Brockenhurst Station

[1018509]

Saturday 30th July. I am on a train the 19:16 to Poole stopping service in platform 1 at Brockenhurst.

While waiting for the train to depart, because of the long layover there, several trains came and went. One such train I noticed was a class 450 EMU came into platform 4 from the Southampton direction and, after picking up passengers headed off, I can only assume, to Lymington. We departed soon after so I doubt that the platform 1 train was in front of us as it wouldn't have been a timetabled service if it was. I assume it arrived empty at Brockenhurst but don't know for sure.

I have never seen a train enter platform 4 before from the Southampton direction and wondered if it is a usual move.

I realise that trains must occasionally use that route as the tracks there do not have that unused rusty look but are not bright from regular use either.

To me platform 4 is the Lymington shuttle only, although I do realise that the Lymington branch can be reached from platforms 1, 2 & 4, perhaps 3 as well, I don't know.

Any comments.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

From what you say, I can only guess that it arrived ECS, and formed a Lymington service.

 

[1018509]

The Lymington Branch is served exclusively by 158s, and from Brockenhurst only. On a Saturday, all SWT services between Southampton and Poole / Weymouth are booked for 444 operation, so this is odd.

From what you say, I can only guess that it arrived ECS, and formed a Lymington service, though 450s down there are unusual.

No! 450s are used on the Lymington branch at weekends.

It was just the movement from the Southampton direction and through platform 4 to Lymington that puzzled me.

As ex-LUL/Tube Lines staff, so thinking like a railwayman, I can only assume it was for stock changeover purposes via Northam TCD.

 

[swt_passenger]

The Lymington Branch is served exclusively by 158s...

Statements like that will very quickly result in a chorus of 'Oh no it isn't'...

450s have been used on Sat and Sun and on Bank Holidays ever since the 158s were introduced on the weekday service.

 

[thefab444]

Nice edit by MattE as well.

Anyway, I imagine the 450 that was on the branch developed a fault so a replacement was scrambled from Northam Depot. I've seen set swaps happen at Brockenhurst a couple of times on weekdays with 158s.

The down main > platform 4 connection is only booked to be used on Mondays, when the stock to form the 0559 BCU - LYP comes from Southampton rather than Bournemouth Depot. I've been over it on a service train a couple of times, most notably once on a stopping service when platform 1 was out of use due to a track circuit failure, with the Lymington train using platform 4B.

 

[swt_passenger]

Nice edit by MattE as well.

Too late, he's been quoted. I could edit my post as well though for a suitable donation...

 

[Oracle]

It has been used by 450s in the past ..I have a photo of 450 094 at Brock P4 24/9/06...no 1498 that was intended to work the branch was held in Southampton's bay 'P5' that weekend because of engineering works west of Brock and it then developed a fault so was parked there for the weekend.

I have seen just one train run into P4 from the Southampton direction one Saturday when engineering works meant yet again everything terminating at Brock. The connection into P4 used to be used by the first Lymington branch train from Eastleigh and I think is also used by any p/way machine that is being stabled in the sidings next to the Lymington line.

In the Up direction the signaller can authorise passing the fixed red light at the S'oton end of P4, and it has be used in the event of track faults preventing access to the branch in the Down direction.

 

[1018509]

< Snip...the Lymington train using platform 4B...snip >

Is platform 4a and 4b each end of the same platform at Bockenhurst?

 

[thefab444]

That's right, platform 4B is the area under the canopy, platform 4A is beyond the canopy. Rarely used in this fashion though and I don't think the CIS can handle two trains at once; it is more of a local arrangement although the platforms are signposted as 4B and 4A.

 

[kennethw]

observed uses platform 1 Brock.
First train of the day to Lymington
Stopping service to Wareham lays over, having arrived westbound, then continues
Peak hr? services westbound terminating @ Brock

 

[thefab444]

Peak hr? services westbound terminating @ Brock

The 14:39 Waterloo - Brockenhurst and 15:39 Waterloo - Brockenhurst, which I guess you're referring to, use platform 1 as they reverse to head back towards Southampton.

 

[kennethw]

yes,these would be the ones observed. The others are westbound, these 2 are the ones which arrive westbound, then return eastbound

 

[swt_passenger]

yes,these would be the ones observed. The others are westbound, these 2 are the ones which arrive westbound, then return eastbound

Were you not referring to P1 though, ie the UP loop, in the post at 1443 on the 2nd? Irrespective of where they go next, the xx39s all normally arrive in P1?

 

[kennethw]

Were you not referring to P1 though, ie the UP loop, in the post at 1443 on the 2nd? Irrespective of where they go next, the xx39s all normally arrive in P1?

yes, will amend post

 

[thefab444]

Were you not referring to P1 though, ie the UP loop, in the post at 1443 on the 2nd? Irrespective of where they go next, the xx39s all normally arrive in P1?

Slightly unrelated, but is there any reason why the Waterloo - Poole workings don't use platform 4 regularly? It would make connections easier for disabled people and would mean the barrow crossing could be semi-permanently deployed across platform 1. Permissive working is fully allowed on platform 4, so there should be no problem with the xx12 Lymington departure going from platform 4B with the xx16 Poole departure from platform 4A.

 

[swt_passenger]

I can't see any major operational reasons why not - it's little different to the constant permisssive working at Southampton, however I suppose the stopper could theoretically get stuck for a while if the flyer happened to break down in front of it.

Also, if a risk assesment is done for any newly introduced permissive working. presumably being able to use individual platforms (as they are available) does tick a few more boxes.

But perhaps there's also a major element of "we've always done it this way"...