Most Unused Platforms

[Tom B]

Doncaster Platform 2?

 

[Deerfold]

The platforms on the fast line (1&2) through Taplow were annoying. They weren't maintained and so were classed as unsafe. When engineering work occured on the slow lines (as it regularly did when Taplow was my local station) it was annoying having to get a rail replacement bus, knowing the train would be passing platforms at the station I wanted (at least at Burnham there are no fast platforms). It's a while since I've been there but I'd assume it's still the same. It was particularly annoying that you could walk along platform 2 to the bridge having got off a train on Platform 3.
(station map: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/sjp/TAP/plan.html?rtnloc=TAP)
The station map only describes Platform 1 as out of use but in 3 years of daily use I was unaware of any train ever using Platform 2.

 

[142094]

Doncaster Platform 2?

Wikipedia says that it isn't used for any timetabled services, yet I've seen a Northern service to Sheffield use it late at night a few times.

 

[MCR247]

It isn't possible to get from P2 to the Sheffield lines though is it? :?

 

[DaveNewcastle]

It isn't possible to get from P2 to the Sheffield lines though is it?

No.
P2 simply runs into the line serving P1 (and then P3). They're on the Up Slow with a crossover only to the Up Fast. It would have to reverse back through the station to reach the crossovers for the Sheffield lines!

 

[ChrisTheRef]

How many disused platforms are there at Crewe?

Off the top of my head, I never see services depart from 8 or 10. 12 is hardly ever used, but I've departed from there before

 

[142094]

It isn't possible to get from P2 to the Sheffield lines though is it? :?

Well, it did have Sheffield on the blind so assumed it was.

 

[gingerheid]

Birmingham Moor Street?

Ok... not quite...

 

[class156]

I've never seen P2 at Ayr used

 

[imagination]

Most unused platform I've ever used myself is the platform on the fast track at Acton Main Line. The train was on the fast track from overtaking a goods train in the Southall area. I dont think that platform is used during engineering work (there is no corresponding platform in the other direction), but as it was just our one train we stopped there. My dad (who was with me) lived in Acton for the first 18 years of his life and said he had never seen a train stop there before.

 

[K9-70]

Doncaster Platform 2?

Last time I saw a service train departing Platform 2 at Doncaster was back in 1986. Sorry, I can't remember the destination it was travelling to.

54405 Doncaster 16-09-1986

K9-70

 

[MidnightFlyer]

At Doncaster, platforms 1, 2 (the bay in question) and 3a (or the whole of 3 when occupied by an 8 coach+ train), are unable to get across to South Yorkshire Junction for Sheffield (obviously platforms 4-8 are on the correct side of the line to do so), so that means that the only services capable of using platforms 1-3 are Grand Central (West Riding), East Coast and Hull Trains services, as well as EMT's local service from Sheffield-Lincoln. Bearing in mind that no EC service could use the bay (it is only five cars long), and that no GC or HT services terminate there, I would suggest that the very last time it was used, even possibly, was when a Sheffield-Lincoln train was scheduled to terminate there (in which case they would more than likely use p5), or when a Lincoln service was diverted via Black Carr Jn, and starting at Doncaster (on the east side of the ECML)...

There's no possibility it could ever have been used (in recent times) just to store engines from around the yards in Doncaster?

 

[MCR247]

It could have been going to Lincoln from that platform in 86

 

[W-on-Sea]

Is platform 1 at Southend Central (northernmost bay) ever used? I think it only fits a four-carriage 357; and in general those terminating at the station use the southern bay (P4), which will happily take an 8 (and I think even 12) carriage-train.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Is platform 1 at Southend Central (northernmost bay) ever used? I think it only fits a four-carriage 357; and in general those terminating at the station use the southern bay (P4), which will happily take an 8 (and I think even 12) carriage-train.

