Why does this train wait so long at Melton Mowbray

[Class 66's]

Why does the following train wait for 74 minutes on the Melton Mowbray Down Loop.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/H39042/2014/10/24/advanced

1553 Luton Crescent Road (Gbrf) to Mountsorell Gbrf
....Melton Mowbray Down Loop 1918½ 2034 ...

 

[bolli]

Why does the following train wait for 74 minutes on the Melton Mowbray Down Loop.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/H39042/2014/10/24/advanced

Most likely waiting for a path beyond it. It probably gets caught up by a passenger train, hence it has to get out of the way.

 

[Tomnick]

It's reasonably comfortably in front of the passenger (or at least it would be - I've never known it run), so it could be a pathing issue around Syston or Sileby, or (more likely) booked to wait until it can be dealt with Mountsorrel - down freights are regularly recessed at Oakham and/or Melton, booked or not, for that very reason.

 

[plastictaffy]

Same as trains heading into Willesden on the up are frequently held in Kings Langley loop for an hour or more, and down trains held at Kilburn loop. Lack of paths, lack of capacity in the terminals.

 

[Aictos]

I could say same about LM's via Northampton services to Birmingham, waited 15 mins yesterday there - does it really need that much timetable padding?

 

[swt_passenger]

I could say same about LM's via Northampton services to Birmingham, waited 15 mins yesterday there - does it really need that much timetable padding?

It's probably to try and match up with an otherwise balanced number of trains per hour between Coventry and Birmingham isn't it? I guess if it got to Coventry 15 mins earlier it would find itself duplicating another service?

 

[Scott M]

The driver must get very bored.

 

[plastictaffy]

I could say same about LM's via Northampton services to Birmingham, waited 15 mins yesterday there - does it really need that much timetable padding?

Northampton is almost always a crew change location. There is an xx:16, an xx:25, and an xx:55. The xx:25 usually gets there a few minutes before the xx:16 leaves. Sometimes, tickets from Euston to New Street are booked with a change at NMP onto the xx:16. (usually cross platform) The xx:25 is also booked to sit at Coventry for 11 minutes on the down. I guess it's to provide three nicely spaced trains an hour between Coventry and Brum. I should think the other reason it's set up that way is to give some operational flexibility, too.

 

[HSTfan!!!]

The driver must get very bored.

Meh you get used to it, I've sat for 4 hours or so before now.

 

[83G/84D]

Drivers of trains in Engineering possessions sit in the cab sometimes for hours doing nothing or very little.

 

[tjlrailblue]

Is the driver allowed to play on their phone or read a book once the train is stationary and due to stay this way for ages?

 

[Scott M]

Is the driver allowed to play on their phone or read a book once the train is stationary and due to stay this way for ages?

I would assume so. I always wondered why it's common to see newspapers in cabs, as I thought drivers wouldn't have time to read them. But now I know why.