Trivia: Platforms you cannot freely 'roam'

[dcbwhaley]

Stockport. Platform 0 is outside the barriers.
So when you have passed the barrier to platforms 1-4 you are not free to wander all platforms.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Fairly sure that Platform 3 at Bushey isn't readily accessible. Not sure if anything is currently booked to use it at present, and prior to that, think if was normally only ever used for the very occasional Northbound train using the fast lines. Believe you have to negotiate a remotely-operated gate to get on to the platform.

 

[Kite159]

..

Fairly sure that Platform 3 at Bushey isn't readily accessible. Not sure if anything is currently booked to use it at present, and prior to that, think if was normally only ever used for the very occasional Northbound train using the fast lines. Believe you have to negotiate a remotely-operated gate to get on to the platform.

And even then it's advertised as set down only so you probably won't be allowed past the gate to access it

 

[geoffk]

High Rocks station on the Spa Valley Railway.
The access gate to the platform is only opened by the guard when the train arrives for passengers to get on and off and is then locked before departure. The only time there is free access is on the rare occasions the station is staffed.

Similarly Churston on the Dartmouth Steam Railway although, as the station is effectively closed, it may not qualify, along with the halts along the line.

 

[Old Yard Dog]

When Manchester United Football Ground station was open, it was only accessible on match days. After the final whistle, only limited numbers were allowed through the gates on to the platform. As the capacity of the trains often exceeded the capacity of the platform, trains would often leave part empty while prospective passengers were left queueing outside. As there were often significant and irregular gaps between trains, this could lead to missed connections at Piccadilly / Oxford Road - even missing the last train home after night matches.

Out of interest - what happens to holders of Advance tickets if they are denied boarding on a connecting train due to overcrowding? This must be a risk for passengers trying to get back to Euston from Wembley Central after matches.

 

[tram21]

Out of interest - what happens to holders of Advance tickets if they are denied boarding on a connecting train due to overcrowding? This must be a risk for passengers trying to get back to Euston from Wembley Central after matches.

Afaik it is treated like that train has been cancelled, so you can just get the next one free of charge. You are eligible for delay repay in this instance.

 

[LUYMun]

In a way, the Waterloo & City line's platform 26 at Waterloo station, while not impossible to walk onto the platform, is not designed for passengers boarding the train* as they lead directly into the depot. You'd also likely get suspicious looks from staff members for heading in or lingering too long there.

*Unless you're Gwyneth Paltrow.

 

[rf_ioliver]

Hadley Wood's central platforms? Wikipedia states these are closed to public, but does anything stop there at all?

 

[PeterC]

Romford Down Fast line platform is controlled similarly to Wembley Central (though perhaps not quite as strictly).

(Edit: to clarify, the Up Fast line isn't controlled in this manner)

Have they changed the line names post Lizzie Line? It was Main and Electric when I lived in Essex.

Platform 2 also gives access to the Liberty Line so can't be closed off. I have never seen the gate between platforms 3 and 4 open except when one of the 2tph down services was stopping in 3.

 

[bramling]

Hadley Wood's central platforms? Wikipedia states these are closed to public, but does anything stop there at all?

Nothing booked, but does very occasionally see use either unplanned during disruption or during engineering works. In 40 years of travelling on GN I think I’ve stopped there once, though people who use the inner suburban services more often than me will probably have experienced it more than that.

 

[D6975]

Quite a few places are/were controlled on Summer Saturdays. Skegness (already mentioned), Great Yarmouth, St Ives are all places where I have been made to wait.

 

[GLC]

Would access to Peartree station in Derby be refused if there were no services due?

 

[tram21]

Would access to Peartree station in Derby be refused if there were no services due?

I would imagine so, if not there's not much point having the intercom system!

 

[Segedunum]

Would access to Peartree station in Derby be refused if there were no services due?

Around a decade ago I once found myself trapped on Peartree station as the intercom simply didn't do anything. There was a number on a piece of paper attached to it, which was seemingly for (as-was) East Midlands Trains control. I was treated with extreme suspicion on the other end of the phone as to how I'd obtained the number, but the gate was eventually unlocked.

 

[Revilo]

Don’t some stations in Northern Ireland operate a system where you can’t get onto the platform until shortly before the train arrives?

 

[Steddenm]

Don’t some stations in Northern Ireland operate a system where you can’t get onto the platform until shortly before the train arrives?

Yes, usually main stations such as Derry-Londonderry, Portrush, Lanyon Place (when the Enterprise went there), Newry, Portadown, Bangor, Antrim, Coleraine. Most other stations (except Grand Central) are open. GC and York Street are now barriered.

 

[Peter A]

Liverpool James Street Platform 2 is one that you can't freely roam unless there's disruption on the Liverpool Loop and it's needed as a turnback

 

[bramling]

Yes, usually main stations such as Derry-Londonderry, Portrush, Lanyon Place (when the Enterprise went there), Newry, Portadown, Bangor, Antrim, Coleraine. Most other stations (except Grand Central) are open. GC and York Street are now barriered.

Out of interest, why do NIR do this?

 

[Steddenm]

Out of interest, why do NIR do this?

