Do timetables contain errors?

[ValentaFan]

Just wondering if it's likely that I've spotted a mistake in the published timetables.

The 0025 from Didcot Parkway to Cardiff Central is always listed as departing from platform three and announced as such by the automated announcement system but the service always departs from platform one and there's never an announcement of a platform change. It's caught me (and many others) off-guard a few times...

Given that this has happened every single time that I’ve traveled on the service and given the that signs around the station state that platform one is for services through Bath, Bristol and Cardiff, is this likely to be an error in the timetable or just a platform alteration?

 

[Ibex]

Sounds like it might just be easier for the signaller to run it in and out of platform one. The lack of announcement is probably because of noise pollution issues, most stations don't make announcements at that time of night.

A similar situation is the 07:55 Watford Jn to Euston which is scheduled to depart from platform 10 (bay) but usually departs platform 9 for about 3 days out of 5.

 

[p123]

Try going to Edinburgh Waverley one day. If I had a pound for the number of times I've had a last minute platform alteration there...

 

[northwichcat]

Try going to Edinburgh Waverley one day. If I had a pound for the number of times I've had a last minute platform alteration there...

Have you ever tried asking the Scotrail station staff what platform a mainline service will depart from when it isn't announced or doesn't come on the displays? They look through their papers and then come to the conclusion that they have no idea.

 

[Nym]

Have you ever tried asking the Scotrail station staff what platform a mainline service will depart from when it isn't announced or doesn't come on the displays? They look through their papers and then come to the conclusion that they have no idea.

Would this be like the G4S Staff that told someone the train to Bolton departs from Platform 3 at Piccadilly?

 

[jopsuk]

Try going to Edinburgh Waverley one day. If I had a pound for the number of times I've had a last minute platform alteration there...

The joys of an entire train load sprinting from 8/9 to 18 is something I've experienced more than once...

 

[DaveNewcastle]

The joys of an entire train load sprinting from 8/9 to 18 is something I've experienced more than once...

. . . or 19?

 

[Nym]

Is this as good as 12 to 1 at Piccadilly? Seen that done a fair few times...

 

[causton]

Last time I looked (knowing my luck they don't anymore) all London Overground trains at Watford Junction were booked into platform 4 (whereas in reality they use 1-4) - not really the same but it's a "mistake" nonetheless!

At Potters Bar northbound the xx51 and xx55 services get caught up sometimes so the fast one gets pushed out onto platform 3 (the fast platform), sometimes for this change to then be cancelled so the train goes into platform 4 (the usual, slow line platform) which confuses customers all the time!

 

[N Levers]

Just wondering if it's likely that I've spotted a mistake in the published timetables.

The 0025 from Didcot Parkway to Cardiff Central is always listed as departing from platform three and announced as such by the automated announcement system but the service always departs from platform one and there's never an announcement of a platform change. It's caught me (and many others) off-guard a few times...

Given that this has happened every single time that I’ve traveled on the service and given the that signs around the station state that platform one is for services through Bath, Bristol and Cardiff, is this likely to be an error in the timetable or just a platform alteration?

The timetable (for that train) is based on the train running on the relief line between Reading and Didcot (through platform 3) so that if there is enginering work on the faster main lines the casual traveller won't notice a difference. If neither line has enginering work then the train will just be routed by the signaller down the main lines (through platform 1)

 

[87015]

The timetable (for that train) is based on the train running on the relief line between Reading and Didcot (through platform 3) so that if there is enginering work on the faster main lines the casual traveller won't notice a difference. If neither line has enginering work then the train will just be routed by the signaller down the main lines (through platform 1)

That no excuse for last minute platform changes. Either FGW should be bidding for the line and platform change or control should be overriding the schedule and amending the platform presuming an understanding has been reached with the signaller. If not, the signaller should be sticking to booked platforms...

For the OP, of course timetables contain errors, its massive amount of human data input, even before the wonderful systems get involved!

 

[Class377/5]

That no excuse for last minute platform changes. Either FGW should be bidding for the line and platform change or control should be overriding the schedule and amending the platform presuming an understanding has been reached with the signaller. If not, the signaller should be sticking to booked platforms...

For the OP, of course timetables contain errors, its massive amount of human data input, even before the wonderful systems get involved!

Controls generally do change the information but it depends on when the decision is made. Some platform changes can be last minute and it's not always the signaller choice which platforms he can and cannot use. Not as easy as saying he should just stick to his platforms.

Sounds to me like there's regular track inspection or something in that area causing the change (I don't know the area) which would account for the change.

Also note the TOC may be forbibben to announce at that time. I know of stations who have been turned off at night due to local complains and the council's ordering the announcements to be switched off.

However going back to the OP, he says timetables contain platform information, has anyone every seen this?

 

[michael769]

. . . or 19?

Oddly due to the positioning of the new escalator and the fact that 18 is through the barriers I would say 18 is much worse to get to from 8/9.

Though based on my recent experience you are lucky if they even bother to tell you :mad:
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Sounds to me like there's regular track inspection or something in that area causing the change (I don't know the area) which would account for the change.

