Trying to understand 2Z89 today

[DJL]

This is just a curiosity for me, trying to understand some odd service pattern that I randomly spotted.

The NRE app showed a delay from my local station (SMY) of the 13:22 to Blackfriars.
This service doesn't normally exist but in this time slot there is usually
a Kentish Town train (according to realtimetrains).

It looks like the normal service was cancelled "due to an earlier late running service"

Tracing back and forward through RTT it looks like the original timing was cancelled and replaced (STP) with one that only goes as far as Blackfriars Jn (I assume this is the soon to be removed turnback siding just outside the station? as I doubt a train would sit in the middle of the main running line for 10 minutes!) it then runs ECS to Victoria, from where it came a few hours previous. On the previous run the service turned at Blackfriars instead of wherever it should have in the North.

I am guessing that the 319 that should have run this service got caught up somewhere in the morning and rather than put that unit back to RT they decided to pull it (or send it on a different diagram) and take a 465 from Grosvener shed and put it on a modification of the diagram that should have run. Now for whatever reason they've put it back in the shed (maybe the original unit is now available again, or should have left service at this point in the day anyway?)

Am I on the right lines here?

I guess anywhere above where I've mentioned "unit" that could be replaced by "driver" (pretty sure these services are DOO)

As I say, just a curiosity really as it didn't affect me in any way today!

 

[hassaanhc]

The 2E15 0700 Luton to Elstree & Borehamwood failed {This service was cancelled between Elstree & Borehamwood and Sevenoaks due to a problem with the train (ML).}
Which meant the return 2E73 0913 Sevenoaks to Kentish Town cancelled throughout
Turn around as the 5J73 1040 Kentish Town to Cricklewood U.G.L. and 5A31 1112 Cricklewood U.G.L. to Kentish Town did not run due to the earlier train failure, and led to
"This service was cancelled throughout due to late arrival of an inbound service (YI)" reason for
2E31 1126 Kentish Town to Sevenoaks (covered by Southeastern as 2Z31 1142 London Blackfriars to Sevenoaks)
and 2E89 1300 Sevenoaks to Kentish Town (covered by Southeastern as 2Z89 1300 Sevenoaks to Blackfriars Jn)
That train would have gone into Cricklewood Depot as 5J89 1424 Kentish Town to Cricklewood Depot hence the empty Southeastern 5Z89 1410 London Blackfriars to London Victoria

 

[DJL]

Thanks for the info - that all makes sense

So I'm guessing the reason the covering service only went as far as Blackfriars is one of:
* The unit (probably 465) is not cleared in the core.
* The driver has no route knowledge in the core (SE drivers only sign as far as Blackfriars correct? and the FCC driver was presumably stuck with/near the failed train)
* Simply to make it easier to get the unit back to it's rightful place without taking up a path between Kentish Town and Blackfriars

Given that this was off-peak the latter seems less likely to me and the first being most likely.

Presumably, given that spare drivers are not a common thing, the same driver that would normally take the 319 from Blackfriars had to make his own way over to Victoria to pick up the spare unit? (Or else knew far enough in advance never to go to Blackfriars in the first place)


I just find it interesting to know how the operators deal with disruption and do their best to run a normal service when circumstances try their hardest to prevent it. I'm guessing this sort of thing actually goes on all the time with people none the wiser (although in this case a few might notice the change of unit)

 

[westcoaster]

Southeastern drivers go all the way to bedford, fcc drivers go all the way to sevenoaks.

correct 465's can only go to blackfriars.

there is 5z's running between blackfriars and herne hill all week with a 465 maybe they nabbed this yesterday.

 

[jnjkerbin]

correct 465's can only go to blackfriars.

I believe they have been through to City Thameslink and Smithfield sidings in the past but may no longer be able to.

 

[Metobusfan]

I believe they have been through to City Thameslink and Smithfield sidings in the past but may no longer be able to.

Correct the 466 and 465 can't go to city and smithfields due to the overhead wires