I think it's just safety reasons on the platforms and possibly to do with security. In the 80s and 90s the Enterprise was regularly stopped by viable devices either on board or trackside.

Lanyon Place station have since withdrew this and now do let you go to the platform before the train is in as the Enterprise now leaves from Grand Central.

When Great Victoria Street was open if the train was on the board you could go to the platform but now GC is open they have ticket barriers and think you can go to the platform beforehand.

A couple of years ago I was in Portrush and because of the North West 200 going on it was easier for me to catch the train from Dhu Varren and they were blocking you from going on the platform by putting up tensabarriers at the entrance to the car park. Dhu Varren is a small, unstaffed, single platform halt. I was the only passenger getting on the Coleraine shuttle. Nobody got off.

 

[Wakeful]

Don’t some stations in Northern Ireland operate a system where you can’t get onto the platform until shortly before the train arrives?

Yes, usually main stations such as Derry-Londonderry, Portrush, Lanyon Place (when the Enterprise went there), Newry, Portadown, Bangor, Antrim, Coleraine. Most other stations (except Grand Central) are open. GC and York Street are now barriered.

Out of interest, why do NIR do this?

We do it in Bangor mainly for passenger safety and for revenue protection purposes. For most of the time, there's at least one train stabled at a platform (which may not always be shut down/locked) so keeping the barrier closed until around 10-15 minutes before departure prevents passengers from boarding the wrong train (especially during the peak with 6tph in a variety of stopping patterns) and allows barrier staff to visually inspect/validate tickets. You'd be surprised by how many people dander round to the wrong train!

Portadown have had automatic gates like those installed at BGCS, York Street, and Lanyon Place installed, but like to keep passengers waiting before the barrier for the same reasons.

If you are an enthusiast, just ask and a member of NIR staff will be happy to let you onto the platform.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Euston station platforms are usually not even announced until close to departure time. And yes the gates are locked until then.

They aren't. In most cases you can wander where you like at Euston (though BTP do keep an eye out and occasionally you might get asked to
explain). They are only closed when getting ready to board if a check is being done and when the train is departing.

One I didn't know existed until about half an hour ago - Bournemouth P4 appears to be behind a gate though it was open today.

 

[TUC]

-Peartree (near Derby): access to this 'halt' is only allowed via locked gates which are opened for passengers who use the provided intercom, when a train will soon arrive.

What's the reason for that, rather than it just being an open unstaffed station like many others?

 

[Bletchleyite]

What's the reason for that, rather than it just being an open unstaffed station like many others?

Persistent vandalism and antisocial behaviour.

 

[jfollows]

Have they changed the line names post Lizzie Line? It was Main and Electric when I lived in Essex.

Platform 2 also gives access to the Liberty Line so can't be closed off. I have never seen the gate between platforms 3 and 4 open except when one of the 2tph down services was stopping in 3.

Still Main and Electric, https://sacuksprodnrdigital0001.blo...h 25/Anglia Sectional Appendix March 2025.pdf

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Persistent vandalism and antisocial behaviour.

I'm surprised the sort of people who take part in such activities would even know there was a station there, let alone choose to get together for said activities at Peartree of all places... Then again I wouldn't have expected Burscough Junction to be a vandalism hotspot either, but here we are!

 

[LUL1970]

Clacton-on-Sea also keeps the platform gate shut until the incoming service has arrived.

 

[Dr Hoo]

I'm surprised the sort of people who take part in such activities would even know there was a station there, let alone choose to get together for said activities at Peartree of all places... Then again I wouldn't have expected Burscough Junction to be a vandalism hotspot either, but here we are!

Part of the issue is that criminal behaviour on railway property is firstly in BT police responsibility. So, for example, dealing in illegal substances in the street would be normally be the responsibility of the local constabulary. However, if the ‘problem’ can be, ahem, ‘shunted’ onto a quiet railway platform that’s a crime that they don’t have to deal with.

This is quite apart from the sad possibility of facilitating extreme self harm by distressed and vulnerable individuals.

 

[duffield]

I'm surprised the sort of people who take part in such activities would even know there was a station there, let alone choose to get together for said activities at Peartree of all places... Then again I wouldn't have expected Burscough Junction to be a vandalism hotspot either, but here we are!

When I'm out walking I often come across fairly remote and/or unlikely seeming places where it's clear from the debris that you get people gathering for drinking and "other related activities". Seeking out any place where they can do as they like and be largely undisturbed seems to be the motive.

If there was no enforcement activity, a place like Peartree Station (where no trains stop for more than 8 hours during the day) would be ideal.

 

[Ashley Hill]

Does the platform at Altnabreac qualify for this thread?

So when is the first railtour booked to stop here for a photo stop? Mass trespass,seminar shots etc. Or is this frowned upon these days?

 

[DJ_K666]

I've also heard about two of my friends being shouted at by some track worker for daring to be on the platform watching the one train per week leave after alighting from it. Seemingly under the impression they were trying to cause mischief and were (albeit emptily) threatened with a BTP appearance...!

Surely the correct response is to say something like We've just got off that train and there's nothing to say we can't watch it leave.