It seems unlikely that would emerge at the last minute so it is not really any excuse for updating the boards in a timely manner. Someone somewhere is not passing the info on, but as noted there are a number of places that can happen.

I would urge the OP to complain and press to get an answer as to who is failing to get the info updated in a timely manner, and what will be done to improve the situation.

Most likely the ToC and Network Rail are both unaware of the failure in the processes (otherwise it would have been put right by now).

Also note the TOC may be forbibben to announce at that time. I know of stations who have been turned off at night due to local complains and the council's ordering the announcements to be switched off.

The op mentioned the wrong platform was announced by the automated announcer which suggests that announcements were allowed at that time.

However going back to the OP, he says timetables contain platform information, has anyone every seen this?

I have never seen it in a published timetable, but NRE's live departure boards does contain booked platform information for many (but not all) services.

 

[D1009]

FGW's automated announcement system is designed to deal with platform alterations, the feature activates when the train occupies the track circuit of a different platform from that booked. However as others have suggested it's possible announcements are reduced to a minimum late at night for noise pollution reasons. I would suggest you contact FGW customer services about it.

 

[The Planner]

That path would have been bid for on the information FGW had at the time, ie: there is a standard posession opportunity on the line at that time and the schedule will reflect the worst case scenario as previously said. Therefore platform 3 gets put in the schedule. FGW will not STP the train everytime the train uses the fasts. I do agree that there is some sort of failure in the process if they cannot alter the platform once the train is commited to platform 1 on the night though. As for timetables containing errors, of course they do and we get the delay minutes for it !!

 

[Class377/5]

It seems unlikely that would emerge at the last minute so it is not really any excuse for updating the boards in a timely manner. Someone somewhere is not passing the info on, but as noted there are a number of places that can happen.

I would urge the OP to complain and press to get an answer as to who is failing to get the info updated in a timely manner, and what will be done to improve the situation.

Most likely the ToC and Network Rail are both unaware of the failure in the processes (otherwise it would have been put right by now).

The op mentioned the wrong platform was announced by the automated announcer which suggests that announcements were allowed at that time.

I have never seen it in a published timetable, but NRE's live departure boards does contain booked platform information for many (but not all) services.

It does sound like there is a problem somewhere and I could guess where as this sort of thing I do daily for my job. I do wonder if its a case of not been picked up by the TOC as you suggest. Speaking to the TOC is the best way to get it looked into.

As for platform changes at last minute, yes they can and do happen as I get them on a regular basis at all hours of the day with sometimes little notice.

I see the problem if the poster is using NRE website for platforms, simply put don't. They are never updated with any changes as the website isn't link to the TOC's information so it can't be trusted to be correct.

 

[33056]

Last time I looked (knowing my luck they don't anymore) all London Overground trains at Watford Junction were booked into platform 4 (whereas in reality they use 1-4) - not really the same but it's a "mistake" nonetheless!

Probably 20 or more years behind the times when those platforms were controlled by Watford PSB which had an auto facility which routed all trains into platform 4 if the panel was set in that mode (it was more often than not during the day). IIRC, the Wembley signaller has no such luxury these days.

 

[p123]

The joys of an entire train load sprinting from 8/9 to 18 is something I've experienced more than once...

Even better than that... once during over-running engineering works I was told my train was to depart from Platform 1... at Haymarket!

 

[DAH]

The current East Coast timetable has an error which can be spotted without even openning it!

Apparently it covers services up to December 10th - a Monday!!!

But to their credit, they have noticed this error and have printed up posters advising of the error.

 

[Donny Dave]

Doncaster is a good place for last minute platform changes, especially P3a to P1. You suddenly get a load of people charging up the platform past all those joining/alighting the train in P3b (which caused the change in the first place) and onto P1 where the people there waiting for a different service are wondering what's going on!

 

[DAH]

often watched entertaining platform changes at doncaster, from plt 5 to plt 2 for lincolns (on ordinary days, normals struggle to find either platform), and plt 6 to plt 1 for the leeds stopping services

 

[tsr]

Platform 1 to Platform 5 (for example) at East Croydon is always fun, especially in the rush hour and/or when the subway is closed! I have been there on numerous occasions when a second platform change has occurred as passengers are already charging around! In the event of severe disruption, many platforms listed simply cannot be adhered to. And ask a member of staff about the platform from which services to Kentish Town depart after 9pm on a Sunday! That confuses them.

A FCC service once left Redhill southbound from Platform 1. This was not well-received by most passengers, I understand...

And, finally, watching passengers for stations such as Imperial Wharf or West Brompton get confused between the Southern and Overground platforms at Clapham Junction can be priceless, once they've misread the signs, information screens and matrix boards...

 

[mallard]

I remember a litte while ago in the evening peak at Leicester when the automated system started announcing "platform alterations" for every train for the next couple of hours... Except there wasn't actually any alteration.

Cue station full of confused commuters. Took them a little while to shut the darned thing up too.