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InfoBleep nerdy trip reports

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infobleep

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Due to something unfortunate today between Woking and Surbtion trains are disrupted. My heart goes out to those involved in this. Incidentally, although they don't like to say where it has occurred, it's actually very easy to work out where, as the station has been cancelled from services on the live depature boards and at the moment, only that station. The guard in the train said where it was though.

Based on pervious experiences I had been waiting to see how long it would take for the 8:07 to Waterloo via Cobham to be cancelled. That's how long it would take to be cancelled after it should have run, rather than in advance.

The 7:34 arrival, which makes up this service, was cancelled and what has happened in the last is that the 8:07 hasn't run but it's not been cancelled until some point after it should have run.

However today they actually ran the 8:07. We were told to stand back as the train pulling into platform 1 didn't stop there. Of course it did as it's a bay platform.

Initially it was expected at 8:07, then 8:08 and then it was delayed. Even that was fast. Eventually some station staff said we would be leaving once he got the addition of the people running the train. It left 5 minutes late. I'm not use to such quick turn arounds at Guildford for stopping trains

Not sure how I can check where it has come from. Was this the coaches that formed the 7:34 but they decided to run it out of service, fast between Waterloo and Guildford? You have expected the 7:34 to still run, abet non-stop, were it coaches from that service. Maybe they came from Wimbledon depot.

The 7:35 was running late but I was 4 minutes too slow to catch it. I hadn't planned to catch it and just didn't have time.

It left 7:48. The coaches to form that service arrived at 7:40. So 8 minute delay, which is the kind of turn around time I'd expect on stopping services at Guildford during disruption. I guess no incoming trains crossing the path of the 8:07 and staff being in the right place helped to keep it to just 5 minutes.

Another interesting thing was the 7:12 to London Bridge. That still ran from Guildford, despite fast services being pathed via Cobham but it left 4 minutes after the 7:16 stopping service. Now the 7:16 stops at all stations between Guildford and Effingham Junction. The London Bridge, only London Road. Needless to say its 20 minute delay became 27 minutes by the time it departed Effingham Junction. It had already lost 2 minutes by the time it departed London Road. So the in between stations accounted for 5 minutes of delay.

Another intresting thing was the 7:34 Guildford to Waterloo. This fast train was the first to travel via Woking, although it isn't booked to stop there. It departed 1 minute late and arrived into Waterloo just 3 minutes late.

Contrast that with the 7:45. It departed on time but got stuck at Woking Junction for 13 minutes. I assume all the platforms were blocked at Woking awaiting people to take the trains somewhere.
 
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infobleep

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Something unusual happened this morning. The 7:14 Alton to Waterloo stopped additionally at most stations between Woking and Surbtion.

Even more surprising was the fact it was 5 minutes late leaving Woking and after stopping at 6 stations, including Surbtion it only departed there a further 4 minutes down.

This is according to National Rail Enquiries App so it may be scheduled the stopping times inaccurately. It eventually got to Waterloo however only 11 minutes late.

So for the additional 6 stations, it only incurred an additional delay of 6 minutes. That's impressive for a 450, which has slower door release than say a 707 or 455.

This afternoon sadly something else occurred and again my heart goes out to all involved.

You can tell when the staff are struggling to cope during disruption by the number of trains just showing as delayed and not cancelled. It's a far greater number this evening than this morning.

For example the 17:23 Waterloo to Basingstoke. Perhaps it will run later. 18:17 to Haslemere did eventually leave 53 minutes late. That had some stops removed. I suspect if only some stops are removed from a heavily delayed train then it will run at some point but if no stops are removed, strong chance they don't have time to mark it as cancelled.

Surprisingly though the 18:20 Waterloo to Exeter left Clapham Junction only 1 minute late and the 18:23 to Basingstoke actually departed Surbtion on time. When there's no major disruption, the Surbtion train is usually late.

I didn't expect it to be on time so didn't bother catching it. I opted for a Guildford New Line train. I managed to time a walk / run with it, so got some exercise in. It actually got stuck behind a Hampton Court bound train. That doesn't happen to often. Very occasionally a later Guildford New Line train will overtake it. The gap between them is 10 minutes and the second one runs fast to Surbtion.
 
