Smallest platform

[randyrippley]

The 'shortest' platforms must be those stations where you simply step down to the ballast. I think there are many of these overseas, and I am sure there are one or two on heritage narrow gauge lines in the UK.

Like the whole of the Manx Electric Railway

 

[bleeder4]

There's a station called Beauly on the Far North line which struck me as being an extremely short platform, when I passed through that way recently. Loch Eil Outward Bound on the West Highland line, and Avoncliff Halt on the Heart of Wessex line are also two that come to mind.

 

[cf111]

Do Beauly and Conon Bridge not meet the accessibility requirements? I'd have thought the length wouldn't be an issue as long as the door used is the one that leads to the wheelchair space, and that step-free access to the platform needn't affect the usable length of the platform.

They do. Always the rear door of the leading coach at Beauly and Conon Bridge.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

They do. Always the rear door of the leading coach at Beauly and Conon Bridge.

Are units always oriented correctly? What happens if a unit is in reverse formation for whatever reason? And how does it work in the opposite direction? If the leading coach is the one with the accessible area heading northbound, wouldn't that be the trailing coach on the southbound return?

 

[The Puddock]

Are units always oriented correctly? What happens if a unit is in reverse formation for whatever reason? And how does it work in the opposite direction? If the leading coach is the one with the accessible area heading northbound, wouldn't that be the trailing coach on the southbound return?

The 15m platform is long enough that the inner doors on both coaches are platformed, so it doesn't matter which way round the unit is oriented.

 

[McRhu]

Ruthven Road Halt on the PAV&M Railway, which admittedly no longer qualifies as being on the national network (or any other network).

 

[Rescars]

Am I correct that Down Street retained a very short platform (one cab door's width or thereabouts) after it had been converted into an air raid shelter in WW2?

 

[Basil Jet]

Am I correct that Down Street retained a very short platform (one cab door's width or thereabouts) after it had been converted into an air raid shelter in WW2?

Yes.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

40m in fact!

Really? Maybe in the down direction. The Up seems shorter than that

 

[Deepgreen]

The 'shortest' platforms must be those stations where you simply step down to the ballast. I think there are many of these overseas, and I am sure there are one or two on heritage narrow gauge lines in the UK.

Therefore there is no platform.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Sep 2023 ==

This is a spot I have visited quite often - Breakneck Ridge station on the Hudson Valley line from Grand Central to Poughkeepsie and on to Canada. Few trains stop there (by request normally) but it is served by normal service trains. The other platform is behind the train.

 

[Condor7]

Therefore there is no platform.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Sep 2023 ==

This is a spot I have visited quite often - Breakneck Ridge station on the Hudson Valley line from Grand Central to Poughkeepsie and on to Canada. Few train stop there (by request normally) but it is served by normal service trains. The other platform is behind the train.View attachment 143110

That’s going to be hard to beat

 

[DelW]

That’s going to be hard to beat

A similar candidate from rather closer to home, albeit not part of the system whose livery adorns the train ...

 

[Mcr Warrior]

A similar candidate from a little closer to home, albeit not part of the system whose livery adorns the train ...

Alderney, presumably?

 

[DelW]

Alderney, presumably?

Correct
Taken in September 2007.

 

[Rescars]

A feature of a number of light railways were the number of platform-less intermediate stopping points. AIUI the Campbelltown and Macrihanish became a steam worked passenger carrying railway, but with no platforms at all. Was this unique?

 

[DJ_K666]

Whilst Beauly is, I believe, officially the shortest platform at 15m, for some reason I find Gilfach Fargoed in South Wales "feels" shorter even though it's actually a metre longer than Beauly's platform.

Probably because it's got ramps on it. Not like these new fangled modern things.