Gloucester platform timetabling

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For those unfamiliar, Gloucester station has quite an unusual layout, in that the westbound through "platform" is actually numbered as platforms 1 and 2, both of which are capable of separately accommodating a full-length intercity train, and as far as I know the track layout permits a train to leave either of these two platforms without impacting a train waiting in the other. But the whole thing together is considered one of the longest railway platforms in the country.

The upshot of this is that it's a substantial walk from platform 2 (where the station entrance is) to platform 1. Despite this, it seems that reversing services are sometimes brought in to platform 1 when there appears to be no reason they couldn't use 2 instead. For example, yesterday (Sun 19/12/21), the 10:02 Bristol-Edinburgh used platform 1 despite the next use of platform 2 not being until the 10:17 arrival from Swindon.

More broadly, on weekdays, there seem to be quite a few examples where the GWR terminator from Westbury or Brighton comes in on 1 and has a 10 to 15 min layover before it departs again. Since both of these are at most 4 carriage trains, would it not make more sense for the Nottingham-Cardiff XC service which comes in shortly beforehand and departs at roughly the time the terminator arrives to run right to the Cardiff end of platform 2, and then have the terminator come in and stop at the Bristol end of platform 2, eliminating the need for the long walk to platform 1?

 

[ABB125]

More broadly, on weekdays, there seem to be quite a few examples where the GWR terminator from Westbury or Brighton comes in on 1 and has a 10 to 15 min layover before it departs again. Since both of these are at most 4 carriage trains, would it not make more sense for the Nottingham-Cardiff XC service which comes in shortly beforehand and departs at roughly the time the terminator arrives to run right to the Cardiff end of platform 2, and then have the terminator come in and stop at the Bristol end of platform 2, eliminating the need for the long walk to platform 1?

I imagine that may be something to do with the permissive working procedure at the station (or, more probably, lack of said procedure!).
In addition, I'm told that Gloucester signal box isn't the most ... friendly/efficient/insert alternative adjective here signal box, which may also be a contributing factor (or may not!).

 

[Falcon1200]

In addition, I'm told that Gloucester signal box isn't the most ... friendly/efficient/insert alternative adjective here signal box, which may also be a contributing factor (or may not!).

That's an interesting point....

In October I was waiting at Gloucester to join a Cheltenham-Paddington train, which was advertised as leaving from Platform 4, ie over the footbridge. Then a GWR Class 800 runs into Platform 2, right next to the station entrance, and it transpired that it was indeed the Paddington train. No prior announcement of any platform change, staff were unaware until the train actually arrived, and no obvious reason why the train could not have used the far more convenient Platform 2 in the first place. Cue a mad dash of everybody and their luggage back over the footbridge and onto the train.