Platform numbering direction

[D1009]

IIRC the bay platforms at Wolverhampton were previously numbered 1c and 1d. What didn't help was that the north end bay at least, was AIUI built later than the rest of the station to accommodate the DMU shuttle to/from Shrewsbury. The idea being that after electrification London trains would terminate at Wolverhampton.

In the 60s it was common at stations in the north west for bay platforms to be numbered with a letter after the number of the through platform to which they were next. Probably the best example of this was Crewe, where before modernisation, what are now platforms 11 and 6 used to be 3 and 4. What are now platforms 7 and 8 used to be 3B and 4B, and what are now 9 and 10 used to be 3A and 4A. It was the same on the island platform where 12 is now, where you had 1, 2, 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B. Similarly the bay platforms at the south end of Preston station used to be 3A and 4A. More recently as trains have got shorter, and platform sharing has become more common, through platforms at many stations have a lower case letter after the number, as at Birmingham New Street, and at Leeds it's been taken a stage further with a, b, c and d used. The exception is platform 4c at New Street, and I'm sure this is a source of confusion to passengers, in addition to all the other confusion created by the more recent reconstruction.

 

[6Gman]

In the 60s it was common at stations in the north west for bay platforms to be numbered with a letter after the number of the through platform to which they were next. Probably the best example of this was Crewe, where before modernisation, what are now platforms 11 and 6 used to be 3 and 4. What are now platforms 7 and 8 used to be 3B and 4B, and what are now 9 and 10 used to be 3A and 4A. It was the same on the island platform where 12 is now, where you had 1, 2, 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B. Similarly the bay platforms at the south end of Preston station used to be 3A and 4A. More recently as trains have got shorter, and platform sharing has become more common, through platforms at many stations have a lower case letter after the number, as at Birmingham New Street, and at Leeds it's been taken a stage further with a, b, c and d used. The exception is platform 4c at New Street, and I'm sure this is a source of confusion to passengers, in addition to all the other confusion created by the more recent reconstruction.

And to add to the jollity at Crewe (and possibly elsewhere) the through platforms were lettered North and South!

So your train could use Platforms 1, 1N, 1S, 1A or 1B!

 

[edwin_m]

After the rationalisation of Manchester Victoria when the arena was built am I right in remembering that it was also renumbered. I am sure I remember seeing something where what is now P1 was where the higher numbered platforms once were.

It was renumbered but the direction of the numbering wasn't changed.

Platforms 1 and 2 were formerly 9 and 10 and are the only recognisable part of the former platform area. There were originally eight more terminating platforms 1 to 8 in the area Metrolink now uses, and seven mostly through platforms 11 to 17 where the four through platforms and the Arena now are. Some of these disappeared before the big remodelling in the 1990s.

 

[hwl]

From the position of standing looking at the platforms is it just Euston that numbers the platforms from right to left as a termini?

If so, why?

Terminus stations with low numbered platforms on the right when viewed from the concourse tended to be the ones that had separate arrivals and departures areas when they opened in the 1830s and 1840s with the arrivals and low numbered platforms on the right. With Kings Cross, Euston, Fenchurch Street, Marylebone and London Bridge all following this principle. London Bridge originally had right hand running for the first 8 years of operation so the arrivals (and low numbered platforms) were on the left instead unlike Kings Cross and Euston with left hand running.

 

[D6975]

TM got switched around too, What is now P1 used to be P13 IIRC.

 

[QueensCurve]

Numbering at Crewe was reversed after the 1980s remodelling.!

Indeed it was. That slipped my mind.

 

[edwin_m]

Terminus stations with low numbered platforms on the right when viewed from the concourse tended to be the ones that had separate arrivals and departures areas when they opened in the 1830s and 1840s with the arrivals and low numbered platforms on the right. With Kings Cross, Euston, Fenchurch Street, Marylebone and London Bridge all following this principle. London Bridge originally had right hand running for the first 8 years of operation so the arrivals (and low numbered platforms) were on the left instead unlike Kings Cross and Euston with left hand running.

Did Marylebone ever have separate arrival and departure? It was much later than the others and I assume the numbering east to west was because it was intended to be extended on the west side.