No - that is not what happens now
Platform 1 - London Bound fast
Platform 2 - Either London Fast or Coast bound Fast
Platform 3 - Coast bound fast
Platform 4 - London bound Slow - plus fast services from slow lines
Platform 5 - Terminators/ London Slows / Southbound slow
Platform 6 - Southbound slow
That doesn't sound massively different from:
Platforms 1/2 - all through trains to Gatwick and South Coast
Platforms 3/4 - All trains to Redhill loop and Tattenham/Caterham
Platforms 5/6 - all through trains East Grinstead/Oxted
Which is what you suggested earlier. Don't forget that plats 2-5 are reversible to allow any train to any route, either up or down, to stop at them which gives a massive amount of operational flexibility in the event of late running, train failure in the platform etc. Are you suggesting this flexibility is done away with?
In the peak hour Redhill services leave from platforms 2 or 3 or 5 or 6 - very confusing and complex - in fact the whole system is too complex at East Croydon as Passengers often have to run the large distances between platforms because there is no logic - but also that must be a nightmare to signal through for the signalmen which is why I suggested a simpler system. A lot less trains crossing over each other and thus should run smoother.
Why do you say it's too complex? Is this from experience as a passenger? Driver? Signaller? I would dispute that it's a 'nightmare' for a signaller (unless anyone from Panel 68 at Three Bridges posts on here and wants to correct me). I drive through there virtually every day I'm at work and I've not been wrong routed yet. In fact, for the number of trains passing through ECR, it all seems to work perfectly well with very problems (apart from a few minor pathing niggles - e.g., Caterhams and Tattenhams running 3 minutes apart).
It does seem a bit daft a terminating train occupying a platform at ECR for 15 minutes during the day, but then, as I said earlier, this is generally only 1tph during the day (to/from Milton Keynes) and plans are in place for these to terminate and turn back at South Croydon.
Which leaves the matter of it being 'confusing' for passengers going to Redhill. Passengers travelling from ECR arrive at the station, buy a ticket, check the massive alphabetically-listed departure board for the right platform, then head down one of three ramps to their platform. Why is that confusing? To be fair, one improvement I would like to see is better information for passengers changing at ECR - screens at platform/subway level that display departure information steadily rather than frustratingly changing to display a notice about forthcoming engineering work for 30 seconds while you're trying to find your train.
But with 6 platforms, someone will always have to run for a train if their connection time is limited - if the scheme you suggest is implemented, someone travelling from, say, Brighton to East Grinstead will still have to get from plat 1 to plat 6, maybe with only a couple of minutes to do it in (and you can't run down the subway ramps if it's a bit wet - too slippery! I wish they'd find a better surface). To the infrequent traveller the question of logic doesn't come into it as they will have no idea whether the platform layout is logical or not - all that is required is clear, precise information on how to find their train.
You seem to be suggesting major and costly engineering works (flyovers and widening cuttings) to solve what are fairly minor problems, if indeed they are problems at all. The massive costs and disruption involved seem to far outweigh the relatively minor benefits. 'If it ain't broke don't fix it'.
