Platforms

[plastictaffy]

So I was thinking today while I was working an express. Does Waterloo have the most platforms of any UK station? If it doesn't, which does?

Also, I saw something somewhere that showed a train calling at Leeds that was booked to use platform 8D. What is platform 8D?? I assume it's like New Street, 8A at one end, 8B at the other, for two differnet trains, but with Leeds you can get 4 on a platform??

 

[CheesyChips]

I was always under the impression it was Waterloo but can't remember how I know that.

What always interests me is the number of physical platforms vs number of designated platform numbers. But that's me

 

[thenorthern]

Yes Waterloo does have the most platforms with 22, second is Edinburgh (I think) with 18.

 

[bengley]

Yes Waterloo does have the most platforms with 22, second is Edinburgh (I think) with 18.

Victoria has 19, as does Euston (and Liverpool Street I think)

Just checked, Liv Street doesn't.

Also, just to clarify, before someone tells me Euston doesn't either...

It does! Platforms 16 and 17 have a platform between them, however it's not included in the numbering and the doors are never opened on that platform - always on platform 17

 

[plastictaffy]

Just checked, Liv Street doesn't.

Neither does Euston, 18 there, too.

The platform to which you refer is a part of 17. The doors do get released there when a 12 car is signalled into it.

 

[bengley]

Neither does Euston, 18 there, too.

It does! Platforms 16 and 17 have a platform between them, however it's not included in the numbering and the doors are never opened on that platform - always on platform 17

 

[30907]

Waterloo was 24 in ES days.

Leeds platforms are all lettered from the West end, but there's only one middle road to give flexibility. I've not seen 4 trains in a through road, but 3 in platform 1 or 5 is nothing unusual - none of them would be longer than a 333.

 

[Nym]

Euston has 18 platforms upstairs with 19 platform faces, but the 2nd set of faces isn't used on platform 17. There are also 6 platforms downstairs with one staff access for shunting on the old S/B Northern via Bank platform.

 

[plastictaffy]

Euston has 18 platforms upstairs with 19 platform faces, but the 2nd set of faces isn't used on platform 17.

Yes it is, there is at least one service in the morning that is booked for platform 17B.....

 

[47271]

Waverley is numbered 1-20 but 20 is a continuation of 1, and 19 a continuation of 2. That said, all four can be occupied at the same time so they all count I suppose. Numbers 5 and 6 aren't in public use and are little more than sidings at present, but will be extended into the old cab rank. So when that's complete I reckon Waverley will be the winner! Correct me if I'm wrong...

 

[Kite159]

Waverley is numbered 1-20 but 20 is a continuation of 1, and 19 a continuation of 2. That said, all four can be occupied at the same time so they all count I suppose. Numbers 5 and 6 aren't in public use and are little more than sidings at present, but will be extended into the old cab rank. So when that's complete I reckon Waverley will be the winner! Correct me if I'm wrong...

And Waterloo will eventually have 24 platforms once the former international part of the station is back in regular use.

Not to mention the 4 platforms at Waterloo East, or the 8 underground platforms

 

[47271]

Waverley is numbered 1-20 but 20 is a continuation of 1, and 19 a continuation of 2. That said, all four can be occupied at the same time so they all count I suppose. Numbers 5 and 6 aren't in public use and are little more than sidings at present, but will be extended into the old cab rank. So when that's complete I reckon Waverley will be the winner! Correct me if I'm wrong...

Sorry, self correcting, I've just reread the Waterloo count!

 

[syorksdeano]

Wow Leeds actually has more D's than I thought

 

[Cherry_Picker]

Birmingham New Street has always struck me as something of an oddity, it's got 12 numbered platforms but every platform is split into "A" and "B" (and even "C" at platform 4) and as you can have different trains going in different directions at the same time from the "A" and "B" end of each platform do they count as different platforms?

 

[AmateurRambler]

Regarding Leeds. Through platforms all have a signal halfway along the platform. Trains coming in from the west will be advetised as stopping at 8B or 8D. From the east, it's 8A or 8C. It's to do with where the trains stop being slightly different depending on the direction of travel. Platforms 8, 9, 11 and 12 work to this arrangement. 15 and 16 only have A and B sections. All platforms are permissive. The low-numbered bays are labeled as A, B and C. This relates to a train rather than its position on the platform. So, the third train from the barriers is said to be on 1C (for example), whether it's three 142s or three 333s on platform 1.

 

[edwin_m]

Birmingham New Street has always struck me as something of an oddity, it's got 12 numbered platforms but every platform is split into "A" and "B" (and even "C" at platform 4) and as you can have different trains going in different directions at the same time from the "A" and "B" end of each platform do they count as different platforms?

This is typical at many large stations. A long train will be advertised with just a platform number and will occupy both ends, but a shorter one will be shown with an A or B platform on the departure screens. Not sure what happens now it's been rebuilt but the signs for the stairs down at New Street previously said something like "Platforms 6 and 6a" on one side and "Platforms 6 and 6b" on the other.

4c at New Street is different as it's physically a separate platform which was added a few years ago between 4 and 5. Renumbering of 5 upwards would have confused everybody and required lots changes to drawings. There might also have had to be signalling changes, as the route indicators on the approach signals to major stations often display the platform number to drivers.

New Street has mid-platform signals but other stations with an a and b arrangement such as Derby don't.

The really weird one is Bristol Temple Meads, where the odd numbered platforms are all at one end and the even-numbered platforms at the other. Most of the through platforms are long enough for two trains so have two numbers each. There are no mid-platform signals, just an illuminated white rectangle with a black cross, and the platform number displayed on the route indicator of the approach signal tells the driver which part of the platform to stop at. I'm not sure whether it is a sub aspect or a main yellow aspect to bring a train into the nearer end of the platform if the far end is occupied.