Trackside

Predicted platformsWhich platform will my train use?

Before a platform is announced, National Rail's system often already holds the platform a train is planned to use. Trackside Plus shows it as a Predicted platform, then switches the same badge to Confirmed once the station announces it. A prediction can change, so always check the station screens before you board.

Last updated 17 October 2026

Predicted and confirmed platforms

  • Confirmed means the platform has been announced for passengers. Every confirmed platform is free in Trackside.
  • Predicted means the railway's system holds a planned platform that the station hasn't displayed yet. It's an early guide, not an announcement.
Trackside's train screen: the 11:11 to Dorking, platform 9 predicted, with a note that it hasn't been announced yet
Before it's announced: platform 9, predicted.
Trackside's train screen: the 11:11 to Dorking, platform 9 confirmed
Once the station announces it: platform 9, confirmed.

Where does the prediction come from?

From Darwin, National Rail's live train information system, which holds platform allocations before stations show them. The railway treats these as advisory. Trackside doesn't guess platforms from past journeys; it shows what the railway's own system plans at that moment. Not every train has a predicted platform. When there isn't one, you'll see the platform once it's announced.

How reliable are predicted platforms?

A predicted platform is the plan at that moment, and plans change: a late train, another train in the way or a decision by station staff can all move it. Treat it as a hint about where to wait, not as the platform to board from. Trackside never shows a prediction as confirmed, and its widgets, shared links and change alerts only use confirmed platforms.

How should I use a predicted platform?

  1. Look for the Predicted badge on your train before the station announces the platform.
  2. Wait somewhere handy for that platform, and keep an eye on the station screens.
  3. When the platform is announced, the badge changes to Confirmed. With Trackside Plus you also get a notification for a tracked train.
  4. If the confirmed platform is different, go by the confirmed one and the station's announcements.

Where is my train coming from?

At a station where your train starts, Trackside Plus can show where the train that will become yours is now: an early sign of whether it will leave on time.

Are predicted platforms free?

No. Predicted platforms are part of Trackside Plus, £2.99 a month. On the free version, a platform shows as soon as it's announced.