Top award for Axminster railway station

[whole diary]

[Southern Stag]

To be fair there are signs, live information boards and announcements all giving out the correct information.

[The Grecian]

I've wondered about the change myself. From the signs it appears that all trains now run on the left-hand side except for a handful of specified up services which use the down platform at the beginning and end of the day (up and down in the conventional sense). I don't think there are now any down services using the up platform.

The reason given on the notices which went up in December before the change was 'to improve timekeeping'. I'm certain the points at either end of the loop haven't moved - both due to deceleration by the train coming into the loop and the movement of the train entering and leaving the loop, although I've only travelled over the London end of the loop once since the change.

I can only assume that it may be due to confusing passengers since left-hand running is the rule across the network. I can't see what other reason there would be.

[paul7575]

Here's the normal routine at Axminster, the vast majority run normal side:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced?location=Axminster&date=04%2F03%2F2013&tocs=SW&timespan=3&show_schedules=11&schedule_type=0&show_wtt=1

Paul

[swrural]

Forgive me, that very helpful post has confused me because I don't know the platform numbers.  Is Platform 1 what would have been the old 'up' platform in Southern Railway days (i.e. the one that has just a bus shelter now)?

[paul7575]

Platform 1 is the conventional down side platform, the number presumably retained from the period when it was the only platform:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/relex109/6801168188/

Paul

[swrural]

Many thanks, nice photos too.   

[SandTEngineer]

Thanks for all the responses to my enquiry

[The Grecian]

It seems Axminster has now reverted back to right hand running in the last month or two, as this has been the case on the 3 occasions I've used the station since the end of May. I'm not sure why - perhaps it costs more time and fuel to slow down to 50mph if running onto the left-hand track then accelerate before braking again for the station, than any fuel saving in allowing a higher speed for westbound trains approaching Honiton bank.

Despite the fact this is against the normal convention of left hand running none of my fellow passengers have appeared confused by the arrangement and the boards make clear what each train's destination is, so hopefully it isn't causing any problems.