I got the 1430 XC HST service from Derby to Birmingham (and Penzance) this afternoon.
It was 10 mins late arriving at Derby and some faffing around in the platform meant it was 14 late departing. Both the 1437 to Cardiff and the 1442 to Crewe were held, side by side, on the Down Slows beyond the station to let it pass which was good to see. However, all signals from Stenson to Clay Mills were single yellows because a freight had been allowed of the Sheet Stores line ahead of it and needed to be put on the Down Loop at Clay Mills Jcn. (15mph crossover) This cost the HST another 6 minutes. Approaching Birmingham about 16/17 mins late it was announced that the stops at Cheltenham Spa and Bristol Parkway would be omitted and any pax wanting those points should get off at BHM and get the following service (from Manchester) This must have allowed the HST to recover some time because (according to RTT) it departed from Bristol TM only 4 mins late.
The freight from Stenson was a trainload of concrete sleepers and could easily have been held at the end of the branch - and most likely would have been if the HST had been closer to schedule.
My question is; was it a case of poor judgement by the EMCC at Derby to allow a freight which would have been moving slowly towards Clay Mills ahead of the HST? Also, are such matters down to a spontaneous decision or are any guidelines laid down for signallers?
It was of no consequence to me but I would have been annoyed if I'd been travelling to Cheltenham or BPW, perhaps in a reserved seat, to be told to get off at Birmingham and join what was probably an already crowded Voyager!
It was 10 mins late arriving at Derby and some faffing around in the platform meant it was 14 late departing. Both the 1437 to Cardiff and the 1442 to Crewe were held, side by side, on the Down Slows beyond the station to let it pass which was good to see. However, all signals from Stenson to Clay Mills were single yellows because a freight had been allowed of the Sheet Stores line ahead of it and needed to be put on the Down Loop at Clay Mills Jcn. (15mph crossover) This cost the HST another 6 minutes. Approaching Birmingham about 16/17 mins late it was announced that the stops at Cheltenham Spa and Bristol Parkway would be omitted and any pax wanting those points should get off at BHM and get the following service (from Manchester) This must have allowed the HST to recover some time because (according to RTT) it departed from Bristol TM only 4 mins late.
The freight from Stenson was a trainload of concrete sleepers and could easily have been held at the end of the branch - and most likely would have been if the HST had been closer to schedule.
My question is; was it a case of poor judgement by the EMCC at Derby to allow a freight which would have been moving slowly towards Clay Mills ahead of the HST? Also, are such matters down to a spontaneous decision or are any guidelines laid down for signallers?
It was of no consequence to me but I would have been annoyed if I'd been travelling to Cheltenham or BPW, perhaps in a reserved seat, to be told to get off at Birmingham and join what was probably an already crowded Voyager!