"Matthew P Jones" wrote

Indeed, I don't, I do know a slow train passed us before we got into
Watford. We were not booked to stop at Watford, but we were lightly
loaded so one wonders if there was an option to use our train to clear
passengers from Watford. No matter, I still reckon the passengers at
Watford would have been annoyed as we slowed almost to a stop before
accelerating away.

One important fact that you knew, but Control probably didn't (although they
probably should have had some idea) was that your train was lightly loaded.

Peter