Bangor (Wales) Platform 4

[BeijingDave]

With Bangor having often been a station where trains terminate and turn back towards Llandudno Junction (although not, apparently, in the current timetable), is there any good reason why the (useful and easily accessible) old Platform 4 was taken out of passenger service?

 

[Western Lord]

With Bangor having often been a station where trains terminate and turn back towards Llandudno Junction (although not, apparently, in the current timetable), is there any good reason why the (useful and easily accessible) old Platform 4 was taken out of passenger service?

As Abba would have put it, "Money, Money, Money".

 

[BeijingDave]

As Abba would have put it, "Money, Money, Money".

It appears the track is still there, though, for stabling. Yet, the platform face (one side of an island still in use) has been fenced off. That's why I question what actual benefit was derived from closing it.

 

[zwk500]

It appears the track is still there, though, for stabling. Yet, the platform face (one side of an island still in use) has been fenced off. That's why I question what actual benefit was derived from closing it.

Was Platform 4 ever signalled for eastbound departures?

If not, then the cost of resignalling the east end of the station and providing the additional crossover would almost certainly not have been justified given the capacity exists to shunt via the west end for departure from the current platform 1.
Closing Platform 4 means the signalling at both ends of the station is simplified as there's only 1 turnout and the sidings only need protection of their exit.

 

[BeijingDave]

Fair answer, thanks

 

[Belperpete]

Hasn't a path been built across it to access the car park?

Looking on Google maps, there appear to be a couple of shortish sidings connected at the Holyhead end of the station, but these wouldn't be any use for something turning back toward Chester / Llandudno Junction.

Is there a crossover at the Chester end of the station to allow a down train to turn back toward Chester / Llandudno Jcn? I don't recall seeing a signal at the Chester end of the down platform.

 

[BeijingDave]

Hasn't a path been built across it to access the car park?

That's the old Platform 1. It was taken out of use and the trackbed became part of the car park, and then 2 was renumbered to 1 (and 3 to 2).

I believe similar happened at Colwyn Bay.

 

[Shimbleshanks]

Some time in the 1970s, I remember it being used to platform a Holyhead-bound local DMU while a late-running loco-hauled train (probably from Euston) used platform 3 on the other side of the island. It had no number then; I think it was announced as 'the other side of platform 3'. I'm not sure if this was a regular thing - I only saw it happen that one time myself. Odd that it wasn't given a number, as it was evidently a usable platform, even if would only be used when trains were running out of course.
I also remember the centre roads being used to stable terminating trains. I think there were a few Eustons that terminated at Bangor rather than Holyhead up to about the 1980s.

 

[BeijingDave]

I think there were a few Eustons that terminated at Bangor rather than Holyhead up to about the 1980s.

There were also Bangor terminators from Manchester in the 1980s and 1990s (I can't remember specifically which years' timetables), I clearly remember them from platform announcements at WBQ.

 

[sefyllian]

Hasn't a path been built across it to access the car park?

That's the old Platform 1. It was taken out of use and the trackbed became part of the car park, and then 2 was renumbered to 1 (and 3 to 2).

No, I think Belperpete is actually talking about the old platform 4.

There definitely is a path that has been built across to the new larger car park on the south side of the station.

The short remaining section of track leads to the west, so is of no use for any Llandudno/Chester train. There’s no track to the east.

 

[zwk500]

Is there a crossover at the Chester end of the station to allow a down train to turn back toward Chester / Llandudno Jcn?

No.