Stations With Largest Step Down.

[Shwam3]

We can't realistically raise all these platforms. Class 745 and 755 trains go a long way to ease the problem. Are there examples to show how well they do?

The 2 worst platforms for these trains are Bishops Stortford plat 1 for 745s (large gap due to cant) and Dullingham plat 2 for 755s (large step).
I believe Spooner Row would have been the highest step if the hump wasn't there.

 

[jon0844]

St Albans Abbey station is quite a step up and down, unless you get on, using the harrington hump.

Even the hump seemed too low when I was last there (some time ago now).

 

[nr758123]

When platform 2 at Marsden was brought back into regular use in the May 2018 timetable, the height difference was 51cm. The platform height has since been raised.

 

[Turtle]

Clapham Junction, East Croydon and Colwyn Bay.

Definitely Clapham Junction. You really do have to watch out for the gap.

 

[Class800]

I agree Clapham Junction - don't drop your bag down the gap when getting off!

 

[Mikey C]

We can't realistically raise all these platforms. Class 745 and 755 trains go a long way to ease the problem. Are there examples to show how well they do?

Why not, or at least raise them a bit so that the step up/down isn't horrendous, if low entrance trains aren't chosen as the new norm?

After all the cost will a fraction of the amount that potentially will be spent on electrification, and this would be a long term project

 

[johnnychips]

Why not, or at least raise them a bit so that the step up/down isn't horrendous, if low entrance trains aren't chosen as the new norm?

After all the cost will a fraction of the amount that potentially will be spent on electrification, and this would be a long term project

The situation in Afghanistan is horrendous. Having to be careful stepping down from a train is not, though that’s not to say it shouldn’t be ameliorated in future.

 

[SargeNpton]

At Pembroke Dock in 2014. The step up was not too bad at the Town end of the platform but as you moved further down to the Country end it was just about impossible for all but the most agile. This was the first set of doors in the leading coach of a two-coach unit.

Just as bad at some of the other stations on the branch but they did have portable steps to assists. I guess that the Pembroke Dock steps had gone AWOL.

And for JohnnyChips: Ask someone who is old, infirm or with young children whether stepping down from a train is horrendous in such circumstances.

 

[Mikey C]

The situation in Afghanistan is horrendous. Having to be careful stepping down from a train is not, though that’s not to say it shouldn’t be ameliorated in future.

If we're having to expensively rebuild trains because their toilets or handrails aren't compliant with DDA rules, these sorts of issues will have to be addressed as well. Especially when buses have been low floor for years

 

[Killingworth]

Why not, or at least raise them a bit so that the step up/down isn't horrendous, if low entrance trains aren't chosen as the new norm?

After all the cost will a fraction of the amount that potentially will be spent on electrification, and this would be a long term project

Because forward looking TOCs may find it cheaper in the long run to order stock like 745 and 755s that go a long way to ease the problem. Harrington humps may work in some places but to leave the train you need to know where the one door that stops by the hump will be. And hope that door isn't in the jam packed section of the train to board.

Very many platforms are too high, possibly most of them, its just a matter of how high. But pairing platforms on curves with centrally doored long carriages makes the problem worse.

 

[urbophile]

I was at Gargrave station on Sunday watching the Flying Scotsman go through and was very surprised how low the front section of the up platform was. Doubt many trains use the full platform length but I've never seen such a low platform. Couldn't have been much more than 40cm high.

I grew up in that village and portable wooden steps were needed by all but the most athletic of passengers. The station has been unstaffed for many years and it was a long-term problem, but both platforms (apart from the section you mention) were raised some time ago. I don't think anything longer than a 3-car regularly stops there so that is adequate.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Aug 2021 ==

Cressington on the city bound platform was a ridiculous step-up before they raised it for the 777's. Its still a long step-up mind.

For some reason they didn't raise the narrow platforms beyond the over bridge. I don't know why because if we ever get 8-car 777s calling it looks like being a problem. Presumably the main bits of the platforms are the right height for the new trains.

 

[Essan]

Loads of stations in the Highlands have platforms so low that sets of steps are provided.

I thiink the down platform at Kingussie is particularly low - and probably why most trains in either direction now use the up platform

 

[Journeyman]

I thiink the down platform at Kingussie is particularly low - and probably why most trains in either direction now use the up platform

Here's a shot of Achnasheen I took last week, with the steps in place.

