Why could connection not be held ?

[Jamiescott1]

It isn't possible to look at the timetable from that date since they've been updated, but if it was 15.56 leaving Paddington then you'd have got to Maidenhead about 30 mins later, which is about the start of the evening peak and when they start to run 2 trains on tge branch, crossing at Bourne End, so late running could start to have a wider impact.

It was the last of the hourly services so no impact by holding the train.

 

[30907]

I was waiting at Eastleigh for a delayed train to Bournemouth, and saw that the 00:30 train to Portsmouth was held exactly for the purpose of connection. There were dozens of people making this connection.

Last train at night, a well-used connection (and I suspect hardly any local traffic) - if there is no operational reason to run to the booked time then that is sensible (and saves a load on taxi fares too!).

 

[dk1]

Last train at night, a well-used connection (and I suspect hardly any local traffic) - if there is no operational reason to run to the booked time then that is sensible (and saves a load on taxi fares too!).

It sometimes comes down to getting the traincrews permission. I have been bribed with chocolate on several occasions to wait at Ipswich with the last East Suffolk service as it incurs enforced overtime. Several have refused if the delay is going to be too long.

 

[miklcct]

It sometimes comes down to getting the traincrews permission. I have been bribed with chocolate on several occasions to wait at Ipswich with the last East Suffolk service as it incurs enforced overtime. Several have refused if the delay is going to be too long.

If the delay is more than 15 minutes on a headway of 30 minutes, it's pointless to hold connection anyway as it's not much worse just to take the next train instead.

Of course we will need consistent stopping patterns here.

 

[JN114]

It was the last of the hourly services so no impact by holding the train.

If the Donkey unit goes up late, then it’s late locking in on the Bourne End - Marlow section and therefore the Maidenhead - Bourne End shuttle runs late.

While the Marlow portion has long turnarounds and therefore plenty of recovery the Bourne End does not. No risks can be taken with its performance whatsoever so the maximum hold we’d allow on the 1637 Marlow is a lot shorter than simply looking at its turnaround would suggest.

It’s also typically proportionally very busy with passengers starting their journey at Maidenhead, so needs of many vs few comes into play in the policy too.

Regrettably it looks as if your Didcot on that day has only just missed the cut-off (5 is the longest hold I’d allow), but we have to be ruthlessly consistent with application of holds policy; as it causes problems if one person authorises 10 minutes one day and the next controller the next day refuses the same connection delay because it’s outside the 5.

 

[Jamiescott1]

2 more prime examples from this week of the Marlow train not being held. Both examples refer to the 2 train running at evening peak (maidenhead to bourne end, bourne end to Marlow)

Monday 27th the train from maidenhead arrived in bourne end 10 minutes late, the Marlow train which connects with it at bourne end did not wait for it despite the Marlow train having a dwell time in marlow of 17 minutes and 95% of passengers taking the marlow train having come from the arrival at bourne end from maidenhead.

Wednesday 29th
The 1739 arrival at maidenhead from London which is scheduled to connect with the 1744 departure to bourne end was delayed on approach to maidenhead and so arrived at 1746 at maidenhead. Despite it being a cross platform transfer (platform 4 to 5) the bourne end train did not wait.

Both instances of poor customer service and no reason to not hold the trains.

 

[Twingo37175]

2 more prime examples from this week of the Marlow train not being held. Both examples refer to the 2 train running at evening peak (maidenhead to bourne end, bourne end to Marlow)

Wednesday 29th
The 1739 arrival at maidenhead from London which is scheduled to connect with the 1744 departure to bourne end was delayed on approach to maidenhead and so arrived at 1746 at maidenhead. Despite it being a cross platform transfer (platform 4 to 5) the bourne end train did not wait.

Both instances of poor customer service and no reason to not hold the trains.

Assuming I am reading RTT correctly what you may have seen was an earlier Bourne End train leave, the 17:44 leaving at 17:57. The 17:14 being late in leaving at 17:38 (which maybe what you saw leaving).

 

[Jamiescott1]

Assuming I am reading RTT correctly what you may have seen was an earlier Bourne End train leave, the 17:44 leaving at 17:57. The 17:14 being late in leaving at 17:38 (which maybe what you saw leaving).

I think you're looking at yesterday.

 

[zwk500]

Both instances of poor customer service and no reason to not hold the trains.

If you wish the policy to change I suggest you speak to your MP, it's the DfT setting punctuality targets. Because of poor performance, it was decided that all trains departing later than advertised for any reason would be penalised. I think the policy was recently extended to cover intermediate departures as well as right time from origin as well.

 

[Twingo37175]

I think you're looking at yesterday.

I notice Sir you are correct, tis only Wednesday and not Thursday

 

[Jamiescott1]

I notice Sir you are correct, tis only Wednesday and not Thursday

I let them off that delay. Was getting frustrated that so far this week I've had a delay every evening on the marlow branch and my frozen food that id brought defrosted