Can shutting platforms reduce costs?

[markymark2000]

I know this might sound strange but there are 2 reasons I ask.
Firstly, the UK railway has got a lot of now disused platforms (Like along the GWML and WCML where the fast lines have platforms but they are never stopped at (even during disruption)

Secondly, can shutting platforms reduce staffing costs and improve security?
This is for stations with more than 2 platforms. For this example I will use Leigh on Sea. If you closed the 'Southend' bound platform in the evening and forced all trains to use the island platforms, there would be more passengers on each platform so it would be a bit safer and also it would mean staff didn't have to watch as many platforms as no one should be on the closed platform for any reason.

Another example could be Fenchurch Street. If you closed off 1 of the islands and contained trains to 1 island (Pre 6am and post 9pm). Staff would be able to remain on the single island so would save them running around the station. Passengers are less spread out so better security.

A big example would probably be some of the big termini stations.

I know you won't be able to close much but would it improve the passenger experience if some platforms got closed in the late evening. It benefits staff and passengers. It may even give time for some work to be done to stations in the evenings on the closed platforms. The only people who may have an issue is signallers and the planners as there may be less dwell time available and less space to put trains.

If it reduces costs as well (as PIS can be turned off as well as any other electrical items. Less staff needed maybe as services won't be so spread across the station), it's a bonus.

 

[Nippy]

The 'disused' fast line platforms (main on GWR ) are used every other week overnight and occasional weekends (except the ones that are currently out of use Acton, Langley UM, Taplow) Or not used at all, West Ealing, Hanwell, Burnham. Same applies on WCML South.......

Paddington is pretty much full until 23:45 and then again from 05:00. Between 23:45 and 01:30, the six platforms open are pretty much fully utilised, trains in, empty and out to the depot. Between 1:30 and 4:30 there are normally only 3 or 4 platforms available.sometimes only 2 if GWR are outstabling over night.....

 

[JonathanH]

The railway already does this in some places - e.g. all overnight trains at East Croydon use platforms 3 and 4.

 

[Bletchleyite]

There are no south WCML disused fast line platforms, edit: other than Queens Park where all WCML platforms are disused and Wembley Central (I think). They are all used in the evening and on weekends in some cases other than those.

 

[pdeaves]

Or not used at all, West Ealing, Hanwell, Burnham.

Just for total accuracy, Burnham has never had any 'main line' platforms, let alone any out of use.

 

[Nippy]

Yes I shouldn't have included Burnham at all.

 

[greatkingrat]

There is no requirement to have a member of staff on every open platform. Most stations will only have one member of staff late at night anyway (and many won't have any) so I don't see how closing platforms will make any difference to staffing costs.

 

[markymark2000]

The 'disused' fast line platforms (main on GWR ) are used every other week overnight and occasional weekends (except the ones that are currently out of use Acton, Langley UM, Taplow) Or not used at all, West Ealing, Hanwell, Burnham. Same applies on WCML South.......

Paddington is pretty much full until 23:45 and then again from 05:00. Between 23:45 and 01:30, the six platforms open are pretty much fully utilised, trains in, empty and out to the depot. Between 1:30 and 4:30 there are normally only 3 or 4 platforms available.sometimes only 2 if GWR are outstabling over night.....

I thought some of the stations on the GWML had no service, I didn't think they even opened during engineering works. Clearly not.

At Paddington, OOS trains aren't so bad in closed platforms (except if works are going on of course) it's more about closing it to passengers so staff don't need to patrol those areas. While some of Paddingtons platforms look always used, if you scheduled trains around any platform closure, you would find things worked still. It's just about being a little bit less slack and reducing time between trips. In the evening, trains can get a lot longer between trips compared to in the day and peaks. This proves that it is possible to reduce time between trips if work was put in to do it.

The railway already does this in some places - e.g. all overnight trains at East Croydon use platforms 3 and 4.

Ahh, interesting. I didn't know this.

There is no requirement to have a member of staff on every open platform. Most stations will only have one member of staff late at night anyway (and many won't have any) so I don't see how closing platforms will make any difference to staffing costs.

I know there is no requirement per platform but say it takes 1 hour for a security walk around, if you close off areas, you won't need to patrol areas which are closed off as no one has been there so it means more staff presence. If you need say 6 dispatchers for big stations, you might be able to reduce that to 5 as the dispatchers would be contained to fewer platforms (it has been noted on other parts of this forum that dispatchers can be made to go across the station for each train. Less platforms means less walking and staff will be closer to the trains which need dispatching. It won't save a lot but it will save a bit.