[Trivia] Platforms Where Trains Pass At 125mph

[A Challenge]

I don't know about this, but surely after a stopping HST in the evening peak (as everyone's got off) they couldn't have closed the platform before the next fast at 125mph came along, but it isn't like it is fenced off except when nothing's running at line speed.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I believe Tamworth is 100 on the UTVS

It's actually 110 EPS through the northbound platform at Tamworth LL, and 100PS southbound.
The 125 (EPS) section starts just north of the station.
The Tamworth HL platforms are indeed 125 (also through Wilnecote).

Oxenholme is 90PS, and Penrith is complicated at 75PS southbound, but 90/95EPS northbound (221s take the lower limit, 390s the higher).

 

[driver9000]

I imagine it's 125 through Penrith North Lakes and possibly Oxenholme Lake District?

No. At Penrith it's 80mph (EPS 90/95) on the Up, 75mph on the Down and 90mph both ways at Oxenholme.

 

[driver9000]

Oxenholme is 90PS, and Penrith is complicated at 75PS southbound, but 90/95EPS northbound (221s take the lower limit, 390s the higher).

You've got Penrith back to front. The 80/EPS90/95 applies in the Up direction. No EPS northbound.

 

[Vinnym]

Twyford

 

[Scotrail84]

Peterborough?

 

[Esker-pades]

Peterborough?

115mph, and on the through lines only (not next to the platforms).

 

[Phil G]

I would say that is valid as they can - what about Swindon?

Swindon platform 1 and 3 are more or less stopping only and a low limit (don't know exactly what) but platform 4 I think is 85 as is the through road.

 

[Phil G]

I would say that is valid as they can - what about Swindon?

With the Bristol parkway closure the south wales trains are passing through Chippenham at 125 at the moment and yes it is impressive.

 

[Taunton]

Slough is the most concerning one I know. Constant 125mph on the Down Main, and that platform is also the principal entrance/exit to the station. At peak times should a train on the Reliefs arrive together with a (notably busy) Windsor train, you can have two trainloads queued up on the platform right up to the yellow line trying to get out, people coming in trying to get round them, etc. What made matters worse was when the gateline was installed, it was put on the same platform, restricting space further. The platform is narrow and hemmed in between the tracks and the Listed station building, which is a historic Brunel structure. I cannot believe that gateline introduction passed any meaningful risk assessment. Why on earth do HMRI not come down and have a look in the morning peak. It takes multiple staff to control the passengers on the platform at peak times. Some Down Main drivers sound a warning on approach, others don't.

 

[nickswift99]

Do trains pass through "active platforms" at 125mph though? At Goring and Streatley, for example, aren't the only regularly used platforms the slow ones?

The main platforms are used when the reliefs are closed for maintenance which seems to happen several times a month. I've caught services from there in the morning peak when freight has failed on the relief anywhere between Didcot and Reading. However, the down main platform is the route from the station into Goring village from the footbridge so is widely used. However, it does have barriers (unlocked) along the length to separate the exit route from the platform edge.

 

[DarloRich]

Northallerton

( and the suggestion quoted in the original post is preposterous)

 

[bramling]

The Transpennine Upgrades thread (https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...upgrade-and-electrification-cp6.88054/page-46) contained the following quote:



Rather than disrupt that thread (or get into an argument about the rights and wrongs of Health And Safety), it got me thinking about how many (open) platforms there are where trains passing by at that speed?

Most of the routes where trains can do 125mph are ones where trains are actually timed to do 125mph, but these are often stretches with no/few local stations (e.g. the ECML from Peterborough to Darlington) and many of the stations on "fast" routes don't actually have platforms on the fast lines (e.g. Thirsk in the the "Peterborough to Darlington" example). Plus there are platforms at stations not open to the public for safety reasons.

Are there many though?

Knebworth, Stevenage, Biggleswade and St Neots all have a line speed of 125 mph. Of those only Knebworth has anti-suicide fencing/gates IIRC.

Not sure whether 125mph is quite achievable at Knebworth as it's very close to lower speed limits south of Woolmer Green Junction, however it looks to have a good change of being achieved at the others.

 

[stut]

Knebworth, Stevenage, Biggleswade and St Neots all have a line speed of 125 mph. Of those only Knebworth has anti-suicide fencing/gates IIRC.

I was going to ask what speed Biggleswade was.

A number of peak time trains use the fast platforms, so it's no uncommon, particularly if there's a disruption, to have a sizeable crowd on the platform as a through train passes. Plus, you know commuters. The station staff do their best to shoo people from the edge, of course.

