Stations in the UK with more platforms than they need

[gazthomas]

This is a silly thread. You could turn it around as "not enough trains to use the platforms as the train operator hasn't generated enough demand"

 

[Kite159]

Springburn bays seem to be back in regular use now. I’ve not seen Platform 4 used in a long time before today.

Platform 4 has one booked arrival during the day, the 0805 Helensburgh Central to Springburn service. Nothing is booked to depart normally (those 334s head towards the depot after arriving)

 

[Kite159]

Has the the North facing short one ever been used for a service?

At Carlisle usually only one of the northern bays is in use , though did come off the longer from a Voyager when it terminated at Carlisle.

Platform 8 at Carlisle normally sees use in the early mornings with the 05:31 Carlisle - Dumfries service which used to be a Northern unit

 

[Stopper]

Platform 4 has one booked arrival during the day, the 0805 Helensburgh Central to Springburn service. Nothing is booked to depart normally (those 334s head towards the depot after arriving)

I don’t know about that service but I know since the Cumbernauld reversals have started taking place, the bays have been disused apart from some early morning/late night services that mainly used Platform 3. Platform 4 was definitely disused for well over a year as it was even closed off to the public. It seems they are both being used right now during engineering works.

 

[gazr]

I don't think Kent House P1 & P4 has been mentioned yet. P1 lost it's service from the May timetable. P4 hasn't seen passenger use in a long time; with the exception of a pathing stop (no doors open) on the Waterloo International - Kent services recently.

 

[route101]

What about Penriths 3rd platform?

 

[MotorcycleAlan]

Salisbury platform 1 used only for moving stock I believe, and possibly platform 5?

 

[Intercity 225]

What about Penriths 3rd platform?

Good shout, is any service booked to call there?

 

[Esker-pades]

Good shout, is any service booked to call there?

Nope.

 

[randyrippley]

Weymouth Harbour doesn't need ANY platforms

 

[30907]

I don't think Kent House P1 & P4 has been mentioned yet. P1 lost it's service from the May timetable. P4 hasn't seen passenger use in a long time; with the exception of a pathing stop (no doors open) on the Waterloo International - Kent services recently.

Not even when services are disrupted, to allow fasts to overtake?

 

[Stonesourscotty]

Not been in England for over 2 years but Wigan wallgate the westerly bay platform If anything Wallgate needs a Manchester bound bay platform as no one really wants to go to Merseyside from Wigan.

 

[Lucan]

The central island platform on the fast lines at New Malden. Nothing ever stops at them.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Since the timetable change, Huddersfield platform 5 is even more useless than before. The two surviving Northern services have long layovers now, but P4a and P6 can cope. Not only that, but now that the Wakefield service is a 3-car 144 (previously was 2 diagrams, usually both 2-car Pacers) it's too long for platform 5 anyway.

 

[JWB_]

I would possibly say Hull Paragon has too many platforms. Platform 1 has been out of use and been used a stabling for years now, which means the station technically has 6 platforms, but I don't think it really needs that many when on average only 10 trains go to the station per hour.

 

[Kite159]

Probably Watford Junction, does the Overground need 4 platforms?

----

@Stopper platform 4 at Springburn was in use at least on Easter Monday
334034 in platform 4 at Springburn

 

[Stopper]

I think since the Rutherglen engineering started, all the Glasgow Electrics have been distorted and the bays seem to be getting used more. I remember recently Platform 4 was actually roped off.

 

[SideshowBob]

Church Fenton? Could it manage without either P1 or P4?

 

[causton]

Probably Watford Junction, does the Overground need 4 platforms?

They certainly use all 4 of them for stabling overnight on a regular basis! However during the day no, only two really (or at a push one if you took the timetables as read, although in reality the second train arrives before the first one departs a few times).

 

[jopsuk]

When a railway puts its mind to it and has procedures and signalling to allow it, it can turn around 32 trains an hour in a two platform station.

 

[najaB]

When a railway puts its mind to it and has procedures and signalling to allow it, it can turn around 32 trains an hour in a two platform station.

And then something goes out of plan...

 

[jopsuk]

And then something goes out of plan...

to be fair, that's in a station where every single train is the same and is returning to the same destination
(i'm talking Brixton, on the Victoria line)

 

[AndyW33]

They certainly use all 4 of them for stabling overnight on a regular basis! However during the day no, only two really (or at a push one if you took the timetables as read, although in reality the second train arrives before the first one departs a few times).

And had the Croxley Rail Link actually been built as planned, they might well have needed all four platforms as Metropolitan Line trains would have needed at least one and probably two (for the same reason LO needs one and uses two)

 

[AMD]

Not been in England for over 2 years but Wigan wallgate the westerly bay platform If anything Wallgate needs a Manchester bound bay platform as no one really wants to go to Merseyside from Wigan.

The bay at Wallgate is seeing regular use at the moment as is used for Kirkby to Wigan shuttles at the weekend, and is used every night for stabling as Wallgate sidings are full. As for Manchester facing bays, there are two already up at North Western - P2 seeing fairly regular use in conjunction with P1 for the Stalybridge and Alderley Edge services, whereas P3 is mainly used for overnight stabling, again because Wallgate sidings are full.

 

[Statto]

Morecambe and Bare Lane, although they have two platforms for operational reasons rather than capacity reasons.

Penrith

Chester and Aberdeen also seem to be sparsely populated whenever I visit.

Platforms at Chester are well used throughout the day, if anything Chester could do with an extra bay platform for Merseyrail as turnaround times are quite tight even more so if Merseyrail services are delayed.

 

[jyte]

And had the Croxley Rail Link actually been built as planned, they might well have needed all four platforms as Metropolitan Line trains would have needed at least one and probably two (for the same reason LO needs one and uses two)

Now it's dead and buried, which doesn't look all too much of a bad thing.

 

[saxsux]

Both Exeter St David's and Exeter Central have bay platforms (both in their respective Up direction, but on the right of the main line) that are very lightly used.

 

[jyte]

Both Exeter St David's and Exeter Central have bay platforms (both in their respective Up direction, but on the right of the main line) that are very lightly used.

Yes - I think the only trains that use the the bay at St Davids are the first and last trains from Barnstable that terminate at St Davids, rather than Exmouth. Probably wrong though.

 

[Kite159]

Yes - I think the only trains that use the the bay at St Davids are the first and last trains from Barnstable that terminate at St Davids, rather than Exmouth. Probably wrong though.

First Barnstaple train of the day (on a weekday at least) uses platform 2 at Exeter St Davids. Used to be afternoon arrival from Bristol which used the bay for a couple hours before returning towards Bristol but that appears to have gone (a glancing look at RTT).

The bay at Exeter Central sees more use on Sundays when Exmouth services turn short

 

[Dave49]

Church Fenton? Could it manage without either P1 or P4?

Church Fenton signalling the problem so all platforms are used.