Great Western Coffee Shop

This evening the 21:15 Swindon to Worcester (Ex Paddington) was booked into Platform 3.  Another train from Cheltenham? to Paddington (arr 21:14?) was booked into Platform 1. 

At the last minute they swapped the trains over as the London bound train was late and due in at 21:17. 

The announcement of the change of platform for the Worcester bound train from 3 to 1 came first and everyone moved but the other announcement of the change of platform from 1 to 3 for the London bound train only cam as the Worcester bound train was drawing in.  Confusion!

Can someone explain the logic of this change?

I am still getting used to the layout at Swindon but I would suggest by doing it that way Network Rail minimised the delay to both trains.  By crossing the Worcester bound train over onto 1 it was then clear to go as soon as the ex-Cheltenham service came off the branch.  If it was left as booked the Cheltenham train would have had to have cleared platform 1 before the Worcester train could proceed.  I think it has to do with the safety gap between various signals (the overlap to give it the proper name).

The Cheltenham Bound train had a fault with the leading power car. Sets were stepped at Swindon with the London bound train.

Not that I notice.  are you sure you are talking about the 21:15 on saturday?

Yes, the DSD was faulty.