Up main at Swindon - query

[ChrisHogan]

The introduction of the 1612/1618 and 1912/1918 pairs out of Paddn has predictably proved more challenging for the hopeless regulation at TVSC. Tonight the 1B31 1918 was mis-regulated behind the 1U31 1912 from Reading and followed 1U31 from Reading dropping 19 minutes after a RT start. At Swindon 1B31 was routed via platform 3 in a vain attempt to get it past 1U31.

Is there any reason why the Up Main can't be used in the down direction for non-stop trains to avoid delay? The route appears to be signalled 1175 > 1203> 1221 on OpenTrainTimes and the UM is used in the Up direction for non-stop passenger services (diverted WoEnglands, for example).

 

[class ep-09]

The introduction of the 1612/1618 and 1912/1918 pairs out of Paddn has predictably proved more challenging for the hopeless regulation at TVSC. Tonight the 1B31 1918 was mis-regulated behind the 1U31 1912 from Reading and followed 1U31 from Reading dropping 19 minutes after a RT start. At Swindon 1B31 was routed via platform 3 in a vain attempt to get it past 1U31.

Is there any reason why the Up Main can't be used in the down direction for non-stop trains to avoid delay? The route appears to be signalled 1175 > 1203> 1221 on OpenTrainTimes and the UM is used in the Up direction for non-stop passenger services (diverted WoEnglands, for example).

I guess , Up trains need to ho towards London on Up Main and any Down train on Up Main would be on their way.

There is also reduced speed over Up Main in Down direction ( and Down Main in Up direction ) at 85mph . That means you would never overtake a train on Down Main ( 125mph) going Up Main in Down direction (85mph) .

 

[800301]

The introduction of the 1612/1618 and 1912/1918 pairs out of Paddn has predictably proved more challenging for the hopeless regulation at TVSC. Tonight the 1B31 1918 was mis-regulated behind the 1U31 1912 from Reading and followed 1U31 from Reading dropping 19 minutes after a RT start. At Swindon 1B31 was routed via platform 3 in a vain attempt to get it past 1U31.

Is there any reason why the Up Main can't be used in the down direction for non-stop trains to avoid delay? The route appears to be signalled 1175 > 1203> 1221 on OpenTrainTimes and the UM is used in the Up direction for non-stop passenger services (diverted WoEnglands, for example).

Looks like it was late at Reading so ended up behind it, not sure if that would have been ARS or the signaller that made that decision, either way from P8 1U31 could have been held just outside the station or routed onto the relief lines to get it out of the way of the late running 1B31, I’m not sure about Swindon as I’m sure they can use the UM but it would have been only slightly quicker as they still have to go over a 30 or a 40mph crossover followed by a 25mph crossover

 

[alxndr]

The Up Main is bi-directionally signalled, so there's no reason that you couldn't. The maximum speed for the points at the eastern end is 30mph and the western end is 25mph though, so there would be limited benefit over going via platform 3 as the run isn't long enough (around half a mile) to make much use of the increased linespeed the Up Main has over platform 3.

The Up Main is more suited for passing trains in the up direction as one can be sent onto to the Up Relief much earlier at SW1222. There isn't an equivalent way of diverging trains earlier in the down direction without impacting the Up Main.

 

[ChrisHogan]

I guess , Up trains need to ho towards London on Up Main and any Down train on Up Main would be on their way.

There is also reduced speed over Up Main in Down direction ( and Down Main in Up direction ) at 85mph . That means you would never overtake a train on Down Main ( 125mph) going Up Main in Down direction (85mph) .

1U31 arrived early at Swindon and was waiting time. 1B31 was right behind it and was eventually routed to platform 3 where it stopped as 1U31 was then signalled forward to Bristol Parkway. Not a question of moving trains overtaking one another. Thanks for the confirmation that the UM can be used in the down direction by passenger trains. Just another example of poor regulation that happens day after day on the Western Route.

 

[Signal_Box]

The introduction of the 1612/1618 and 1912/1918 pairs out of Paddn has predictably proved more challenging for the hopeless regulation at TVSC. Tonight the 1B31 1918 was mis-regulated behind the 1U31 1912 from Reading and followed 1U31 from Reading dropping 19 minutes after a RT start. At Swindon 1B31 was routed via platform 3 in a vain attempt to get it past 1U31.

Is there any reason why the Up Main can't be used in the down direction for non-stop trains to avoid delay? The route appears to be signalled 1175 > 1203> 1221 on OpenTrainTimes and the UM is used in the Up direction for non-stop passenger services (diverted WoEnglands, for example).

ARS and signallers who (a) aren’t interested, (b) not confident enough to manually signal (c) the path inputted doesn’t work.

Regulate get a delay, leave it to ARS don’t get a delay. Simple