Trains formed of x# of coaches?
 

Hello all.

I'm new to the forum and have a general question to satisfy my curiousity.

Why when visiting stations in the Midlands (specifically Birmingham New Street & Snow Hill) do the announcements always state how many coaches the trains consist of?

Hello banksy78 and welcome to the Railway Forum. Having never been to Birmingham New Street or Snow Hill, I can't answer your question.

Through Birmingham New Street some trains will be splitting further on at certain times of the day so you need to know which coach to sit in
Also some X Country trains can be either Voyager or HST so could be either 4/5 or 9 coaches

Hi Banksy78 and a warm welcome from me too. Hope you enjoy the company on here!
See our friend Gray has answered your question.
I agree there are a number of trains in Birmingham that split like the Litchfield train that splits at Four Oaks (I think) so yes passengers do need to know this.
All the very best
Phil

I have noticed that many stations announce how many coaches there are on an incoming train. I have been told that it is so that intending passengers will know where they can stand on the platform. It can be very annoying when a service normally has four coaches (2x twin units) and the announcement says there will be only two coaches, you know you will be standing in a crush for the next hour! This happens regularly at Newton Abbot.

Hi banksy78 and welcome to the Forum. I think the answer is that this is a countrywide issue where the railway operating companies evidently feel we need constant nannying and overfeeding with information. No more peace and quiet for you sitting in your corner over there! Recently I've been travelling along the south coast quite regularly with Southern. After every single stop all the calling points are announced together with the useful information that "you are in carriage x of y carriages". They must wonder how we manage to get up in the morning and walk to the station without their help.