H&City Line keeps stopping

[morello]

As a regular user of the H&C, I’ve noticed that H&C trains are almost always stopping along the way.
At Aldgate Junction (probably waiting for the Junction to clear)
On the platform at Liverpool St, often to regulate the service.
Then again at Euston Square, Edgware Road and Paddington.

This creates a view to passengers that this an unreliable line and should be avoided when possible.
I recently took the H&C from the east to Kings Cross, and I resisted my gut feeling to jump on the Central at Mile End and then regretted it with a five minute platform wait in Liverpool St to regulate the service…

I understand this is done partly because there is a lot of slack integrated in the H&C timetable so trains often arrive early and have to wait to “regulate the service” or whatever.

Is this ever going to be fixed? Maybe when the increased frequency materializes now that the resignalling has covered the whole line?

[class411]

Is it just H&C trains that do this, or do circle line trains behave in a similar manner?

[jimbo]

The last timetable revision brought in new run times to take account of the new signalling. With the new signalling now controlling from Barking to Earl's Court & Hammersmith, is it not helping adjust running to ensure parallel working over major junctions as promised? So, for example, delays at Aldgate East whilst conflicting westbound H&C and eastbound District trains move across the junction are avoided?

[Colin]

Without a degree of slack built into the timetable, there would be the risk that trains never run on time and in fact your service would be constantly worse as trains are cancelled, reformed or turned short in order to try and get them back on time.

A constantly late running service could also lead to drivers getting off late breaks and then won't be in position on time for their next pick ups leading to trains sat in platforms awaiting drivers.

The slack built into timetables helps to manage the risk of small delays here and there automatically. Whilst it may frustrate travellers to wait time at particular locations, its actually done to ensure the service remains robust.

[class411]

This is why I wondered if the circle line behaves in the same way. The line details after than and the H&C diverge could lead to more 'padding' being needed on one compared to the other.