Tonights 8.30pm Paddington to Maidenhead and platform 13 (again!)

[whole diary]

[BBM]

Thanks Ollie - I can see a possible scenario here that if the 09:41 arrival from Reading was about 5 to 10 minutes late (not unusual!) then platforms 9 to 12 would all be empty albeit briefly - but at least I can see that all platforms do get used even on a Saturday morning.

My very final word is that my regular weekday trains are the 07:54 arrival from Henley and the 17:36 departure to Oxford. The former arrives at the far end of platform 10 whilst the latter goes from the far end of platform 9. So I do get some good exercise every day - and I don't mind as long as everything is running to time! 

[jane s]

Personally I find platform 12 much more annoying than 13. I generally assume that the train will be going from 13, so make sure I use the Hammersmith & City when I am on the tube (or get off the fast train in order to go back to Ealing Broadway as the case my be), & use the footbridge - only to find that the train is on 12 & have to run all the way back!

[eightf48544]

This is a very intersting topic and shows just how complex running a railway actually is.

Given that until Paddington is rebuilt (sometime/ never?) 13/14 are for historic reasons out on a limb. You use to be able to get through trains from Windsor through to Moorgate.

Unfortunately, they are operationally very convienient platforms in which to run stoppers to and from  the Relief  Lines

One of the reasons they are so convinient is that they connect direct to Lines 5
& 6 so trains can slip in and out with least disruption to other platforms.

E.g a train can arrive from line 6 (off Up Relief at Ladbroke Grove) and into  13/14 when a train is leaving 12 downwards to line 5 or 4 (joining Down Relief at Ladboke Grove).

Whereas a train from line 6 to 10  blocks 11 to 14 for outgoing trains.

So it's operationally convenient to use these platforms even when others might appear free. There is also a drivers' mess room on the platform. Which means drivers can arrive at 13/14 take their PN break and then take a another train off 13/14. This minimises walking time which otherwise have to added into the duty, thus increasing driver productivity. I would suggest that may be why they used at around 20:30 because the late shift drivers who booked on in the afternoon would be coming up for their PN breaks around that time.

Given, therefore, they will be used there is still the issue of late display of the platform on the concourse. Now that should really only be a problem when a train is not going to use it's booked platforms and the departure board operator doesn't know what platform it is going to arrive at until the IECC^▸ (Integrated Electronic Control Centre) informs them. O course in the old days of teh integrated railway teh stion staff would tell the signalman what platform they wanted the train, but now hey work for differnt comapnies. However, if things are running well then  there should be no reason why trains using 13/14 can't be displayed either immediately  after the previous train has left or say at least 15 minutes before departure.

Trains for 12/9 could be displayed at least 10 minutes before departure.

There is also a third problem and that is the poor reliability of the general infrastructure and trains means there is a need to change platforms, from that timetabled, at the last minute more frequently than one would like.

However, we could move more towards the continental method, particularly used in Germany where particular services will leave from the same platform throughout the day. Those of you that travel by express trains on the continent know you can find the posistion of  the coach with your reserved seat from the train formation display on the platform. There is some use of this method at Paddington with Heathrow Exprees using 6 and 7 (although other platforms are electrified for emergency use) and Heathrow Connect often 12. Some Reading stoppers seem to use 11 some part of the day.  However, it's not consistent.

To do this requires a degree of thought in planning the timetable/platform, stock diagrams etc and the day to day operational discipline of running rains on time which is probably beyond any current TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) and Networkrail signalmen.

Of course I loved coming in and out of 13/14 when I worked at the Royal London because I used the Hammersmith line off 15/16. Now with only leisure use it can be annoying if I want the Bakerloo, Inner Rail Circle or bus for onward journey or arrive from those. But as it's leisure travel I usually try and arrive at Paddington in time to have a pint in the Bear.

[Lee]

Welcome to the forum, eightf48544, and thanks for the insight.

[johoare]

Yes, thank you for that. I can see it makes sense.. It did happen again to me yesterday evening.. I arrived for the 9.30pm departure which stopped at Maidenhead.. Due to be being berated on this post before, I arrived with 15 minutes to spare.. There were two trains leaving before mine.. One from 13, one from 14, followed by mine from 14.... No departures from anywhere else on the other 12 platforms, although I guess later trains might already have been sitting in them idle....

So while I got the train no trouble, other people probably missed it..... And always will...

[BBM]

OK... just one more thing from me...

I've discovered an online journey planner at http://www.planajourney.co.uk which gives scheduled platform numbers for trains departing Paddington. It's slightly clunky to use, you have to always add 'London' in front of 'Paddington' in the search box and then de-select all modes of transport except 'Train'. However it's very useful if you're able to check it before leaving the office and then you can plan ahead about what's best to do.

[Ollie]

It's a good site, but if something is going to show the platform, it should clearly state that it is only the booked platform, and is not guaranteed.

[johoare]

Thanks for that site BBM. Although we all know the platforms will maybe  change, it's nice to know when we might need to have to have our running shoes on! I will make sure I always check it from now on..

Tonight, the buses in London (but could so easily have been the tube) delayed me by a long time. So having already missed one train home because of this (18.33), and having walked the last 15 minutes of my journey to Paddington, I thought I might also miss the 18.44 to Maidenhead (Bourne end Service) which I really really can't afford to do with a childminder waiting at home.... So I was quite happy to be walking down the ramp into Paddington with 4 minutes to spare (more than enough)... Until... I saw it was platform 14...  Result, another sprint to get the train... Which I just managed.. And nice sore feet now...Lovely...