I see the 0817 Exeter St Davids to Exmouth (0700 from Barnstaple) will run late every weekday morning, since they've only allowed one minute to climb the hill to Exeter Central...
Yeh, the equivalent today, the 0704 X Barnstaple arrives
EXD» at 0813 whilst the 0700 X Barnstaple is shown as arriving EXD at 0815, 6 minutes longer for the same journey. This service is also allowed five minutes to climb the bank into Central, not unexpected for the weight of commuters from the
Tarka▸ Line it would be carrying in the 150 now operating the service.
But then have you factored into your post the fact that these will be operated by the 142's which have a FANTASTIC rate of acceleration especially uphill and if you're on one you would wonder if it would be taking off at the top of the bank rather like the Sea Harriers did from the ski ramps on the flight decks of the Aircraft Carriers Illustrious, Invincible and Ark Royal. One nod and its OFF.
Perhaps the timetabling people are expecting the services to be empty after all the adverse comment regarding the return of the 142's and nobody wanting them back on the line so have timetabled them to romp up the bank in a minute.
Interesting to note that the previous service from Paignton is allowed 5 minutes for the same journey and other services are allowed 3 or 4 minutes.
In the opposite direction services are also allocated 3, 4 or 5 minutes to descend the bank.
Is it about time someone in the timetabling department needs a boot up their derrier and sort out the problem of such variations between the two adjacent stations.
Oh I forgot, If they did that then this time next year the timetablers wouldn't have a job because the timetable would be PERFECT.
