Mildmay Line train non-stop running from North London to Willesden Junction

[Alxxxs]

Today, I was waiting for a Mildmay train from Hampstead Heath towards Richmond, and it was initially delayed and then “cancelled due to congestion on the line”. To my surprise, it did run through the station without stopping, and I am almost sure that there were passengers inside. I checked the TFL app and saw that it was now only scheduled to stop at Willesden Junction.

My questions are the following:

1. Was this a way to get the train ASAP at least to the busy Willesden Junction station and then ultimately to reverse at Richmond at the cost of skipping so many stations? If it is not this or not only this, what are the other likely reasons behind it?
2. How many stations before Hampstead Heath did it likely skip?
3. How often does this happen on Mildmay line?

 

[321362]

1. Was this a way to get the train ASAP at least to the busy Willesden Junction station and then ultimately to reverse at Richmond at the cost of skipping so many stations? If it is not this or not only this, what are the other likely reasons behind it?
2. How many stations before Hampstead Heath did it likely skip?
3. How often does this happen on Mildmay line?

I saw this happen.

1. It was to make up time, so that the delays would not impact other services later.
2. All of them. Non-stop Stratford to Willesden Junction
3. Painfully often. In recent years the Mildmay Line (or North London Line, as it was called) has been extremely prone to delays. I avoid travelling on it completely because it's always packed, and about 1 in 3 days it completely shuts down like today. Not too sure why this line in particular gets delayed so much - the rest of the Overground is pretty decent for reliability. Possibly as it's pretty much the only east-west route for freight south of Peterborough.

 

[Class15]

1. Was this a way to get the train ASAP at least to the busy Willesden Junction station and then ultimately to reverse at Richmond at the cost of skipping so many stations? If it is not this or not only this, what are the other likely reasons behind it?

Effectively this. Clearing the core section (Stratford-WJ) is absolutely crucial particularly with other passenger and freight trains potentially chasing behind. Running a train non-stop gets it out of the way quickly.

2. How many stations before Hampstead Heath did it likely skip?

All of them, so 10.

3. How often does this happen on Mildmay line?

It happens sometimes but it is also common to see trains terminated early such as at Camden Road or Dalston Kingsland.