A tale of my trip on the slow road to Didcot ... (23/1/2020, 16:10)

[whole diary]

[didcotdean]

Bit late writing up this, but coming back to Didcot yesterday I arrived a bit earlier than expected at Reading, and looked at the board for the next quickest train for Didcot, which was the 16:10 from Platform 13. Knowing this would be a stopper I checked in the timetable and indeed it was due to arrive 4 minutes earlier than my intended 16:25.

Those who haven't already fallen asleep have probably guessed how this turned out. Leaving on time the train was checked before Reading West Jn and crawled into Tilehurst and held for 3 minutes. "We seem now to be behind something travelling very slowly" said the driver. He was right. A woman opposite me who had been napping woke up with a start after we left Cholsey as she thought she'd missed getting out at Radley. The whole journey to Didcot took 40 minutes, behind a freight train I could see that was already 20 minutes or so late and continued to lose time.

Only at Didcot though was the delay the magic 15 minutes as it had a short stop there and picked up a minute.

My original train didn't actually arrive in Didcot on time. It was early.

[Oxonhutch]

Your errant goods train was 4M51 1424 Southampton W Docks (Gbrf) to Trafford Pk Euro Tml Gbrf.

It arrived at Reading West Junction early but was held for time to be let loose in front of your unfortunate self. It then proceeded with the enthusiasm of an asthmatic ant, losing 15 minutes by Didcot East Jnc on a section scheduled for 22 minutes. Maybe II could find out why it was so reluctant to go - hot box?. North of Oxford it was running 37 minutes early but I am sure that gives you no comfort.

I too have learned a lesson from your woe and will factor it into my choices in future on this same section.

[Ollie]

I've only used RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) for a quick look, but it appears that 2L48 (1555 Reading to Oxford) was the issue: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y95426/2020-01-23/detailed as it sat at Cholsey for 8 minutes. So freight would've had to wait behind that, the freight was then further held for 1W31 (Great Malvern service)

It appears the 1610 was actually behind this freight: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/H49835/2020-01-23/detailed


Source: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/detailed/DIDCTEJ/2020-01-23/1622

[Oxonhutch]

Thanks Ollie, and I now see compounded by a second freight (443N) sandwiched in between, that was itself running some 22-35 minutes late. I wonder if the passenger alarm (subject of a separate thread here) was pulled on the earlier 1555 RDG^‡(resolve)-OXF^» (Oxford - next trains)?

[Ollie]

I've just had a look on Tyrell and can see the 1555 was delayed at Cholsey because of a fault with the train.