Platform change at last minute

[truckman060473]

At Carmarthen on Saturday, the passengers for the 12.46 FGW service to Pembroke Dock were all waiting on platform 2 (opposite side to ticket office) and the displays on platform 2 were clearly showing this service. The HST then rolled into platform 1 where the displays were not showing anything but the 13.04 Manchester Picc. Why would they do this? Passengers who were presumably mostly for Tenby with luggage had to cross the line again.

 

[merlodlliw]

At Carmarthen on Saturday, the passengers for the 12.46 FGW service to Pembroke Dock were all waiting on platform 2 (opposite side to ticket office) and the displays on platform 2 were clearly showing this service. The HST then rolled into platform 1 where the displays were not showing anything but the 13.04 Manchester Picc. Why would they do this? Passengers who were presumably mostly for Tenby with luggage had to cross the line again.

Happens at Cardiff often when I return to North Wales, BTW how often is Car marthen platform 2 used, I spent a day there and all up & down used platform one.

 

[starrymarkb]

NRs doing usually, Have seen traincrew using very choice words about the signalmen when an HST was sent into another platform without warning

 

[oldrailman]

Having worked as despatcher at BHM New St, we grew to dread platform changes. It wasn't too bad if they were advertised with reasonable notice, but if it happened at last minute it was chaos, not too mention some choice language from passengers - and occasionally from traincrew too, as if it was our idea. As I recall, it was usually from the Powerbox.

 

[GB]

NRs doing usually

Uh No. Train crew and platform staff regularly request platform changes for various reasons.

If a signaller has routed a train into the opposite platform without prior warning then there will generally be a reason for it, maybe a track curcuit failure or points failure preventing the train being routed into the booked platform.

 

[truckman060473]

Happens at Cardiff often when I return to North Wales, BTW how often is Car marthen platform 2 used, I spent a day there and all up & down used platform one.

well, platform 2 is nearly always for Pembroke Dock services, which this one was, although it is platform 1 that most HST's use. (The tannoy had said 3 mins before the train arrived "the next train on platform 2 is the 12.46 FGW service to Pembroke Dock") but the general travelling public wouldn't know that. they have to cross the line by the points at the end of the line in Carmarthen's terminus

 

[HSTfan!!!]

9 times out of 10 it's down to signallers error from personal experience, believe it or not it quite often happens without station staff being told and for no good reason. It's a pain in the neck as well, especially if you have wheelchairs/disabled/elderly people/people with their worldly posessions... of course it's out fault down on the platform

 

[merlodlliw]

well, platform 2 is nearly always for Pembroke Dock services, which this one was, although it is platform 1 that most HST's use. (The tannoy had said 3 mins before the train arrived "the next train on platform 2 is the 12.46 FGW service to Pembroke Dock") but the general travelling public wouldn't know that. they have to cross the line by the points at the end of the line in Carmarthen's terminus

Yes I noticed to get to platform two, one as to walk across the line at the end that as been sealed for years, where did that line go to? Carmarthen station
reminds me of Llandudno now, a terminus off the main line.

 

[truckman060473]

the line used to cross the river Towy (before 1984ish) to an early type freight marshelling yard. the line went on to a junction splitting to the Llandeilo direction and the Gwili railway (tourist special now) and on to Pencader and Lampeter on the old (pre 1970's) line to Aberystwyth

 

[jopsuk]

I've many a time at Edinburgh had a last minute change from the central platforms (12-18) to 8, 9 or 10- a fairly long way, especially with luggage. Even had at least one "double change"- get to the "new" platform only for it to revert. Joyful...

 

[Pacerpilot]

Its down to the Bobby at Carmarthen Jn. He's more than likely seen it as a Down Dock service and routed into the Up Platform and per the ATW Dock services. They use the Up Platform as the Carmarthen - Manchester should be occupying the Down at that time.

For future info, just loiter on the Downside until you see the train arriving as the screens can be temperamental as you have seen.

 

[LucaZone]

Happens all the time at Woking for down services on Platform 4 and 5. There is a double crossover at the London End of Woking. As services can be running so close together, if anything is delayed there is a chance they will play musical platforms.

On a dozen occasions, if services are running late Ive see trains change platforms literally as they come into the station, causing everyone to mad dash over the bridge. This causes chaos as a lot of the time people are standing at certain places all along the platform to get on at certain points of the train. This is really bad luck for anyone hoping to get on at the front of a 12-car as the footbridge is located roughly around the back 2 or 3 coaches of these sets.

Still it gets worse though. On more than one occasion the platform has been changed twice in less than 5 minutes. A departure from platform 5, changes to platform 4. Then, and only once EVERYONE has moved to platform 4, do they announce - oops sorry, it will be platform 5 again, and everyone has to walk back!

Its almost the norm now that if services are running late, hang around the bottom of the stairs to the bridge until you are certain the train you want is going to stop at the platform you're on.

 

[merlodlliw]

the line used to cross the river Towy (before 1984ish) to an early type freight marshelling yard. the line went on to a junction splitting to the Llandeilo direction and the Gwili railway (tourist special now) and on to Pencader and Lampeter on the old (pre 1970's) line to Aberystwyth

Thanks truckman,

 

[danfitz123]

At Carmarthen on Saturday, the passengers for the 12.46 FGW service to Pembroke Dock were all waiting on platform 2 (opposite side to ticket office) and the displays on platform 2 were clearly showing this service. The HST then rolled into platform 1 where the displays were not showing anything but the 13.04 Manchester Picc. Why would they do this? Passengers who were presumably mostly for Tenby with luggage had to cross the line again.

Chester are especially good at doing this:-x