At Peterbrough a Kings Cross to Lincoln Azuma service arrivies on platform 4 but goes right up the north end of the platform so passengers have to walk the whole length of the platform to exit the station, i presume there are other stations where this happens too, but off the top of my head can't think of one. Was wondering why this happens?? Not a great customer service especially if it's raining.
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Trains stopping so far from exit points, why????
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There are a whole host of reasons why trains stop they do, depending on how long they area. This includes (but not limited to) signal sighting, door alignment, platform obstructions (if any), dispatch arrangements and where possible, convenience to passengers.
Grand Central trains stop under the canopy. Think next time I'm at PE I'll ask the staff.
Dead end plarform, was the train then going ECS. Its easier to stop right down the end of a platform to discourage members of the public from getting on then being turfed immediately off especually at this yime of the year with infrequent travellers. If its a tight turnaround it helps with minimising dalays. Done it plenty of times somewhere else.
The southbound Middlesbrough Azuma always stops at York right at the southern end, leaving a bit of a walk from the bridge and underpasses. Not sure if there are any operational reasons - plenty of similar length trains stop in a more 'normal' place on those platforms.
Don't know if any of the other 5-car LNER trains through York do this - as far as I'm aware before the new timetable today that was the only one that existed.
Don't know if any of the other 5-car LNER trains through York do this - as far as I'm aware before the new timetable today that was the only one that existed.
The OP says the service was going to Lincoln, so no.
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Were the trains the same length?
norbitonflyer
Established Member
They would be, more or less. Both 5-car (class 180, 800/2)
This has been a perpetual annoyance at Kingston for several years, since they removed the 8-car stop. The rear of an 8-car train now stops nearly two car lengths beyond the exit, next to a very narrow part of the platform, and with only four cars under the canopy.
Results
- lots of wet passengers alighting from the front part of the train
- intending passengers missing the train because they can't get past the crush of alighting passengers funnelling through aforementioned narrow gap
- rear car crammed as everyone wants to be firstn in the crush to get through the inadequate barrier line at the bottom of the stairs
Same thing happens at Wimbledon in the other (up) direction (where again there is always a crowd on the stairs because no-one will fund a desprately needed second footbridge), Earlsfield, and doubtless other stations where the platforms have been extended to take ten car trains.
Fortunately, at long last, 8-car trains will soon be a thing of the past.
Yea both 5 car units
Lucky you! Just be grateful that you don't live in Northern-land...
NSEWonderer
Established Member
Pretty sure this happens at Stevenage
Lner 5car IET stops at the very end of the platform at Stevenage:
Lumo 5car IET stops at the midway bit of the platform at Stevenage:
Different TOCs have different reasons for where they stop all governed at the very minimum to comply with the standards.
LNERs arguably would prevent a potential stop short but the downside being long platform walking for passengers.
Lner 5car IET stops at the very end of the platform at Stevenage:
Lumo 5car IET stops at the midway bit of the platform at Stevenage:
Different TOCs have different reasons for where they stop all governed at the very minimum to comply with the standards.
LNERs arguably would prevent a potential stop short but the downside being long platform walking for passengers.
However in this scenario, it seems odd that the same stock, of the same length at the same station has differing requirements.
The only thing I can think of is that Lumo is DOO, so some issue around dispatch visibility and camera placement.
Merthyr Imp
Member
I've always assumed that the reason this kind of thing happens is so that there's room for another train to pull in behind it. E.g. if the first train was to stop midway in the platform and then be declared a failure it would mean the whole platform would be out of use. But if it's well down the platform a following train would at least be able to come in behind it rather than be halted outside the station.
But this is just my guesswork based on observations at Cardiff Central.
But this is just my guesswork based on observations at Cardiff Central.
LNER don't like having multiple stopping positions so generally the 5 cars use the same stopping positions as the longer trains. Hence at Grantham you see Hull Trains 802s with 2 stopping positions for 5 and 10 cars but the LNER sets use the same ones. Customer unfriendly but negates the risk of a stop short I guess which if it causes a cancellation is even less friendly.