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infobleep

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There was an apology for the short formation of my train this morning.

The member of staff said I apologise for the short formation this morning. We arrived and this is what we were greeted with. We can only work with the source provided. I apologise for the short formation.

It's only 4 carriages. I use to think this had 10 carriages and maybe it once did for a short tume6 but its only 8 now. It's an example of an 8 carriage train using the fast line between Surbtion and Waterloo. Not that there is anything unusual about that though.

Still it's the school holidays so the train isn't as busy. I'm sure from Surbtion it will be though.
 

infobleep

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If public transport ran to time, I wouldn't have anything to post about on here.

This evening if I'd wanted to catch a bus, I'd have had to leave another 7 or 8 minutes earlier. I could have got a 465 but that gods from a different bus stop and is only every 30 minutes so I'd have to remember to check it.

By leaving 7 or 8 minutes earlier, one might as well leave 10 minutes earlier and run part of the way. Then you'd reach your destination at the same time.

The reason for this was the 8 minute gap between bus services on a route that has 4 buses running along the route I walk.

So I opted to walk / run for the exercise and get the next train. There was a bus due in 3 minutes but I actually managed to get quite far before the bus caught up with me. I suspect it was held up waiting for passengers to board because then it eve tusllt passed me it was rather full looking and it was a double decker.

When I got to the station on previously on time 17:11 was due 17:12. We eventually departed 17:13.

I knew there were delays through Balahm due to a signalling issue on the fast line. At one stage it stated the delays were up to 10 minutes.

However I could also see an earlier train had been 30+ minutes late.

Sure enough the train got into East Croydon. 13 minutes late. I know at one stage the estimated up to delay had been 25 and prior to that 30.

This is another example where by adding another 5 minutes on to the estimate could have covered my train and no doubt others.

Still I'd have nothing to write about if my trains ran on time and didn't have 5o switch temporarily to the slow line.
 

infobleep

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Whilst I appricate its just a display issue, the 18:30 Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour had the coach numbers in reverse formation. So coach 10 was at the front. Don't often see that. Not that one can reserve them so it doesn't really matter.

First class is located just in the centre this evening and journey check usually mentions that. However this evening they say the train has 5 carriages. I can confirm it most definately has 10 though. WiFi doesn't work but they are in the process of doing upgrade so that might be why some have can't IP address issues.
 

infobleep

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Sometimes it's rather helpful when trains run late. Alas today it didn't. I was actually trying to run early myself but I just didn't make it.

This was due to the cancellation of the 8:07 due to a train fault. I was attempting to get the 7:45 instead.

I then looked up the next services and saw an 8:02 change at working, which takes 35 minutes. Is that a new service I thought, which I'd failed to spot. Alas I then released it was Saturday I was looking up. A day when less people wish to travel to London, so you get faster services.

So I looked on the correct day and found there was nothing officially until 8:22. So a gap of 37 minutes. The actually delay between the 8:07 and 8:22 however was just 15 minutes.

There was an 8:02 to Woking with a 4 minute connection onto an 8:17. This would take 45 minutes but would get me to my destination 10 minutes earlier than the 8:22. The chances of missing the 8:17 were slim. I'd say slimmer than coming off the 17:51 arrival into Woking and picking up the 17:56 to Portsmouth, that being an official connection. It is one that you can mostly catch though.

Needless to say the 8:02 was late but only by a minute so it was still doable. I didn't even have to run and I wasn't at the very front of the train either. I was about a third the way back of this 12 carriage train.

The next service I boarded was one of the Woking morning stoppers that has no quiet coach. It also has only 8 carriages.

Obviously not enough rolling stock for it to have 10. I don't knwo if it could do with 10. It's obviously popular enough to need to stop at every station between Woking and Surbtion.

Im sure it would be popular if it could stop at Clapham Junction but there must still be too many fast trains that are running, for that to be the case. It's at the very end of the peak though. In fact there is just one train behind it that skips Clapham Junction and then you get the first stopping service, a train from Portsmouth. If only that Southampton service could run ahead of this one, then this could stop. There would be 3.5 minutes between this one and the one from Portsmouth and the earlier services that stop at Clapham Junction require 4 minutes between services. Of course if they shifted the 9.03 arrival in the Woking timetable to be 9.03½, one would get a 4 minute gap. That would then affect other trains though. Just the way it is.

