Great Western Coffee Shop

My usual 1A02 (Bristol TM-Paddington) was late into Didcot this morning as it was apparently held at Swindon awaiting a connection - I suspect the late running 2M02 (Gloucester-Southampton). No doubt some pleased GVL commuters but I didn't think holding for connections was fashionable on today's railway - maybe because both services were FGW. Just curious if this is more common than I had assumed.

Holding so called connections is not common these days.  However, I did notice an unusual example of co-operation between train companies a few days ago at Worcester Foregate Street station.  The Paddington to Hereford FGW service was running about 30 minutes late and a decision was made to terminate it at WOF.  Passengers were transferred to a London Midland Birmingham to Hereford train which, although it had been running on time, was held for 6 or 7 minutes to allow this to happen.

On FGW territory, I have noticed Cheltenham trains being held at Swindon to allow passengers to transfer from late running HSTs from Paddington. 

There are specific times that Gloucester / Cheltenham trains at Swindon will be held for late connections ... it's in a document available there to operational staff and varies train by train

... and also I see, there are certain Up Main Line services that are held for late inbound GVL branch trains. 1A02 must be one of these. I assume there must be others.

Don't get me wrong, I believe that held connections are part of a healthy integrated railway/transport system.  When planning a journey, it would be nice to know which connections will be held and which would not. On a down journey I made from Reading to Cheltenham last month 2G82 (SWI-CNM) was held for a late arriving 1C06 (PAD-BRI).