform 1 after the down train has passed. Furthermore, a down train in platform 4 can depart simultaneously with an up train from platform 1, whereas that's obviously not possible the other way around.

There is also an approx two minute time delay on trains entering platform 5/6 if a train has arrived into platform 4 in the down direction.

 

[Steve Harris]

There are now also railings along the platform edge near the barriers.

Definitely gone downhill since I last went back pre Covid then.

Cambridge was such a wonderful station until we got all the sales unit's taking up platform space (and of course a massive explosion in passengers using the station).

 

[dk1]

Definitely gone downhill since I last went back pre Covid.

Cambridge was such a wonderful station until we got all the sales unit's taking up platform space (and of course a massive explosion in passengers using the station).

I can’t think of any sales units taking up platform space. There’s only the waiting room/AMT (now closed) but that’s in the middle of platforms 7/8.

 

[Steve Harris]

They must of finally moved the AMT's then. One was on platform 4 near were the photo booth used to be and one on platform 1 not far from WH Smiths.

 

[dk1]

They must of finally moved the AMT's then. One was on platform 4 near were the photo booth used to be and one on platform 1 not far from WH Smiths.

Everything is tucked neatly into the station buildings & have been for several years. Booking office, concourse & ticket gates are massive now compared to what they where.

 

[306024]

Ironically the only thing on the platform that could inhibit passenger flow is the GA help desk. There’s still a Delice de France and I think an Upper Crust on the platform, but I always go to the trendy van outside the station.

 

[J-2739]

Everything is tucked neatly into the station buildings & have been for several years. Booking office, concourse & ticket gates are massive now compared to what they where.

They must have been really small then. I've always found the concourse at Cambridge to be cramped, especially during peak hours, so I always head to the platform area when possible.

 

[dk1]

Ironically the only thing on the platform that could inhibit passenger flow is the GA help desk. There’s still a Delice de France and I think an Upper Crust on the platform, but I always go to the trendy van outside the station.

They do lovely breakfast baps. We are so spoiled now with Cafe Nero, Wasabi, Greggs, Pret & Sainsbury’s outside the station. Shame that the excellent cafe bar in the Ibis Hotel have knocked the rail staff discount down from 50% off to only 10.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Dec 2022 ==

They must have been really small then. I've always found the concourse at Cambridge to be cramped, especially during peak hours, so I always head to the platform area when possible.

They where very cramped indeed & during peak hours the side gate next to platform 6 was opened to help disperse crowds. Cambridge station really became a victim of its own success. Complemented by Cambridge North & Cambridge South too in the not too distant future I can still see growth here.

 

[Steve Harris]

They must have been really small then. I've always found the concourse at Cambridge to be cramped, especially during peak hours, so I always head to the platform area when possible.

Indeed. The concourse used to be very tiny back in the 80's. Then the portion between the booking hall and concourse was removed in the 90's, but on a weekend it always used to be 'cozy' when the tourists were in town even though the concourse had been enlarged.

 

[J-2739]

They where very cramped indeed & during peak hours the side gate next to platform 6 was opened to help disperse crowds. Cambridge station really became a victim of its own success. Complemented by Cambridge North & Cambridge South too in the not too distant future I can still see growth at here.

True. It's exciting to see the growth though, and hopefully Cambridge South helps ease the load in the future.

Indeed. The concourse used to be very tiny back in the 80's. Then the portion between the booking hall and concourse was removed in the 90's, but on a weekend it always used to be 'cozy' when the tourists were in town even though the concourse had been enlarged.

Wow, there was a wall between the concourse and booking hall? I feel claustrophobic even thinking of it!

 

[306024]

They do lovely breakfast baps. We are so spoiled now with Cafe Nero, Wasabi, Greggs, Pret & Sainsbury’s outside the station. Shame that the excellent cafe bar in the Ibis Hotel have knocked the rail staff discount down from 50% off to only 10.

And The Old Booking Office, although I accept perhaps not so useful if you’ve got a train to drive.

Working out the platforming at Cambridge was always interesting. The power box manager would take the lead as they knew all the subtleties of signalling overlaps that could affect the timetable, but they always had a solution.

 

[Steve Harris]

Yep.

There used to be a Avis? kiosk (which used to back onto said partion) in the booking hall to. Although I never did see it open, lol

 

[dk1]

And The Old Booking Office, although I accept perhaps not so useful if you’ve got a train to drive.

I see they have got a ‘window’ on the platform side now to serve takeaway drinks etc to passengers. Not sure if they offer staff discount.

 

[306024]

I see they have got a ‘window’ on the platform side now to serve takeaway drinks etc to passengers. Not sure if they offer staff discount.

Yes, I saw the sign last Friday, but the window was closed! Can only ask.

Meanwhile back at the platforming of trains, here are the planning rules for Cambridge on pages 114 and 115:

https://sacuksprodnrdigital0001.blob.core.windows.net/operational-rules/Operational Rules/TPR 2023/V1/TPR 2023 V1 AR.pdf

Simple it isn’t

 

[MikeWM]

There are now also railings along the platform edge near the barriers.

Yes, put in over the last month or so. In an incredibly ugly yellow, reducing the platform width by 4 feet or so. No doubt another pointless 'health and safety' measure whose only actual purpose is to add to congestion and make the station even less pleasant to navigate

As to the original point, switching between 1 and 4 at the last minute has been commonplace for many years. Sometimes there are good reasons for it, other times it is hard to deduce any reason at all other than the signallers having fun irritating the passengers. Late in the evening it happens regularly, even when there is nothing blocking (or about to block) the other platform. Usually the train then arrives/departs through the platform face it was originally due to be at, so it is very hard to see why a platform change was necessary.

 

[HughT]

Definitely second what MikeWM says about seemingly random changes late evening. There's nothing worse than getting on at the very front or back of a train, depending on its booked platform, only to have to walk half the length of Cambridge station when it's switched to the other one. At which point the taxi queue is a mile long, most of the not-very-late last buses having departed...

 

[skyhigh]

a driver leaving slightly early out of the previous station meaning they have to swap the road for it (aspecially if the early train is a 2 Headcode)

I'm really not sure what you mean by this.

 

[Bald Rick]

but I always go to the trendy van outside the station.

Get you going all trendy! what’s wrong with Greggs

 

[306024]

Get you going all trendy! what’s wrong with Greggs

Where do I begin! Just like to support the independent traders rather than big chains.

I'm really not sure what you mean by this.

No it lost me too.

For sure it isn’t always obvious why signallers do things, but there are lots of reasons that will not be apparent to the casual observer, or even a trained eye sometimes.

 

[Bald Rick]

Where do I begin! Just like to support the independent traders rather than big chains.

To be fair, so do I.