Gap at platform/train interface

[sawb]

Does anyone know if there is anywhere I can find out about gaps between the train and platform not shown in the accessible tube guide please? I'm hopefully returning to London in a few weeks and I'm trying to find information for a number of stations, particularly those stations like Bank where part of the Central line platforms are curved. In particular, I'm looking to find out which carriage I need to be in for the smallest gaps and how big those gaps are please. 

[John Tuthill]

Mar 13, 2020 17:31:59 GMT sawb said:

Does anyone know if there is anywhere I can find out about gaps between the train and platform not shown in the accessible tube guide please? I'm hopefully returning to London in a few weeks and I'm trying to find information for a number of stations, particularly those stations like Bank where part of the Central line platforms are curved. In particular, I'm looking to find out which carriage I need to be in for the smallest gaps and how big those gaps are please. 

A couple I can think of off the top of my head: Waterloo on the Bakerloo, Embankment (NB)on the Northern Line, both outside bends. I'd say as a rule, the end cars seem to be on 'the straight'

[toby]

You could look at platforms online, eg Ianvisit's 3d diagrams. But if or whatever you learn from that would be best used by using the single doors at the ends instead of the double doors in the middle.

[Chris M]

whether end or centre doors are closer to the platform depends on the direction of the curve. If the train is on the outside of a curve relative to the platform then centre doors are closest. If it is the other way around then end doors are closest. The size of the gap depends on the radius of the curve, the length of the car, how far a door is from the bogie centre, cant of the track and height of the platform.

[spsmiler]

Bank (Central line) is one of the more severe examples of gaps between train and platform. But, I feel sure that at one end of the train the platform is straighter and hence gap is less severe.

Leyton has an example of a different sort of gap - the platform still seems to be set for mainline sized trains, even though nowadays it only sees tube trains.

Also important is the height difference, especially at stations where the same platform serves both tube trains and subsurface or mainline trains (the latter two being very similar in size)

Baker Street (Met Main Line) has some blue lights which illuminate the gaps - this is a station where new trains has seen the platforms (and or track height) adjusted to create 'level access' but in the process the gap between platform and train has widened at some doors.   

[rincew1nd]

Meanwhile on Merseyside:

[Deep Level]

Mar 16, 2020 13:47:32 GMT rincew1nd said:

Meanwhile on Merseyside:

I believe the new Stadler Flirt Trains on Greater Anglia also do this.

[crusty54]

Stadler winning a lot of business with this. Newcastle Metro too.

Saw a new panel beside the lifts at Westminster which purports to show the gaps between platform and car at the Jubilee line trains at each station. It suggests there is no gap at some!

[Chris M]

Those panels have been displayed in/by lifts at many stations for at least a year now, but they show information about the step (vertical) not gap (horizontal) and show information only for platforms that have step-free access.

[rincew1nd]

Mar 16, 2020 14:02:31 GMT Deep Level said:

Mar 16, 2020 13:47:32 GMT rincew1nd said:

Meanwhile on Merseyside:

I believe the new Stadler Flirt Trains on Greater Anglia also do this.

Yes, but AIUI they still have some non-standard platforms; every platform on MerseyRail had been modified to the national standard.