Services
Wembley Central has the appearance of an underground station due to the elevated position of the High Road (where the main entrance was until recently located behind a 1940s shopping arcade) and the enclosed nature of the platforms below the raft upon which Station Square is built; it is actually generally at or above the local ground level, having been reconstructed in its current form during the 1960s electrification of the West Coast Main Line. It is the first station out of Euston to have platforms on all three pairs of tracks and the combination of the confined space and through trains passing at speed on platforms 3 through 6 (the main line platforms) create a wind tunnel effect which can be dangerous for passengers.
As a result, the 4 mainline platforms (for Southern services and for extra stops on services for Wembley Stadium matches) are locked out for most of the day and entrance is only allowed when trains are due, generally the Southern services, which use platforms 5 and 6 (on the slow main line). When you alight from the Southern service, you must make your way to the end of the platform and staff will lead you out of the station. Gate into these platforms open 10 minutes before the train is expected to arrive. The station was modernised in 2006 with additional safety features.
When a major event occurs at Wembley Stadium, such as a high-profile sporting event, rally or concert; additional services which usually run fast, also stop here. These trains will stop frequently at platforms 5&6. Virgin Trains' services are usually formed of trains which are too long for the platforms and take longer to set down and pick up. As a result, these services will make additional stops at Watford Junction or Milton Keynes, for cutomers to change onto London Midland services.
Fast London Midland services using platforms 5&6, are usually too long for the platforms. So, when trains are formed of more than 6 coaches, customers wishing to board and alight the train must do so from the front 4 coaches only. British Transport Police officers maintain a high presence on match days, particularly at this station and on all train services between Watford Junction and London Euston. London Midland, however, only have a couple of trains calling here every day.
Read more about this topic: Wembley Central Station
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