wrote in message
...
On Wed, 29 Dec 2010 02:38:00 -0800 (PST)

Strictly speaking Barnes bridge is going north west , but I can't
figure out what sort of convoluted route would take it through the leafy
lines around Barnes to go north of the river presumably at some point to
head
south of the river again. Gauging issues perhaps with the Mk3's?

HSTs (rather than Mk3 coaches) are only cleared into platforms 17, 18 and
19. As this is a subset of the platforms allowing Mk3 coaches, the
suspicion is that it's the power cars themselves that are the critical issue
for gauging.

Once you've decided those platforms are to be used, an approach via the
Windsor lines is apparently less disruptive to other mainline services, and
there has also been limited track capacity via Surbiton these last couple of
days due to engineering work. Lastly, the HSTs are not yet cleared on the
SW main line east of Byfleet Junction.

Paul S