Timetable with most slack

[MidnightFlyer]

Or padding, if you use that term...

From what I can see, Wrexham General-Wrexham Central takes 5 minutes, but the return takes 2, similarly, Runcorn-Liverpool Lime St takes 20 minutes, and the return 15...

I know it is quite common on InterCity routes, but what is the greatest amount of time allowed in padding in Britain? Obviously, stopping takes longer than starting, but surely that only accounts for 2 or so minutes, not 5 or 6?!

 

[burty76]

Or padding, if you use that term...

From what I can see, Wrexham General-Wrexham Central takes 5 minutes, but the return takes 2, similarly, Runcorn-Liverpool Lime St takes 20 minutes, and the return 15...

I know it is quite common on InterCity routes, but what is the greatest amount of time allowed in padding in Britain? Obviously, stopping takes longer than starting, but surely that only accounts for 2 or so minutes, not 5 or 6?!

East Coast
Leeds to Wakefield Westgate : 11 minutes
Wakefield Westgate to Leeds : 18-20 minutes

 

[Failed Unit]

East coast London - peterborough 45 mins peterborough - London around 55 mins.
East coast brough - hull takes longer than a pacer stopping everywhere.

 

[Liam]

Probably the sleepers.

 

[TheBigD]

East Coast's 1500 KGX-GLC is given 34 minutes to do Motherwell-Glasgow. The return 0650 GLC-KGX is given just 14 minutes from Glsgow to Motherwell.

 

[valenta]

East Coast's 1500 KGX-GLC is given 34 minutes to do Motherwell-Glasgow. The return 0650 GLC-KGX is given just 14 minutes from Glsgow to Motherwell.

A bit extreme!?

 

[causton]

A bit extreme!?

Is that more to do with the time of day though?

I often see the Old Street - Moorgate trains on LDB as timed for 6 minutes, but taking 1! Which isn't much, but a high percentage :P

 

[lm321412]

LM Hereford - Birmingham's

University - Birmingham (2.49 miles)

LM 170 - 14 minutes (non stop)
LM 323 - 07 minutes (with Five Ways stop)

They tend to arrive anything between 6 and 8 minutes early.

 

[The Planner]

The WTT will be wildly different to some of those times.

 

[Flamingo]

Late evening Pad-Rdg services are timed for the relief lines, but travel on the main lines most of the time. Lots of time to sit on the platform in Reading! (I love it, nothing like doing a ticket check when the platform is outside, it shortens so many arguments!)

 

[Twoonthebuzzer]

Tau - CDF around 2hr 10/15mins!
CDF - Tau around 1hr 50/55mins!

 

[12CSVT]

In the 1980s the first Newcastle - Carlisle train on a Sunday (still class 101 Met Camms in those days) was given 32 minutes from Wetheral - Carlisle, a distance of 4 miles (the usual journey time being 12 minutes

 

[route:oxford]

There is a story in "Private Eye" this week re the Stirling-Alloa route.

According to the story, it's timetabled for 13 minutes, but takes 7.

 

[me123]

There are (or at least were) WCML trains in Glasgow Central which seemed to arrive half an hour early. Those calling at Motherwell also stopped there much earlier. I'm all for slack in timetables, but that's slightly ridiculous.

 

[STKKK46]

Birmingham Moor Street - Snow Hill has massive padding at times - Saturdays 2216 is due at Snow Hill at 2227. The 2237 in the other direction stops at Moor St at 2240.

 

[Welshman]

ATW Blaenau Ffestiniog - Llandudnos are allowed 10 minutes and Manchester-Llandudnos 12 minutes for the 1.75 miles from Deganwy to Llandudno, but both are allowed only 4 minutes for the return!!

This leads to the interesting situation where the crew on the 2023 from Blaenau, which returns to the depot at Chester by forming the last train from Llandudno to Crewe, arrive at Llandudno at 2146, unload passengers, load those waiting, change ends and depart at 2145!!

 

[Crossover]

I was on the 1906 TPE service from Dewsbury into Piccadilly the other week (Saturday)

We left Dewsbury and Huddersfield 5 down due to another train in front of us. Normally that would be it, wouldn't have chance to make up any time. We arrived into Piccadilly 6 EARLY!!! Looking after we made the time up at Ardwick so I suspect it can counter any problems on the mainline so doesn't require a route so quick.

TPE's can also sit in Leeds and York for upwards of 5 minutes as well.

I was also once on the 2200 Euston - Piccadilly via Crewe service (as far as Stafford) - ran fine through to Rugby where we scheduled to call. I looked at the boards and realised we had 15 minites to wait for departure. Ironically the Pendolino we were on was Virgin Express!!!

 

[First class]

MRF-LVC 2 Mins
LVC-MRF 4 Mins

Again, not a huge journey time, but still a 100% difference!

 

[Donny Dave]

The South TPE route is also very slack (if your fortunate enough to get a 185). Some notable runs (dates omitted) I've had along there ....

Scunthorpe dep. 1426 (Stopper failed just before Scunthorpe), Grimsby arr. 1451. Signalman was on the ball as well, with the barriers down and green showing for departure, so another 2 mins saved there ....