Agreed; you also see this at Wakefield Westgate, where southbound trains go to the site of the old entrance, while other operator's trains stop at a far more passenger-friendly position near the new entrance.
Steve Harris
Member
I would say it is much more likely that the reason is
As others have said, not exactly customer friendly but does negate the issue of the driver having to remember how long their train is,
.
bramling
Veteran Member
Stevenage is something of a mess. On the up side, 8/700 stops right at the south end of the platform (same stopping mark as for 12/700), which is a right pain as it puts the very back of the train level with the staircase. This never used to be the case, but was changed around 2020 as a mitigation against stopping short.
Yet 8/387 and now 8/379 have their own stopping mark which is more sensibly placed.
Conversely, Reading is a good example of how this works well and is broadcast to passengers, both on the departure boards and platform announcements. They also use the a/b platform allocation to keep passengers to where they're meant to be. Those triangle signs halfway along the platforms also help, if you know what you're looking for! Particularly for XC reversers.
renegademaster
Established Member
I've never read a good explanation on why the Tonbridge trains at Redhill (normally 4 car) stop right before the buffers rather than once they have passed the signal
They are actually 100% booked as 3 car units. It is ridiculous. The subway and exit is at the far South end of the platform but yet the 3 car train always stops at the far North end of the platform. It is a very long 12 coach platform. So all passengers have to walk the entire length of a 12 coach platform to exit the station or to cross to another platform to change trains.
Have LNER ever had different stop positions for shorter trains, or is this just a hangover from the old relatively similar length Mk4/HST fleet that they've never adjusted for the 5 car sets? If LNER drivers haven't had to worry about it before it might be a higher risk to change it now than on other TOCs who have always been doing it.
DelW
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Exactly the same for GWR North Downs trains reversing at Redhill too. Since they're departing again straight away there's no possibility of another train coming in behind them, so there's no obvious reason why they go right to the north end.
It's particularly annoying in wet weather as even the newly built platform 0 only has a roof at the southern end. The trains stop well beyond the end of it.
This screenshot from Google maps shows the situation clearly. The subway is right down next to the Station Road underbridge, yet the (Tonbridge?) train is right at the north end, and well beyond the roof.
(Screenshot of satellite view from Google maps)
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Up Thameslink trains stopping at Strood do so as close to London as possible. It is a 12+ coach platform and the Thameslink trains are invariably 8 car. Most people wait near the footbridge and subway at the country end of the station leading to a stampede every 30 minutes. Presumably this is to prevent 12 car trains stopping early and fouling the junction - but there aren’t any 12 car Thameslink trains on this route.
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This topic was discussed a few years back and was touched on here (https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/platform-stop-boards-policy.223541/)
Also happens at Highgate on the London Underground - the platform is much longer than the trains, but the trains stop at the end of the platform rather than stopping the middle of the train by the exit. I wonder how much this inefficiency has cost over the years - must be the equivalent of a few lifetimes.
(Really need someone to look at the number of passengers per year / additional time walked on average / number of years this has been occurring!)
(Really need someone to look at the number of passengers per year / additional time walked on average / number of years this has been occurring!)
I can believe this is the reason, but it does come across as another (admittedly minor) example of the railway being run for the convenience of the people running it rather than the people using it.
At Nottingham short length trains often stop right at the far end of the platforms, as far away from the exit as possible. Same at Sheffield in the evenings with Northern terminators, although the platforms aren't as long there and the exit is mid platform.
norbitonflyer
Established Member
It's no so much the additional time walked by people alighting, as the time lost by missing a train because it's so far from the entrance to the platform.
EbbwJunction1
Established Member
Most of the trains that use platforms 3 and 4, regardless of the operator, stop at the west end rather than the middle.
I understand that a second train might terminate at the other end, and sometimes the PIC boards tell you this. However, it's very annoying as my mobility is restricted. I walk with a stick and always use the lifts to get to and leave the platforms - they are at the east end, and a long way from the trains.
I'm not sure what can be done about this, especially with terminating trains that don't always have a relieving crew straight away.
Mattplans
Member
Why are thameslink trains unable to use the same stop markers as other services?
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