Short platforms at Elizabeth Line stations

[devon_belle]

I couldn't find a thread to ask this in, so I'll ask here. Why haven't the GWML station platforms been extended to fit Class 345s? It seems strange that there so many platforms that cannot accommodate the whole train.

I don't know about the other end of the route, but it seems strange that this work was not done when it has been done on similar metro networks such as SWR. Is it deemed less important because of the walkthrough nature of the trains in use?

 

[PGAT]

Most of them have, it's really only the smaller stations like Langley and Iver where the cost of extending the platforms isn't justified, and yes it's not too important because the trains are walkthrough

 

[Mag_seven]

Why haven't the GWML station platforms been extended to fit Class 345s?

An assessment would have been done several years ago to find out whether platform extensions were either feasible or had a business case. Selective Door Opening (SDO) can be used where no case for an extension exists.

 

[Horizon22]

SDO doesn't really make it necessary. In any event its normally just a few doors on the GWML. On the GEML several stations can only take 7-cars but there's plenty of pre-warning on 345s, you can walk through and its in the CIS announcements.

If the 345s ever get extended to 11-cars, it will be more of an issue.

 

[edwin_m]

At least the 345s are equipped with information systems and indicators by each door that show when it won't be opening at the next station.

 

[Sunil_P]

Not just the GWR section. In the east, Maryland, Forest Gate, Manor Park can only accommodate 7 cars.

 

[FGW_Lad]

Most of them have, it's really only the smaller stations like Langley and Iver where the cost of extending the platforms isn't justified, and yes it's not too important because the trains are walkthrough

I’m not sure about Iver but I don’t think Langley can be extended southbound due to railway equipment. Northbound definitely not as the road bridge is in the way. As others have said SDO doesn’t really make it a problem.

 

[swt_passenger]

I believe for at least one western station local planners objected to lengthening, possibly because of tree removal or similar?

 

[Highview]

What is annoying, at least on the Western side - is the generic automated announcement saying there is a short platform and to move forward to the front part of the train without any indication of how far you need to walk forward - I noticed last week that the specific door indicators go red but not everybody realised this.

 

[Sunil_P]

What is annoying, at least on the Western side - is the generic automated announcement saying there is a short platform and to move forward to the front part of the train without any indication of how far you need to walk forward - I noticed last week that the specific door indicators go red but not everybody realised this.

Same on the eastern side!

 

[Taunton]

the cost of extending the platforms isn't justified, and yes it's not too important because the trains are walkthrough

The DLR trains are walkthrough as well. If you have seen as many (mainly visitors) as I have overcarried at short-platform Greenwich Cutty Sark, one of the key tourist points on the system, then there might be a different opinion.

 

[dk1]

Not just the GWR section. In the east, Maryland, Forest Gate, Manor Park can only accommodate 7 cars.

The original plan was to close Maryland but that caused a furore.

 

[mr_jrt]

I’m not sure about Iver but I don’t think Langley can be extended southbound due to railway equipment. Northbound definitely not as the road bridge is in the way. As others have said SDO doesn’t really make it a problem.

Langley doesn't look that difficult. Whether it's cost effective is another matter, but the railway equipment can be moved back out of the way, and extending the other platforms out over the road bridge is easy enough, but I don't understand why you don't think they could be extended back the other way? Looks plenty clear enough on Google maps?

 

[Horizon22]

Langley doesn't look that difficult. Whether it's cost effective is another matter, but the railway equipment can be moved back out of the way, and extending the other platforms out over the road bridge is easy enough, but I don't understand why you don't think they could be extended back the other way? Looks plenty clear enough on Google maps?

Maybe it was just not deemed cost effective to do so. It's one of the stations with the lowest footfall.

 

[matt_world2004]

Hanwell is partially because of its listed status , Wharncliffe viaduct to the west and some points to the east

 

[Purple Train]

Taplow and Iver I suspect are uneconomic, especially given the sums on new station architecture for them. Twyford seems to have been done in the down direction, but the up platform definitely can't be extended without cutting off the Henley branch (the platform curves to follow the point). Burnham is an island platform, which makes width issues trickier - it can't be extended in the London direction because of the road bridge, but in the Reading direction I'm not so sure, especially given it's only an extra carriage. I'm not sure whether Hayes & Harlington can physically fit the entire train - station literature suggests that the very rearmost door doesn't open, but I'm sure I've seen all doors open before.

 

[matt_world2004]

Taplow and Iver I suspect are uneconomic, especially given the sums on new station architecture for them. Twyford seems to have been done in the down direction, but the up platform definitely can't be extended without cutting off the Henley branch (the platform curves to follow the point). Burnham is an island platform, which makes width issues trickier - it can't be extended in the London direction because of the road bridge, but in the Reading direction I'm not so sure, especially given it's only an extra carriage. I'm not sure whether Hayes & Harlington can physically fit the entire train - station literature suggests that the very rearmost door doesn't open, but I'm sure I've seen all doors open before.

Hayes is only platform 5 .but I believe the train software cannot tell what platform it is in so it cuts out the rear door on all of them