Small Terminuses

[Bittern]

Lets take the likes of Larkhall and Lanark for example.

Both small terminuses on the Argyle Line, each with two platforms and both served with regular services to Glasgow and beyond.

But trains only seem to use one of the platforms.

Why is this? Why have two platforms if one is just there for show and tell?

 

[Jordy]

I'm sure the second would be used if there were delays (ie the trains were closer together than normal) or if the service is more frequent at any point!

 

[MCR247]

In Moorgate (GN) I think they only use Platform 9 off peak

 

[jopsuk]

If the frequency is low enough, and tunraround time short enough, that each train leaves before the next arrives, surely it makes it easier for everyone to just use the one platform and (as said) have the other in reserve in case things start to go wrong.

 

[SWT Driver]

Hampton Court has 2 platforms, which during special events can juggle a 10-15' interval service.

Shepperton a single platform terminus, famous for the train that ended up in the High St some years ago, handles a 15' service in the peak hours.

Chessington South a single platform pseudo terminus (the line continues beyond it towards the theme park via a forest, the line was originally going to link in at either Leatherhead or Bookham) it can take a 20' service at a push.

 

[Pumbaa]

West Kirby uses P1 usually, a 15' frequency. 6-car set stabled in P2 through the day, until peaks.

 

[Oracle]

Lymington Pier is a single platform..a rapid turnaround is very possible and achieved.

 

[furryfeet]

Larkhall has been designed for such an occurrence - platform 1 is used normally, with platform 2 used for one train a day, or for use in case an incoming train is late.

 

[Adamtorbyaexpres]

Exmouth is a One platformed' station with trains coming in every hour or so to exeter/paignton

 

[Oliver]

Exmouth is a One platformed' station with trains coming in every hour or so to exeter/paignton

The service on the Exmouth line is generally every 30 minutes, and the turnround time is 3 minutes.

 

[Adamtorbyaexpres]

Oh right

 

[NSEFAN]

Stratford-upon-Avon is not very busy, but still has 3 platforms. I've only ever seen 2 occupied at once.

Chessington South a single platform pseudo terminus... can take a 20' service at a push

A couple of weeks ago, there was a 15 min service on this line for replacement bus connections at Tolworth to Surbiton. As far as I know, the trains ran all the way to Chessington South. How did they cope then?

 

[SWT Driver]

It didn't you ended up with trains waiting at Chessy North for the platform to become available, it's pointless waiting on the signal outside South as all you'll get is idiots pulling the doors open & jumping out, so it's safer to wait in the platform at North then they can't get up to any mischief.

 

[MCR247]

Are the doors on 455 that easy to open? hock:

 

[SWT Driver]

Very, just push your fingers through the rubber seals & pull.

 

[devon_metro]

The service on the Exmouth line is generally every 30 minutes, and the turnround time is 3 minutes.

Add onto that a few minutes of slack.

 

[Aictos]

I would say Gordon Hill is a small terminus as well as services only terminate there from Monday to Friday and only in the peak, Hertford North cannot be put into the same grouping of stations as it have terminating trains around the clock except in the early hours of the morning.
I'm tempted to say Huntingdon falls into the the same grouping as Gordon Hill as not many trains terminate there, I know there's one or two in the evening peak from London Monday to Friday.

 

[gingerheid]

Largs uses it's second platform at peak times and overnight.

 

[Drsatan]

Both Ryde Pier Head & Shanklin stations on the Isle of Wight are very small termini since only one platform is ever used.!

 

[SouthEastern-465]

Bromley North is a very small terminus and is just a island platform with only really one in use you rarely see a train on Platform 2?

 

[90019]

Kyle of Lochalsh is definately a small terminus, but it doesn't exactly get many trains; 4 a day IIRC.

 

[The Planner]

Severn Beach for possibly the most desolate !!

 

[466.networkers]

Sheerness-on-Sea has 2 platforms, numbered 1 and ... errr ... 2. :P

Platform 1 is the main one, Platform 2 is used occasionally when there are freight trains blocking P1 or a broken down train etc.

Until a few years ago, there was track between P1 and P2 that the freight trains used, but that was taken up due to lack of freight workings IIRC.

 

[yorksrob]

Castleford operates as a single platform terminus as trains reverse there towards Leeds, Wakefield or Pontefract. With around four trains an hour we often end up having to wait for the platform.

 

[philjo]

Ilkley has 2 platforms.
One is usually used for Leeds departures, the other for Bradford trains.
there are usually half-hourly services to both Leeds & Bradford, so an approx 15-minute service as far as Guiseley.

 

[me123]

Lets take the likes of Larkhall and Lanark for example.

Both small terminuses on the Argyle Line, each with two platforms and both served with regular services to Glasgow and beyond.

But trains only seem to use one of the platforms.

Why is this? Why have two platforms if one is just there for show and tell?

Various possibilities come to mind, seem to have been mentioned already:

• Provides a stabling point for trains, without needing an ECS service (for example, a morning peak train can arrive and terminate, and work out that evening in the evening peak)
• Extra platforming space if required in an emergency
• Allowance for future enhancement of services

At Lanark, both platforms are used in the peaks. (For example, there's a train in 07:07-07:23, and another in 07:13-07:45). This doesn't happen at Larkhall, but the potential is there for future service enhancements if desired/required (for example, 4tph in the peaks). Alternatively, they could stable a train there between peaks, as Pumbaa says happens at West Kirby.

 

[tbtc]

Castleford operates as a single platform terminus as trains reverse there towards Leeds, Wakefield or Pontefract. With around four trains an hour we often end up having to wait for the platform.

Castleford is a strange one - it's a single track (single platform) terminus on a double track linem with freight and other workings running "beyond" (to/from York etc)

Must be a nightmare to schedule, especially as it wasn't a clockface fifteen minute service last time I was there... (but interesting to model!)

 

[thefab444]

Both Ryde Pier Head & Shanklin stations on the Isle of Wight are very small termini since only one platform is ever used.!

Indeed, Shanklin's platform 2 was taken out of use many years ago (track is no longer in existance), but Ryde Pier Head platform 2 was taken OOU more recently. I think it can still be used, but it is extremely rare?

 

[Dave R]

Aberystwyth has 1 platform (excluding devils bridge trains) and sees a train every 2 hours, I think it has a track next to it so locos can run around back to the front. Only really used by 158s on Aberystwyth-Birmingham International

 

[Toots]

A couple of oddities on this theme are those at Omskirk and Kirkby.Trains come in at each end of a single platform and then return back along the single line.The reason for this is that both stations are the termini for the Merseyrail electric network,but also serve as termini for local trains from Preston and Wigan respectively.