Trivia: Calling trains at the same time in opposite directions

[Gathursty]

I found myself at Hightown (Merseyrail) yesterday evening after a stroll on the beach and thought the PIS was repeating train information on alternate lines. However the trains in both directions called in the evening at Hightown at the same time.

Are there any other stations that get trains in opposite directions calling at the same time? (No passing loops or whatever Penryn is officially described as)

 

[yorksrob]

I found myself at Hightown (Merseyrail) yesterday evening after a stroll on the beach and thought the PIS was repeating train information on alternate lines. However the trains in both directions called in the evening at Hightown at the same time.

Are there any other stations that get trains in opposite directions calling at the same time?

Rye does, but then it does have the passing loop !

 

[Paul Kelly]

Parbold at 1015, 1115, 1215, 1315, 1415 and 1515. When I was there last year the automatic train announcements on each platform played at exactly the same time and talked over each other to the extent that it was difficult to make anything out.

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

At Bath Spa the Portsmouth-Cardiff and Cardiff-Portsmouth services both depart at xx.36 from opposite platforms, which I know has caused some confusion in the past.

 

[Kite159]

At Springfield, both evening trains depart at 17:58

 

[Flying Claret]

At burnley Manchester rd the york-blackpoo and vise versa call at ××12 each hour. I think.

 

[Spankthemonkey]

Couple from the Midlands- burton at xx21 several times a day going Notts and Brum.

Leciceter at xx18 has trains going off one and two going Cambridge and Brum.

 

[GW43125]

Egham on the Waterloo-reading line has the xx27 and xx57 to reading on the down, and the xx27 and xx57 Waterloo via Hounslow in opposite directions at the same time.

 

[Pumbaa]

This isn't particularly uncommon. You'll find them regularly at locations where there are junctions just outside, with the trains timed to occupy the junction in the same manner simultaneously for efficiency.

 

[yorkie]

Are there any other stations that get trains in opposite directions calling at the same time? (No passing loops or whatever Penryn is officially described as)

Are you just asking for small, basic, double-track (and not passing loops on single track lines) stations with only two possible directions, ie. you are not including larger and/or junction stations such as York and Hereford?

 

[185143]

On Merseyrail alone:

Birkdale (sometimes)
Hightown
Waterloo
Bank Hall (usually)
Sandhills (common)
Maghull
Kirkdale
Moorfields
Liverpool Central
Brunswick (occasionally)
Hamilton Square

I'd imagine James Street when the loop is open too

 

[IanXC]

Turning this one up a gear, Leeds has 3 1740 departures:

2H94 1740 Northern to Skipton
1L71 1740 Northern to Sheffield
1K22 1740 Transpennine Express to Hull

 

[CommuterPigeon]

Not sure if this meets the "no passing loops" rule but Dovey Junction has two 0553 departures, both off platform 1.

 

[306024]

Turning this one up a gear, Leeds has 3 1740 departures:

2H94 1740 Northern to Skipton
1L71 1740 Northern to Sheffield
1K22 1740 Transpennine Express to Hull

Liverpool St has:
xx.00, xx.30 to Enfield Town
xx.00, xx.30 to Norwich
xx.00, xx.30 to Shenfield

The result of the race up the hill to Bethnal Green is usually:
1st Shenfield
2nd Norwich
3rd Enfield Town

As for trains departing in opposite directions at the same time - too many to mention.

 

[47513 Severn]

Up and down London to Norwich line trains have crossed at Ipswich for as long as I can remember, even back in BR days. Currently they meet at xx09 and xx43 for most of the day, Mon-Sat.

 

[A Challenge]

At Woking, there is an XX:00 and XX:30 to Weymouth and also to Alton, departing from Platforms 4 and 5 respectively. This is especially amazing as these are the only two trains in the hour to the two!

 

[mervyn72]

Until last week my local station, Meldreth was xx11 to Cambridge and London. Since Cambridge North the London trains are a whole minute later.

Manchester Picc has 4 at xx46 to Crewe, Stoke, Hadfield and Blackpool

 

[GW43125]

Liverpool St has:
xx.00, xx.30 to Enfield Town
xx.00, xx.30 to Norwich
xx.00, xx.30 to Shenfield

The result of the race up the hill to Bethnal Green is usually:
1st Shenfield
2nd Norwich
3rd Enfield Town

As for trains departing in opposite directions at the same time - too many to mention.