Baywatch says it's NRU (Not in regular Use), p4 on the other hand is used for the regular off-peak Fenchurch St trains

Just to clear up Doncaster (according to Baywatch!):
p2: NRU
p5: Sheffield and Lincoln services
p6: Mainly Leeds local AC services and the 0615 SO from Selby (arr 0636)
p7: 0552 M-F to Selby, 0550 SO to Selby, 0618 M-F from Selby (arr 0638)

Does anything ever use p2 at Leigh-on-Sea?

I'll post a list of little used bays later, hopefully to clear up usage confusion, and to aid any trackbashers!

 

[Tomnick]

I'm pretty sure I've seen a Lincoln service depart from P2 at Donny in slightly more recent years, having shunted there after arriving across the ladder into P3b.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Going off K9-70's photo, according to my BR timetable (from 12 May-28 September 1986), I can confirm that, on a Monday-Friday, there were 5 (4 on Bank Holidays) terminating services from Peterborough/Sleaford/Lincoln-Doncaster, and 5 starting services southbound (back towards Lincoln/Sleaford/Peterborough).
They were (from Doncaster):
1038 to Sleaford (arr 1202)
1230 to Peterborough (arr 1447)
1425 to Sleaford (arr 1550)
1625 to Peterborough (arr 1841)
1945 to Lincoln (arr 2036)

 

[MCR247]

It is possible if it was going via the direct Gainsborough route

 

[Ivo]

Is platform 1 at Southend Central (northernmost bay) ever used? I think it only fits a four-carriage 357; and in general those terminating at the station use the southern bay (P4), which will happily take an 8 (and I think even 12) carriage-train.

In my experience, only ever as a back-up. I have seen units there though. I don't see why it would only take 4 though; is it not the same length as P4?

Sticking with the LTS route, Pitsea has an unnumbered siding (P5 or 1a to me ) which is often home to a Balfour-Beatty maintenance unit.

 

[AlexS]

Platform 6 at Wolverhampton only seems to be used when the service is majorly disrupted.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

With the new ATW/LM Sunday services on the Wolves-Shrewsbury line (giving places like Albrighton and Oakengates a 2-hourly service); will this mean p6 at Wolverhampton will come back into regular use again?

 

[BrummyBoy]

One of the island platforms at Small Heath isnt used and is in disrepear

 

[12CSVT]

The platforms on the fast line (1&2) through Taplow were annoying. They weren't maintained and so were classed as unsafe. When engineering work occured on the slow lines (as it regularly did when Taplow was my local station) it was annoying having to get a rail replacement bus, knowing the train would be passing platforms at the station I wanted (at least at Burnham there are no fast platforms). It's a while since I've been there but I'd assume it's still the same. It was particularly annoying that you could walk along platform 2 to the bridge having got off a train on Platform 3.
(station map: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/sjp/TAP/plan.html?rtnloc=TAP)
The station map only describes Platform 1 as out of use but in 3 years of daily use I was unaware of any train ever using Platform 2.

A bit like the annoying situation at Bedford for the past few Sundays. Due to engineering works the only platform which can be accessed is platfrorm 4, which can only be used for northbound EMT services. Yet even though trains have been stopping there, you're not allowed to use them for London - Bedford journeys as the Bedford stop is pick up only.

 

[W-on-Sea]

In my experience, only ever as a back-up. I have seen units there though. I don't see why it would only take 4 though; is it not the same length as P4?
.

I think you're right that it is the same length as P4 (so, should, presumably, fit 8-carriage trains), but it certainly has a "4 car stopping point" sign at its easternmost end (rather than an "S" for any length, or "8"); . I presume the reason is to do with one-person operated trains; I think only one mirror is provided, four carriage-lengths from the stopping point, so anything longer would require additional dispatching assistance on the platform. (Either that or part of the far end of the platform doesn't meet current safety standards or something...maybe?)

That siding at Pitsea isn't even electrified.

As for P2 at Leigh-on-Sea, I'm not sure about the current timetable, but certainly up until last year there was one early afternoon train from Fenchurch Street that terminated there. (I don't think any trains to London usually start from there, though, unlike at the similar layout at Laindon)

It is used regularly during engineering works. I've also seen it used, during late running, as a point in which fast services to London (in the morning peak) can overtake stopping trains.

