Ipswich Platform 1

[williamn]

I’ve recently started commuting to Wickham Market, and it’s always incredibly annoying that the Lowestoft train is always parked at the furthest possible point away on platform 1 at Ipswich, making connections tighter and forcing you to walking in the rain rather than be under the canopy. It feels almost pointedly customer unfriendly!

I can see that the units aren’t allowed further down the platform and the catenary doesn’t extend all the way down either. But given that they’ve just travelled almost the entire route on diesel is it necessary for them to be on electricity while at Ipswich? They only seem to be on it 50% of the time while idling anyway.

Just curious as to why this slightly unsatisfactory arrangement exists!

 

[Big Jumby 74]

This may be a case that during the leaf fall season (Oct to Dec as a rule) extra mitigations are required within the timetable, should drivers experience wheel slip, either on taking power, or more importantly (and scary) occasions (I have been there as a witness to same) on trying to stop at a station, and the wheels have picked up, and there is sod all the driver can then do to stop the train, even after hitting the emergency brake. It is bloody frightening to experience same first hand.

Whilst I am not conversant with the rules that apply on GA locations, given p1 at Ipswich is a bay platform, this may well be a reason the 'string' stops short of the buffers, as part of a mitigation during leaf fall periods, to remove power from the train, and thence reduce the risk of a buffer stop collision.

Just my own thoughts as an old fxxt ex railwayman?

PS; the thinking/planning of the infrastructure, in other words the OH string (in this case), and the associated 'rules' in these days, will always be driven by the worst case scenario imaginable, and the costs involved, and so that is what the passenger may have has to put up with all year round.

 

[saismee]

Theyre supposed to be on electric as much as possible so they aren't allowed as far down the platform. I agree that it is a bit silly.

Whilst I am not conversant with the rules that apply on GA locations, given p1 at Ipswich is a bay platform, this may well be a reason the 'string' stops short of the buffers, as part of a mitigation during leaf fall periods, to remove power from the train, and thence reduce the risk of a buffer stop collision.

They approach on diesel and change to electric after arriving. Pan up or down makes no difference. Quite recently a unit slid down to the end due to contamination, and P1 was out of use for a morning. It's a long list of small reasons, but the big one would be that extending the canopy or OHLE is just too expensive to justify.

Out of curiosity, is that picture from today or yesterday?

 

[williamn]

Out of curiosity, is that picture from today or yesterday?

Picture is from 22/1/25!

 

[Big Jumby 74]

They approach on diesel and change to electric after arriving. Pan up or down makes no difference. Quite recently a unit slid down to the end due to contamination, and P1 was out of use for a morning

As said, I am of a previous generation, so much has changed in the 'rules' game I am sure, but having been on a unit in a red button mode slide (455) approaching a level crossing at a platform end, whilst on the one hand one thinks 'safety' measures are perhaps sometimes a tad OTT, I can also see/appreciate the case from the other side, as seldom as (these) instances may occur.

 

[blimmo]

It's a long list of small reasons, but the big one would be that extending the canopy or OHLE is just too expensive to justify.

Does anyone know why the OHLE was not installed all the way to the end of the platform?

 

[dk1]

I’ve recently started commuting to Wickham Market, and it’s always incredibly annoying that the Lowestoft train is always parked at the furthest possible point away on platform 1 at Ipswich, making connections tighter and forcing you to walking in the rain rather than be under the canopy. It feels almost pointedly customer unfriendly!

I can see that the units aren’t allowed further down the platform and the catenary doesn’t extend all the way down either. But given that they’ve just travelled almost the entire route on diesel is it necessary for them to be on electricity while at Ipswich? They only seem to be on it 50% of the time while idling anyway.

Just curious as to why this slightly unsatisfactory arrangement exists!

View attachment 196754

Trains have to be left with pans raised whenever possible. All trains from the Stowmarket direction arrive in electric mode so it was decided in 2019 that as no more than a single unit will ever use platform 1 so that a uniform stopping point will be used to save any unnecessary operational incidents.

 

[86246]

Does anyone know why the OHLE was not installed all the way to the end of the platform?

Until 2019 the wires on platform 1 were only used by the Freightliner electric locos going between the yard and their old stabling point which didn't require the full platform length. Not sure if there were any other considerations that prevented the instalation of wiring the whole platform other than it wasn't really required.

 

[blimmo]

But surely it would have been much cheaper to wire it all the way at the time rather than extending it later. Seems like an incredibly short sighted decision unless there's some reason that makes it very difficult to wire it all the way.

 

[dk1]

But surely it would have been much cheaper to wire it all the way at the time rather than extending it later. Seems like an incredibly short sighted decision unless there's some reason that makes it very difficult to wire it all the way.

From what I recall it was to save expensive alterations to platform canopies etc for something that was completely unneeded back in 1985.

 

[Magdalia]

But surely it would have been much cheaper to wire it all the way at the time rather than extending it later. Seems like an incredibly short sighted decision unless there's some reason that makes it very difficult to wire it all the way.

No it wasn't short sighted. It would have needed very long sight to foresee a need that didn't materialise for 35 years.

