No railway timetable ever operates perfectly. There are always some disruptive events which can impact on the Operation of the plan. However, the aim of the train planner should be the production of a timetable which works, not only on paper, but also in practice, even when there are disruptive events. Some Problems in Operation are unavoidable - severe weather or bridge strikes cannot be anticipated - but experience shows that well-constructed timetables can absorb some disruption, without generating a chain-reaction of delays. Timetable planners are juggling the Provision of a commercially attractive service, an economically viable Service, and an operationally reliable one. They are also often under pressure to provide the maximum possible number of slots for trains, even though this will inevitably reduce operational reliability. They may also be working to very tight timescales, especially when making short-term alterations to the plan.
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