Strange Decisions by Control

[ChiefPlanner]

Much the same at Euston in my days - we eventually arranged for an all day 4 car on the stops (not going ety to Camden) , but the crucial fact is that there was slack in the turn rounds for much of the day to allow for a bit of late running , and a driver around to step up. case case argued on the basis that 99% reliabilty was just a bit important. Anyway - enough of war stories.

 

[Bald Rick]

By the looks of things the TL train in question is the 1918 Luton to Rainham (9P59) which started 14 Late at 1932. This then went via the Fast line to Radlett before going back to the Slows (12 Late) and was 4 Late at St Pancras. The train before and after on the fast were both EMR services with one leaving Luton at 1930 and the other being right behind at Radlett.

Whilst I have taken issue with many controls (and controllers) in my time, including The control(s) involved here, it would seem that this was absolutely the right call. If anything, I’d question why it called at the airport or Harp given that another service calling there (and St Albans, then fast) departed 5 minutes in front, and that it departed at almost exactly the same time as the next ‘Semi’ with the same calling pattern as 9P59 to London, at 1932.

 

[Horizon22]

I think it’s time that the people at control are held more accountable for their decisions, it’s simply not acceptable to skip stations at short notice...

Of course the longer the notice the better, and this again comes down to competence, the seriousness of the issue and when that becomes apparent. I was always told "cancel early" as it least it gives passenger (and staff) time to suggest / look up other options.

 

[sprunt]

If anything, I’d question why it called at the airport

I'm not an expert obviously, but I'd suggest that advertised airport calls should always be honoured where possible as the consequential impact on passengers needing to get to an airport is likely to be more severe than at other places.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

A very difficult day today for Thameslink North (OLE issues south of Luton , giving 2 tracks Harpenden to Leagrave) , a patchy service but (a) my daughter got to work OK around 0710 this am from SAC (b) I got my leisure trip to Central London mid morning fine , albeit with late running both ways.

The 1351 down Bedford was about 20 late and was made WH /SAC / Harpenden / Luton Airport Parkway then fast to Bedford - so would not have been too far off at the terminal. Good decision , as right behind it was a standard Bedford more or less on time. From observation on quite a busy train , there seemed to be a good amount of classic airport traffic.

 

[Aictos]

A very difficult day today for Thameslink North (OLE issues south of Luton , giving 2 tracks Harpenden to Leagrave) , a patchy service but (a) my daughter got to work OK around 0710 this am from SAC (b) I got my leisure trip to Central London mid morning fine , albeit with late running both ways.

The 1351 down Bedford was about 20 late and was made WH /SAC / Harpenden / Luton Airport Parkway then fast to Bedford - so would not have been too far off at the terminal. Good decision , as right behind it was a standard Bedford more or less on time. From observation on quite a busy train , there seemed to be a good amount of classic airport traffic.

I know you’ve said there was a second service right behind the delayed one but why not miss out West Hampstead and Harpenden and just run fast to St Albans then Parkway then Bedford stopping only at Luton if viable?

 

[ChiefPlanner]

I know you’ve said there was a second service right behind the delayed one but why not miss out West Hampstead and Harpenden and just run fast to St Albans then Parkway then Bedford stopping only at Luton if viable?

I really don't know , but there were at least 40 boarding at WH - who presumably had been kept in touch about the late - if they had skipped WH , they would have been at best on an ex Rainham - which was handy - or an all stations. Proves actually , how the WH business onto the fasts has built up nicely , and I suspect a lot of that is Airport business.

Very oddly - the late 1127 on the up from SAC got an SSO to call on the fast line at Mill Hill Broadway. In all my time on this route (since 1990) , I have never known this before.

 

[Aictos]

I really don't know , but there were at least 40 boarding at WH - who presumably had been kept in touch about the late - if they had skipped WH , they would have been at best on an ex Rainham - which was handy - or an all stations. Proves actually , how the WH business onto the fasts has built up nicely , and I suspect a lot of that is Airport business.

Very oddly - the late 1127 on the up from SAC got an SSO to call on the fast line at Mill Hill Broadway. In all my time on this route (since 1990) , I have never known this before.

I’ve heard a Bedford bound service getting a SSO to stop at Mill Hill Broadway before but not a frequent occurrence, indeed you get them stopping more at Cricklewood but usually for staff purposes as there is a depot there.

 

[Bald Rick]

I'm not an expert obviously, but I'd suggest that advertised airport calls should always be honoured where possible as the consequential impact on passengers needing to get to an airport is likely to be more severe than at other places.

I agree on principle, but you might have missed the specifics here. This was a Luton starter. There’s very few people who board a train at Luton for the airport. And for those that did need to, there was one 5 minutes in front, and another that left at exactly the same time on the up slow. By making those stops it also got in the way of the following EMR, albeit only just.

A very difficult day today for Thameslink North (OLE issues south of Luton , giving 2 tracks Harpenden to Leagrave) , a patchy service but (a) my daughter got to work OK around 0710 this am from SAC (b) I got my leisure trip to Central London mid morning fine , albeit with late running both ways.

I managed to find the big gap in service this morning st St Albans; between 0741 and 0822 there were only two services instead of the booked 10. The first was a crush loaded 12 car from Bedford - perhaps 50 punters squeezed on. The second was a full and standing 8 car from Luton, perhaps 200 boarded, crush loaded on departure. I and around 1000 others boarded the third train (at 0822), an 8 car starter which was crush loaded by Radlett, leaving several hundred behind there. The following 8 car Luton starter, on block, left people behind at Elstree. I feel rather sorry for the punters of Mill Hill and southwards, some of whom would have been waiting over an hour before being able to board.

Good info from all the staff at the station and on board though. Not too much passenger grumpiness in the circumstances.

 

[Aictos]

I managed to find the big gap in service this morning st St Albans; between 0741 and 0822 there were only two services instead of the booked 10. The first was a crush loaded 12 car from Bedford - perhaps 50 punters squeezed on. The second was a full and standing 8 car from Luton, perhaps 200 boarded, crush loaded on departure. I and around 1000 others boarded the third train (at 0822), an 8 car starter which was crush loaded by Radlett, leaving several hundred behind there. The following 8 car Luton starter, on block, left people behind at Elstree. I feel rather sorry for the punters of Mill Hill and southwards, some of whom would have been waiting over an hour before being able to board.

Good info from all the staff at the station and on board though. Not too much passenger grumpiness in the circumstances.

I've never had to encounter this with the Class 319s but I bet it would have been a lot worse seeing as the Class 700s can swallow up crowds easily?

 

[Bald Rick]

I've never had to encounter this with the Class 319s but I bet it would have been a lot worse seeing as the Class 700s can swallow up crowds easily?

It was a daily occurrence with the 319s (and electro stars when they rocked up). They left people behind every day under normal running on a number of services. The 0755 and 0900 from St Albans were notorious

 

[387star]

Communication between signaller control and fleet is often dire