Stations with large platforms?

[ValleyLines142]

Blackpool has 4tph leaving, not 5, which are spread out over the 8 platforms almost even;y. Skegness, despite having seven, only has two or three in use now.

4 then, not 5, but even so, whenever I've been on North Station, I've only ever seen 3 platforms in use at any one time. I expect it gets busier in the nights for stabling.
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Before Is tart out I will say that most two-platformed stations are fine, like University (Birmingham) and Cheltenham, as most trains call and leave, there are no junctions or terminating trains.

There are several services that terminate at Cheltenham. These include Arriva's Maesteg to Cheltenham service, First Great Western's services from Swindon and also their direct London service terminates. Admittedly they either reverse or stay in the platform but it probably has a knock-on effect on other services. I'm praising it, it's amazing how it works, don't know how it does! I do agree with you on University (Birmingham) station as there's no terminating services, but the 6tph Cross-City services, the 2tph to Hereford and CrossCountry's Cardiff-Nottingham service all stop, it's amazing how it's done.
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Indeed, Blackpool Central had 14 platforms, and it and Nottingham Victoria were the largest stations by number of platforms to completely close under Beeching I think.

Keeping Blackpool Central would have been a good idea I think as it would have linked the whole of the town together, currently South and North are at each other end of the town and not directly linked together.

Don't know much about Nottingham Victoria so can't really say anything on that note, but today's Nottingham with it's six platforms seems to cope well (I think!).
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Blackpool North certainly needs all 8 platforms at the beginning and end of the day when there are trains coming off or waiting to go onto the sidings. You'd be surprised how busy Blackpool North station can be.

Blackpool North did have 15 platforms, so seven of them were axed for a reason. Yeah I agree, it's very busy at night, but as I say above I've only ever seen 3 platforms in use at any one time. I suppose the size of the station is purely for stabling reasons.

I do personally feel that Blackpool needs extra trains, even if it was just a shuttle between Preston to connect with mainline trains (like Bognor Regis - Barnham).

 

[Class172]

I do agree with you on University (Birmingham) station as there's no terminating services, but the 6tph Cross-City services, the 2tph to Hereford and CrossCountry's Cardiff-Nottingham service all stop, it's amazing how it's done

6tph - Cross-city services
1/2tph - BHM-HFD
1tph - CDF-NOT
It's more than 6tph stopping at university; that's why any delays on the line have the potential to cause chaos.

 

[ValleyLines142]

6tph - Cross-city services
1/2tph - BHM-HFD
1tph - CDF-NOT
It's more than 6tph stopping at university; that's why any delays on the line have the potential to cause chaos.

It's about 9 to 10, that's what I was listing in that post, only 6tph is London Midland's Cross-City service!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

What about Partick's 14tph in each direction then?

 

[ValleyLines142]

What about Partick's 14tph in each direction then?

What about it? It's doing well!

 

[ACE1888]

Down this way, Newquay has only one operational platform these days (platform 2) , and although it's been 'shortened' at the buffer stops (the former crossover was 'gas axed' in 1987 and the buffer stops moved to the end of the remaining rail), it is still the longest by a distance in Cornwall...a Class 153 doesn't do it justice somehow....:roll:

 

[Cliveblackpool]

Down this way, Newquay has only one operational platform these days (platform 2) , and although it's been 'shortened' at the buffer stops (the former crossover was 'gas axed' in 1987 and the buffer stops moved to the end of the remaining rail), it is still the longest by a distance in Cornwall...a Class 153 doesn't do it justice somehow....:roll:

To think that Newquay could handle 15 coach trains on platform 1. The far end of the platform subsided in the late 70's / early 80's prior to being taken out of service in 1987.
Why the crossover was gas axed was just senseless.
The small savings made and thereby substantially reducing its capacity pales into insignificance with having to maintain over 25 miles of track.

 

[NJTom]

I havent been home in a long time .. but I seem to remember Platform 1 at Holyhead going on forever all the way past the "old" ferry birth.

 

[David Goddard]

I would suspect that this was probably once true for many ferry port terminals, such as Fishguard and Dover for example

 

[pmgarvey]

Despite years of regularly using it, I have never seen a single thing in the "spare" terminating platform at Altrincham (can heavy rail even run onto it?).

Speaking of which, Altrincham's platforms are long considering what runs the heavy rail services.

 

[Hydro]

I would suspect that this was probably once true for many ferry port terminals, such as Fishguard and Dover for example

Well Dover used to have another entire station for the Western Docks, Dover Marine. It closed in the 90's and is now a cruise terminal.

 

[MCR247]

I always thought nottingham was a bbit long, some of the platforms could definately be shorter

I don't think so, there isn't much room left over when you have a HST in the platform, or 2x5 car 222s

 

[IanXC]

That's true but after closure of the Market Weighton and Whitby lines there was little use for the extra Scarborough bays except for stabling. Since the main thrust of traffic is North/South and Leeds the south end bays would be handy, plus arguably the second Harrogate bay.
I'm sure they'll be reinstated some day if traffic continues to rise.

There has been some talk of a Scarborough-York shuttle (which would use platform 2) to make this section half hourly but beyond that I can't see any use for Scarborough bound bays unless the Minster line were to be reopened.

 

[142094]

There has been some talk of a Scarborough-York shuttle (which would use platform 2) to make this section half hourly but beyond that I can't see any use for Scarborough bound bays unless the Minster line were to be reopened.

Would be good if the link between Pickering and the York - Malton line was reopened, then the bay could serve trains on that section. You can only hope.

 

[The Planner]

There are several services that terminate at Cheltenham. These include Arriva's Maesteg to Cheltenham service, First Great Western's services from Swindon and also their direct London service terminates. Admittedly they either reverse or stay in the platform but it probably has a knock-on effect on other services.

The terminating trains are booted out of the platform and off to Alstone sidings as soon as possible, they hide up there until they need to come back. It runs on a 4 minute headway along there so it isn't a massive issue, much like University etc... in fact University is easier to deal with as there is next to no freight.

 

[ValleyLines142]

The terminating trains are booted out of the platform and off to Alstone sidings as soon as possible, they hide up there until they need to come back. It runs on a 4 minute headway along there so it isn't a massive issue, much like University etc... in fact University is easier to deal with as there is next to no freight.

I thought so.

 

[mountainmike]

Southport used to have 13 platforms Including 2 excursion platforms.Of the current six three are used for the Northern Line electric service and 3 for the diesels to Wigan and beyond. There used to be quite a few excursions when I was little in the 70s and all 6 platforms were in use. For events like the Flower Show in August I remember seeing 2 loco hauled excursions in the station and another in the sidings. I'm glad to say Southport has received more specials recently for events like that , The Open in 08 plus we've seen some Uk Railtours visits. Like many seaside stations the size reflects the travelling patterns of the past.

 

[thehstman]

Gloucester

 

[ValleyLines142]

Gloucester

Sorry, my title to the thread is a little misleading. I don't mean length of platforms as such, I mean stations with a large number of platforms, that don't always get used, such as Blackpool North with its eight platforms!