Great Western Coffee Shop

I'm sure there was a thread here recently with discussion about trains arriving early, but can't remember where, so apologies.

Just arrived back from a weekend away and picked up this service at 19:31 at TVP - was pleasantly surprised to see it arrive around 12 or 13 mins early into PAD tonight! According to the National Rail IPhone app it looks like it left Westbury three minutes early and then picked up some time between there and Reading and then onwards to PAD.

I think I remember there being something in the thread about trains being given a little extra time in the timetables sometimes, but is this usual for trains to arrive early on a Sunday night?

The 1743 from Paignton to Pad left nailsea 6 minutes late but got into pad 10 early - my friend was on it

Basically, yes!  There's plenty of slack on Sunday's between Reading and London as trains are all timed for when there's a 2-track possession leaving only 2-tracks open for part of the route.  Obviously the expresses then have to fit in behind all the stopping trains, but if there's a Sunday (like today) when there were no possessions at all the trains can speed along unhindered.

I was on the 11:46 from Cheltenham to Paddington on Sunday July 4 when same thing happened - arrived 12 early.

What feels more annoying is when you wait the same length of time at Reading on the 20:37 Paddington - Cheltenham going home again.