Severn Valley Railway - Highley station platform

[amahy]

As lovely and picturesque Highley station is, it is too small for the number of passengers on busy days in my opinion, and can get very crowded. The platform is too short for most trains operating on the SVR, at only 3-4 coaches long, which increases dwell times, only making the situation worse.

Given this, and that it is one of the most popular stations on the line, with the Engine House being there, could a platform extension be on the cards in the not too distant future? There seems to be plenty of space to extend it by 1-2 coach lengths at the north end, without having to move any other infrastructure.

I understand that heritage lines are generally struggling financially, but given that SVR had the money to extend the platform at Kidderminster (a generally non-overcrowded station), and are about to build a canopy along the whole platform there, a simple platform extension at Highley doesn’t seem too far fetched.

 

[marshlinker]

As lovely and picturesque Highley station is, it is too small for the number of passengers on busy days in my opinion, and can get very crowded. The platform is too short for most trains operating on the SVR, at only 3-4 coaches long, which increases dwell times, only making the situation worse.

Given this, and that it is one of the most popular stations on the line, with the Engine House being there, could a platform extension be on the cards in the not too distant future? There seems to be plenty of space to extend it by 1-2 coach lengths at the north end, without having to move any other infrastructure.

I understand that heritage lines are generally struggling financially, but given that SVR had the money to extend the platform at Kidderminster (a generally non-overcrowded station), and are about to build a canopy along the whole platform there, a simple platform extension at Highley doesn’t seem too far fetched.

Its probably not as simple as you would think. Altering the platform means that it looses any grandfather rights.
If you extend the platform the new length will determine the length of trains that can call there as the "new" platform wont normally be allowed longer trains. You may also have to widen the existing platform in order to allow the safe exit of any crowds that may be trying to exit the longer train.
(Im not really familiar with Highley).

 

[norbitonflyer]

The problem is not unique to Highley and is, if anything, worse at Hampton Loade because northbound trains have to stop short of the foot crossing, meaning that the locomotive is taking up part of the limited length of the platform. And, unlike Highley, it is a passing place so people may be wanting to cross from one train to the other.

 

[kje7812]

As lovely and picturesque Highley station is, it is too small for the number of passengers on busy days in my opinion, and can get very crowded. The platform is too short for most trains operating on the SVR, at only 3-4 coaches long, which increases dwell times, only making the situation worse.

Given this, and that it is one of the most popular stations on the line, with the Engine House being there, could a platform extension be on the cards in the not too distant future? There seems to be plenty of space to extend it by 1-2 coach lengths at the north end, without having to move any other infrastructure.

I understand that heritage lines are generally struggling financially, but given that SVR had the money to extend the platform at Kidderminster (a generally non-overcrowded station), and are about to build a canopy along the whole platform there, a simple platform extension at Highley doesn’t seem too far fetched.

There are some plans for Highley but they will take a while to enact. One issue with extending the platform to the north is the embankment will need strengthening.

Its probably not as simple as you would think. Altering the platform means that it looses any grandfather rights.
If you extend the platform the new length will determine the length of trains that can call there as the "new" platform wont normally be allowed longer trains. You may also have to widen the existing platform in order to allow the safe exit of any crowds that may be trying to exit the longer train.
(Im not really familiar with Highley).

Personally, raising the platform would actually help the most. Highley platform is a significant step down (the south end of Hampton Platform 1 and most of Bewdley P3 are a similar gap) and it takes a while for passengers to alight. The TTIs should have instructed the passengers to move towards the middle of train approach to Highley. The standard stopping position for an 8 coach train is to pull two off in both directions.* Generally passengers are only having to walk through two coaches at most and as long as the TTIs have asked people to move in good time, it's not too bad.

The problem is not unique to Highley and is, if anything, worse at Hampton Loade because northbound trains have to stop short of the foot crossing, meaning that the locomotive is taking up part of the limited length of the platform. And, unlike Highley, it is a passing place so people may be wanting to cross from one train to the other.

Which is offset by Hampton Loade being a significantly quieter station. Raising the south end of platform 1 would help as the gap is quite bad for 20-30 foot.

*Prior to the Engine House, Highley's stopping position was front 4 in both directions. Between 2008 and 2015, it was front 4 in the Down (towards Bridgnorth) and middle 4 in the Up (towards Kidderminster).

 

[david1212]

Its probably not as simple as you would think. Altering the platform means that it looses any grandfather rights.
If you extend the platform the new length will determine the length of trains that can call there as the "new" platform wont normally be allowed longer trains. You may also have to widen the existing platform in order to allow the safe exit of any crowds that may be trying to exit the longer train.

Is this applicable to a preserved railway?

 

[Falcon1200]

Could it be argued that the short (and low) platform is an historic part of the SVR's railway heritage, so should remain untouched. And presumably timetables allow for the extended dwell time, plus staff are very pro-active in telling passengers where they need to be to alight.

 

[DJGREW999]

Just enjoy it as it is and stop moaning.

 

[marshlinker]

Is this applicable to a preserved railway?

Yes in that ROGS https://www.orr.gov.uk/guidance-compliance/rail/health-safety/laws/rogs requires that you carry out a risk assessment for any material change to your operations or new operation.