This is also one of the services that waits for 6 minutes at West Byfleet. This is to regulate the service. They don't do this in the evening for return services though. I can't remember if the 6 minute waits were due to go under the proposed timetable changes, that are still to be fully implemented. They will still exist in May.

At least the WiFi works. Actually it doesn't. It just connected me automatically but I can't reach the login page when I try to manage the router. They can't be upgrading the WiFi on this train as it's only just been installed. Must be teething problems then.
 

infobleep

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Is that WiFi getting fitted on 455s?
It's been fitted on most already if not all. I was pleasantly surprised by this.

Hotspots.de supply the WiFi. You even give your e-mail address and consent, if so wish, for marketing. Contrast this with the upgraded WiFi being rolled out on the 450s and 444s, where they are using another company and actually doing away with asking for e-mail addresses and marketing.

So on one hand they want to market to people and on the other hand they no longer do. I appreciate it's not likely to actually be the reason for the differences.
 

infobleep

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On the train this evening the guard apologised for the 3 minute delay and said it was due to a number of red signals between London Waterloo and Clapham Junction.

Thats a perfectly valid reason but not one I hear to often. The actual reason for the red signals was due to trains ahead. Why they were running mate I don't know. Perhaps passenger numbers, although delays often seem to start prior to any cast trains stopping at Clapham Junction after the evening high peak. So it could be trains into Waterloo delaying things or at Waterloo itself..

I also don't hear guards apologising to often so good on them for doing so tonight.

Three minutes might not seem like much but when you have an official connection of five, it can be. In my case it won't be an issue.
 

infobleep

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This evening I was travelling from Clapham Junction to London Victoria. I saw a train was due on platform 14 when at the top of the stairs. When I got to the bottom the next train was due in 2 minutes. It seems they don't clear trains off the board until after they have left.

There had been a train due in on platform 12. This was in 4 minutes then 3 and then 4 again. I opted for platform 14. As I left to go down, the train was OK 12 was still due in 3 minutes. That was a long minute given my train. Due in 2 had now arrived.
 

infobleep

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Despite it being half term and less people on the train, the WiFi isn't working too well. Interestingly though it didn't ask me to log in. Now on a 455 they normally want your e-mail address and ask you if you consent to marketing. None of that.

I noticed Tweeter was quieter today but the delays occurred regardless of the reduction in passengers.

The 6:39 Waterloo to Effingham was 8 minutes late. This delayed the following Guildford service it also delayed the 7:46 to Waterloo, which in turn added an additional 4 minutes to the 7:35 Guildford 5o Waterloo service.

By Hinchley Wood that had lost a further 2 minutes and was now 7 minutes late. It departed Surbtion 9 minutes late and there was no train in front. I guess the extra 2 minutes were required for passengers to get off the train as they had removed all the intermediate stations and it was now running fast!

A nice rainy day present for those wanting intermediate stations. Next service was the 8:31, running a minute late. At least delay repay for due.

Down trains also having delayed. Wonder if the rain is causing this?
 

infobleep

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Got on a busy Gatwick Airport bound north Downs like train this evening.

One thing I couldn't understand was, why was it on time? Surely a train as busy as this should be running late? It's great that it isn't of course.

As for yesterday mornings delays. There was an emergency speed restriction at Raynes Park and that was delaying services. The 6:39 Waterloo to Effingham Junction service was 2 minutes late departing Effingham Junction but then it lost a further 6 minutes.

No idea what caused these 6 minutes of delay creep though, other than it wasn't the rainy weather.

This morning the 7:35 service from Guildford was just 1 minute late leaving Surbtion so no stops removed. It was however 8 minutes late by the train it reached Vauxhall. Passengers were lucky that it crept up. If it had been sudden, it may have had stops removed.
 
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infobleep

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The train even arrived early into Gatwick Airport. Alas the WiFi blocked me accessing Google Presentation Slides and it took me 10-15 minutes to figure out what the cause was.

