Does the reduction of services to hourly in the evening really cause a problem?

[Jimini]

No point, as after the 2200 the Avantis take an hour to MKC, stuck behind a stopper on the slows.

Indeed -- to reiterate my question: is this necessary every day of the week (if at all when there's no work going on south of Hanslope)?

 

[zwk500]

Indeed -- to reiterate my question: is this necessary every day of the week (if at all when there's no work going on south of Hanslope)?

Part of the problem is that there is usually something going on each night, but it's usually only a short section and it doesn't always start when the 2-track starts. However the 2-track needs to be planned to the worst-case scenario (or at least a worser-case scenario) otherwise there will be a lot more short notice retiming, which is equally as annoying for passengers.

 

[Jimini]

Part of the problem is that there is usually something going on each night, but it's usually only a short section and it doesn't always start when the 2-track starts. However the 2-track needs to be planned to the worst-case scenario (or at least a worser-case scenario) otherwise there will be a lot more short notice retiming, which is equally as annoying for passengers.

Cheers -- why only the WCML though, and its associated timetable? GWR trains to / from Paddington don't suddenly take 45 mins to get to Reading after 10pm instead of 22 mins, by way of comparison?

Edit: might be worth splitting this into a separate thread tomorrow morning when I'm back in front of my laptop rather than posting from my phone?

 

[JonathanH]

GWR trains to / from Paddington don't suddenly take 45 mins to get to Reading after 10pm instead of 22 mins, by way of comparison?

Not 45 minutes, but the schedules do get extended for two-track running. The 2332 to Bristol takes 31 minutes from Paddington to Reading. The 2313 from Reading to Paddington (ie the up service from Penzance) takes 43 minutes.

Oxford services get additional stops at Slough, Maidenhead and Twyford.

 

[RailWonderer]

No point, as after the 2200 the Avantis take an hour to MKC, stuck behind a stopper on the slows.

Why does Avanti use the slows ater 22:00? I always thought it was for maintenance.

 

[nanstallon]

Take it or leave it won't do. Give the customer the service he wants, or he'll go elsewhere - i.e. bus, car or stay at home.

 

[JonathanH]

Why does Avanti use the slows ater 22:00? I always thought it was for maintenance.

Yes, it is scheduled two-track railway to allow maintenance access.