Platform speed limits

[Junior]

Are there maximum speed limits that trains must adhere to when passing through a station?

Not so interested in situations where fast lines exist and are not adjacent to a platform face (E.g. Peterborough) more interested in speed limits for non stopping trains passing adjacent to a platform face.

Also wondering if bi-directional operation would further constrain speed limits in large / complex stations (E.g. Leeds).

Is such documented in any standards / guidance notes etc? I can't find any reference in the Rule Book.

Would it be down to individual train operators?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Intercity110]

Are there maximum speed limits that trains must adhere to when passing through a station?

Not so interested in situations where fast lines exist and are not adjacent to a platform face (E.g. Peterborough) more interested in speed limits for non stopping trains passing adjacent to a platform face.

Also wondering if bi-directional operation would further constrain speed limits in large / complex stations (E.g. Leeds).

Is such documented in any standards / guidance notes etc? I can't find any reference in the Rule Book.

Would it be down to individual train operators?

Thanks in advance.

it's around 30-15mph for northampton. probably lower in termini .

 

[yorkie]

Are there maximum speed limits that trains must adhere to when passing through a station?

Stations are irrelevant; line speed is determined by various other factors

Edit: what I mean is that the fact it's a station doesn't matter per se; fixtures and fittings at some stations may well limit the speed but that would apply if they existed at locations that weren't stations. Once you go above the 125mph limit for conventional lines in the UK the situation does change, though. For example stations like Northallerton don't have speed limits just because they are stations, and trains don't slow down for them. See post #9 below.

 

[FGW_DID]

There will be a speed limit but it’s not a blanket limit for platforms. It will more than likely just be whatever the line speed is for that particular section of track. For example
Didcot P1 & P2 line speed through the platforms is 125.
At Reading, the line speed is 90 through the fastest platforms. (I’ll have to check the route map to confirm)

 

[Cheshire Scot]

Not so interested in situations where fast lines exist and are not adjacent to a platform face (E.g. Peterborough) more interested in speed limits for non stopping trains passing adjacent to a platform face.

125mph through Lockerbie being an another example!

 

[John Webb]

The speed limits for trains on the Fast Lines through St Albans City Station are 105mph on the Down line and either 95 or 100mph on the Up line. The speed on both the slow lines is 65mph. The limiting factor is the radius of the curves through the platforms rather than the presence of the platforms.

 

[swt_passenger]

Are there maximum speed limits that trains must adhere to when passing through a station?

Not so interested in situations where fast lines exist and are not adjacent to a platform face (E.g. Peterborough) more interested in speed limits for non stopping trains passing adjacent to a platform face.

Also wondering if bi-directional operation would further constrain speed limits in large / complex stations (E.g. Leeds).

Is such documented in any standards / guidance notes etc? I can't find any reference in the Rule Book.

Would it be down to individual train operators?

Thanks in advance.

Trains can and do pass open platforms at up to 125 mph. Only when you get above 125 mph is access control mandated in the railway group standards.

 

[najaB]

Is such documented in any standards / guidance notes etc? I can't find any reference in the Rule Book.

Because there isn't one. Line speed is line speed and is determined by a number of factors, the existence of a platform face is just one of them.

 

[Watershed]

The only inherent limit is that you cannot have an unprotected platform with a linespeed above 125mph. There are several platforms that have a 125mph linespeed, with non-stop trains passing through at linespeed. Didcot Parkway and Slough are perhaps the most dangerous, as the relevant platforms are right next to the gatelines.

Instead, speeds through stations will tend to be limited by other factors, such as signal spacing, line curvature, signal sighting or gauge clearance. Sometimes layouts will also have lower linespeeds than are technically feasible, to avoid approach control being needed for trains entering other platforms - if a diverging route/platform is more than 10mph slower than the 'straight on' route, you need approach control or a sequence of flashing yellows.

It may also simply be that there is no need to have a higher linespeed as trains rarely pass through non-stop. Having a lower linespeed means less wear and tear, particularly on points, so less maintenance and hence fewer hours of line closures are needed.

 

[SargeNpton]

it's around 30-15mph for northampton. probably lower in termini .

The line speed at Northampton is determined by the sharp curve under the bridge at the south end of the station, not by there being platforms.

