Reversing a trainset midway through service

[enginedin]

I'm on the 1252 Edinburgh to Euston Avanti service. When we left Edinburgh, the Train Manager apologised for the service being in reverse formation - apparently because of the Glasgow Central issues (although I don't understand why). After ~40 mins, we pull into Carstairs Station, which was a surprise to me since I knew it was on the wrong side of the Carstairs triangle. The Train Manager apologised for the delay and said we'd be reversing out of Carstairs - i.e. in the formation the train should originally have been in. We're now ~15 mins late, with the delay attributed to "a fault with the signalling system".

So was there actually a signalling issue, which is why we were held in Carstairs station instead of south of the Carstairs Triangle? Or some other operational reason for us to be reversed / returned to the original formation?

 

[The exile]

I'm on the 1252 Edinburgh to Euston Avanti service. When we left Edinburgh, the Train Manager apologised for the service being in reverse formation - apparently because of the Glasgow Central issues (although I don't understand why). After ~40 mins, we pull into Carstairs Station, which was a surprise to me since I knew it was on the wrong side of the Carstairs triangle.

In general, the most likely explanation is that the same thing had happened northbound.

 

[andy33gmail]

the Train Manager apologised for the service being in reverse formation

I’m curious as to why that’s an issue. Has cabs at both ends, presumably any selective door opening will be safe …

I wonder if the issue passenger information (e.g. car numbers printed on the side confusing reservations) or maintenance (we need the plumbing to arrive in the station at the right position)

 

[enginedin]

I’m curious as to why that’s an issue.

His apology was around the fact that he knows some people specifically books seats facing forward

 

[The exile]

I’m curious as to why that’s an issue. Has cabs at both ends, presumably any selective door opening will be safe …

I wonder if the issue passenger information (e.g. car numbers printed on the side confusing reservations) or maintenance (we need the plumbing to arrive in the station at the right position)

Where the first class is (how long a walk they’ll have at the London terminus) is another reason for the apology.

 

[Merle Haggard]

Where the first class is (how long a walk they’ll have at the London terminus) is another reason for the apology.

It also causes joining first class passengers having to make their way through the length of the train if they're waiting at the (usual and announced) South end of the platform. Caught the 18.14 New St. - Euston last Saturday, a reversed Pendo.. No station announcements - so everyone caught out. Passengers with luggage struggled to reach Coach K from the front of the train.
Presumably similar difficulties for passengers with reservations in A, B.

 

[driver9000]

So was there actually a signalling issue, which is why we were held in Carstairs station instead of south of the Carstairs Triangle? Or some other operational reason for us to be reversed / returned to the original formation?

Yes. There was a points failure at Oxenholme and a request was made to stop and hold traffic while it was fixed.

 

[enginedin]

Yes. There was a points failure at Oxenholme and a request was made to stop and hold traffic while it was fixed.

ah thanks! so any idea why were we sent up to carstairs rather than sit on our actual route?

 

[norbitonflyer]

Presumably other trains were held at other stations, and reversing your train at Carstairs was an opportunity to turn it round.

 

[motorheadsim]

I was Edinburgh to Stafford return today. The 0752 had 1st at London end. Return from Stafford 1148 had 1st at North.
Ps. hourly Avanti departures from Waverley for GLC closure