Central Trains

A study of failure:

How the Scores are Calculated

The services I take

Each day, I commute from Codsall to my work at Birmingham International. The schedule I like to follow is indicated by a *, with alternate trains I may catch:


LegBefore May 25From May 25
1: Codsall - Wolverhampton *640, arr 651
649 BUS, arr 710. Taking this incurs an automatic 15 point penalty, with the clock not stopping till I see the clock inside Wolverhampton station foyer.
*701, arr New Street 723
2: Wolverhampton - Birmingham New Street 649, arr 715
652, arr 716
*706, arr 723
711, arr 726
719, arr 755 (taken through to International)
722, arr 801 (taken through to International)
3: Birmingham New Street - Birmingham International 733, arr 744
*736, arr 748
745, arr 755
748, arr 801
Part 4: International - New Street 1738, arr 1753
*1750, arr 1806
1756, arr 1809
Part 5: New Street - Wolverhampton 1810, arr 1833
*1817, arr 1845 (taken to Codsall)
Part 6: Wolverhampton - Codsall

If a train after the starred route is taken, I endeavour to reach the destination as quickly as possible. If a train above the star is taken, I will wait to return to the starred route.

There is a cop-out clause in effect. If service A preceeds service B into a station by less than 5 minutes, then any delay to service A will cause a knock-on delay to service B. In this case, I will deduct the full points from service A, but will expect service B to catch up only 2 minutes. This currently applies to the 1810 from New Street (part 5) and 1817 (part 5 preferred). If the 1810 is 5 minutes late arriving at New Street, I allow the 1817 to arrive 3 minutes late.


Scoring

Each day's service starts out with 40 points. Points are deducted for any of the following reasons:

Train is late
1-2 minutes: -1 point.
3-4 minutes: -2 points.
Then -1 point for every full or part minute a train is late, up to a maximum of -15 points on any single train.
Train is so late that I miss my closing connection: -15 points.
Closing connection train is cancelled: -15 points.
Other train is cancelled: -10 points.
Service faults
Ticket inspector not wearing name badge: -1 point.
No apology for delay: -2 points.
Toilet I wish to use out of use: -3 points.
Have to stand on 1817 from New Street: -3 points.
Have to stand on any other train: -4 points.

I reserve the right to deduct other points based on unusual circumstances; similarly, I reserve the right not to deduct points, or award bonus points, if circumstances dictate.


Results

90% is an excellent week. 80% is good. 75% is acceptable. Anything below 70% will cause me to send a letter to Central Trains.


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This page updated May 4, 1998
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