Train too long for the platform at Manchester Piccadilly

[ac6000cw]

185's comment about stacking similar pathed trains in platforms to save time partly explains this. You might stand there and see 14 platforms, you might even see platforms 11 and 12 sitting there empty but assuming the 323 was working a Glossop train (which, if it was in platform 2, it would have been set-swap notwithstanding). The Hope Valley, TPE North and Glossop trains all take routes via Ardwick, so it is my understanding that under normal circumstances only platforms 1-4 are available for them. Starting them from platforms further south might bring them into unnesecary conflict with trains routed via Levenshume.

It was ever thus - it's been a long time since I was a 'platform ender' at Piccadilly, but back when class 76 electrics still roamed the rails (just) it was only a few platforms on the east side of the station that were 1500V DC electrified for the old Glossop/Hadfield EMUs. Stockport line stuff in the middle, and Styal line trains usually on 13/14 (on their way to/from Altrincham - how things have changed) or in the west side terminal platforms.

 

[pdq]

...stacking up similar direction trains on the one platform in order to reduce the number of conflicting moves & points changes, which usually have a lag time of 30 seconds or so each

Before the timetable change, arriving at platform 1 around 1640 would find three trains in - usually a 142 at the platform end to Rose Hill, a 150 for Sheffield in the middle and a 4 car 170 for Hull at the end.

The Hull went out at 1642, the Sheffield at 1645 and the Rose Hill at 1648. The Airport to Newcastle then rolled in around 1652 to go out at 1656.

 

[carriageline]

ARS does/can do exactly that, at least on my patch, reads train length through a number of short track circuits on approach to last signal and in the platform. If it has any doubt (and it has a tendency to if the driver stops a little short of the signal) it won't set the calling on route and awaits manual intervention from signaller.

That isn't ARS. That's just using track circuits to check a train is long and wether it can be accommodated in the platform. A few places have that that don't have ARS


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[craigwilson]

185's comment about stacking similar pathed trains in platforms to save time partly explains this. You might stand there and see 14 platforms, you might even see platforms 11 and 12 sitting there empty but assuming the 323 was working a Glossop train (which, if it was in platform 2, it would have been set-swap notwithstanding). The Hope Valley, TPE North and Glossop trains all take routes via Ardwick, so it is my understanding that under normal circumstances only platforms 1-4 are available for them. Starting them from platforms further south might bring them into unnesecary conflict with trains routed via Levenshume.

Indeed.

What I think annoys most people is the clarity with which different trains on those early platforms are identified, both by the PA/displays, and (in some cases) by the platform staff. Countless times I've exchanges along the lines of:

"This isn't the Huddersfield train, this is the Sheffield via New Mills train, you want the one in front."

"You mean the one that's just left? They told me to get on this one!"

*glances out of doors to see no TPE train in front*

"Errr....yeah."

 

[edwin_m]

With regards to the comments about Piccadilly having 14 platforms the lower number terminus platforms do seem to be used a lot more intensively than the higher number terminus platforms.

11 and 12 have a restrictive layout, which I think was the case since 13 and 14 were lengthened. Trains going into and out of 11 and 12 conflict with other platforms so these are relatively little used. When I pass by, 11 normally has the Mid-Cheshire on its long layover and 12 is usually empty (note I haven't passed by much since the last timetable change so this may now be a bit different).