GWR wait times at Newbury

[GTR fail]

In the amended timetable due to covid19 I have noticed that services between Reading and Bedwyn have a rather long dwell time at Newbury station (at times as long as 15 minutes). Now the reasons for this are obvious. It is simply because the stopping trains need to be looped by the non-stop Penzance/Plymouth to Paddington services. But why is the wait time so long?
For example the 1507 service at Newbury to Reading arrives at 1454, and is passed by a Plymouth to Paddington service at 1457. No other services are scheduled to pass it between 1457 and 1507. So why doesn’t the service leave at 1459 when the signals have cleared, instead of waiting an extra 8 minutes?

 

[Ianno87]

In the amended timetable due to covid19 I have noticed that services between Reading and Bedwyn have a rather long dwell time at Newbury station (at times as long as 15 minutes). Now the reasons for this are obvious. It is simply because the stopping trains need to be looped by the non-stop Penzance/Plymouth to Paddington services. But why is the wait time so long?
For example the 1507 service at Newbury to Reading arrives at 1454, and is passed by a Plymouth to Paddington service at 1457. No other services are scheduled to pass it between 1457 and 1507. So why doesn’t the service leave at 1459 when the signals have cleared, instead of waiting an extra 8 minutes?

Possibly to save it having to stand on the main line at Bedwyn for an extended period to get into the turnback siding?

 

[berneyarms]

How long is the signalling section east of Newbury - the IET would have to clear the full section before the local train could leave Newbury.

 

[Ianno87]

How long is the signalling section east of Newbury - the IET would have to clear the full section before the local train could leave Newbury.

4 minutes. Possibly reducible to 3 minutes when following a passing train from a stand.

 

[CW2]

The 12:49 Quidhampton to Acton freight service is scheduled to pass through Newbury at 15:04, so 15:07 is the earliest time that the all-stations service can depart (minimum planning headway 3 minutes).
Freight Schedule (RTT)

 

[30907]

The Bedwyn service normally goes straight forward to/from London, so it is running in its normal times west of Newbury and then forming the Reading stopper in its normal times. Would inconvenience some passengers if the down train ran 10 earlier than normal as well as fouling up the through traffic.1