St Albans turn back siding - slow departures

[adamedwards]

I get the 0823 from St Albans every morning. The train comes very slowly pour of the siding. Then half way down the platform speeds up and then stops. So questions:
Is this due to low speed points or low speed signaling? Is the speed up becuse the driver can then see the signal at the platform end? Could this all be speeded up cost effectively as every train is doing this many many times per day?

 

[twpsaesneg]

The train has to pass over the S&C at low speed and cannot accelerate until the last vehicle is clear. There is insufficient room to install a higher speed set of S&C even if there was a particularly good case for doing so, as the 8-car siding cannot be moved any further north to accommodate.

 

[bionic]

5mph in the siding. 15mph on the points. When the back of the train is clear of the siding the driver will speed up to 15mph for the rest of the way into the platform.

 

[John Webb]

And as the train leaves the City station it will do a 'running brake test', usually when it's just clear of the platform.