Speaking of which, Waterloo has similar

xx.20, xx.50 Woking stopper
xx.20, xx.50 West of England (generally xx50 Salisbury and xx20 further afield)
xx.20, xx.50 Reading

The race is usually

1st Woking
2nd Reading
3rd WoE

Until the Woking brakes for Vauxhall, then the WoE starts picking up speed and the Reading generally arrives at Clapham Jn just as the WoE is about to leave.

 

[tsr]

1E05 / 1E08 are booked to cross at Ashurst at 0655 on weekday mornings. That, in other words, is quite an impressive amount of noise and exhaust!

 

[john prytherch]

I think many services at Winsford call at the same time in both directions.

John Prytherch.

 

[richw]

Axminster.

 

[Kite159]

Axminster.

Although that is at a passing loop.

The race of Waterloo has already been mentioned (XX:20 & XX:50). You will probably find a few other examples where trains depart at the same time in opposite directions at metro stations (i.e. Wimbledon)

 

[Gathursty]

Are you just asking for small, basic, double-track (and not passing loops on single track lines) stations with only two possible directions, ie. you are not including larger and/or junction stations such as York and Hereford?

We can have very large stations but I want to exclude passing loop stations as they are a given.

 

[ValleyLines142]

Are you just asking for small, basic, double-track (and not passing loops on single track lines) stations with only two possible directions, ie. you are not including larger and/or junction stations such as York and Hereford?

No, re-read the first post.

I think the OP is referring to services that depart at the same time in opposite directions.

For example, Waun-Gron Park on the Cardiff City Line has Coryton services calling at xx:12 and xx:42, and then Radyr services at xx:14 and xx:44.

At Hightown, Hunts Cross services leave at xx:02, xx:17, xx:32 and xx:47, and Southport services leave at xx:03. xx:18, xx:33 and xx:48.

At Cardiff Central, Bridgend via Rhoose services depart at xx:41, and in the opposite direction to Aberdare they leave at xx:41.

 

[splitfare]

London Midland services from Birmingham New Street to Shrewsbury and Shrewsbury to Birmingham New Street both depart Wellington (Shropshire) at xx00 each hour 0900 - 2100 Mon - Sat.

 

[Matt Taylor]

Portsmouth & Southsea at four minutes past the hour, 1Txx to Waterloo via Eastleigh and 1Pxx from Waterloo via Guildford. It's actually a potential hazard as it's an island platform in the shape of an S with both services potential made up of twelve cars.

 

[yorkie]

We can have very large stations but I want to exclude passing loop stations as they are a given.

Almost every large station then, such as Vauxhall, Clapham Junction, Wimbledon, and many more, will have such occurrences.

Clapham Jn has up to 5* simultaneous departures, e.g. 1815 trains to Farnham, Hampton Court (both SWT), Sutton, Caterham (both GTR) and in the opposite direction, Stratford (London Overground) and this also occurs at 0729 and possibly other times too.

* Someone may be able to find an occasion when there are 6; I've not done an exhaustive search.

 

[greatkingrat]

There are several examples of 6 simultaneous departures at Clapham Jn, eg

P3 - 0758 to London Waterloo (from Hounslow Loop)
P6 - 0758 to Reading (from Waterloo)
P10 - 0758 to London Waterloo (from Guildford)
P13 - 0758 to East Croydon (from Victoria)
P14 - 0758 to London Victoria (from Sutton)
P15 - 0758 to London Bridge (from Victoria)

also at 0958, 1012, 1112, 1551, 1615, 1644, 1658 and 1839.

 

[Seacook]

Off the top of my head:
06:15 from Sandwell & Dudley platform 1 to Euston via Birmingham New Street
06:15 from Sandwell & Dudley platform 2 to Wolverhampton

 

[IanD]

Blackhorse Road on the GOBLIN line has departures in both directions at xx06, xx21, xx36 and xx51 for the most part Monday to Saturday, shifting to xx11, xx26, xx41, xx56 on Sundays for some reason.