Why are XC always late?

[louis97]

Did something get chucked into Charfield to be overtaken?

RTT says dwell time was at Cam & Dursley - so i'd assume not. Not sure if its even a passenger loop.

 

[The Planner]

They would still use it if it got them out of a hole.

 

[Tomnick]

The actual timings of 2F97, 1V45 and 1V46 were as follows:

.         -------2F97------ ----1V45--- -------2F97------ ----1V46---
CHELTENHM       09:36 (1E)  09:41 (16L)                   09:52 (RT)
GLOSBARNJ       09/42 (RT)  09/46 (16L)                   09/57 (RT)
HORTONRDJ       09/44 (RT)
GLOUCESTR 09:45 09:49 (1L)
HORTONRDJ       09/51 (1L)                     <
GLOS YDJN       09/51 (1L)  09/47 (16L)       09/51 (1L)  09/58 (RT)
STANDISHJ         >         09/52 (17L)       09/58 (2L)  10/04 (2L)
CAM&DURSY                               10:03 10:08 (6L)
CHARFIELD                   10/01 (19L)       10/15 (6L)  10/20 (7L)
YATE                        10/06 (20L) 10:21 10:24 (8L)  10/27 (7L)
WESTRLGHJ                   10/09 (21L)       10/27 (8L)  10/31 (8L)

...showing that 1V45 overtook 2F97 whilst it was calling at Gloucester, not really delaying it. The subsequent delay (4' between Standish Jn and Charfield) to 2F97 was indeed dobbed to following late 1V45, which is clearly just lazy and incorrect attribution (which hasn't been disputed). The loops at Haresfield and Charfield are both goods loops, and shouldn't therefore ever be used to put a passenger away for regulating purposes (the only provision in the regs is for when a failure is preventing the main being used, and then only to run a passenger straight through and out the other end). 2F97 was fairly tight in front of 1V46 leaving Gloucester, but wouldn't really have knocked it if it hadn't been for the extended dwell time at the two station stops, so I'd certainly suggest that the regulation was correct all round.