Scunthorpe dep. 1608 (right time), Grimsby arr. 1637 (I think this driver was going home after this run).

Scunthorpe dep 1110, Doncaster arr. 1134 (5 early!).

Manchester Piccadilly dep. 1520, Stockport arr 1526. (booked 8 mins, or 10 mins in the other direction.)

And always, heading to Sheffield on a TPE service, expect to be checked at Holmes Jn, as the train isn't due at Meadowhall until xx01, but is generally running several minutes early. It's the same at Edgely (sp?) Jn at Stockport as well. Booked times are Sheffield dep. xx11, Stockport arr. xx52, but expect to wait because Beardy Rail services have a North bound pendo due xx49 (I think it is) and the TPE gets held every time.

Given a clear run with no checks at all from Grimsby - Manchester (and vice-versa), I predict a 185 could knock 20 minutes of the current timings, even with the low linespeeds from Grimsby - Hatfield Colliery, Swinton curve and Hazel Grove - Stockport.

 

[MCR247]

Given a clear run with no checks at all from Grimsby - Manchester (and vice-versa), I predict a 185 could knock 20 minutes of the current timings, even with the low linespeeds from Grimsby - Hatfield Colliery, Swinton curve and Hazel Grove - Stockport.

Probably could, but they have to allow for if a 170 runs it with their amazing acceleration (!)

 

[class57basher]

Probably the sleepers.

I have been on the FGW sleeper when it was booked to sit at swindon for an hour another hour at reading and still got in 20 mins before its booked time.

 

[185]

Transpennine's diverted night service 1P03 had the winner.

Was routed between Leeds & Manc:
Woodlesford
Normanton
Mirfield
Brighouse
Heb Br
For pathing, 12 min stand time at Man Vic, not a pax stop
Salford Cr, 4 mins to change ends
Man Picc 13/14.

Driver had swine flu, so divertions were cancelled train went main line,

Arrived Piccadilly 1hr 2mins early.

 

[The Planner]

I was also once on the 2200 Euston - Piccadilly via Crewe service (as far as Stafford) - ran fine through to Rugby where we scheduled to call. I looked at the boards and realised we had 15 minites to wait for departure. Ironically the Pendolino we were on was Virgin Express!!!

2 track timings between Euston and Hanslope plus an allowance for going via Northampton. If the work isnt on then you go via Weedon and sit at Rugby.

 

[jaigee]

2 track timings between Euston and Hanslope plus an allowance for going via Northampton. If the work isnt on then you go via Weedon and sit at Rugby.

Now retimed to eliminate this.

Incidentally, the southbound LM Crewe-Euston service has lengthy stops at Stafford and Northampton and takes 3:16hrs. whereas the northbound take 2:52hrs..

 

[TEW]

0600 Penzance-Exeter 8 mins to get to St Erth.
2232 Plymouth-Penzance takes 18 mins from St Erth to Penzance.
Both are booked for 150s.

 

[route101]

There are (or at least were) WCML trains in Glasgow Central which seemed to arrive half an hour early. Those calling at Motherwell also stopped there much earlier. I'm all for slack in timetables, but that's slightly ridiculous.

I think some have this slack incase they are routed via Hamilton Loop and / or Queens Park. Gets you excited when you see 32 mins between Motherwell and Glasgow but almost always never happens.

 

[Tracked]

Bentley - Doncaster: 9 minutes
Doncaster - Bentley: 3 minutes

above for the Doncaster - Leeds 321's

 

[The175]

Gobowen to Shrewsbury is an unusual one, as it has padding only on certain journeys.

Holyhead-Cardiff trains are given about 20 minutes between the two stations- fair enough for a 20 minute journey!

But Holyhead-Birmingham trains are booked as 32 minutes to cover the same distance. This is owing to the practise of coupling/uncoupling of 158's at Shrewsbury on these services, with 4 cars on Shrewsbury-Birmingham and return portions and only 2 for the Shrewsbury-Holyhead legs.

Unless the driver practises a bit of 'eco-driving', HHD-BHI services can be sitting outside Shrewsbury for anything up to 15 minutes. But then, better that than sending the train off short-formed!

 

[tbtc]

ATW Blaenau Ffestiniog - Llandudnos are allowed 10 minutes and Manchester-Llandudnos 12 minutes for the 1.75 miles from Deganwy to Llandudno, but both are allowed only 4 minutes for the return!!

This leads to the interesting situation where the crew on the 2023 from Blaenau, which returns to the depot at Chester by forming the last train from Llandudno to Crewe, arrive at Llandudno at 2146, unload passengers, load those waiting, change ends and depart at 2145!!

Great example
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

In the 1980s the first Newcastle - Carlisle train on a Sunday (still class 101 Met Camms in those days) was given 32 minutes from Wetheral - Carlisle, a distance of 4 miles (the usual journey time being 12 minutes

You're ruining the idea that "padding" is a recent invention from profit hungry private TOCs desperate to massage their figures and avoid penalties...

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I think one of the three Glasgow Central-Gourock trains an hour is timetabled to arrive at Gourock at xx06. The set also forms the xx06 departure!