South West Trains May timetable; train lengthening and stabling

[infobleep]

I just looked at Realtimetrains and although for tomorrow and future days it suggests that Reading trains will use P2 at Barnes, for today most are showing through P1 - maybe they are having a bit of a play with the working timetable...

Thinking about it more overnight, I guess since the modifications to add the Eurostar flyover the designations fast and slow are ineffective as both up and down directions merge for some part of their route between Queenstown Rd and Waterloo. Also, as said Barnes Junction is a major capacity issue which causes the down direction to be operated contrary to description - historically it really should have been grade separated like many other LSWR junctions...

In the future, if the proposals in the London and SE RUS for five tracking of the main side go ahead (i.e. without CR2) then it could leave the 'Windsors' with only 3 tracks all the way between Clapham Jn and Waterloo, which probably accounts for the planned capacity of the Windsor side always being given as much less than the main side.

If they do CR2 will there not be 5 tracks or will 5 tracks simply not be needed as CR2 deals with the passenger issue and less trains will be required.

Could they ever rename the lines or would that be too confusing or not possible because they switch tracks later on?

Talking of lines, I always enjoy telling people that the Guildford New Lines, as I believe the lines via Cobham are still known, were opened in 1891. It gets a laugh.

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[swt_passenger]

What is the reversible line, the rarely used one at the extreme end of all that passes the disused platform at Queenstown Road?

The line designations are renamed immediately on the up side of West London Jn; and the Up Windsor Slow continues as the Windsor Reversible all the way into Waterloo. The second track becomes the 'Up Windsor', and the 3rd and 4th then merge to become a single Down Windsor - effectively the main layout is reduced to 6 tracks through Queenstown Rd, because at the time it was all altered the major user of the Windsor Reversible was to be Eurostar movements to/from North Pole. You could say that they've never bothered to put that right...

Immediately on the up side of the Eurostar flyover (at Nine Elms Junction), the Up Windsor 'moves over' onto the line coming off the flyover, and the down Windsor again becomes doubled as Fast and Slow. So that's where the current layout recovers to an 8 track setup. Hope that helps get your bearings.

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If they do CR2 will there not be 5 tracks or will 5 tracks simply not be needed as CR2 deals with the passenger issue and less trains will be required.

That is very much how it is described. With the bulk of the main suburban side removed into Crossrail's tunnels just after Raynes Park, the main long distance services would be able to be increased in frequency by taking over all four tracks inbound from Wimbledon, including adding those elusive stops at Clapham Junction.

 

[infobleep]

Thanks swt_passenger.

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[455driver]

This morning it came in on time, for whatever reason the guard took forever to walk through the front 4 to unlock the train, in the meantime the 0724 came in and got the signal to go first. Not sure why that all happened but I guess it would have caused a bit of a knock-on delay behind. (Not a huge one as we arrived at Waterloo only a minute behind the time the 24 normally gets in (0748).

Why would the guard need to walk through to the middle to release the doors there are control panels in every coach saloon as well as the cab vestibules?

Probably a Waterloo guard!

 

[wimbledonpete]

Why would the guard need to walk through to the middle to release the doors there are control panels in every coach saloon as well as the cab vestibules?

Probably a Waterloo guard!

Well indeed - I don't know! Maybe he knew that the 24 had been given the go-ahead to leave first so wasn't rushing. Or had left valuables in an unlocked middle cab and wanted to get back before allowing the public on board? Anyone's guess. Either way, that train's made my commute a total pleasure so I'm really not complaining!

 

[SansPareil]

I could have sworn I saw 2 x 455 on a Reading service today (22nd May) (2C55 1750 London Waterloo to Reading). Is that a regular diagram for 455s now, or just a one off to cover for a 450 or 458?

 

[swt_passenger]

I could have sworn I saw 2 x 455 on a Reading service today (22nd May) (2C55 1750 London Waterloo to Reading). Is that a regular diagram for 455s now, or just a one off to cover for a 450 or 458?

Happens occasionally for cover. There were a few incidents with the heavy rain, trees down and stuff...

 

[hassaanhc]

I could have sworn I saw 2 x 455 on a Reading service today (22nd May) (2C55 1750 London Waterloo to Reading). Is that a regular diagram for 455s now, or just a one off to cover for a 450 or 458?

There was indeed one on there, I'm sure it was to cover a 458 as they said on the Journeycheck page that there is no First Class or toilets available. They do seem to be having problems with the 458s again as there have also been several short formations recently.