Trains using different platforms during engineering works or disruption

[Whistler40145]

How often has your train used a platform that it doesn't not normally use?

e.g. I've arrived into Platform 1 at Preston on a Virgin service from London Euston.

Do you have any unusual occurrences?

Also, would it be rare for London Midland to use the normally Virgin only platforms at Euston or the opposite to occur?

Please be free to share your experiences.

 

[Anchorman_02]

How often has your train used a platform that it doesn't not normally use?

e.g. I've arrived into Platform 1 at Preston on a Virgin service from London Euston.

Do you have any unusual occurrences?

Also, would it be rare for London Midland to use the normally Virgin only platforms at Euston or the opposite to occur?

Please be free to share your experiences.

You should spare a thought for the "brain racking" that goes on in the front cab when that happens!!!

 

[chris11256]

One time I've had this was on a Saturday morning last year. Due to engineering work one line was closed between Shoeburyness & Southend Central. Meant single line working all day and using Platform 2 at Thorpe Bay/Southend East. I remember the train arriving at Thorpe Bay and sitting there for a few minutes because we had to wait for a member of station staff to wave a thing and let the train go.

 

[33056]

Also, would it be rare for London Midland to use the normally Virgin only platforms at Euston or the opposite to occur?

Not rare for LM to use platforms other than 8 to 11 at Euston but I have never known a Virgin (or IC service) to use the "wood", 9 and 10 are only 8 cars long IIRC.

You should spare a thought for the "brain racking" that goes on in the front cab when that happens!!!

Or the signalbox when you are trying to juggle trains around during disruption!

 

[bunnahabhain]

The one that usually catches me out is using 13 or 14 at Piccadilly the wrong way to normal! I've also used Platform 1 at Oxford Road heading Eastbound, and I've also known a colleague to use Platform 5 at Oxford Road (work that one out!). There used to be some rare moves out of Platform 2 at Nottingham heading west during disruption as well, they'd usually be routed via the Up or Down Main lines rather than platform roads.

 

[thenorthern]

At Stoke-on-Trent a couple of times Platform 1 has been the Northbound Platform and Platform 2 has been the southbound platform which is strange when they do that and its normally because of bridge strikes.

A couple of times when they have been rebuilding the platforms at Stoke-on-Trent both north and southbound trains have used Platform 1 or 2 which with the station being congested as it is means a nightmare for trains trying to get in and out of the station.

 

[Saint66]

Not using a platform, but due to engineering works two weeks ago on the fast lines, I was stood at St Albans City and was quite surprised when an East Midland's HST sped through platform 1 towards St Pancras.

Was the first ever time for me to see a East Midlands service pass through any other platform than 3 and 4.

 

[Taunton]

Docklands Light Railway, if there is disruption which disorganises trains into Bank the first train through afterwards, generally packed of course, runs wrong line from Shadwell through the tunnels and into the normally departure-only platform at Bank. This means it can immediately reverse without going through the headshunt, but as the platform at Bank is generally packed as well in such circumstances it's a real squeeze getting out through those trying to get in - who not only were not expecting a train from the other direction but were not expecting one with any passengers in it either. By the time you've finally forced through them to the escalators, the second train has arrived, also packed, over in the normal arrival platform and it can take for ever to get out through the passages.

 

[Trainfan344]

^Sounds fun but manic

Do the Norwich to London trains ever end up in P4/5?

 

[EM2]

A full-on sprint from the far end of platform 1 at Forest Gate, when I saw the 05:44 rolling into 3, has taught me to ALWAYS check the departure monitor!

 

[Bald Rick]

Not using a platform, but due to engineering works two weeks ago on the fast lines, I was stood at St Albans City and was quite surprised when an East Midland's HST sped through platform 1 towards St Pancras.

Was the first ever time for me to see a East Midlands service pass through any other platform than 3 and 4.

Happens regularly, with any problem on the fasts between Radlett and Harp.

 

[Crossover]

Run through Platform 4 at Huddersfield on a TPE a couple of times, and through Platform 3 at Marsden, also on a TPE

A few weeks ago I had an ATW to Crewe and beyond leave from Manchester Piccadilly platform 3, usually used by TPE/Northern

 

[Saint66]

Happens regularly, with any problem on the fasts between Radlett and Harp.

I presumed it did, but it was my first time seeing it!

 

[LowLevel]

I'm told an EMT 153 ended up in platform 2 at Kidsgrove a little while ago when it broke down.

