Platforms 1 & 2-Salisbury

[59CosG95]

Can someone please tell me as to why Salisbury station has only Platforms 2, 3, 4 and 6 in commission? Having been to Salisbury many times, I still have no idea as to why this is. Does anyone know?

 

[PHILIPE]

Can someone please tell me as to why Salisbury station has only Platforms 2, 3, 4 and 6 in commission? Having been to Salisbury many times, I still have no idea as to why this is. Does anyone know?

Platform 1 is used for stabling units. If you look at it there is hardly anything starting at Salisbury Westbound or towards Westbury (except early morning when it can be accommodated elsewhere anyway) I'm not even sure if it signalled for a loaded passenger train but ECS to places like Yeovil Jn could use it. As regards the deserted Platform on the Up Side you would have to pay to upgrade the facilities and for staff when there is no call for it. Current capacity is ample to accommodate all the services.

 

[30907]

To be pedantic, 5 is the old West bay (in steam days, used by stopping trains towards Exeter) and 1 is the disused up platform (still useful for freight traffic though).

 

[Kite159]

Platform 5 normally has a FGW unit stabled overnight for those early morning starts from Salisbury, although I would imagine the train moves from P5 to P4 for passengers to board?

Platform 1's track is used to shuffle units around (from depot to P6 for the Romsey loop or stopping services to London)

 

[fgwrich]

Platform 5 normally has a FGW unit stabled overnight for those early morning starts from Salisbury, although I would imagine the train moves from P5 to P4 for passengers to board?

Platform 1's track is used to shuffle units around (from depot to P6 for the Romsey loop or stopping services to London)

One of the reasons for the shuffling of units around is that it is also the only road into the depot. An unfortunate consequence of building the depot to a price (it was built on the former GWR station site and GWR Goods sidings), and only has one access road into it.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

When did both platforms lose booked passenger services?

 

[Rapidash]

I distinctly remember a pair of bubblecar or similar rotting in the bays in the mid 90s. I used to call them Bill & Ben

 

[PHILIPE]

Platform 5 normally has a FGW unit stabled overnight for those early morning starts from Salisbury, although I would imagine the train moves from P5 to P4 for passengers to board?

Platform 1's track is used to shuffle units around (from depot to P6 for the Romsey loop or stopping services to London)

No. There is no FGW unit stabled overnight. The unit to work the first FGW train, 06 02 Salisbury to Westbury works out 05 24 from Westbury. There is an SWT unit, however, which is leased to FGW daily and attaches to the o6 02. This could possibly be stabled there.

 

[Kite159]

No. There is no FGW unit stabled overnight. The unit to work the first FGW train, 06 02 Salisbury to Westbury works out 05 24 from Westbury. There is an SWT unit, however, which is leased to FGW daily and attaches to the o6 02. This could possibly be stabled there.

There was a 150 unit there last Saturday evening (around 21:30), which I guess would have been this service to Bristol (http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/P73401/2014/04/05/advanced)

 

[30907]

When did both platforms lose booked passenger services?

P1 with Salisbury resignalling (1981), I think after which IIRC the layout became more flexible.
P5 effectively in the mid-60s with the withdrawal of Salisbury-Exeter stoppers, though I think the first down Exeter train which started from Salisbury will have used it for a few years longer as the stock would have berthed there overnight. Couldn't be used for arrivals, or for Bristol departures

 

[BestWestern]

There was a 150 unit there last Saturday evening (around 21:30), which I guess would have been this service to Bristol (http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/P73401/2014/04/05/advanced)

Usually occurs at weekends when engineering work causes service alterations.

 

[PHILIPE]

Usually occurs at weekends when engineering work causes service alterations.

If the OP looks at the schedule in RTT it will be seen that is a STP for one day only and not for the duration of the Timetable.