Reasons for train delays

[Shrop]

Just thinking about train punctuality and looked at my local station of Shrewsbury at 21.00 hours this evening out of interest. The NRE website shows the 20.53 to Manchester (from Cardiff) as running 16 minutes late, with the reason given as “This train has been delayed by this train being late from the depot”.

Then we have the 21.25 to Birmingham International (from Pwllheli and Aberystwyth) which was 15 minutes late into Newtown, with the reason given as “This train has been delayed by more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time”. This one is intriguing, and makes me wonder how many trains needed repairs west of Newtown, which caused delays to each other?

Then we have the 22.07 to Manchester (from Milford Haven), which was cancelled until Haverfordwest, where it left on time, then became a few minutes later at each of several stations to Llanelli where it was 22 minutes late. Since there it recovered some time, but the reason given is “This train has been delayed by more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time”. Sounds familiar? It makes one wonder whereabouts since Haverfordwest, that this happened!

This is one snapshot covering a period of just over one hour at one station which really isn’t very busy compared to a lot of other stations, and none of these delays appear to be related to each other in any way.

Has anyone got any other delightful stories about reasons for delays?

 

[30907]

2053: was late off depot, but could equally have been "delayed on a previous journey" looking at RTT.
2207: yes, a previous working failed at Shrewsbury. The replacement from Cardiff was a 150, 50 late, to Haverfordwest and back to Carmarthen, where a set swap was done (to a 197).
2125: looks as though the outward working from Birmingham Int was 2 cars not 4 and was also delayed at Telford. The delay affected the return train which was 22 late off Tywyn.
So yes, 2 cases of "more trains needing repair" - though the second could have been described "delayed on a previous journey."

 

[Shrop]

2053: was late off depot, but could equally have been "delayed on a previous journey" looking at RTT.
2207: yes, a previous working failed at Shrewsbury. The replacement from Cardiff was a 150, 50 late, to Haverfordwest and back to Carmarthen, where a set swap was done (to a 197).
2125: looks as though the outward working from Birmingham Int was 2 cars not 4 and was also delayed at Telford. The delay affected the return train which was 22 late off Tywyn.
So yes, 2 cases of "more trains needing repair" - though the second could have been described "delayed on a previous journey."

A commendable set of defences, I'm impressed! Just a shame that so many problems arise. I won't hunt out more challenges now, but I'm sure some genuine questions will arise in due course

 

[Western 52]

Another common reason seems to be the train being delayed due to a late running train in front of it, but no other train is evident on RTT or Traksy since the train lost time.

 

[172007]

Overwhelmingly the main reason for delays are passengers, that or timetables that don't take into account delays caused by passengers.

We discovered this during full lockdown when we had a few issues newrly running early constantly.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Overwhelmingly the main reason for delays are passengers, that or timetables that don't take into account delays caused by passengers.

We discovered this during full lockdown when we had a few issues newrly running early constantly.

Hmmm. Much easier to cart fresh air around all day.

 

[Shrop]

Overwhelmingly the main reason for delays are passengers, that or timetables that don't take into account delays caused by passengers.

There certainly are plenty of passengers who really make things difficult for train operators. Commuters tend to be helpful, as they generally rush to get on and off trains as quickly as they can, but watching passengers during off peak times can be quite disheartening. Many is the time I've seen people not even think about getting off the train until it has already stopped, and only at that point do they then gather their hand luggage, stand up, put on their coats, make their way slowly along the carriage and then hunt for their suitcases. They behave like you might expect them to if a flight has just landed, but of course flights never just land and then depart again a couple of minutes later.

By the time these people reach the luggage racks, other passengers are already trying to push past them to reach whatever seats might be available, and by the time they reach the doors, it's only a matter of luck whether or not the doors are already locked ready for departure. I've seen people unable to leave the train at this point, and then express great dismay at having missed their stop, and yet it really is their own fault. This is by no means rare, as many reading this may well have witnessed.

Perhaps it might help if there were signs in the trains, or announcements conveying the message that the train will only be stopping for a brief period, and they should make themselves ready to depart as soon as it arrives at the station? To quite a few people this isn't obvious ...

 

[172007]

I personally suspect the assumed timings with regards to passengers and the platform train interface are not suitable for the modern railway. The modern railway has a lot more leasure travellers who are slow on off trains and often with luggage and prams. We carry a lot more people with reduced mobility also. All this coupled to clock face timetables that are consistent throughout the day rather than increasing dwell times at key locations during the busier times needs to be addressed.