 

[Intercity110]

The line speed at Northampton is determined by the sharp curve under the bridge at the south end of the station, not by there being platforms.

ok thanks

 

[Railsigns]

Stations are irrelevant; line speed is determined by various other factors

They're not completely irrelevant. Passing clearance at station platforms is another factor that can lead to a lower permissible speed being imposed than might otherwise be possible.

 

[Elecman]

The only inherent limit is that you cannot have an unprotected platform with a linespeed above 125mph. There are several platforms that have a 125mph linespeed, with non-stop trains passing through at linespeed. Didcot Parkway and Slough are perhaps the most dangerous, as the relevant platforms are right next to the gatelines.

Instead, speeds through stations will tend to be limited by other factors, such as signal spacing, line curvature, signal sighting or gauge clearance. Sometimes layouts will also have lower linespeeds than are technically feasible, to avoid approach control being needed for trains entering other platforms - if a diverging route/platform is more than 10mph slower than the 'straight on' route, you need approach control or a sequence of flashing yellows.

It may also simply be that there is no need to have a higher linespeed as trains rarely pass through non-stop. Having a lower linespeed means less wear and tear, particularly on points, so less maintenance and hence fewer hours of line closures are needed.

Milton Keynes Platform 6 is pretty narrow too for 125mph passing trains

 

[Hadders]

Stevenage is 125mph

 

[fat_boy_pete]

Stevenage is 125mph

Although a Deltic + 8 carriages at 100mph always had a greater sensation than a HST at 125mph, when I stood on the up fast platform in 1978

 

[Bald Rick]

Stations are irrelevant; line speed is determined by various other factors

There’s several factors that affect linespeed that station platforms are relevant to, including gauging, aerodynamic effects; OLE vertical alignment, adjacent level crossings and signal sighting (all three consequential because of the platform) and risk assessments for safety of passengers on platforms (A rare one, but it does happen).

 

[baz962]

The speed limits for trains on the Fast Lines through St Albans City Station are 105mph on the Down line and either 95 or 100mph on the Up line. The speed on both the slow lines is 65mph. The limiting factor is the radius of the curves through the platforms rather than the presence of the platforms.

It's 100 both directions on the fast.

 

[Peter0124]

Prestonpans is also 125mph IIRC, the ECML out of Edinburgh gets fast quite quickly, compared to the WCML out of Glasgow.

 

[Sly Old Fox]

There will be a speed limit but it’s not a blanket limit for platforms. It will more than likely just be whatever the line speed is for that particular section of track. For example
Didcot P1 & P2 line speed through the platforms is 125.
At Reading, the line speed is 90 through the fastest platforms. (I’ll have to check the route map to confirm)

95 at Reading.

 

[stuu]

How long has Slough had a fence on the down main platform? I haven't noticed it before, but that's probably because I don't pay much attention to Slough

 

[pdeaves]

How long has Slough had a fence on the down main platform? I haven't noticed it before, but that's probably because I don't pay much attention to Slough

Only recently installed (anti suicide measure)

 

[306024]

……. risk assessments for safety of passengers on platforms (A rare one, but it does happen).

This was done back in the day of the popular V Festivals at Chelmsford (normal line speed 60 mph) for passenger safety. A temporary speed restriction of 20 mph was put on in the evening before the crowds returned. In later years this was achieved by making the signals on each end of Chelmsford station approach controlled for the duration, done by a technician in Liverpool St IECC. A lot easier than erecting TSR boards.

From memory this stemmed from a near incident at Knebworth, where returning concert goers found themselves crowded on a platform with 125mph trains passing.

 

[John Webb]

It's 100 both directions on the fast.

Thanks - couldn't recall the full detail of the upgrade several years back.

 

[Efini92]

Are there maximum speed limits that trains must adhere to when passing through a station?

Not so interested in situations where fast lines exist and are not adjacent to a platform face (E.g. Peterborough) more interested in speed limits for non stopping trains passing adjacent to a platform face.

Also wondering if bi-directional operation would further constrain speed limits in large / complex stations (E.g. Leeds).

Is such documented in any standards / guidance notes etc? I can't find any reference in the Rule Book.

Would it be down to individual train operators?

Thanks in advance.

Have a look in the route clearance tables in the SA. Some trains have restrictions through platforms if they have deflated air suspension.