1C92 18:03 London Paddington to Penzance

[David Goddard]

After a day in London yesterday I returned to Paddington to catch a train back to Reading, the next service being shown as the 18:02 Penzance- the down "Golden Hind". Unusual, I thought, as I was sure that the West of England trains normally leave at xx06 during the day and xx03 in the evening peak, and called at Reading to pick up only. As it was advertised for Reading, I duly boarded and got home nice and promptly.

On checking the Great Western timetable, this train is indeed listed as departing at 18:03, and pick up only at Reading, in line with most West of England services throughout the day. A scout through Real Time Trains and online booking engines shows these pick up only calls at Reading are only applicable on a Friday, but departures are the same, apart from the case of 1C92, which leaves at 18:02 Mondays to Thursdays and 18:03 on a Friday.

Misleading? I know we are encouraged to be at the platform two minutes before departure, no problem, but for a service to be scheduled a minute earlier than advertised for eighty per cent of it's operating dates does not see quite right.

Granted this is probably the busiest of all of the WoE trains to leave Paddington but why would such a variation be applied? It has four minutes dwell time at Reading so hardly needs the extra time there.

 

[30907]

OJP shows 1802 next week on a random check.

 

[Rich McLean]

It's effectively a 3 minute headway Acton West onwards, with 1 minute padding between Paddington and Acton Mainline, in order to give room for the 1805 behind which calls at Twyford, which also has padding of 1/2 a minute at Paddington and 1/2 a minute at Airport Jn.

Effectively 1800 1803 and 1806 paths west of Heathrow

Tight pathing like this post IEP and Cross Rail is likely to be the norm during the peak periods, with 2min 30sec spacing between paths in order to squeeze in an extra path

 

[The Planner]

It is a 3 minute headway after Airport Junction and planning to 2½ after there will be non compliant. You are also reading RTT incorrectly, the allowances apply approaching the following location in the schedule, therefore the ½ is approaching Ladbroke Grove and Slough in 1J93 to keep it 3 minutes behind 1C92 so it is not padding, it is required.

 

[Class 170101]

It is odd though that its 18:03 on Friday and 18:02 the rest of the week.

For some reason its Platform 2 Monday to Thursday and Platform 3 on Friday at Paddington and that appears to be the only difference.

Note the 18:00 Bristol swaps places with the 18:03.

I think you will find its to put most passengers on the 18:00 Bristol on Friday relieving the 18:03 which is pick up only at Reading. But with both being HST most passengers will accept going on the 18:00 unlike the 19:12 Friday ONLY Oxford relief.

 

[TheBigD]

I thought that FGW had replace the Fridays only 1912 Oxford turbo with 1912 Bristol HST at the last timetable change... Or did it not happen???

 

[PHILIPE]

I thought that FGW had replace the Fridays only 1912 Oxford turbo with 1912 Bristol HST at the last timetable change... Or did it not happen???

Yes, it did happen. 1912 FO Paddington to Bristol TM via Bristol Parkway rather than Bath.

 

[Class 170101]

I am surprised in this instance that it didn't run to Swansea as per what seems to happen before previous Bank Holidays.