Gloucester Railway Station (Gloucester)

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Longest platforms in uk

Gloucester railway station (formerly known as Gloucester Central station) serves the city of Gloucester. The station is unusual as it is located off the main Bristol-Birmingham line, meaning trains that call at Gloucester usually have to reverse. Only trains that continue along the line to Chepstow do not have to reverse. At 602.69 metres (1977 ft. 4 ins.) Gloucester has the longest railway platform in Great Britain. The reason for this extreme length is due to a break-of-gauge between the Great Western Railway (7ft 0¼ in (2140 mm)) and London Midland and Scottish Railway (4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm)) tracks here prior to the latter's adoption as standard gauge in 1892.

The footbridge had a direct connection into Gloucester Eastgate railway station until that station closed in 1975, due to level crossings affecting the city's road traffic. Eastgate station provided sharply curved through platforms on the Bristol-Birmingham (former Midland Railway) Line, avoiding the current problems with trains having to reverse.

The station is served by several operators.

Arriva Trains Wales operate an hourly local service between Maesteg, Cardiff Central and Gloucester.
Central Trains Citylink operate an hourly Cardiff-Nottingham service with 2 trains in the early morning stopping at Lydney, Chepstow, Caldicot and Severn Tunnel Junction.
First Great Western operate services to London Paddington and local services to Swindon via the Golden Valley Line, and an hourly Taunton & Bristol to Worcester & Great Malvern service.

www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/GCR.aspx