Should the TfL minor delay/major delay categories be refined?

[DynamicSpirit]

TfL have long used a system for the status of each line where each line shows on their website and public announcements as good service / minor delays / severe delays (or closure / part closure if a line is deliberately closed, eg. for engineering works).

The Elizabeth Line is currently showing as severe delays West of Paddington, which I'm sure to most members of the public would communicate that trains are getting held up or running very slowly - to the point where travelling is not recommended. The trouble is that a quick look at live departures shows that's not the case at all. As far as I can make out, what's actually happening is that they are running a timetable in which only about half the normal trains are running. But the trains that are scheduled are generally running on time - they are not being delayed. That would imply it's perfectly OK to travel - just wise to check what times the trains are actually departing. The status therefore seems to me misleading.

I wonder if it would be better if TfL added additional categories something like, 'slightly lower frequency' and 'much lower frequency' to cover this kind of situation.

 

[Recessio]

I completely agree, I think the current ones are too broad and vague. Especially on bits of the network with lower frequencies where e.g. one cancelled or delayed train is far more of an impact.

It's always been interesting seeing the differences between what TfL are saying and what True Tube Status thinks they should be saying according to TfL's own criteria

 

[SynthD]

I saw the platform screen show four Paddington terminators in a row. It was severe, I had only minor issues on GWR.