Comments on: So just what is “on time” when it comes to the Railway?

By: Mikeachim

Mikeachim — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:54:45 +0000

So when trying to claim compensation from, eg. National Express, we need to factor in the leeway? Good tip, ta.

Why don’t they have a system of acceptable delay per distance travelled by the train? That would make more sense - and more fair when your journey is a short one, eg. 15 minutes, where 5 minutes is a delay of 1/3rd the time…..

By: Barry Salter

Barry Salter — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 03:36:42 +0000

I understood the Punctuality requirement to be within 5 minutes of the advertised arrival time at the train’s destination for most services, but 10 minutes for InterCity®, though I believe that c2c have an unofficial target of no more than 3 minutes late.

The point is generally moot, however, as most TOCs pad out the timetable with recovery time between key stations, in an attempt to ensure an on time arrival.

Take St Pancras - Sheffield, for example. I can remember when that was timetabled for 2 hours 15 minutes for most down trains, which has now increased to 2 hours 21 minutes. Up trains have been padded out even further, to 2 hours 24 minutes.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 22:41:19 +0000

I think up to 10 minutes late is acceptable, but that means 10 minutes on the entire journey, including any changes. If one leg being late means I’m an hour late to my destination, that’s not on. The only way to avoid that is for trains not to be late at all.

At least with the recovery time, you are more likely to arrive no later than you expected. In fact, if it’s hard for the operator to keep to the timetable (because the tracks are too congested or whatever) one could argue that the timetable needs to be altered to be more realistic.

What is annoying, though, is when the train pulls into a station mid-journey and sits there for 10 minutes because it isn’t due to leave (that happens to me quite often at Reading).