Poor Regulation?

[whole diary]

[willc]

While waiting at Oxford this evening, I observed pretty much exactly what Insider suggested above being implemented by the signaller to the letter.

The 18.15 XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) to Bournemouth was about 40 late, so the 18.43 Reading service was right on its tail - and no doubt late itself only because of being held outside the station at each stop. Once the Bournemouth train left, the Reading working was brought into the platform and then sat waiting for the signal to clear for its departure. As this was going on, the signaller brought the Turbo for the 19.01 stopper (this is right, the 19.07 is the fast) to Paddington into the platform, which then drew forward once the Voyager had moved off. The stopper left maybe two minutes late.

As all this was done with the starting signal on red, I can't tell you whether the move can be made with the starter showing amber or green for the train already in the platform. But no more delay was incurred due to the circumstances in which the XC set found itself anyway.

[IndustryInsider]

Good to hear.  It can literally save minutes as the signal sections south of Oxford are nice and close until Kennington Junction so the route ahead clears very quickly for the train behind - a positive benefit that the proposed south-facing bay platform would also get if it gets the funding.