Instead if saying check your Internet, it would be helpful to have the error message stopping it, as it s not due to no Internet.

Then the delays started once I got to Gatwick Airport. Due to WiFi issues I had put in my mobile hot-spot on. I then used another mobile to look up which platform. Alas no O2 mobile reception at Gatwick Airport. Not sure that the O2 WiFi extends 5o the platforms at the station. Even so my phone had locked onto the mobile hot-spot I'd forgotten to switch off.

We pulled into platform 3 and there was only one set of stairs working that would take you to platform 7. The esculator was out of order. So we had to wait for a lot of people to come down before those upstairs were held so we could go up. We were told to get a move quickly so I decided to run up. Good exercise.

I think the lifts might have been faster, although they aren't the fastest lifts.

Eventually I got up and decided I'd missed the Eastbourne train so go for the Littlehampton one. However I'd not spotted a train to Brighton. 5his should have arrived after the Littlehampton train and was probably shown further down the list.

Eventually whilst on platform 5 I saw a train to Brighton. I first thought that won't be stopping at Haywards Heath but then checked and sure enough it was stopping at Haywards Heath. Turns out it had jumped ahead of the Littlehampton train and was in early.

I then had to get off platform 5 and 6. I waited hy the lift but there just wasn't time. It was leaving as I reached platform 7.

As it turns out, I'd forgotten about the stairs up and down. These are not sign posted. Perhaps they are concerned passengers.mifht use them to head up. The stairs are actually wider than those on platforms 3 and 4!

So bavk to platform 7. In the mean time a delayed trisn to Three Bridges left and we had to wait for that to clear before our train, which was diverted to platform 6, could leave. Train was 8 minutes late into Haywards Heath. I fully appreciate why the Three Bridges train was delayed however.

I shall be looking at what delayed the Littlehampton train to allow the Brighton train to overtake it.

They could do with a departure board saying next fastest to. At least they have departure screens covering other platforms. Wimbledon doesn’t, beyond the gate line. Or at least not that I've noticed.
 
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infobleep

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I was trying to work out what was causing the delay creep on Govia Thameslink Railway services today when I noticed the 6:57 Brighton to Victoira service departed Brighton on time but left Hassocks t minutes late. It eventually reached Victoira 12 minutes late

Turns out a Littlehampton to Victoria train departed Preston Park before the Brighton train and it stood at more stations. As there are no timing points between Brighton and Preston Park, I couldn't see why it left Preston Park later.

Thst wasn't the only delay creep cause but it certainly was one of them.

The train I was on was 4 minutes late and my unofficial connection was also late. Alas not late enough.

So I got a different train. On this the guard apologised for something but alas I couldn't hear what he was saying well enough. The train was only a minute late so surely he wasn't apologising for that. I guess I'll never know. When one cent hear the announcements it always seems like wasted breath by the guard.

Not everyone has a loud voice though. If only they could perfect a system that could adjust itself according to the loudness of a guards vocal cords.

I write this as a fast train goes past.

I imagine next week will have less people travelling and thus less delays. Although school holidays, clearly some people still need to work. Will be interesting next week to compare.
 
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infobleep

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I learnt something new tonight. One shouldn't stand in the gangways between carriages. It's not allowed.I wasn't aware of that.

I've seen people do it before and I've done it myself. It's generally be on packed trains that are either short formed; heavily disrupted or both. However I won't in future do this

I was on a delayed train and having seen people stood around in visuable and not having too far to go, I decided just to remain in the gangway between carriages. To be fair there probably were seats in between people sat down but for such a short journey I didn't think it worth sitting down in between people. For longer journeys I would. Some of the people obviously prefer to stand, having maybe been sat down all day.

Anyway I did go into a carriage and took a seat. I actually got a window seat.
 

infobleep

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I was wondering the other day and today, what the average length of a bus minute was.

That is the length of time am estimated minute is displayed on the bus countdown clock.

This can vary greatly depending on traffic and number of passengers wanting to board at a previous stop. Even things like buses waiting to regulate the service or buses arriving early can affect things as the system can't take that into account.

