Stations with "platforms" which could in principle be used but (almost) never are

[Mat17]

Hull has plenty of disused platforms used to stable stock. Platform 1 was recently rebuilt and reinstated. The others would require similar.

 

[robspaceman]

Shrewsbury - while bay platforms 1 and 2 have now been removed, there is still track at phantom 'platform 8' (it was never called this) opposite platform 7, behind the wall that used to hold up the overall roof.Apparently formerly used to transport prisoners to the prison.

 

[d9009alycidon]

Stranraer platform 2, signalbox is switched out so station is effectively the end of one long siding

 

[Killingworth]

This thread looks like a list of potential stations to play host to Rail 200s 4 car exhibition train next year!

 

[shakermaker_86]

New Malden platforms 2 and 3? Has active departure boards, lighting and an exit. Although the platform was becoming increasingly overgrown with weeds etc. when I was last there so maybe not usable atm.

 

[tram21]

Derby platform 7.

I remember when this was used loads! Is it because of the relatively recent rerouting (2017 iirc?)?

 

[Snow1964]

I think it would be good for someone - with the relevant expertise - to succinctly explain what "signalled to passenger standards" means.

I too was wondering about the exact distinction too.

For instance Southampton platform 5 can only be entered by a subsidiary light signal, but many trains from west enter platforms 2 and 3 that way because they are occupied with trains reversing east.

 

[SteelWeelApeal]

Theale platform 3. Gets very regular use when the line west thereof is shut, but absolutely nothing the rest of the time.

 

[matchmaker]

I think it would be good for someone - with the relevant expertise - to succinctly explain what "signalled to passenger standards" means.

Mainly all points and signals must be controlled by a signal box, and all facing points must be locked in position by a facing point lock or similar. There are exceptions - on RETB signalled lines, for example, but in general a train containing passengers can't be routed over a facing point unless the point is locked in position.

Platforms 4 & 5 at Stirling are entered over a hand point, and until Stirling Middle was resignalled with colour lights and clamp locks about 10 years ago, Platforms 7 & 8 couldn't be used for incoming passenger services - although they could for outgoing services - as there were no FPLs.

Think that's almost correct...but feel free to shout me down!

 

[Donny Dave]

Scunthorpe has an East facing bay on P1 which is only used by ECS. I'm not sure if Doncaster P2 is still in use.

 

[A S Leib]

Is there anything at Ebbsfleet or Ashford that could count whilst Eurostar's nonstop to Lille or beyond?

 

[Flange Squeal]

There are also dozens of stations with four platforms on a four track layout where the platforms on the fast lines very rarely get used.

Some examples include:

Balham, Battersea Park, Bushey, Cricklewood, Ealing Broadway, Earlsfield, Elstree & Borehamwood, Finsbury Park, Harrow & Wealdstone, Hayes & Harlington, Hendon, Horley, Iver, Kentish Town, Langley, Mill Hill Broadway, New Barnet, New Cross Gate, New Southgate, Norbury, Oakleigh Park, Purley, Purley Oaks, Radlett, Selhurst, South Croydon, Southall, Streatham Common, Taplow, Thornton Heath, Vauxhall, Wandsworth Common, Wembley Central, West Byfleet, West Drayton, West Hampstead Thameslink, Wimbledon, and probably dozens and dozens of others.

However all of these platforms do still see fairly common use during engineering works and disruptions and late evenings etc so they are not as little used as you may think.

Wimbledon is arguably a bit more than disruption / evenings / tennis, with platform 7 having quite a number of down services starting there in the mornings having come out of Wimbledon Park depot. Sundays are their day to shine as they get quite a lot of services in the form of the Alton/Basingstoke splitting services in both directions (hourly until the afternoon, then half-hourly thereafter). Sundays also see the hourly Guildford via Cobham services starting from platform 7 as those start from Wimbledon instead of Waterloo until after lunchtime.

 

[RedPostJunc]

Pre Covid, there was an island platform at Wimbledon where one face was fenced off from the other face. IIRC it was platform 8 and the platform faced the Down Fast line.
One late evening, I was waiting for a train (westbound) that called at the fenced off platform. Shortly before the approaching train arrived, a member of platform staff opened the gate to allow intending passengers through. This was a few years ago, and I only caught the train once. Perhaps somebody who uses Wimbledon station more frequently can correct any mistakes and confirm whether, or not, this arrangement is still in place.

