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Platforms of Last Resort

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trebor79

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Spalding platform 1 used in preference to platform 1, with trains towards Sleaford crossing over before and after the station. No idea why, they've just spent mega bucks installing lifts and lighting for the footbridge.
 
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mm333

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Doncaster platform 2, although I did see an EMR Lincoln service use it a few weeks ago due to a points / signalling issue.

It's going to get weekly use in the new timetable. The 2046 Saturday-only service to Sleaford
 

Kite159

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It's going to get weekly use in the new timetable. The 2046 Saturday-only service to Sleaford

During one timetable period since Covid hit when the Sheffield stoppers were using platform 5 at Doncaster (not extended to Adwick like they are at the moment), EMR were using platform 2 at Doncaster for the Lincoln trains (as platform 5 had a train in for most of the hour).

Before Covid it had booked use by an afternoon arrival from the Lincoln direction (although if it used platform 2 was a bit hit/miss, took me 3 attempts for it)
 

Gloster

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Isn't that the one where passenger trains can arrive into but can't depart due to the signalling?
I don’t know honestly, it might be the other way round? Because I’ve definitely departed from it before on a passenger service
A look at the oban-line.info website doesn’t give a definite answer, but suggests that both platforms can be used for both arrivals and departures. However, 3 is normally used. (This is my interpretation/deduction.)
 

ANDREW_D_WEBB

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Spalding platform 1 used in preference to platform 1, with trains towards Sleaford crossing over before and after the station. No idea why, they've just spent mega bucks installing lifts and lighting for the footbridge.
Probably because the team in charge of lifts didn’t talk to the team writing the timetable. Also an alternative to the pigeon infested stairways.
 

Sheridan

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The un numbered bay platform at Chester (opposite platform 1) https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stat...potDetails.aspx?stdCode=SME_CTR&fullsize=1283. did it used to be used for royal mail?
It’s still known as the Parcels Bay which suggests it was indeed used for mail traffic. But it’s not certified for passenger use, it’s essentially a stabling siding which happens to have a handy platform next to it.

It doesn’t fit the criteria of this topic, but perhaps worthy of note is platform 4 at Llandudno Junction - it really only sees use when both 1 and 3 are occupied (which I guess is the point of having a third through platform!). The reason for this is that it is a rather bare platform with no facilities. But interestingly it’s on the down main line - down trains tend to be moved over to platform 3, the up main, and up trains move over to platform 1, the up passenger loop. These are either side of the island. This results in marginally lower speeds towards Colwyn Bay as trains can’t get straight up to 75mph and then 85mph on departure.
 
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johnnychips

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On Sheffield Supertram there is the three original platforms at Sheffield station, only used in the event on engineering works or other service disruption
Three? I am not being sarcastic or anything, but I thought there were only two. I’ll have a good look tomorrow as I only live about 400m away! They are no longer signed, and during recent disruption or rail repairs further on towards Halfway, trams have tended to run as normal into their southbound platform at the station, then the driver has got out with a huge wooden stick, changed the points, while the conductor shouted ‘Oy, we’re going to Malin Bridge’ to the passengers on the opposite platform.
 
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Dolive22

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Some others:-
  • Kentish Town:- currently has one public departure per day from Platform 3 (16:11 to Orpington, coming into service from Cricklewood Sidings).
Physically Kentish Town has four platforms, with Platform 4 I think physically accessible with only a Tensabarrier style tape across the steps down to the platform. I don't think any trains call at Platform 4 at all.
 

Kite159

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Physically Kentish Town has four platforms, with Platform 4 I think physically accessible with only a Tensabarrier style tape across the steps down to the platform. I don't think any trains call at Platform 4 at all.

The track layout at Kentish Town means Platform 4 has no access to the Thameslink core, only towards the MML platforms at St Pancras.

(Platform 3 gets used at weekends by the Kentish Town - Rainham services)
 

Dolive22

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The track layout at Kentish Town means Platform 4 has no access to the Thameslink core, only towards the MML platforms at St Pancras.

(Platform 3 gets used at weekends by the Kentish Town - Rainham services)
Oh I see. So it's a platform never resorted to, but not a platform of last resort because (unless evacuating/terminating short) you can't resort to it at all.
 

SouthStand

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Spalding platform 1 used in preference to platform 1, with trains towards Sleaford crossing over before and after the station. No idea why, they've just spent mega bucks installing lifts and lighting for the footbridge.

How does that work then?
 

Deafdoggie

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The left-hand face of the down (Holyhead-bound) platform at Bangor was unnumbered but I do remember seeing a local train standing at it in the 1970s when services were disrupted. It probably would have been platform 4 in those days if it had had a number, if you see what I mean. Not sure what the situation at Bangor is these days or whether that face still exists or is accessible - haven't passed through there for several years.
It's a car park now.
 

Kite159

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Oh I see. So it's a platform never resorted to, but not a platform of last resort because (unless evacuating/terminating short) you can't resort to it at all.
I'm pretty sure I've seen it getting used on a Sunday morning when services were diverted into the MML platforms.
 