This morning I just missed a bus but there was one due in two minutes. I suspect four minutes later it departed the bus stop. Certainky wasn't two. It didn't take a whole minute for everyone to board either. This is only an estimate though.bhemcd I wondered what the average length of a bus minute was.
 

infobleep

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More delay creep tonight. Guard was obviously too busy checking tickets to refer to it. Good that he was checking tickets though. The delay creep was 4 minutes. It couldn't argued as every station north, where the train was stopping, had a minimum connection time of 10 and 15 minutes, maybe it didn't matter.

When I got to the station and the train was on time. At the time it should have left it was suddenly two minutes late and eventually it was four minutes late departing.

Looking at the timing info, I could see it was on time passing Esher but two minutes late at Hampton Court Junction.

The previous train was late but it passed Hampton Court Junction 6¼ minutes later. Surely that is more than enough time between trains, so I wonder what lead to the sudden delay creep. Emergency speed restriction? I don't actually know.

Needless to say I missed an unofficial connection. I'm not complaining to the rail company as I knew the risks but I enjoy writing about it all the same.

Next train was 11 minutes later.

I also played how many bus stops could I pass before I bus went passed. I managed 3 and they are quite well spaced out. I got onto my final road before the bus overtook.

Very shortly three other buses went passed very close together. Two were from the same high frequency route. No regularisation for their passengers.
 

infobleep

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I was on a Gatwick Express train tonight that experienced 9 minutes of delay creep. It may have officially me a 8 depending on how close to Brighton Station the monitoring point was. No apology.

I worked out the reason to be a signalling progle. North of London. That's the problem of trains from Bedford running south of London. Interestingly the barriers at Brighton were open. There was some staff around but not at the barriers themselves. They were busy doing something else I think.
 

infobleep

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Probably got caught up in congestion caused by earlier delays
Indeed and I wonder if the earlier delays were caused by late running trains. Maybe those late running trains were delayed due to trains in front being late. In turn maybe those were late due to late running trains too! :grin:
 

infobleep

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So today I thought it might be interesting to see how busy the trains are, seeing as it's the last week of the Easter holidays for most.

I was wondering if trains would be whiter after Easter, where the school Easter holidays to rub until a week after Easter, than them running before it.

The first train I was on, the 7:45 Guildford to Woking, has maybe 2 or 3 seats at most which weren't filled in the 4th coach from the front. Their were a reasonable number standing though. Maybe this coach would usually have every seat filled and even more standing.

On to the 8:02. Alas this train was short formed today of 8 coaches, rather than 12, so I can't compare. Its certainly fill up reasonably well by Hersham but it would do with 4 carriages less than usual!

As for time keeping, the 7:45 did depart Woking on time but it was towards the end of 7:57. It officially arrives in time but I think the doors may have opened at 7:56. Still these delays were less than usual.

The 8:02 was running with delays but since they have increased the time from Esher onwards, by a minute, it seems to have a better chance of arriving and departing Esher and stations north on time.

When ir got to Surbtion there was definatly a reasonable number boarding. So I'd say the numbers travelling weren't much less than ususal.

In fact as I got off people were streaming into the station. Maybe they all wnwtee the 8:31 stopping service. I suspect not however.
 

infobleep

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This evening I had about 7 minutes to do a journey of 14-15 minutes. I was on foot and I felt it was touch and go. However I made it. This saved 20 minutes.

Were I on a bus, were my journey to have bus stops who knows if I'd have made the train. Would depend on when the bus was due and the gap between it and the previous bus.

I was rather out of breath at the end but it felt good once I'd regained it more.

After which I enjoyed some declassified first class travel.

Trains in the morning I still really busy. I did however made an unofficial connection at Wimbledon earlier. Train was only 2 minutes late.

Something really interesting then happened. A train was at platform 4 but no time to boarded it.

A train then pulled into platform 5 and people disembarked. This is the fast line and it was a stopping train. Wow.

So I hopped on board. The other train departed first and shortly afterwards so did we. We then overtook the other train and beyond the bridge that goes over the fast line, we the Joined the slow line again. This train was running 5 minutes late.

Many a time have trains between running 5 minutes late or more and they have 5 done this. More likely is for them to run fast to Waterloo instead.