 

[43OO4]

The same could be said for any GWML station between Paddington - Reading with 4 platforms but they are routinely used in engineering works on the weekend and late at night.

Iver (?) - WB Main too low for safe use, not to passenger standards iirc. If not Iver, then definitely around that area.

 

[endofthetunnel]

Scunthorpe has an East facing bay on P1 which is only used by ECS. I'm not sure if Doncaster P2 is still in use.

Doncaster P2 is still in use just nothing is booked there in the current timetable. It gets EMR services if there’s issues on the down side, or most often a 180 set waiting to form a Grand Central set swap during unit issues!

 

[jammmmmsssssss]

Wickford platform 4, as it's too short for 720s

 

[miklcct]

The mainline platforms at Queen's Park (London). They were used in the past but I don't think they are used any more, and I am not even sure if they still meet passenger standard at this moment.

Balham, Battersea Park, Bushey, Cricklewood, Ealing Broadway, Earlsfield, Elstree & Borehamwood, Finsbury Park, Harrow & Wealdstone, Hayes & Harlington, Hendon, Horley, Iver, Kentish Town, Langley, Mill Hill Broadway, New Barnet, New Cross Gate, New Southgate, Norbury, Oakleigh Park, Purley, Purley Oaks, Radlett, Selhurst, South Croydon, Southall, Streatham Common, Taplow, Thornton Heath, Vauxhall, Wandsworth Common, Wembley Central, West Byfleet, West Drayton, West Hampstead Thameslink, Wimbledon, and probably dozens and dozens of others.

However all of these platforms do still see fairly common use during engineering works and disruptions and late evenings etc so they are not as little used as you may think.

All the platforms at all of the mentioned Thameslink stations are used. Each pair of lines can be closed independently and the platforms on the other pair are used.

West Hampstead Thameslink is definitely a non-example. All 4 platforms are regularly used all day long.

 

[merry]

Wolverhampton P6 (bay N end of P1), Signalling for passenger trains to leave, but only possible to enter by a shunt move.
Back in the 70s & 80s Shrewsbury line trains departed from there (presumably having terminated P2B & then shunted across), but nothing timetabled for decades AFAIK.

 

[richard1976]

The platform on the National Rail line at East Putney Tube Station

 

[cav1975]

Ryde St Johns Road Platform 3

 

[Amlag]

Bay Platform 1 at Exeter Central has no scheduled use but is used occasionally to turn round a late running train from Waterloo instead of at St David’s.

 

[renegademaster]

Is the disused line at Norwood Junction still connected with the rest of the track?

 

[GtNortherner]

Guildford platform 7 is only separated from platform 6 by a single track

Similar situation at Finsbury Park. The slow lines have platforms either side of one track, but as far as I’m aware these extra faces aren’t numbered, and I don’t recall ever seeing train doors open on the sides which would technically be platforms 3 and 6 - I should imagine this is because they share islands with fast line platforms 4 and 5.

 

[Horizon22]

Iver (?) - WB Main too low for safe use, not to passenger standards iirc. If not Iver, then definitely around that area.

There are some stations without a Main Line platform, such as Acton Main Line, West Ealing and Hanwell (hence why they are regularly not having a Sunday service recently with HS2 engineering works) and Burnham.

 

[D6130]

I seem to recall there being a south facing bay at Hemel Hempstead but don't recall hearing of its use. I think the short Southern runs there used the normal platforms and a crossover to reverse, but may be wrong?

IIRC, the Up bay at Hemel was used for the despatch of high-security banknote paper from Dickinson's at Apsley. A couple of specially-adapted BGs were used for this traffic, one of which was M81477. I often saw them when passing on Glasgow-Euston Inter-Cities in the late '70s and early '80s.

 

[Amlag]

Bay Platform 1 at Taunton has no regular use but is occasionally used to stable a loco., mostly between Charter
train duties.

 

[GW43125]

Iver (?) - WB Main too low for safe use, not to passenger standards iirc. If not Iver, then definitely around that area.

I've got it in my head it may have been Taplow?

 

[Bikeman78]

Guildford platform 7 is only separated from platform 6 by a single track, so 7 is unused because of the risk of the third rail.

Interestingly both sides were used in the days of slammers and mail trains.

There wasn't really any choice but to allow both sides to be used, other than not using that track at all.

 

[D6130]

Oban - platform 4.

 

[richard1976]

Liverpool James Street,
Platform 2 is only used usually when the loop line is unavailable