Padding - tons of it, or about the right amount?

[whole diary]

[Tim]

they do, you know - ever flown to Australia, for example.

not generally though.  Would a LHR-SIN-MEL flight be recorded as late if it landed on time in MEL but was late into SIN?  I expect (but do not know) that each leg would have its performance recorded separately.

[ChrisB]

I doubt it's officially recorded at all.....simply because the data isn't needed, except for marketing

[Tim]

I doubt it's officially recorded at all.....simply because the data isn't needed, except for marketing

It is recorded on the "flight stats" website at least and made publically available there. 

I'd be surprised if the likes of the CAA^» (Civil Aviation Authority - about), NATs and other official organisations didn't use the statistics as well.  You are of course entitled to compensation if your EU^» (European Union - about) flight is delayed by more than 3 hours. 

[LiskeardRich]

I doubt it's officially recorded at all.....simply because the data isn't needed, except for marketing

It is recorded on the "flight stats" website at least and made publically available there. 

I'd be surprised if the likes of the CAA^» (Civil Aviation Authority - about), NATs and other official organisations didn't use the statistics as well.  You are of course entitled to compensation if your EU^» (European Union - about) flight is delayed by more than 3 hours. 

Correct, although not if its only late at via point. If it was 3 hrs 1 late at the via point, yet only 2hrs 59 at destination its tough luck.

In the days of Plymouth based AirSouthWest I used the Newquay to Leeds Bradford service frequently. That service called at Bristol. A number of times it was late arriving at Bristol but on time in Newquay.

[ChrisB]

I doubt it's officially recorded at all.....simply because the data isn't needed, except for marketing

It is recorded on the "flight stats" website at least and made publically available there. 

I'd be surprised if the likes of the CAA^» (Civil Aviation Authority - about), NATs and other official organisations didn't use the statistics as well.  You are of course entitled to compensation if your EU^» (European Union - about) flight is delayed by more than 3 hours. 

Correct, although not if its only late at via point. If it was 3 hrs 1 late at the via point, yet only 2hrs 59 at destination its tough luck.

Like the trains then....

[TonyK]

In the days of Plymouth based AirSouthWest I used the Newquay to Leeds Bradford service frequently. That service called at Bristol. A number of times it was late arriving at Bristol but on time in Newquay.

A commercial flight from Bristol to Newquay would file a flight plan, but would not necessarily be subject to having to negotiate a "slot" with air traffic control. It would not be discharging or embarking the whole plane-load of passengers at Bristol, so could, with luck, with no need for a fuel uplift, and with baggage handling at the ready, make up time on the turnaround there, taxy and be off the ground in just a few minutes. As it happened a number of times, the crew must know how to deal with it.

[rower40]

Many moons ago, there was a very obvious example of padding. A certain train (can't remember which or when) was Paddington to Plymouth on Mon-Thurs, but extended to Penzance on Fri.  Its Plymouth arrival time was something like 10 mins earlier on Friday, as that wasn't its terminating station that day.  So the additional 10 mins was likely to be only for making the final arrival more likely to be 'on time'.

[LiskeardRich]

Many moons ago, there was a very obvious example of padding. A certain train (can't remember which or when) was Paddington to Plymouth on Mon-Thurs, but extended to Penzance on Fri.  Its Plymouth arrival time was something like 10 mins earlier on Friday, as that wasn't its terminating station that day.  So the additional 10 mins was likely to be only for making the final arrival more likely to be 'on time'.

The 1903 off Paddington by any chance?

[Louis94]

Many moons ago, there was a very obvious example of padding. A certain train (can't remember which or when) was Paddington to Plymouth on Mon-Thurs, but extended to Penzance on Fri.  Its Plymouth arrival time was something like 10 mins earlier on Friday, as that wasn't its terminating station that day.  So the additional 10 mins was likely to be only for making the final arrival more likely to be 'on time'.

You are thinking of the 1903 Paddington - Plymouth/Penzance, as someone has already mentioned, a few years back I think it was. Although the arrival time at Plymouth was the same throughout the week, you are thinking of the arrival time at Penzance. The arrival time into Penzance and at stations throughout Cornwall was the same throughout the week, whether it having been the HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) through or the unit connection from Plymouth. Therefore as the unit was quicker stopping at all stations through Cornwall there was a high amount of extra time in the Public Timetable to bring it to the same time the HST on a Friday would arrive, which made St Erth to Penzance seem over double the normal journey time - frequently however it arrived early. This therefore mean't that on a Friday the HST was frequently made to look like it was late as it struggled with the unit public timetable, however then by Penzance it was back to the WTT^▸ (Working Time-Table) arrival (and the unit public timetable arrival Monday-Thursday), making it arrive on time.

[LiskeardRich]

My train home this evening, the 2018 from Truro arrived in Truro at 2007. It is timetabled 26 mins from St Austell to Truro but a Voyager only needs about 15.
Its also then timetabled 12 mins from Truro to Redruth which a Voyager does in 9.

[grahame]

My train home this evening, the 2018 from Truro arrived in Truro at 2007.

Allowing 3 minutes for passengers to get on and off and one minute per carriage for the Train Manager to walk along and close the doors 

Seriously, I'm always aware on some of the s*l*o*w*e*r Berks and Hants HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) stoppers of just how painfully l*o*n*g they take.

[LiskeardRich]

My train home this evening, the 2018 from Truro arrived in Truro at 2007.

Allowing 3 minutes for passengers to get on and off and one minute per carriage for the Train Manager to walk along and close the doors 

Seriously, I'm always aware on some of the s*l*o*w*e*r Berks and Hants HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) stoppers of just how painfully l*o*n*g they take.

This one doesn't fall into this category being a XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) service.

[JayMac]

My train home this evening, the 2018 from Truro arrived in Truro at 2007. It is timetabled 26 mins from St Austell to Truro but a Voyager only needs about 15.
Its also then timetabled 12 mins from Truro to Redruth which a Voyager does in 9.

Timetabled 15 minutes from St Austell. Departs SAU 1952, arrives TRU 2007.

Then booked to wait 11 minutes at Truro, I guess so it doesn't catch up the preceding service from London Paddington. There are, I believe, long signalling headways in that part of the world.

Timetabled 10 minutes from Truro to Redruth. Departs TRU 2018, arrives RED 2028.

[LiskeardRich]

My train home this evening, the 2018 from Truro arrived in Truro at 2007. It is timetabled 26 mins from St Austell to Truro but a Voyager only needs about 15.
Its also then timetabled 12 mins from Truro to Redruth which a Voyager does in 9.

Timetabled 15 minutes from St Austell. Departs SAU 1952, arrives TRU 2007.

Then booked to wait 11 minutes at Truro, I guess so it doesn't catch up the preceding service from London Paddington. There are, I believe, long signalling headways in that part of the world.

Timetabled 10 minutes from Truro to Redruth. Departs TRU 2018, arrives RED 2028.

The section between Camborne and chacewater is about 18 minutes I believe.

I saw it coming and ran oblivious to the timetables this evening, to find myself sat on the train for 10 mins!