 

[greyman42]

What about Hitchin?

 

[greyman42]

Northallerton

( and the suggestion quoted in the original post is preposterous)

What suggestion?

 

[swt_passenger]

What suggestion?

Presumably the quoted paragraph in that first post?

 

[Strat-tastic]

What about Hitchin?

The fast lines aren't adjacent to the platforms there; not sure about the linespeed though.

 

[Esker-pades]

The fast lines aren't adjacent to the platforms there; not sure about the linespeed though.

110-115mph. And as you say, the fast lines are away from the platforms.

 

[neontrix]

The platforms at Newark Northgate face onto the fast lines of the ECML. Not sure about the linespeed though, but standing on platform 2 they certainly seem to belt through pretty quick, but I imagine the flat crossing north of the station could mean that they don't do 125 mph through the station.

 

[cactustwirly]

I don't know about this, but surely after a stopping HST in the evening peak (as everyone's got off) they couldn't have closed the platform before the next fast at 125mph came along, but it isn't like it is fenced off except when nothing's running at line speed.

The gates are unlocked, and stations like Maidenhead and Slough don't have fences.
The fence is only between platforms 2&3, so most platforms 1s are easlily accessible

 

[Up_Tilt_390]

Would stations that have a four track layout but with platforms only being on the outer two tracks count? I've noticed some have cited Tamworth and such which, on the WCML route, has the two fast lines running without any contact with the platform.

Anyway, for my contribution, I'm going to take a shot and say Wembley Central, though I don't think the 125mph EPS speed limit starts until before the platform coming out of Euston, so I don't think trains would actually run that fast through the station platforms themselves. Does it still count though?

 

[A Challenge]

Twyford the gates were locked, and it was only 5 minutes to the next stopping service when we arrived - luckily someone did come and unlock it!

 

[voyagerdude220]

I think Leyland is 125mph EPS on platforms 3/4 (fast lines). I'm guessing it's 110 mph none-tilt.

 

[Jimini]

The platforms at Newark Northgate face onto the fast lines of the ECML. Not sure about the linespeed though, but standing on platform 2 they certainly seem to belt through pretty quick, but I imagine the flat crossing north of the station could mean that they don't do 125 mph through the station.

Pretty sure the speed limit over the flat crossing is 100mph.

 

[Jimini]

With the Bristol parkway closure the south wales trains are passing through Chippenham at 125 at the moment and yes it is impressive.

Did that yesterday en route to Newport. Certainly different! The crawl through Patchway etc. though meant a RT arrival at Newport regardless.

 

[kieron]

Acton Bridge is another one on the WCML (the limit through platform 1 is lower, but I think that's only used to let another train overtake).

There are no staff there to tell you to stay behind the yellow line, which is probably just as well given how little space there is behind it. It is a very quiet station, though, with few stopping trains and not many passengers.

 

[Jimini]

Slough is the most concerning one I know. Constant 125mph on the Down Main, and that platform is also the principal entrance/exit to the station. At peak times should a train on the Reliefs arrive together with a (notably busy) Windsor train, you can have two trainloads queued up on the platform right up to the yellow line trying to get out, people coming in trying to get round them, etc. What made matters worse was when the gateline was installed, it was put on the same platform, restricting space further. The platform is narrow and hemmed in between the tracks and the Listed station building, which is a historic Brunel structure. I cannot believe that gateline introduction passed any meaningful risk assessment. Why on earth do HMRI not come down and have a look in the morning peak. It takes multiple staff to control the passengers on the platform at peak times. Some Down Main drivers sound a warning on approach, others don't.

Agree with all of this. Always struck me as a smidgen on the risky side.

 

[Andyh82]

Agree with all of this. Always struck me as a smidgen on the risky side.

I bet a lot of the foreign tourists milling about on the platform after getting off the Windsor shuttle get a surprise.

 

[Roger100]

I bet a lot of the foreign tourists milling about on the platform after getting off the Windsor shuttle get a surprise.

Many stations have supplemented the yellow line with a broader area of yellow crosshatching. And at Slough there are PA warnings to stand clear before a train runs through. With the switch from diesel to electric the station is quieter and you can actually hear them now (except perhaps not when the Windsor Turbo is in the station).

I've moved away now and my closest station is Hartlepool, where through trains pass at at about one tenth of the speed at Slough, and where both up and down trains use the same line and platform.