Anyone know why only these 2 platforms are split into a and b sections? And what is the point of them?
The only trains that depart from these platforms are the Milford Haven/Carmarthen, Maesteg and Swansea ones anyway. All the others terminate there. The HST▸ take up the whole platform anyway, and the services to Maesteg and Milford Haven always go to the very end of the platform (so platform 3a or 4a). Platform 3b or 4b is never used as such. Its just seems odd especially as platforms 1 and 2 arent split into a and b, and there are more trains starting off from these platforms to destinations such as Portsmouth and Taunton.
Oh they are fairly heavly used, especially in peak times.
The reason i believe it's like that is because pretty much 100% of trains (except valleys) terminates on those platforms, and some hang around for quite a while, thus i suppose adding extra platform capacity having 4a,b etc?
Yes I think all trains terminate there apart from the Fishguard to Cardiff service which terminates on Platform 2, and any Maesteg to Cardiff services which arent extending to Gloucester/Cheltenham. Even the Ebbw Vale service terminates on platform 3 or 4.
Makes me laugh how they always say the Portsmouth train will terminate at Platform 3a then there will be an announcement a few minutes later saying there is a platform alteration and it will actually terminate at platform 4a. They like to keep platform 3 clear for the HST to Swansea which arrives about 5 minutes after the Portsmouth train terminates. Although when that is late and the
ATW▸ Carmarthen service arrives before it that has to go on Platform 4 too.
The platforms are still the same length though, there is the same amount of space for trains as there has always been for trains to terminate. However they have just split them in half, like at
BTM▸ where most platforms are split into 2.
