Chiltern to West Ealing

[jjwq]

Yesterday, whilst at the Waitrose by West Ealing at around 11am, I saw a Chiltern Railway train pull into the bay platform. Checking on RTT, it had come from Marylebone, reversing at South Ruislip. Any reason as to why? I know they used to operate a parliamentary train over that route, but I was under the impression that it had gone from the timetable

 

[pdeaves]

It runs in public service on Wednesdays (reinstated December timetable). I assume it has other days for crew reasons.

 

[Watershed]

Yesterday, whilst at the Waitrose by West Ealing at around 11am, I saw a Chiltern Railway train pull into the bay platform. Checking on RTT, it had come from Marylebone, reversing at South Ruislip. Any reason as to why? I know they used to operate a parliamentary train over that route, but I was under the impression that it had gone from the timetable

They still operate the "Parliamentary" service, once a week on a Wednesday in the northbound direction. It's the replacement of the service they used to run into Paddington (before the route between Greenford and Old Oak Common was shut for HS2 works).

It needs a conductor to run in passenger service, as the route was never cleared for DOO, but runs with just the driver on other days.

Presumably this arrangement is to ensure the maximum number of opportunities for drivers to undertake route learning/retention, bearing in mind that their route knowledge typically expires after 6 months, as compared to after 12 months for conductors.

 

[Oxfordblues]

I believe this is the last passenger train in London to be signalled with lower-quadrant semaphores.