 

[OhNoAPacer]

Here's a shot of Achnasheen I took last week, with the steps in place. View attachment 101789

Before they put the humps in they used to have steps like that at Whitehaven

 

[E100]

Triple step at Dunrobin. Of all the highland stations I've visited (which is pretty extensive) Dunrobin is the one I never have a chance of doing without the steps. It's simply an enormous distance with the floor of the 158 around waist height (5ft10). The top step isn't step free either and there is still a fair number of inches between it and the 158 floor.

 

[Mugby]

Tamworth low level Down side platform involves a very high step up to trains.

LNW units have a voice message advising people with baby buggies etc. to step off the train and then lift them off rather than attempting to push them off.

 

[jopsuk]

One really does wonder, in a world of Group Standards, how so many of these remain as they are. I was surprised at Hackbridge down platform, on Thameslink, to be getting out both across and down a very considerable difference.

As ever, especially with straight platforms, it's merely a matter of money. Where the gap is caused by signifcant curvature & cant, fixing the problem is more complex, but of a lot of these it's simply an issue of approving spending

 

[pompeyfan]

I’m surprised Liphook on the up and Witley on the down has not been mentioned.

 

[norbitonflyer]

I agree Clapham Junction - don't drop your bag down the gap when getting off!

Never mind your bag - I've dropped me down the gap at Norbiton. (Jokes at work about trying to spot the chassis number of the train)
Another one where the curvature plus superelevation makes the gap both wide and high. And there is no need for superelevation for a 60mph line speed at a station where all trains are scheduled to stop anyway.

 

[The exile]

We can't realistically raise all these platforms. Class 745 and 755 trains go a long way to ease the problem. Are there examples to show how well they do?

Wouldn’t have though that raising platforms to group standard height would be a problem ( apart from ££££). The horizontal gap is a bigger problem - and that’s where the steps on the GA units come in ( though I doubt even they can solve the problem entirely)

 

[E100]

As ever, especially with straight platforms, it's merely a matter of money. Where the gap is caused by signifcant curvature & cant, fixing the problem is more complex, but of a lot of these it's simply an issue of approving spending

Generally I'd agree. In the case of Dunrobin and other picturesque stations it may also be historic listing preventing this. Granted not a great example due to the passenger numbers not giving a great cost benefit anyway.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Why were so many stations seemingly built with such low platforms? What's changed over the years?

 

[trainmania100]

Some of the 313 stop positions at brighton aren't particularly high, but sometimes quite a big gap, I'm not joking it's a real leap

 

[ijmad]

The rarely used platform 1 at Wandsworth Town used to have an enormous gap, not sure if the platform level has been raised in the years since I lived there

 

[Recessio]

Some of the 313 stop positions at brighton aren't particularly high, but sometimes quite a big gap, I'm not joking it's a real leap

The Seaford branch from Lewes onwards has some pretty bad gaps on the 313s, especially for straight platforms.

 

[sw1ller]

Seen a few people misjudge P4 at chester. It’s especially noticeable when getting out the cab of a 175! You can easily jolt your knees.

 

[Sheridan]

Seen a few people misjudge P4 at chester. It’s especially noticeable when getting out the cab of a 175! You can easily jolt your knees.

Always seems worse at the Crewe/Warrington end to me but that could well just be my imagination!

 

[urbophile]

Why were so many stations seemingly built with such low platforms? What's changed over the years?

Most stations in mainland Europe have traditionally had very low platforms (often no higher than a kerbside above the track level) and yet the trains are massive. I suspect the earliest British railways were similar; maybe the Victorians showed a greater resistance to clambering up vertical steps than their continental counterparts. Disability regulations seem to be gradually ensuring higher platforms everywhere (or lower-floored trains in some cases). Any other reasons for the disparity between systems?

 

[Sheridan]

I have heard it said, with no certainty, that many rural stations with low platforms on one side only were a result of livestock being moved from that platform - most stations had a market in one direction only so had standard platforms in one direction and low ones in the other. As I say, I have nothing to back up this assertion!

 

[peteb]

Most stations in mainland Europe have traditionally had very low platforms (often no higher than a kerbside above the track level) and yet the trains are massive. I suspect the earliest British railways were similar; maybe the Victorians showed a greater resistance to clambering up vertical steps than their continental counterparts. Disability regulations seem to be gradually ensuring higher platforms everywhere (or lower-floored trains in some cases). Any other reasons for the disparity between systems?

Historically many European train doors opened inwards revealing a small set of steps, whereas UK train doors were hinged to open out. Sliding doors now common on European and UK trains, so access from lower continental platforms now more of an issue hence so many station rebuilds on commuter lines near big cities.