 

[dvboy]

You people used to trains leaving from the same platforms each time would struggle if you had to commute to/from Birmingham New Street.

 

[Anchorman_02]

I've worked trains in both directions at Oxford Rd and Piccadilly on every platform including the bays. Incidentally, Platform 5 at Oxford Road will be taken out of use when the Northern Hub is complete. Lime St trains will start from Buxton or Hazel Grove.

I think I've done the same at Preston - even Platform 7 with empties.

 

[Whistler40145]

I've been on a train that's departed from the RES platform @ Preston for Blackpool North during work to replace a bridge just North of the station.

 

[Anchorman_02]

That does surprise me. A normal working passenger train with passengers boarding there?

 

[PHILIPE]

Platform 4 at Newport instead of a Platform at Cardiff Central !!!

 

[Kite159]

I've seen London Overground use platform 2 at Euston before

Basingstoke is a good station when there is disruption, I've been in and out both ways on all 4 platforms (plus P5 bay)

 

[chubs]

Do the Norwich to London trains ever end up in P4/5?

In Norwich or LST?

In Norwich for a while they worked out of 3/4 and maybe even 5.

At LST they've ended up in the higher numbered platforms a fair few times.

 

[Welshman]

I've been on a train that's departed from the RES platform @ Preston for Blackpool North during work to replace a bridge just North of the station.

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

That does surprise me. A normal working passenger train with passengers boarding there?

I think the point the OP was making is that the RES platform at Preston is not usually intended for passenger use, and only used in emergencies.

 

[LowLevel]

Perhaps my sarcasm detector has failed but I didn't detect any!

 

[Welshman]

Point taken - comment withdrawn.

 

[Trainfan344]

In Norwich or LST?

In Norwich for a while they worked out of 3/4 and maybe even 5.

At LST they've ended up in the higher numbered platforms a fair few times.

I meant Norwich. Should have made that clear, my mistake.

 

[Anchorman_02]

It turns out that was donkey's years ago but it certainly wouldn't get used for passengers these days. I've told the OP he was cheating!

I was probably being a bit naive. There is no northbound exit from there without quite a lot of shunt signals being passed.

 

[fairysdad]

I've seen a SWT at Bournemouth use Platform 4 with an XC in Platform 3 before during minor disruption a couple years back along (I was on a London-bound from Poole which stopped before getting into the platform which is how I know the train was stopped and had passengers on it).

I actually thought Platform 4 was officially disused - it would make more sense if trains departing P3 could 'bypass' P4 to continue down the line, but the only way it seems is that a P3 train then goes into the sidings to avoid anything that might be in P4.

 

[driver9000]

It turns out that was donkey's years ago but it certainly wouldn't get used for passengers these days. I've told the OP he was cheating!

I was probably being a bit naive. There is no northbound exit from there without quite a lot of shunt signals being passed.

The last time the PCD was used for passenger trains was during the golf open at Ansdell in 2012 when the shuttle was using it.

Departing the PCD towards Blackpool no shunt signals need to be passed as PN123 can let you straight out onto the Down Slow with an S indication. Of course you can go along the Shunt line round to PN155 at Maudland via PN138 on Marsh Lane which is a common move for ECS heading to Blackpool North from the PCD.

 

[Hophead]

Several Christmases ago, when Earlswood Junction was being relaid, trains from Brighton to Victoria travelled via Three Bridges to Gatwick <reverse> then via Three Bridges to Horsham <reverse> and finally via Dorking to London.

As a result, trains to London from Crawley used platform 2 (usual down line) and platform 1 (usual up line) on the return.

Not only that but, with other services tied together to provide missing links, there was a half-hourly cross-platform connection at Horsham for trains from London to Brighton (via Gatwick) with a service from Three Bridges (may have been Gatwick - memory fades) also to Brighton, but via Littlehampton. So the same destination via totally different routes from opposite sides of the same platform pair. This was provided in both directions (when punctuality allowed).

 

[Anchorman_02]

The last time the PCD was used for passenger trains was during the golf open at Ansdell in 2012 when the shuttle was using it.

Departing the PCD towards Blackpool no shunt signals need to be passed as PN123 can let you straight out onto the Down Slow with an S indication. Of course you can go along the Shunt line round to PN155 at Maudland via PN138 on Marsh Lane which is a common move for ECS heading to Blackpool North from the PCD.

I've started from PN123 loads of times and couldn't remember if you can get straight out from it. I never have, it has always been up to the shunting line then back into the station. Thanks for the reminder.