Nicholas43
Member
- Joined
- 16 Jun 2011
- Messages
- 512
I do get it that holding connections can cause Disproportionate Repercussions Down the Line. However, could forum members advise on whether there is any hope of persuading GWR, in carefully considered instances, to hold Didcot to Oxford shuttles for up to (say) 5 minutes, in order to maintain a connection from the Main Line?
The example my wife and I recently experienced is 2L64, 2010 Didcot to Oxford. It provides a connection off 1G29, Paddington to Worcester. On 21 February 1G29 arrived at Didcot late, at 2009¼. My wife and I proceeded swiftly but carefully to platform 5, to see 2L64 leaving. A bit annoying for us, heading for Radley. Infuriating for the chap who sprinted ahead ahead of us up the stairs, to see the doors closing. He was headed for Appleford. I assume GWR will have had to arrange a taxi for him, at significant expense. For us, just a small Delay Repay.
2L64 has a well-padded timetable to Oxford, and it could (I think) leave Didcot at 2015 without delaying 1M74, the following Cross Country service to Manchester. (On 21 February, 2L64 did indeed reach Oxford early. Ironically, I think there was then some snafu at Oxford platform 4 which meant that GWR did delay Cross Country.)
As I understand it, drivers of the shuttles 'self dispatch' from Didcot platform 5. Would it be impracticable for a driver, in some instances, to check the customer information screen, see there's a late train about to arrive, and (more or less) tell Control (and the signalling centre?) that they are going to leave (say) 3 minutes late?
In the reverse direction, I have witnessed platform staff not dispatching an Up train from platform 2 on time, because they can see passengers off a late-arriving Oxford shuttle rushing up the stairs.
The example my wife and I recently experienced is 2L64, 2010 Didcot to Oxford. It provides a connection off 1G29, Paddington to Worcester. On 21 February 1G29 arrived at Didcot late, at 2009¼. My wife and I proceeded swiftly but carefully to platform 5, to see 2L64 leaving. A bit annoying for us, heading for Radley. Infuriating for the chap who sprinted ahead ahead of us up the stairs, to see the doors closing. He was headed for Appleford. I assume GWR will have had to arrange a taxi for him, at significant expense. For us, just a small Delay Repay.
2L64 has a well-padded timetable to Oxford, and it could (I think) leave Didcot at 2015 without delaying 1M74, the following Cross Country service to Manchester. (On 21 February, 2L64 did indeed reach Oxford early. Ironically, I think there was then some snafu at Oxford platform 4 which meant that GWR did delay Cross Country.)
As I understand it, drivers of the shuttles 'self dispatch' from Didcot platform 5. Would it be impracticable for a driver, in some instances, to check the customer information screen, see there's a late train about to arrive, and (more or less) tell Control (and the signalling centre?) that they are going to leave (say) 3 minutes late?
In the reverse direction, I have witnessed platform staff not dispatching an Up train from platform 2 on time, because they can see passengers off a late-arriving Oxford shuttle rushing up the stairs.
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