Questionable regulation at Gloucester

[RGM654]

Yesterday (28) I was on 1L74 Carmarthen to Paddington, due to arrive at Gloucester at 1714 and depart at 1716, non-stop to Swindon; in front of 1L78, Cheltenham Spa to Paddington, due to depart at 1719 and to make three stops before Swindon. The Carmarthen was running slightly late, but arrived just before 1719. The stopper was allowed out on time and ran near enough on time all the way to Paddington. The Carmarthen was stuck behind it, initially only a few minutes behind, but was then held for several minutes at Standish Junction, reaching Swindon 23 minutes down (and suffering a few more minutes delay after that, including a brief stop outside Paddington, presumably waiting for a platform). If the Carmarthen had been let out first, both trains could have run only slightly late, neither of them enough for Delay Repay.

One disabled passenger on the Carmarthen was due to change at Swindon for a train (most likely 1L78) to Didcot; so she was delayed further, with the next departure for Didcot half an hour later.

Real Time Trains shows that the previous train from South Wales, 1L64 Swansea to Paddington, suffered similarly.

 

[Spartacus]

In this case there's more than meets the eye, trespassers in the Stonehouse area, which I dare say might have coloured the signaller's decision to let the stopper go first, better a stopper encounter trespassers first than an express, even when cautioned.

The layout at Gloucester isn't exactly great for this though, with the Cheltenham, stood on platform 1. If the one from Cheltenham - Paddington gets held then both the one to Cheltenham and one to Cardiff (when it runs...) gets delayed, and you probably delay the Bristol - Gloucester too. With 'right time railway' being spread around the country like a farmer spreads....... I expect there'll be more of this though, one train heavily delayed so three others avoid a minor delay.

 

[BrummieBobby]

There could be any number of reasons why this regulating decision was made.

 

[spyinthesky]

One disabled passenger on the Carmarthen was due to change at Swindon for a train (most likely 1L78) to Didcot; so she was delayed further, with the next departure for Didcot half an hour later.

I’m not sure she would have made the connection anyway in 3 minutes, so half an hour seems sensible.