Trivia: Widest gap between train and platform (not including platform height)?

[Clansman]

Trying to think as to which station platform has the largest gap between the train and the platform edge. Part of me thinks this would be the stations with the tightest curve, to which Perth platform 1 would come out on top for gangwayed stock such as an Mk3. But seeing as Azuma's are 26m per coach, that gap would be even larger.

Bank on the Central Line I imagine would top it, but what about on the national rail network?

For clarity, I'm not including vertical distances (as Dunkeld would win in a heartbeat), but horizontal distances.

 

[childwallblues]

Trying to think as to which station platform has the largest gap between the train and the platform edge. Part of me thinks this would be the stations with the tightest curve, to which Perth platform 1 would come out on top for gangwayed stock such as an Mk3. But seeing as Azuma's are 26m per coach, that gap would be even larger.

Bank on the Central Line I imagine would top it, but what about on the national rail network?

For clarity, I'm not excluding vertical distances (as Dunkeld would win in a heartbeat), but horizontal distances.

Vertical stations - Salford Central and Flimby

 

[Paul Jones 88]

Tunbridge Wells on the curve, down platform, once I had to grab hold of a child before she slipped down the gap.

 

[noodlepoodle]

Bishop's Stortford down platform must be a contender, large vertical and horizonal separation. A few years ago someone suffered life changing injuries falling in the gap.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Epsom, platform 4, midway down has a huge gap.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Always used to be quite a big "mind the gap" between train and platform at Platform 17 at Clapham Junction.

 

[AM9]

Trying to think as to which station platform has the largest gap between the train and the platform edge. Part of me thinks this would be the stations with the tightest curve, to which Perth platform 1 would come out on top for gangwayed stock such as an Mk3. But seeing as Azuma's are 26m per coach, that gap would be even larger.

Bank on the Central Line I imagine would top it, but what about on the national rail network?

For clarity, I'm not excluding vertical distances (as Dunkeld would win in a heartbeat), but horizontal distances.

I don't think that the 26m cars do have much larger clearances compared to MKIIIs. The end doors and the bogies are located some way in from the ends and are probably not much different to the MKIIIs in distance apart. Also the ends are tapered so that the outswing is reduced.

 

[HSP 2]

Carnforth P1 & 2. Earlestown P4 & 5.

 

[Dr_Paul]

Norbiton's up platform used to have a wide gap, as it's on a curve and the track is heavily canted. It was a big step up to the doors on the 455s that run on the services through there. I have a feeling, however, that things have improved (I'll have a look next time I'm there).

 

[Elecman]

Accrington

 

[Sean Emmett]

Montpelier, my local station, has big vertical and horizontal gaps, quite a struggle for peeps with mobility issues, pushchairs etc.

And platform 3 at Temple Meads can catch out the unwary.

 

[zwk500]

Wolverton has a very large gap both vertical and horizontal.

This shutterstock page giving a good idea:

21 Wolverton Train Station Images, Stock Photos, 3D objects, & Vectors | Shutterstock

Find Wolverton Train Station stock images in HD and millions of other royalty-free stock photos, illustrations and vectors in the Shutterstock collection. Thousands of new, high-quality pictures added every day.

www.shutterstock.com

 

[_toommm_]

Earlestown Platforms 4 and 5 on a 150. You could comfortably fit a person in that gap with no issue.

 

[david737]

Platform 2 at Lewisham is a good contender, a person can easily fall down in the gap & its quite a big step up to the doors.

 

[alangla]

And platform 3 at Temple Meads can catch out the unwary.

I was going to post that. Last time I was there, the guard on the 150 did the usual “please mind the gap between the train & the platform edge” announcement. Yawning chasm would have been a better description. The Voyager that I got on next from there was nowhere near as bad though more of a step up obviously.

 

[bishdunster]

Dorchester South must be in the running surely.

 

[Pokelet]

Worcester Foregate Street has large vertical gap and when you get to the far end in the Droitwich direction the horizontal gap turns it into a gaping chasm. Boarding a 170 at that end is scary business.

 

[Tio Terry]

Pretty big gaps at Clapham Junction! There is a picture showing the gap in this old article.

RMT union action prompts Southern to cancel 340 trains a day while more Scotrail strikes are announc | Rail.co.uk

Published: 5th July 2016

www.rail.co.uk

 

[RailWonderer]

Long Buckby. Platform 2 on the up has a large gap becasue the track has cant.

London Midland class 350 electric train at Long Buckby station, Northamptonshire, England, UK Stock Photo - Alamy

Download this stock image: London Midland class 350 electric train at Long Buckby station, Northamptonshire, England, UK - J4EDAP from Alamy's library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors.

www.alamy.com

 

[swt_passenger]

For clarity, I'm not excluding vertical distances (as Dunkeld would win in a heartbeat), but horizontal distances.

The bolded words seem to contradict your title? Is that why so many replies are about vertical gaps?

 

[[.n]]

Dorchester South must be in the running surely.

Definitely, I've on many occasions had to stop someone from dropping into the gap on the curve.

I also recall there's a pretty huge gap at Clapham Junction on maybe platform 21 that's the whole length of the platform?

 

[Clansman]

The bolded words seem to contradict your title? Is that why so many replies are about vertical gaps?

Yikes. Thanks for pointing that out! Amended now

 

[David57]

Long Buckby has a heavilly canted curve, and a step up on the down line...

 

[kpreen]

I’ve just registered here to post about the enormous chasm between the train and platform 1 (eastbound) at Ashburys station in Manchester.

Even with a perfectly straight platform, the horizontal gap is a good 18”. It seemed like the train was leaning away from the platform, it was one of the brand new ones that Northern Rail are running.

I had to get someone to help me on to the train it was that far (and I am in no condition to jump!), and it was actually a bit scary!

 

[Meglos]

Platform 4 at Raynes Park is always fun getting on/off the 455/456's.

 

[AY1975]

Norbiton's up platform used to have a wide gap, as it's on a curve and the track is heavily canted. It was a big step up to the doors on the 455s that run on the services through there. I have a feeling, however, that things have improved (I'll have a look next time I'm there).

So did Putney until about the mid to late 1980s when the central island platform was raised. As I recall the two outer platforms (which were only used by a small number of peak hour trains in those days) weren't raised until sometime later. It used to be a big step up to the 455s (and the 508s, EPBs, SUBs and the like before that).