I saw something on the board about a signal failure but it was a scrolling message and there wasn't time to read it. Nothing on journey check about delays though. A train was run fast earlier but that's not our train. There was however something on the live departure board for the train I was on. This you could see on National Rail Enquiries.

I do wish info on National Rail Enquiries was on Journey Check. After all there is stuff on journey check, like short formation that isn't on National Rail Enquiries.

Still I 5icked off no in from the fast line to the slow line north of Wimbledon and joining a slow line train from a fast up platform. I bet either of those don't happen so often.
 
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infobleep

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Last night I looked up buses from East Croydon to Sutton. TfL planner said to reach my destination I'd leave East Croydon at 8:05 and reach my destination at 8:52.

This included an 8 minute wiag for a connecting bus in Sutton. I'm sure I could walk faster than the time spent waiting for the bus and the the journey but perhaps it's a minute slower, which is why they don't suggest walking.

Anyway 9 minutes before the X26 was due to leave it still wasn't showing. I saw it on the app I use, 3 minutes before it was due to leave. I had to let it towards the bus stop as I'd made my way closer to the 407 as that is more frequent, abet slower.

Despite the X26 leaving 2 minutes late, we got to Wallington Green early and had to wait. Whilst waiting I noticed a 407 was due. This isn't limited stops but does get me closer to my destination. So I waited and hopped on board.

We left first. Whilst we stopped at more stops than the X26, we still skipped some. We didn't wait for long at bus stops either, unlike the X26. Eventually we pulled into Sutton outside the post office before the X26. That short came past and pulled in, in front of us. At which point we left. So if I'd stayed on the X26, I'd not have made the 407 in Sutton.

I got to my destination at 8:35, which was 17 minutes earlier than TfL said I should.

I don't know if the 407 was running early or late though, as I can't explain why it didn't wait at any bus stops for long. If it was on time, it suggests the 407 isn't times to be much slower than the X26 in the school holidays.
 

infobleep

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The 18:17 Waterloo to Haslemere train wasn't so busy inside carriage 2, when it pulled into Clapham Junction 10 minutes late. Platform at Clapham Junction was rather busy though. People who boarded this carriage got a set but one last came through struggling to find one. Didn't help that another commuter, from Clapham Junction was blocking three seats with his non folding bike.

Why was the train 10 minutes late? Due to congestion.

I am beginning to think I should class congestion.as delay creep. There's no reason given for the delay tonight. No announcement from any guard. I'd like to think they were aware of the delay.

I asked on tweeter though and got an answer. It's a points failure between Waterloo and Vauxhall. Must have been fairly recent because the 18:12 Waterloo to Basingstoke left on time and departed Brookwood on time. The 18:15 to Portsmouth Harbour was the first train to be affected.

In my mind it is perfectly possible for delay creep to be converted to a reasoned delay.

Edit: Rather interestingly the reason for the 18:25 delay is due to a late train in front of it. I've not worked out which one.

The 18:17 and 18:20 were delayed due to congestion. The 18:23 and 18:25 departures to Basingstoke and Alton were delayed due to a fault with the signalling system.

The 18:30 to Portsmouth though was delayed to congestion. The 18:33 however was due to a fault with the signalling system. The 18:35 was congestion again.

Maybe only a certain set of points are affected so those delayed by congestion are jot directly affected by the signalling system fault but those with that reason are.

The 18:39 and 18:41 all have reasons for their delays. Again signalling. However the 18:45 has nothing. Perhaps they gave up. I was also thinking it's not affecting slow trains but it is. In fact the 18:39 to Epsom deleted 4 minutes late with a reason. Which is a lesser delay than the 18:45, which has no reason. Later trains have reasons so clearly they hadn't given up.

There must be multiple people working on this. Definitely no consistency.

Eventually a note was added to the top of the departure boards to state an issue with a set of points. It doesn't link to any disruption page but Journey Check covering it and saying it will last until 22:00. It's good of them to eventually put something up. I was beginning to feel it was needed.
 
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infobleep

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Today was one of those days where I was surprised. I was travelling from Guildford to Haywards Heath.

The train to Gatwick, 10:52, was busy but there were sets of two, even 6 avilable, so it wasn't so busy you had to sit with someone.

