Planning the Railway Timetable

I chose this picture, which was supplied by Southern Railway's media team, as it highlights the problems in planning a railway timetable.

What you see, at first glance is just 3 trains on the Brighton Line at South Croydon. On the Up Fast is a First Capital Connect 'Thameslink' service from Brighton to Bedford. In the foreground is a train up from East Grinstead crossing over onto the Up Slow Line whilst in the background stands a Class 455 train from Tattenham Corner to London Bridge waiting to join the Up Reversible Slow Line once the East Grinstead train has passed clear.

Timetabling is all about understanding where and when you make these moves. For this shot to happen the Tattenenham Corner train had to be now more than 3 or 4 minutes late with the 'Thameslink' also about 5 or 6 minutes late.

If everything was on time this picture wouldn't have been possible!