 

[eastdyke]

No it wasn't short sighted. It would have needed very long sight to foresee a need that didn't materialise for 35 years.

Was about to post very similar.
The cost of the work would provide for a lot of disposable raincapes [not that of course we should provide disposable anything]

Here in East Mids the Nottingham Station improvements that included the new P4C [2013?] gave us much more wet walking distance/time.

 

[blimmo]

From what I recall it was to save expensive alterations to platform canopies etc for something that was completely unneeded back in 1985.

Thanks this was the reason I was looking for. This does somewhat surprise me since from memory the platform canopy on P2 next door is the same and there are wires through that ofc.

 

[saismee]

Thanks this was the reason I was looking for. This does somewhat surprise me since from memory the platform canopy on P2 next door is the same and there are wires through that ofc.

It also isn't a bay platform, so it likely has different considerations. As it's also a through-platform for the intercity services, there is a very clear justification for any necessary modifications.

 

[eastdyke]

Thanks this was the reason I was looking for. This does somewhat surprise me since from memory the platform canopy on P2 next door is the same and there are wires through that ofc.

The current arrangements for both platforms can be clearly seen in the Greater Anglia 'virtual tour' of Ipswich Station:

Greater Anglia Ipswich Station Virtual Tour | Explore in 360°

Stunning, interactive experience created by The Virtual Tour Experts.

virtualtour.greateranglia.co.uk

 

[williamn]

I can see the practical reasons, but it does feel that the needs of the passenger never entered into the equation. It’s especially annoying when the units are sat there with the pan down!

 

[blimmo]

It also isn't a bay platform, so it likely has different considerations. As it's also a through-platform for the intercity services, there is a very clear justification for any necessary modifications.

My point is that the canopy appears to me to be unaltered on both platforms. Perhaps they just did a very good job of preserving the original appearance or more alterations would have been necessary on P1.

 

[dk1]

I can see the practical reasons, but it does feel that the needs of the passenger never entered into the equation. It’s especially annoying when the units are sat there with the pan down!

The only reason units would be stabled without the pan raised is if they are both isolated (4-car) or it’s isolated (3-car) and although this is sometimes the case it is quite rare. Having a two tier system would be open to operational incidents and would be challenged by both the unions and driver manager team. I know that’s not always what passengers want to hear but it does make sense.

To fully wire platform 1 at Ipswich would be prohibitively expensive which is also the reason platform 6 and both the Jubilee and the rest of the Low Level sidings at Norwich are not electrified.

 

[saismee]

The only reason units would be stabled without the pan raised is if they are both isolated (4-car) or it’s isolated (3-car) and although this is sometimes the case it is quite rare.

5R08 often leaves P2 on diesel and returns into P1 on diesel, remaining like that until forming 2R08 to Felixstowe. I'd like to see shunting moves like this be changed to electric but we don't live in a perfect world.

 

[dk1]

5R08 often leaves P2 on diesel and returns into P1 on diesel, remaining like that until forming 2R08 to Felixstowe. I'd like to see shunting moves like this be changed to electric but we don't live in a perfect world.

I wonder if that’s a Norwich driver as that would be the reason.

 

[saismee]

I wonder if that’s a Norwich driver as that would be the reason.

Presumably Norwich drivers are used to shunting on diesel?

 

[dk1]

Presumably Norwich drivers are used to shunting on diesel?

Yes, shifting in AC mode is forbidden in the Norwich & Crown Point areas with 755s except when triple traction moves out to NVS at Trowse direct from the station or vice-versa.

 

[williamn]

The only reason units would be stabled without the pan raised is if they are both isolated (4-car) or it’s isolated (3-car)

What does this mean (to a layman!)?

I’ve seen on two occasions so far over 6 trips.

 

[wagnaga]

Yes, shifting in AC mode is forbidden in the Norwich & Crown Point areas with 755s except when triple traction moves out to NVS at Trowse direct from the station or vice-versa.

Why is it allowed on triple traction but not single?

 

[dk1]

Why is it allowed on triple traction but not single?

Single units are not stabled at NVS mate.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Jan 2026 ==

What does this mean (to a layman!)?

I’ve seen on two occasions so far over 6 trips.

Just that the units are restricted to diesel operation only.

 

[williamn]

All trains from the Stowmarket direction arrive in electric mode

This isn’t true of trains from Lowestoft though is it? I just arrived on diesel.

 

[dk1]

This isn’t true of trains from Lowestoft though is it? I just arrived on diesel.

That’s why I said Stowmarket.

 

[saismee]

This isn’t true of trains from Lowestoft though is it? I just arrived on diesel.

You've gotten your lines mixed up

 

[williamn]

You've gotten your lines mixed up

ah no I hadn’t, just had wrongly thought the implication was that all trains arriving from that general direction were on electric.

Still staggers me that passengers are inconvenienced for the sake of operational convenience. It’s the sort of small inconvenience that Joe Public (ie my colleagues) note and moan about.

 

[Parham Wood]

It looks as though nothing will get done until you complain. The passenger should come first and if connections are compromised particularly for those not so speedy it should be looked into. A lot of things are done because they were always done that way and solutions for problems are not always sought.