Constructing Finsbury Park terminating platforms

[bramling]

I know it would be bold but I do think they should consider closing Welwyn north.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Jan 2026 ==


compared to other London terminals are there really capacity restrictions at King’s Cross?

On the latter point, sort of. Since the new ECML timetable the level of platform occupation is quite high. It doesn’t help that the long-distance services are formed from several different types of train formation, which reduces flexibility somewhat.

Realistically though it ought to be possible to turn 6tph LNER, 1tph open access and 1tph Peterborough using 9 platforms, off-peak at least, with the Fen Line and Cambridge stopping services using the remaining two 160m platfoms. Peaks is more of a problem as there’s a further 4tph GTR to then fit in, half which at least requires some 12-car services, and there’s also the issue that the Fen Line requires 12 cars for peak services, and at some other times too such as weekends.

It would be difficult with LNER’s complex train plan, as matching arrivals to departures is a massive headache with so many train types.

I make it currently
10-car electric
10-car bi mode
9-car electric
9-car bi mode
5-car electric
5-car bi mode
10-car half electric half bi mode
IC225
GC 180
GC 221
HT 803

This is what happens when politicians get too involved in railway operations…

 

[Failed Unit]

About a month all day then another month at evenings and weekends.

Same thing with Potters Bar (but not for as long) If I recall the service was New Barnet - Moorgate every 15 mins then Gordon Hill - Moorgate every 30 mins.

 

[MatthewHutton]

On the latter point, sort of. Since the new ECML timetable the level of platform occupation is quite high. It doesn’t help that the long-distance services are formed from several different types of train formation, which reduces flexibility somewhat.

Realistically though it ought to be possible to turn 6tph LNER, 1tph open access and 1tph Peterborough using 9 platforms, off-peak at least, with the Fen Line and Cambridge stopping services using the remaining two 160m platfoms. Peaks is more of a problem as there’s a further 4tph GTR to then fit in, half which at least requires some 12-car services, and there’s also the issue that the Fen Line requires 12 cars for peak services, and at some other times too such as weekends.

It would be difficult with LNER’s complex train plan, as matching arrivals to departures is a massive headache with so many train types.

I make it currently
10-car electric
10-car bi mode
9-car electric
9-car bi mode
5-car electric
5-car bi mode
10-car half electric half bi mode
IC225
GC 180
GC 221
HT 803

This is what happens when politicians get too involved in railway operations…

If only we had a rolling electrification programme!

 

[rmHawk765]

Same thing with Potters Bar (but not for as long) If I recall the service was New Barnet - Moorgate every 15 mins then Gordon Hill - Moorgate every 30 mins.

Recently they did New Barnet-Moorgate every 30 mins and Hertford-Moorgate every 60 mins on a Sunday - I believe something was closed on the Welwyn side and everything was being diverted. I am sure Gordon Hill-Moorgate 2tph would've been possible, but I digress.

 

[WTT Gremlin]

Recently, I have been looking over the lack of capacity at King's Cross, combined with the subpar reliability of the East Coast Main Line's Thameslink services, and I do think it is pretty clear we need somewhere new for ECML trains to terminate. I have been considering how Finsbury Park could have an extra through bi-di (not bay) track built for P3 & P6, which are currently not used because they simply share the US1 & DS1 tracks with P2 & P7. The island plats for P3/4 and P5/6 are fairly wide, and to me it seems like there is space to replace one half of both platforms with tracks. These could be built either replacing the current P4 & 5, which would allow a cross-platform interchange to the TL/GN service in the 'middle' on P2/P7 from both the Moorgate train on P1/8 and the terminating train on P3/6, or replacing the current P3/6, keeping the fast platforms intact. Additionally, there is plenty of space for another track between the goods line and the US2 for a new track and platform.

There are a few uses for such platforms I have thought of. One, is just as general terminating platforms for any increase in GN services in the future, to circumvent the lack of capacity at KGX. The other thing I was considering is to take advantage of it to scrap the constantly unreliable Peterborough to Horsham service, replacing it with a Peterborough to Finsbury Park service in the north. The other use, also relating to TL, is to be able to take 700s out of Hornsey and run Cambridge to Finsbury Park in the event of disruption to the Cambridge to Brighton route, which is not uncommon. This could be the first step to a wider restructuring of TL routes, as the only reasonable way I see to improve reliability on the network at the minute is to limit the number of trains going through the core.

I would be interested to see if anyone has better information on how feasible something like this is, including whether there is actually enough physical space, as I am only make a presumption here that there is.

You have mentioned platforms but I don't see anything about how you propose accessing them, because on the level would involve crossing both FL either on arrival or on departure?