Why does a Liverpool to Birmingham 350 use platform 12 at Crewe ?.

[Peter Sarf]

I am assuming this might be an infrastructure related feature.

On Thursday 05/02/2026 the 18:33 LNWR 4car 350 service, I was on, to Birmingham was routed right across to the West side of Crewe (platform 12 - the usually down side). We noticed a lot of pointwork being crossed as we approached Crewe. Is this regular ?. What route did the 350 take onwards to the South ?.

I should add I was not aware of any disruptions - except our LNWR connection onwards to Euston did not make it to Crewe on its Northbound and was instead waiting for us at Stafford. An extra thought was why we were not told to stay on out train from Liverpool to change at Stafford. Possibly the decision had not yet been made as it was expected to depart at 20:13 so 55 minutes after our scheduled arrival from Liverpool.

 

[Mag_seven]

I am assuming this might be an infrastructure related feature.

On Thursday 05/02/2026 the 18:33 LNWR 4car 350 service, I was on, to Birmingham was routed right across to the West side of Crewe (platform 12 - the usually down side). We noticed a lot of pointwork being crossed as we approached Crewe. Is this regular ?.

I would imaging the booked platform (P6) was not available for some reason.

What route did the 350 take onwards to the South ?.

Presumably the crossovers from the south end of Platform 12 to either the Up fast or Up slow line.

 

[jfollows]

Unusual but not impossible.

Live map of Crewe

See trains move in real-time on our live map of Crewe

www.opentraintimes.com

1A46 using it now, https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L02139/2026-02-07/detailed, 12:32 Chester to Euston but cancelled between Chester and Crewe.

 

[Oxfordblues]

Yes, the train plan for Crewe station accommodates all booked services using Platforms 1-11. Platform 12 is used as a short-notice relief in the event of congestion and by occasional specials.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Yes, the train plan for Crewe station accommodates all booked services using Platforms 1-11. Platform 12 is used as a short-notice relief in the event of congestion and by occasional specials.

Used to be. 12 is used for at least 1tbh all day now (xx:07).

It's a common move for Liverpool/Euston LNR.

 

[Peter Sarf]

I would imaging the booked platform (P6) was not available for some reason.

Presumably the crossovers from the south end of Platform 12 to either the Up fast or Up slow line.

+

Yes, the train plan for Crewe station accommodates all booked services using Platforms 1-11. Platform 12 is used as a short-notice relief in the event of congestion and by occasional specials.

It is a drastic solution to end up on the potentially extreme opposite side of the station. A lot of conflicts surely.

Looking at RTT for the day+time there is not much disruption (to my ignorant eyes) except most interestingly an Avanti Northbound to Edinburgh had just used platform 12 before us !.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I am assuming this might be an infrastructure related feature.

On Thursday 05/02/2026 the 18:33 LNWR 4car 350 service, I was on, to Birmingham was routed right across to the West side of Crewe (platform 12 - the usually down side). We noticed a lot of pointwork being crossed as we approached Crewe. Is this regular ?. What route did the 350 take onwards to the South ?.

I should add I was not aware of any disruptions - except our LNWR connection onwards to Euston did not make it to Crewe on its Northbound and was instead waiting for us at Stafford. An extra thought was why we were not told to stay on out train from Liverpool to change at Stafford. Possibly the decision had not yet been made as it was expected to depart at 20:13 so 55 minutes after our scheduled arrival from Liverpool.

RTT says your train used the slow line between Crewe and Stafford, but did not lose time and was on time at New St.
It was the only Liverpool-Birmingham to use P12 that day, but there were several Crewe-Eustons which did, although they also used P11.
I gather the new 10-car 730s are too long to use P7 to reverse on the Eustons.
Rarely used P12 is a useful bolt-hole when other platforms are occupied, in both directions (except Manchester).

 

[SCDR_WMR]

+

It is a drastic solution to end up on the potentially extreme opposite side of the station. A lot of conflicts surely.

Looking at RTT for the day+time there is not much disruption (to my ignorant eyes) except most interestingly an Avanti Northbound to Edinburgh had just used platform 12 before us !.

Scottish services are now planned to use P12 due to the LNR terminator using P11 (xx:56-xx:13) as it no longer fits in bay platform 7

 

[Kite159]

RTT says your train used the slow line between Crewe and Stafford, but did not lose time and was on time at New St.
It was the only Liverpool-Birmingham to use P12 that day, but there were several Crewe-Eustons which did, although they also used P11.
I gather the new 10-car 730s are too long to use P7 to reverse on the Eustons.
Rarely used P12 is a useful bolt-hole when other platforms are occupied, in both directions (except Manchester).

I'm pretty sure the Birmingham trains from Liverpool which calls at the stations between Crewe & Runcorn is booked to run on the slow lines towards Stafford as they (should) get overtaken by the Avanti service from Liverpool.

The other Birmingham trains which generally run nonstop between Runcorn & Crewe use the fast lines. Unless it's changed since the last timetable.

 

[WTT Gremlin]

With no intermediate stations, 100mph Slow Line, and the slow crossover speeds (Stafford Doxey Jn 30mph Stafford South Jn 25mph), plus any applicable TPR adjustment time, there is a really very little time to be gained by the LNWR Birmingham - Liverpool services running over the FL between Stafford Trent Valley Jn and Crewe. Additionally consider that to run over the fast lines between Little Bridgeford Jn and Stafford TV Jn, Down services are crossing the Up Slow (would also have to cross all SL services if using P6/11/12 at Crewe) whilst Up would cross the Down Fast (would have to cross Down Slow from Colwich irrespective of routing). This particular section is both the main Birmingham to Manchester corridor in addition to being the WCML. Within that would, to cross would require having a headway compliant path which lines up with a ~6 minute gap in the line being crossed, and the line being joined. And to top off the puzzle you have Crewe to Stafford via Stoke services terminating in Platform 6, and Stafford South Jn is only single lead. With all of these variables very quickly the amount of pathing time/extended dwell required exceeds any time gain. It is the number of variables and complexity which is why there can often appear to be little pattern in whether a crossing service uses Stafford South or Doxey.

For LNWR Birmingham - Liverpool services, I would propose that the sole main reason to route via the FL would be to deconflict with freight. Moreso in the Down direction due to Up freight from Basford Hall crossing the Junction.

Regarding P7 and the 730/2s. Yes a twin set is too long, twin 350s fit with only a couple or so metres 'spare'.