East Putney signalling problems 24th February

Once the service is delayed, or a signalling problem causes no service between Parsons Green and Wimbledon the following things become issues for line controllers:-
1. Keeping drivers on path, so that you don't end up with drivers out of hours and thus a train stood down in a platform.
2. Parsons Green cannot reverse the full Wimbledon service, probably about half of it.
To deal with issue 2 the usual preferred option is to let the Wimbledon - City (Tower Hill or further east) keep running and use the sidings at Parsons Green to keep these trains on booked times. This means the Edgware Road service needs to reverse elsewhere, either you send it to Olympia or you reverse it at Earl's Court, both these options are disruptive. And you can't run every 10 minutes to Olympia (single line branch and time to reverse makes it not work). Also shortened service needs less trains, this means stick a couple of trains in the sidings north of Parsons Green out the way, and stick 2 in the HSK terminating platforms. IF you still have too many trains a diversion to either Richmond or Ealing, will still get the train back to Earls Court on time. Result: probably running every 20 mins to Edgware Road, and Wimbledon - City trains reversing at PAG. Now you choose, trains out of service and starve east end of the line of its normal service, or send extras to Richmond and Ealing. That's the gerneral fix, but you still have to keep drivers at the right place for their meal relief and end of duty, so reversing at ERC is thus inevitable.

Whatever the line controller does it is guranteed someone will think they could have done better. That includes drivers, travelling public, and just about everybody else who hasn't seen line controllers in action in the control room when an incident occurs. One thing is for sure everybody complains, often because they think of themselves, rather than seeing the holistic picture of the whole line. The fact is there is no perfect solution to any problem, because someone is always affected and they always say "why me?" So if a line controller has decided that a train should reverse at ERC, there will be a reason, could be a very complicated one which made not be obvious, but it is hardly a decision taken lightly.