Anyway, hardcore LTS trackbashers should note that there is one train each day (and as far as I know only the one) that uses Platform 2 at Laindon to go in passenger service EASTbound. 2340 ex Fenchurch Street I think. If anyone is desperate to travel on the unique bit of track it covers!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Here is a list of all bay platforms in on heavy rail (excl. LUL) on mainland Great Britain that have no regular scheduled passenger services (all others do):
Haymarket - 0
Stirling - 7, 8 & 10
Perth - 6
Keith - not numbered
Aberdeen - 2 (not classified as passenger platform)
Southend Central - 1
Doncaster - 2
Lincoln - 1
Bridgend - 3
Exeter Central - 1
Hayes & Harlington - 5
Exeter St Davids - 2
Wolverhampton - 6
Wellington (Salop) - 3
Hooton - 1
Rochdale - 2
Hastings - 1
Twickenham - 2
Fareham - 2
Southampton Central - 5
Bournemouth - 1
Salisbury - 5
Ryde St Johns Rd - 3

All other bays (such as Northampton p5, Rugby p3, Taunton p6, Newcastle p1 & 9-12, Crewe p8 and Leamington Spa p1 etc) have at least one passenger train per day, week or timetable sub-period scheduled (sometimes in one direction only though, such as arrival)

Hope this clears up some questions

 

[Tomnick]

Going off K9-70's photo, according to my BR timetable (from 12 May-28 September 1986), I can confirm that, on a Monday-Friday, there were 5 (4 on Bank Holidays) terminating services from Peterborough/Sleaford/Lincoln-Doncaster, and 5 starting services southbound (back towards Lincoln/Sleaford/Peterborough).
They were (from Doncaster):
1038 to Sleaford (arr 1202)
1230 to Peterborough (arr 1447)
1425 to Sleaford (arr 1550)
1625 to Peterborough (arr 1841)
1945 to Lincoln (arr 2036)

It's not possible for anything from the Lincoln line (or the ECML for that matter) to arrive at P2 though, unless special arrangements were made for them to run over the goods lines on the Up side south of the station. Most, I believe, terminate at P5 and return from there.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

It's not possible for anything from the Lincoln line (or the ECML for that matter) to arrive at P2 though, unless special arrangements were made for them to run over the goods lines on the Up side south of the station. Most, I believe, terminate at P5 and return from there.

Were they goods line in 1986 though?

 

[12CSVT]

Here is a list of all bay platforms in on heavy rail (excl. LUL) on mainland Great Britain that have no regular scheduled passenger services (all others do):
Haymarket - 0
Stirling - 7, 8 & 10
Perth - 6
Keith - not numbered
Aberdeen - 2 (not classified as passenger platform)
Southend Central - 1
Doncaster - 2
Lincoln - 1
Bridgend - 3
Exeter Central - 1
Hayes & Harlington - 5
Exeter St Davids - 2
Wolverhampton - 6
Wellington (Salop) - 3
Hooton - 1
Rochdale - 2
Hastings - 1
Twickenham - 2
Fareham - 2
Southampton Central - 5
Bournemouth - 1
Salisbury - 5
Ryde St Johns Rd - 3

All other bays (such as Northampton p5, Rugby p3, Taunton p6, Newcastle p1 & 9-12, Crewe p8 and Leamington Spa p1 etc) have at least one passenger train per day, week or timetable sub-period scheduled (sometimes in one direction only though, such as arrival)

Hope this clears up some questions

Is platform 8 at Carlisle still used ? The last time I saw a passenger train there was when sleeping cars were attached to the Glasgow - Euston overnight, which ended about 1991-1992.

 

[bradders1983]

Isn't Haymarket platform 0 all dug up at the moment? It looked to be when I went past last month.

Rochdale did have services terminating in platform 2 prior to the Oldham Loop Line being lifted in preperation for Metrolink.

 

[ainsworth74]

You could probably add Hull platform 1 into that list.