Timmyd

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Victoria platform 8 (which is very tucked away between the two sides of the station) was only used at peaks before Covid and is used even less now. Platform 1 isn’t used much either, no bad thing as it’s a good couple of minutes extra walk from the concourse if your train’s leaving from there.

Blackfriars platform 4 must only see a couple of departures a day now that the Beckenham Junction service isn’t running.
 

LowLevel

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Probably because the team in charge of lifts didn’t talk to the team writing the timetable. Also an alternative to the pigeon infested stairways.

For whatever reason it has lifts that are only in service when the station is manned, which is only part time, despite the technology to allow remotely monitored lifts having been about for ages. Consequently no staff = lift out of service.

However with the heavy volumes of freight around nowadays that doesn't necessarily always run to schedule, platform 2 can be useful to keep the passenger train out of the way. The signaller will usually ring the driver to ask the guard if there's anyone who needs step free access on board before committing to that.
 

ComUtoR

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Platform 1 isn’t used much either, no bad thing as it’s a good couple of minutes extra walk from the concourse if your train’s leaving from there.

Platform 1 is often used for services in and out of the Sidings.
 

trebor79

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[Spalding]
For whatever reason it has lifts that are only in service when the station is manned, which is only part time, despite the technology to allow remotely monitored lifts having been about for ages. Consequently no staff = lift out of service.

However with the heavy volumes of freight around nowadays that doesn't necessarily always run to schedule, platform 2 can be useful to keep the passenger train out of the way. The signaller will usually ring the driver to ask the guard if there's anyone who needs step free access on board before committing to that.
Ah, that explains it then. Does seem rather silly that the lifts can't be used when the station is unmanned, as you say it's hardly unusual for lifts to be available in unattended buildings (eg car parks).
 

topydre

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Shrewsbury platform 3 is a platform of last resort, albeit a well used one. They try to put everything on 4-7 but it's often not possible. Platform 3 is difficult to get to from platforms 4-7 and there are no ticket barriers.
 

6Gman

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Platform 12 at Crewe sees very little use. They normally use anything but 12 with the odd service using it for various reasons.
Very useful in any disruption as it'll hold anything you care to put in there. (It's about 420m I think.)

They tried using it for a diverted Cardiff-Holyhead on one occasion I used it. The incoming driver said he didn't sign 12, so it ran into 7, remanned, out past South Junction, reversed, and ran through the Up & Down Loop (nice bit of track bashing) past said Platform 12.
 

Staffido

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North facing bay platforms 1 and 2 at Plymouth have seen little use since Royal Mail services were withdrawn 20 years ago, although the latter was later used for terminating South West Trains services from London Waterloo.
 

geoffk

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I don't think Preston platform 7 has been mentioned. Does it get used by steam specials?
 

gazr

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Wimbledon P4 (for SWT services). Granted, this only happens when mainline is shut for engineering, usually on a Sunday morning and access to P5 from depot is also closed.
Richmond P6 and P7 for London Overground Services.
 

D6130

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Can't remember whether platform 1 at Salisbury has been mentioned. Since the 1981 resignalling it hasn't officially been a platform at all, as it became the depot access line but, in emergency, I believe it can still be used to start a passenger train towards London or Southampton, as the platform is still in situ and reasonably well-maintained, as well as being accessible from the subway. I recall boarding a London-bound train there in the mid-nineties, when my mother lived in Salisbury. At that time there was still an access gate at the London end of the platform directly from and to Fisherton Street, although it has now been sealed-off since the installation of the gateline at the main entrance.
 

MadMac

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One that I don't think has come up is the very-rarely used former Platform 11a at Glasgow Central. Back in the days when there was the old departure board with someone putting up screens manually, I saw how they catered for it: they opened a window, hang a banner saying "Platform 11a" out then put the screen up!
 

NoMorePacers

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Does platform 14 at Leeds city station sometimes gets used for T.P.E. Hull trains I've sometimes noticed?
Probably only if they’re terminating at Leeds as a result of engineering works further west.

I’ve been out of 14 on a Northern service to Hull back when they were terminating there in the more scaled down COVID timetable last year.
 

Y Ddraig Coch

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It’s still known as the Parcels Bay which suggests it was indeed used for mail traffic. But it’s not certified for passenger use, it’s essentially a stabling siding which happens to have a handy platform next to it.

It doesn’t fit the criteria of this topic, but perhaps worthy of note is platform 4 at Llandudno Junction - it really only sees use when both 1 and 3 are occupied (which I guess is the point of having a third through platform!). The reason for this is that it is a rather bare platform with no facilities. But interestingly it’s on the down main line - down trains tend to be moved over to platform 3, the up main, and up trains move over to platform 1, the up passenger loop. These are either side of the island. This results in marginally lower speeds towards Colwyn Bay as trains can’t get straight up to 75mph and then 85mph on departure.

Platform 4 at Llandudno Junction for years and years hardly used at all if ever apart from freight or in times of disruption for stabling. These days platform 4 sees plenty of booked services including most of the Blaenau Ffestiniog services and the Cardiff to Holyhead Loco hauled also use it daily among others. It certainly isn't a "busy" platform but sees much more use these days.
 
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