Connections etc - just no consideration by different companies

[paulfoel]

Last wednesday,Newport to Gloucester. 8am train cancelled. Line closed (at Lydney) due to flooding.

Advice was to go via Filton Abbey Wood and connect to train to Gloucester. Of course, train was late and I watched as train pulled out of FAW as my train pulled in. Cue an hour wait for the next one.

How hard would it be for someone to work out that the Severn Valley line was out of use for an indeterminate time, that there may be passengers travelling to Gloucester and northwards on the same route as me (there were lots!). Would it not have made some sort of sense to delay the train at FAW by two minutes?

Appreciate sometimes delays happen but sometimes I feel the rail network in the UK does not help itself. Ended up took me 2 3/4 hours for a journey that normally takes 45 mins.

 

[najaB]

Would it not have made some sort of sense to delay the train at FAW by two minutes?

The question you have to ask is what impact would that delay have caused elsewhere in the network?

 

[Taunton]

Well the delay for all these passengers was 2 hours. One day the Rail Regulator will get it that what is important is passengers being late, not trains being late, and write franchises accordingly.

All sorts of delays are introduced for the industry's own reasons, sudden TSRs put in, unmaintained doors needing a push to close, units sent out with an engine not starting, etc, but it seems that when it is for the convenience of the travellers, suddenly it can't be done.

 

[najaB]

Well the delay for all these passengers was 2 hours. One day the Rail Regulator will get it that what is important is passengers being late, not trains being late, and write franchises accordingly.

The passengers already on the train which was at Filton Abbey Wood would have had their journeys delayed - and may have missed connections. Not to mention that the train being out of place may very well result in several other trains being delayed if there is a bottleneck elsewhere in the network.

All sorts of delays are introduced for the industry's own reasons, sudden TSRs put in...

I think a TSR results in less delay than a derailment, but hey.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Presumably at Newport you went for the 0802 to Nottingham, and caught the 0815 to Paignton which was 12 late at Filton, thus missing the Great Malvern service?
Why did you not get the 0810 to Paddington, which would have been a better connection for the Great Malvern train at Bristol Parkway?
The Paddington was also late, but made the connection at Parkway by 10 minutes.
Times from reattimetrains http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced/NWP/2016/03/09/0000-2359?stp=WVSC&show=all&order=wtt
Would have saved you an hour.

 

[urbophile]

This is where a unified and co-ordinated rail system would give unified and co-ordinated advice to such delayed passengers. Instead of expecting them to work it out for themselves with little advice about where to find the information.

 

[Carntyne]

This is where a unified and co-ordinated rail system would give unified and co-ordinated advice to such delayed passengers. Instead of expecting them to work it out for themselves with little advice about where to find the information.

It still needs to run to a timetable though. Controllers will still have to look at the overall impact, not just those few customers initially delayed.

 

[Mag_seven]

Why did you not get the 0810 to Paddington, which would have been a better connection for the Great Malvern train at Bristol Parkway?

Because, according to the OP, the advice was to go to Filton Abbey Wood! The more savvy among us would have recognised that Parkway was a better option but if you are unfamiliar with the area you would take the (poor) advice of the TOC.

 

[PHILIPE]

Most TOCs have a connectionpolicy and the staff on the ground have to adhere to this. Delays can cost the TOCs money. In some cases, there are relaxations where services on a particular route may be held up to xx minutes.
Normally, the last train of the day can wait. If I am wrong, please forgive me and correct as appropriate.

Berney Arms has it's own policy !!!

 

[paulfoel]

Presumably at Newport you went for the 0802 to Nottingham, and caught the 0815 to Paignton which was 12 late at Filton, thus missing the Great Malvern service?
Why did you not get the 0810 to Paddington, which would have been a better connection for the Great Malvern train at Bristol Parkway?
The Paddington was also late, but made the connection at Parkway by 10 minutes.
Times from reattimetrains http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced/NWP/2016/03/09/0000-2359?stp=WVSC&show=all&order=wtt
Would have saved you an hour.

Yes I know. My fault. The advice I was given was the 815 but as I saw it was late I realised the 810 standing on the other platform to parkway would be better. I legged it backa cross the bridge but missed it so I was stuck with the 815.

Bit annoyed because its partly my fault. Ended up getting to Filton then walking to parkway (rather than stand at Filton for an hour freezing my nuts off!)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

The passengers already on the train which was at Filton Abbey Wood would have had their journeys delayed - and may have missed connections. Not to mention that the train being out of place may very well result in several other trains being delayed if there is a bottleneck elsewhere in the network.
I think a TSR results in less delay than a derailment, but hey.

Appreciate that there are further considerations of course. And where do you draw the line?

BUT I doubt that its even considered is it? In this case, it would have been 1-2 mins - surely this sort of delay is usually regained in a few stops anyway.

I'm betting NO-ONE has sat there and thought "right newport train coming in, its going to miss the connections, lets have a look, can we hold that train? Well theres this and that, so no we can't really". We all know it just went and no-one even though of it or cared.

 

[Tetchytyke]

We all know it just went and no-one even though of it or cared.

They probably didn't think of it- there will have been a handful of people affected- but that isn't the same as "not caring".

It happens. Yes, it's frustrating. Deal with it or drive.