Dspaire living Guildford 2 minutes late, it got to Gatwick Airport early. If only that were possible every day!

Then 8 went to pick up the unofficial connection of the 11:44. As the Gatwick Airport arrive gets in at 1w:35, one is officially not meant to get the 11:44. If only the 10:44 could leave at 11:45 or the arrival into Gatwick Airport be timed for 11:34, then one could officially get the 11:44. Of course a better solution would be to drop the minimum connection time but like that's ever going to happen. More chance of the proposed full GTR timetable running on a Sunday. L

Anyway as the 11:44 pulled in it was rammed. 8 mean no seats avilable people stood up against the doors. I was stood hoping to get a seat in the declassified first class section, it being a class 700.

I had to make do with standing in it. Still that's good enough as even standing in first class is an offence is it not. So it furfilled my desire to always travel on a declassified first class section where such section exists. I also do this for standard class carriages that were once first class but still retain their former first class seating.

Why is this train so busy? Surely it is Easter and people would be away for the weekend or with family. Do people no longer spend Easter with their families? Or is everyone travelling to see family?

I'm just amazed. It's more packed than rush hour. It's like disruption but I'm not aware of any.

I'll say one thing about it. The train is on time. So clearly the class 700 works in terms of people getting on and off. I could think of more services that could do with that to speed up boarding but the passengers wouldn't like the rolling stock.
 

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Why is a Brighton bound train busy on a sunny Sunday, I wonder if the beach has something to do with it? ;)

When the weather is excellent like it is today, people head towards the nearest beach, and Brighton is one of the easiest to reach from parts of London. No doubt come 6pm or so there will be reports of station overcrowding as everybody heads back to go back to London
 

infobleep

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Why is a Brighton bound train busy on a sunny Sunday, I wonder if the beach has something to do with it? ;)

When the weather is excellent like it is today, people head towards the nearest beach, and Brighton is one of the easiest to reach from parts of London. No doubt come 6pm or so there will be reports of station overcrowding as everybody heads back to go back to London
I guess not everyone celebrates Easter.

The only issue is they can't gaurrentee when the weather is going to be very hot, whereas they know 5 days a week trains will be full of commuters. In other words they can ran more trains Monday to Friday but not on Sundays.
 

infobleep

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There is a points failure between between Bridges and Gatwick Airport on the fast and between Redhill and Gatwick Airport on the slow. It has been on going since last night and they haven't been able to fix it yet.

What is interesting is that not all fast trains are being delayed. The 7:14 from Haywards Heath to Victoira was cancelled as the Gatwick Express services are reduced to half hourly. Saying that the 7:44 is running. Perhaps that is the exception that proves the rule. The 7:17 from Haywards Heath was 6 minutes late into Gatwick Airport Yet the 7:26 was on time! How did they manage that? Does it have 6 minutes of padding? Perhaps no other trains happened to be running in the affected area at just that point.

The 7:31, which uses platform 1 at Gatwick Airport was 5 minutes late. I thought if pulling into platform 1, we might be using the slow line between Three Bridges and Gatwick Airport and the problem is on the fast.

I just missed the 7:26 and got the 7:31. So instead of being on time, I'm late. If only it could have been the other way round. I had expected all the trains to be late though, save for maybe the 7:31 because that surely uses the slow line between Three Bridges and Gatwick Airport. Of course perhaps there isn't a slow like between Three Bridges and Gatwick Airport. However if they talk about a fast line, that gives the impression there is a slow one. They didn't say one of the fast lines either.

Actually the 7:26 was late leaving Gatwick Airport. However it had been on time arriving.

I just missed a late bus I'd hoped to catch. I saw it depart. Oh well time for another at a different bus stop. Needless to say the buses are not running to the printed times at the bus stop. Actually the bus might depart at it's advertised time or not as there are so many buses pulling in. The previous bus departed 2 minutes early, this one a minute late but that's ok as long as I didn't need to wait 30 to 40 minutes for a bus, as once happened to me.

If only the bus stops were side by side as if you miss an X26 you don't get time to catch the next 407. This then means you pick up a 407, 13 minutes before the next X26 is timetables to depart. The X26 is meant to be faster too. That is why catching the right train is so important. 7:31 isn't a problem if your train is on time.

