Just one of four tracks that's restricted.
If it's South Croydon it's one of five. I don't like to be pedantic, but... that's quite important there!
Yes but the 2Wxx use the slow lines so can enter service without issue. Hence my post. There's nothing stopping them running in service on that group set as it's the same for testing as there's still a line cleared. All it is is less than idea.
There are plenty of scenarios where the best contingency option will be to use the Fasts. Turning them round because they will bash into the platform is not just embarrassing but highly inconvenient. Potentially, you will lose half the off peak service to Coulsdon South and Merstham, and a good chunk of capacity from Redhill to Gatwick/Three Bridges. You will also clog up the platforms at East Croydon.
On a soft launch with a couple of trips a day that's no issue. A simple 2Zxx headcode is a far better use especially when there's written instructions like the note on the panel.
As
Sunset route says, that has quite a bit of potential for confusion. I've been involved in plenty of 2Z workings and none of them have had any particular technical requirements - generally they were and remain either to get passengers or stock out of the way of a problem. This is custom and practice so a different letter is much better. Notes on panels, just like a lot of other written materials, do not automatically bypass the natural human ability to let human instinct take over. Adding a special letter other than "Z" gives a whole new fallback option with limited effort or complication.
) is.... Did they have the new or old Thameslink logo on them? 