Night Riviera

[kingqueen]

I travelled the Up Night Riviera last night. RealTime Trains says that whilst I was asleep, there was some shenanigans at Reading with two trains being combined?!

Main Train: 1A50 2145 Penzance to London Paddington Departing on 14th March 2024

Reading Main Line West pass 0354
Reading [RDG] platform 15 0355 0415Service joins with 0A50 from Reading
Service gains coaches here, stops to drop passengers off only
Reading Main Line East pass 0416

"Extra" Train: 0A50 0349 Reading to Reading

Reading [RDG] platform 2 0349
Pathed as Diesel locomotive at 75mph
joins with 1A50 towards London Paddington
Reading Main Line West pass 0350
Oxford Road Jn pass 0351
Reading Sig T2804 0352½
Service reverses here
Oxford Road Jn pass 0401
Reading Main Line West pass 0403½
Reading [RDG] platform 8 0405

What?! 3 different platforms at Reading - 15, 2, 8 - and it goes in a circle, and joins, and what the heck happened here?

 

[D6975]

The 'extra train' is just the light engine 57 being attached to the rear so that it can haul the empties back to Reading from Pad.

 

[kingqueen]

Ah, got you, thank you.
"Service gains coaches here" is a bit inaccurate then!

 

[greyman42]

I am surprised you slept through it!

 

[dk1]

Ah, got you, thank you.
"Service gains coaches here" is a bit inaccurate then!

To be fair it’s no different as will just be another vehicle on the back to the driver albeit with slightly different braking characteristics.