Edit: Looking at Real Time Trains I can see a Portsmouth and Bognor Regis service to Victoira was terminated at Three Bridges. This allowed a 5 minute gap between fast services through the affected area.

After that though there were 3 trains runs one another another, with no cancellations. The one I was on was the third of these. In fact there were trains after my one too, which were jnot cancelled.

Rather interestingly the 7:37 Haywards Heath to Victoria (which originates from Seaford and Hastings), got overtaken by the 7:40 departure from Haywards Heath to Bedford (this originating from Brighton). It didn't get overtaken at Haywards Heath but at Three Bridges. The first train doesn't stop there but the second train does! This enabled the Bedford train to depart on time.

However at Gatwick Airport the train to Victoira still departed before the Bedford train, as despite being overtaken, it managed to overtake the train that had overtaken it. Bit like a Formula 1 race, where the lead keeps swopping! Only not as fast!
 
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infobleep

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More delays tonight, exceeding the time they said trains wlwould be delayed up to. This being South Western Railway services from Waterloo. The issues between Three Bridges and Gatwick Airport were on going but I was no longer traveling in that line. On that line a normal service was expected from 16:00 and Network Rail would be working overnight to resolve the issues. Since then they have fixed the issues and the disruption is now expected until 21:00. That's more like it.

Back to South Western Railway, one wonders if they should not write most affected train journeys will be delayed by up to 15 minutes. That way that would cover them for the few that are delayed by.more than 15 minutes, like my train is was; 16 minutes late. Another was 18 and another 24 and two where 17 and 18 minutes respectively.
 
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infobleep

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The other day I was on a morning train that, whilst almost always arriving on time to it's destination, can be. It was a minute late.

Later that same day I was on two trains that would more than likely arrive late into their destination or if rhye isn't do that, depart late. However rather surprisingly they were both on time!

Had the morning one been on time it would have been a super rare day when every train I got was right time. These super rare days even include days where I just get one train!

This morning the 7:35 seemed quite. It's a Friday. Still didn't stop it experiencing three minutes of delay creep. I worked it out. A train to Guildford was 3 minutes late along the Cobham line. This in turned delayed a non stop train to Effingham Junction Neck.

Thie then delayed us by an additional minute, having already been a minute late. If they didn't need to start trains at Effingham Junction, we wouldn't have been further delayed. We then picked up other delays on route. Like being a minute late departing London Road.

Sometimes the trains manage to depart there in time and other times not so.

One might hope the padding between Hinchley Wood and Surbtion would help but the line speed must need to be slow enough not to make it not possible. By the time the train reached Wimbledon it was 6 minutes late due to other delayed services.

And the train was not as busy as usual. I can't imagine the other trains were either but I haven't checked for any cancellations.

Incidentally I was waiting for a bus. I arrived about 7:20. Bus due in 3 minutes. It eventually arrived 7:28! So much for the three minutes. Traffic wasn't busy in the direction I was heading either. Maybe some deliveries unloading delayed it or maybe a difficult customer. Another alternative was it was held to regulate the service.

However the next three buses were due 12 minutes away and there was a four to six minute window covering all three, so those clearly weren't being regulated.

There was a lot of people at the next bus stop. There is now at least an 20 minute gap between my bus and the previous one. I think one must have been cancelled, as it's high frequency service. However this is all guess work because TfL don't report on such things. At least TOCs do it mostly do.

We eventually got stuck behind another bus, which goes to roughly the same destination or the other bus might go further but include the rest ofny buses route . We eventually managed to overtake it. Be interesting to see if they retake their lead position As we are now picking up passengers at bus stops instead of them! Previously they were doing it.

Sure enough we got overtaken but then the next bus stop was a layby and they ended up doing the passenger pick up and we overtook them yet again!

After this there wasn't any laybys and traffic was such that it would be harder for them to retake the position.

The previous bus on this combined section of route was over 10 minutes before and both routes are high frequency!

Worth nothing my bus got to its destination on time. So very odd it got so delayed around New Malden. Maybe traffic was such it could mkae up lost time. It certainly made up 2 minutes of delay as at one stage it was 2 minutes late.
 
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