Stoke and Stafford stations.

[Westerndiesels]

I read that Stafford Station is the second busiest in the county after Stoke on Trent.

I find it odd that Stafford looks like a big interchange with lots of tracks, junctions and five platforms whilst Stoke has just the two running lines.

Does Stoke station cause a bottleneck? Bath Spa always seems busy and just has the two platforms but due to the high position of the tracks and platforms it would cost a ridiculous amount of money to add an extra platform, not to mention heritage city etc.

 

[Class15]

I read that Stafford Station is the second busiest in the county after Stoke on Trent.

I find it odd that Stafford looks like a big interchange with lots of tracks, junctions and five platforms whilst Stoke has just the two running lines.

Does Stoke station cause a bottleneck? Bath Spa always seems busy and just has the two platforms but due to the high position of the tracks and platforms it would cost a ridiculous amount of money to add an extra platform, not to mention heritage city etc.

Well, a lot of people at Stafford change trains, so might not be included in that figure.

 

[Westerndiesels]

of course, thanks. I was thinking busier in terms of trains but i get it now if its passenger numbers through the gate.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Bath Spa always seems busy and just has the two platforms but due to the high position of the tracks and platforms it would cost a ridiculous amount of money to add an extra platform, not to mention heritage city etc.

I don’t think Bath station particularly causes a bottleneck as everything stops there, and the lines aren’t overly busy (certainly compared to the likes of Piccadilly P13/14 which is effectively operated as a two platform station)

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I find it odd that Stafford looks like a big interchange with lots of tracks, junctions and five platforms whilst Stoke has just the two running lines.

Of course, after passing through Stoke-on-Trent, various lines soon branch off towards Derby, London Euston, Birmingham New Street, Crewe and Manchester Piccadilly. Typically, Stoke-on-Trent has 14 departures every hour during the day, which I reckon is sufficiently busy enough without ever quite becoming a bottleneck.

 

[Lewisham2221]

Of course, after passing through Stoke-on-Trent, various lines soon branch off towards Derby, London Euston, Birmingham New Street, Crewe and Manchester Piccadilly. Typically, Stoke-on-Trent has 14 departures every hour during the day, which I reckon is sufficiently busy enough without ever quite becoming a bottleneck.

It's not uncommon to see trains "queuing" to the South of the station, but, as you say, it never really becomes a bottleneck. Never really seem to notice any southbound queuing.

Being pedantic, Re: the bit in bold - surely it must be an odd number of departures per hour, as the Northern stopper only departs in one direction? EDIT: Unless, of course, you pick an hour with the "missing" EMR diagram, or count the Wedgwood/Barlaston replacement buses

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Being pedantic, Re: the bit in bold - surely it must be an odd number of departures per hour, as the Northern stopper only departs in one direction? EDIT: Unless, of course, you pick an hour with the "missing" EMR diagram, or count the Wedgwood/Barlaston replacement buses

You're right. I'd included the hourly bus. So, typically only 13 rail departures per hour.

 

[43055]

It's not uncommon to see trains "queuing" to the South of the station, but, as you say, it never really becomes a bottleneck. Never really seem to notice any southbound queuing.

Being pedantic, Re: the bit in bold - surely it must be an odd number of departures per hour, as the Northern stopper only departs in one direction? EDIT: Unless, of course, you pick an hour with the "missing" EMR diagram, or count the Wedgwood/Barlaston replacement buses

Probably because the northbound fast Manchester services are more commonly only a few mins apart.

 

[childwallblues]

Liverpool South Parkway has an average 19 departures an hour and Sandhills on the Merseyrail has 24.

 

[zwk500]

I find it odd that Stafford looks like a big interchange with lots of tracks, junctions and five platforms whilst Stoke has just the two running lines.

The reasons for this are largely historic. Stoke-OT used to have 2 through lines between the platforms, but the passenger service wasn't as intense as the freight.

Does Stoke station cause a bottleneck?

In short, yes. How big a bottleneck and how much of a problem it is would be a harder question to answer.