Stations in London with the most fast trains passing through

[frankmoh]

Looking to do some trainspotting. Ideally looking for stations with fewer platforms (<4) and no locked-off platforms like Wembley Central.

Bonus points for stations with only 2 tracks because you get the mix of fast and slow.

 

[Kite159]

Harrow & Wealdstone springs to mind, or even somewhere like Carpenters Park on the Overground which gives you 4 tracks of non-stop trains.

Maybe one of the ECML stations served by the Moorgate trains? Hadley Wood for example. All depends what you want to film considering some of those stations might have network rail employed contractor staff on the look out

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Queenstown road has 3 platforms, lots of passing trains (at up to 60mph), but has 4 tracks without platforms so not sure if it counts.

Other than that Bushey and Harrow & Wealdstone (as said above) are both good calls, although have quite a few platforms, both with 125mph Pendolinos (110mph other trains on fast lines, 100mph on slows)

 

[Farigiraf]

WCML: Hatch End, Headstone Lane, Harrow & Wealdstone
MML: Brent Cross West (Hendon & Cricklewood have slightly more fast trains but BCZ is a nicer station to wait at)
ECML: Hornsey, Harringay, Hadley Wood, New Southgate
GEML: Any Elizabeth line station between Stratford and Romford
SEML: Every station between New Cross and Petts Wood
BML: Battersea Park, Wandsworth Common, Selhurst (and more)
SWML/SWR Network: Queenstown Road, Wandsworth Town, Berrylands
GWML: Royal Oak, Hanwell
Plus at Rainham & Dagenham Dock there are HS1 services viewable from the footbridge.

 

[rmHawk765]

Potters Bar is excellent - a stretch out of London, yes, but it's just within the Oyster zone nonetheless. Island platforms and 115mph unblocked fasts.

ECML: Hornsey, Harringay, Hadley Wood, New Southgate

Hadley Wood for example

The fast platforms are locked off (or just don't exist) on almost all the ECML suburban stations, including these.

 

[Kite159]

If you are hanging around on unlocked fast line platforms, then expect to get challenged by staff.

 

[MikeWh]

Ideally looking for stations with fewer platforms (<4) and no locked-off platforms like Wembley Central.

Is Wembley Central more of an issue because the platforms are separated by walls rather than fences?
My goto for the WCML is Harrow and Wealdstone, or Watford Junction if you don't mind paying a little more. Alexandra Palace is good for the ECML, West Hampstead or Brent Cross West for the MML.

 

[greyman42]

If you are hanging around on unlocked fast line platforms, then expect to get challenged by staff.

Challenged?

 

[parrot]

If you are hanging around on unlocked fast line platforms, then expect to get challenged by staff.

They probably just want to make sure you dont plan on jumping to be honest, I feel its resonable just to check someone out in that situation

 

[LittleRedTrain]

Acton Main Line on the GWML?
2 platforms, but the GWML fasts clearly visible, plus you may get to see freight from Acton Yard heading up the bank to the North London Line.

 

[Mattplans]

There are no gated platforms on the Chatham main line, and I wouldn’t expect to be challenged as the staff are nowhere to be seen most of the time.

Unfortunately there’s mostly uninteresting traction, and everything you see at say Bickley or Shortlands has been threaded through Herne Hill <> Beck Junction with the exception of 1 tph

 

[frankmoh]

There are no gated platforms on the Chatham main line, and I wouldn’t expect to be challenged as the staff are nowhere to be seen most of the time.

Unfortunately there’s mostly uninteresting traction, and everything you see at say Bickley or Shortlands has been threaded through Herne Hill <> Beck Junction with the exception of 1 tph

I already live in Southeastern's territory so the stock on offer will be even more disappointing for me.

 

[Bald Rick]

the P4/P5 island at Harrow & Wealdstone will have the most passing and the most variety, with lots of freight on the slows.

 

[Statto]

Is Wembley Central more of an issue because the platforms are separated by walls rather than fences?
My goto for the WCML is Harrow and Wealdstone, or Watford Junction if you don't mind paying a little more. Alexandra Palace is good for the ECML, West Hampstead or Brent Cross West for the MML.

Yes, plus the platforms are narrow that the main line platforms (3 to 6) which i believe are locked until a train is due to call at the station.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

What about Bushey?

 

[Bevan Price]

What about Bushey?

Some views of Harrow & Bushey here:

Harrow, Bushey

St. Helens (Lancashire) & district, photographs mainly of railways & buses.

www.bevanprice.me.uk

 

[frankmoh]

What about Bushey?

Bushey has separate DC Line platforms but I don't really care about LO trains so it's fine for my purposes.

 

[milooo]

Potters Bar is excellent - a stretch out of London, yes, but it's just within the Oyster zone nonetheless. Island platforms and 115mph unblocked fasts.



The fast platforms are locked off (or just don't exist) on almost all the ECML suburban stations, including these.

Iirc one stop up at Brookmans Park there is a little gap just around the back of the footbridge that you can stand in there is no fence there