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Catching the 16.45 to Paddington tonight at was rather surprised to see it came up as Platform 4 with a Cross Country Service to Plymouth coming in on Platform 5 just after it arrived. Seemed an odd movement - anyone explain ???

Signalman bored?  ;D

Think you are probably right  :D

Occasionally, between Parson Street and Bedminster (west of Bristol), our local commuter train gets diverted on to the 'up relief' - for no apparent reason.  Indeed, I once heard our conductor say, to an off-duty driver sitting next to me in the carriage, "Why does the signalman do that?" - to which the worldly-wise driver replied, "Because he can!"

 ;) :D ;D

I know there is a requirement for the signalman to operate each set of points over a certain period of time, so I think that's why you get diverted Chris, rather than diverting a HST/XC that doesn't stop at Parson Street/Bedminster.  That may have been the reason at EXD too.

Thanks, Donkey Guard!  ;)

Yes, that would make sense.  While not all of our local services stop at Bedminster (and I'm sure I've seen a Voyager similarly diverted, some time ago!), the points would have been operated: another box ticked on the checklist!  ::) ;D

Believe it or not but they are probably booked to take the relief line at Bristol.

In which case, it's rather amusing that the conductor is so often caught out, preparing to open the left hand doors on a stopper approaching Bedminster, only to have to scuttle over to the right hand side doors, when the diversion becomes apparent!  ;) :D ;D

I have also noticed a tendency for the signalmen to route trains inbound from SVB/AVN onto the Down Filton Main after Lawrence Hill only to then have them cross the Up FM, and both Filton Relief lines to access Paltform 1 at BRI

The up and down relief, and up and down main platforms at Exeter St Davids are fully bi directional, so although rare the movement can and does happen.......the movement that seems odd is going into platform 4 at Reading on a London bound train

They've done that before and the train subsequently failed during peak hours in platform 4. Muppets!

This is not all that rare in the evening peak nowadays.

You have the 16.18 WSM HST and 16.25 WSM Unit
You have the 17.18 WSM HST and 17.25 WSM Unit
You have the 18.21 Tau HST and 18.25 WSM unit

In each case, if the HST deaprts BTM between 1-10 minutes late, then instead  of holding the xx.25 unit, thus delaying it slightly at BRI, they run it on the Up as far as Bedminster, therefore reducing the inflicting delay to the train, but still giving the HST priorty.

Can't be right I thought the rule was put the stopper out first if there's the slightest dely to the fast.

Or have they re- discovered sensible train regulation?

Seen that done at Reading it's usually an up West of England from the Berks and Hants which they can run into 4 without holding up a train on 5.

Causes quite a lot of confusion with people asking if it's a Westbound train and dashing over from 5/8 to catch it.

switching problems at Reading is not done lightly. Customers there rarely look at the screens. An HST on 5 must be for London; and HST on 4 must be going west (I know there is a choice there), but the Reading users seem to be more creatures of habit than other stations. A few weeks ago, engineering works saw just 8&9 available on a Sunday. Both bi-di of course - the fun that followed was worth seeing!

One quick question - in a topic dedicated to odd platforms at Exeter, how come numbers 4 and 8 get a look in? Surely only platforms 3, 5, 7 and 9 can be applicable?

 ::) ;D