Stations in need of additional platforms

[HamworthyGoods]

They really ought to reopen Platform 2 at Portsmouth Harbour station. This station sometimes gets very busy and there has been occasions where the train has to wait outside for an available platform. I am not even sure why the track at this platform was removed. It could very easily be reopened by simply reinstating the track.

Incorrect, there’s more to a railway line than just the track. The pier under where platform two is in very, very bad condition.

 

[zwk500]

Incorrect, there’s more to a railway line than just the track. The pier under where platform two is in very, very bad condition.

Indeed, Platforms 1 and 3 are a significantly lower RA than 4/5.

 

[Halifaxlad]

Because 6 is used for the LNER stopper to connect into the London train and you'd want the additional bay platform for the Harrogate line to be between 5 and 9. Putting it back as a bay allows for smoother operation of each side of the station, without needing permissive signalling and restrictive overlaps that restrict capacity at station throats.

If only it was possible for Harrogate services to terminate on either the West or East side of the station without having to cross paths with any other services

 

[zwk500]

If only it was possible for Harrogate services to terminate on either the West or East side of the station without having to cross paths with any other services

You want the west side of the station kept clear for trains to/from Leeds. Having a 3-track approach to York from the nice would be nice though. We've been through your western approach on a different thread and it's lunacy for several reasons.

 

[Peter0124]

Possibly new Platforms 3 and 4 on the WCML at Newton, as discussed here:

Could connectivity at Newton be improved?

The usefulness of Newton as an interchange station between the Kirkhill line and the Hamilton Circle has greatly diminished with various changes to service patterns and track layouts over the last 60 years or so to the extent that it is almost useless as an interchange nowadays. At one time it...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[Bald Rick]

The new station being constructed at Brent Cross has platforms plaaced on loops allowing trains that will stop there to be passed.

It doesn’t, though, because…

Isn't Brent Cross just a standard 4 platform station with two island platforms with No loops?

is the right answer.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Nov 2022 ==

I once saw this worked out somewhere, for a theoretical loop length allowing a 125 mph train to come up behind and then pass a 100 mph stopper, and to prevent all likely sources of delay to both trains it needed to be about 10 or 12 miles long. As you say that’s more like 3 or 4 tracking.

Yes I worked out a similar scenario once. Essentially for any overtaking to be done on a line with mixed traffic ie stoppers and fast services, and not to impinge on the journey time of either, you need to have a continuous ‘loop’ for at least two consecutive stations where the stopper stops. The overtake happens when the stopper is en route between the two stops.

 

[cle]

BX was so value-engineered that the fifth platform (for turnbacks, likely all the 8 cars) - was chopped even though it would have added more metro service vs the Kentish Town extensions, and the lines are there.

Fast loops, Eurostar style - were never happening. Nor, to be honest, are fast calls - in the main.

 

[AM9]

It doesn’t, though, because…



is the right answer.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Nov 2022 ==



Yes I worked out a similar scenario once. Essentially for any overtaking to be done on a line with mixed traffic ie stoppers and fast services, and not to impinge on the journey time of either, you need to have a continuous ‘loop’ for at least two consecutive stations where the stopper stops. The overtake happens when the stopper is en route between the two stops.

OK, my mistake, - I suppose that the freight lines being there gave me that impression and I've never seen tha plans for it. So will the current STP-SAC and/or STP-WHP-SAC fasts stop there? If not then is the fast island platform is largely redundant?

 

[Bald Rick]

OK, my mistake, - I suppose that the freight lines being there gave me that impression and I've never seen tha plans for it. So will the current STP-SAC and/or STP-WHP-SAC fasts stop there? If not then is the fast island platform is largely redundant?

no the fasts won’t stop.

Fast line platforms are there for use during two track railway periods, which is pretty much every night and most Sundays.

 

[Halifaxlad]

We've been through your western approach on a different thread and it's lunacy for several reasons.

That's a bit rude but im glad you got what I was referring to

 

[cle]

I understand there are aspirations to extend the Swindon trains to Salisbury or even Southampton, and increase the frequency to hourly. I believe that reopening 'platform 0' at Westbury is required for this to go ahead (as well as reinstating double track between Melksham station and Thingley jn).
It's been said on here that the freight line on that side of the station might need to be slewed further away from the platform, which would necessitate some earthworks and/or a new retaining wall- but there is already a decent gap so I wouldn't think it would need to move much.

This sounds logical. It also seems to me that Westbury should eventually see the other two-hourly service extended there. If Taunton/Exeter are mentioned, and I agree with those - certainly this could be an incremental point to trial, and offers a range of connections.

 

[dciuk]

Pilning so that trains could call in both directions

 

[The Planner]

Pilning so that trains could call in both directions

That's not a platform issue, that's a bridge.

 

[Mikey C]

Clapham High Street. A Southeastern, Overground, Northern Line interchange would be very useful. Likewise, further along at Brockley for a Southeastern, Southern, Overground interchange.

Brixton too, platforms on the Overground lines would be very useful.

 

[Tayway]

Arbroath could do with its third platform being reinstated to prevent local services from blocking the mainline while reversing.

 

[Railsigns]

Arbroath could do with its third platform being reinstated to prevent local services from blocking the mainline while reversing.

That's already proposed as part of the Aberdeen to Central Belt upgrade, as well as a new bay platform at Montrose and extra platforms at Aberdeen.

 

[Recessio]

Agreed. Or increasing East Brixton from 0 to 2 platforms!