TRIVIA: through-platforms with mid-platform signals

[rower40]

There are a few, but not all that many, stations where a train has to pass a mid-platform signal, either on arriving, or on departing. OR where a train has to pass through one platform to reach another.
There are operational issues with this - i.e. ensuring that the train doesn't stop in the wrong place, and isn't dispatched (i.e. on a yellow) just to go from one platform to the other.

I've listed below the ones I know about; can anyone provide any others?

Leeds (8, 9, 11, 12, 15, 16 and divisions thereof)
Bristol Temple Meads (3/4, 5/6, 7/8, 9/10, 11/12)
Edinburgh (7/10/11; 1/2/19/20)
Darlington - 4A and 4B
Sheffield - 1A and 1B
York - 3 and 4
Newcastle (5/6, 7/8)
Colchester (3/4: also mid-platform signal in platform 1)
Birmingham New Street (lots)

Just for the avoidance of doubt - no bay platforms or termini please.

Many thanks.

 

[driver9000]

Manchester Oxford Road platforms 2-4 in the Up direction.

Manchester Piccadilly platforms 13 and 14.

 

[D6130]

Carlisle platform 1 (Up direction)....although it's not - strictly speaking - mid-platform, being close to the South end and protecting the convergence of Through Sliding 'A'.

Aberdeen through platforms.

Doncaster platform 3 (Up direction)....protecting the divergence of the Sheffield line.

 

[Thomas6187]

Manchester Oxford Road(1,2,3,4 in the up direction) and Manchester Piccadilly(13 and 14 in both directions)

 

[Magdalia]

Cambridge platforms 1 and 4 both directions with the scissors crossover in the middle.

 

[aliceh]

Bournemouth on platform 3/4

 

[zwk500]

Crewe platform 6 (for down trains). Its much more on one end but does allow trains continuing north to use the full length if they need to.

 

[sh24]

IIRC St Pancras Thameslink platforms.

 

[MrJeeves]

IIRC St Pancras Thameslink platforms.

Every Thameslink core platform, in fact!

If you start including ETCS marker boards, you can get 3 or 4 per platform, I think.

 

[swt_passenger]

IIRC St Pancras Thameslink platforms.

All Thameslink core stations have signals along the platforms, but I’m not sure if they’re capable of showing reds? IIRC they are not there for splitting the platform into separate sections for different trains.

 

[MrJeeves]

All Thameslink core stations have signals along the platforms, but I’m not sure if they’re capable of showing reds? IIRC they are not there for splitting the platform into separate sections for different trains.

I think they can, but I'm not totally certain. I know that drivers are told not to enter stations on single yellows (when driving manually?) so they don't stop mid-platform. I know I've been on an ATO train which has at Blackfriars and they did a manual PA as a result.

 

[Mag_seven]

Gloucester (Platform 1/2)
Stratford (East London) Platform 10

 

[Port Road]

Perth platform 4 (I think).

 

[swt_passenger]

I think they can, but I'm not totally certain. I know that drivers are told not to enter stations on single yellows (when driving manually?) so they don't stop mid-platform. I know I've been on an ATO train which has at Blackfriars and they did a manual PA as a result.

That’s possible then, maybe what I read was that drivers would not normally see a red light when following the normal 4 aspect sequence.

 

[CarltonA]

I've noticed black triangles on signs at Reading in the middle of platforms. Are these effectively a signal? Voyagers sometimes stop at them before changing direction it seems.

 

[zwk500]

I've noticed black triangles on signs at Reading in the middle of platforms. Are these effectively a signal? Voyagers sometimes stop at them before changing direction it seems.

They're stopping position markers for reversal moves. They don't count as a signal, just an aid to the Driver.

Miscellaneous Signs and Indicators

 

[steamybrian]

Horsham - down loop platform
(Continuing from when first installed to accomodate terminating trains from Brighton via Steyning and Guildford via Baynards)

 

[Mattplans]

Along with the core Thameslink platforms (and London Bridge), the Southeastern platforms at London Bridge also have these.

 

[thenorthern]

Alsager I think has a signal half way along Platform 1 meaning that the trains stop near the far end of the platform quite far from the entrance.

 

[swt_passenger]

Alsager I think has a signal half way along Platform 1 meaning that the trains stop near the far end of the platform quite far from the entrance.

But that’s still the only signal, to protect the level crossing? I‘m pretty sure ‘mid-platform’ in this thread’s context is an additional signal to the normal end of platform one.

 

[ChilliSauce]

All Thameslink core stations have signals along the platforms, but I’m not sure if they’re capable of showing reds? IIRC they are not there for splitting the platform into separate sections for different trains.

They are in effect "closing up signals" as they allow an approaching train to proceed towards the platform when the train in front has not cleared the overlap of the signal at the far end. So yes they can display a Red aspect.

If you look at Traky for Watford Junction on UF at country end of platform 7 you will see something similar used for "closing up"

 

[Hairyspotter]

Worcester Shrub Hill in the down direction only has what I'm led to believe is the last main line disc signal in the country, the infamous "Banjo" as a mid-platform signal

 

[LowLevel]

Sheffield is an odd one as it is common practice to dispatch trains heading west from 1B on 1 yellow into 1A - not a popular move for traincrew and platform staff but the signallers here have explained previously why it is useful for them to be able to do it with Sheffield's unusual layout.

 

[j37401]

Chester Plat 3 is split in half by a signal with a crossover in the middle to the up/down through road.

 

[RichardAsh1981]

Chester platform 7 has a banner repeater half way down, needed because the curve at the Wirral end means the starter is not visible past the buildingd. Not a full signal but the layout does permit 7A and 7B to have different trains in them at the same time, e.g. from Wales through 7B to 7A, then Merseyrail in, reverse and out of 7B whilst the other train is there.

 

[FR510]

London Victoria platforms 2, 18 & 19. There maybe others at Victoria, but those 3 have them I believe.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Jan 2026 ==

Although of course they're not through platforms! Oops.

 

[scrapy]

Manchester Picc, platform 9.

 

[skyetraveller]

Am I right in thinking Pitlochry in the up direction since the resignalling and loop/platform extension? Up trains stop some distance before the station buildings if a down train is occupying the single line from Dunkeld?

 

[birchesgreen]

Like Collingham or not the kind of thing you mean?

 

[swt_passenger]

Like Collingham or not the kind of thing you mean?

No, that’s not an ‘additional’ mid platform signal, it’s just a normal signal that’s stood back from a level crossing.