East-West Rail (EWR): Consultation updates [not speculation]

[aylesbury]

According to the latest issue of Rail the East West Rail Company was launched on Dec 14th and will be progressing the new line quickly. It will attract private capital plus it will operate the train services. Think you can call this an intergrated franchise. I hope that work will start by the summer as just clearing the undergrowth will be a major process as, believe me, the trees are well established.

One of the big jobs will be building platforms on the Bletchley flyover as its right over the WCML plus the viaduct is now old and what will be found in the concrete when they start breaking into it?

 

[mr_jrt]

The platforms won't be over the WCML - they'll be off to the side, just before the junction where the line splits towards Milton Keynes and the Marston Vale.

 

[richieb1971]

Building those platforms above roads and near an electrified railway with rumbles of trains going back and forth has got to be a daunting experience. The southern tip of p3-p4 at Bletchley is right above the main roads beneath and therefore the platforms on EWR are going to be right on top of the roads as well. I don't think this is practical but I may be wrong. I'm not sure if these new platforms are floating on stilts (unlikely) or if they are supported by something more solid. Either way having that much concrete hovering above a busy road junction seems dangerous, especially in the building stage. If there is more room between the above shot and the actual junction slightly to the north I would move it away from the roads. The station itself needs an overhaul. I saw a video from 1968 era and it looked the same as it does now. Otherwise the station will be a cross of old and new.

 

[edwin_m]

If the flyover isn't strong enough to support the platforms then a pier could be built each side of the road and a section of platform lifted into place forming a bridge between them. This could be done in an overnight or worst case a weekend road closure. It could also be close to but not actually resting on the flyover. The nearer tracks of the railway could have OLE isolated if necessary, without affecting passing trains on the main lines.

 

[aylesbury]

An interesting design and will offer a good interchange, but the depiction of the main Bletchley station does not bear resemblance to the real dump that it is.

 

[richieb1971]

It looks like Reading station from that picture

I just noticed P7 and P8 have been made shorter. This is for the Marston Vale services?

If that is the case they are pretty much exclusively used for that purpose and parking freight. You won't get a normal sized train to use those platforms again.

 

[Bletchleyite]

An interesting design and will offer a good interchange, but the depiction of the main Bletchley station does not bear resemblance to the real dump that it is.

It’s bleak and grey but I wouldn’t call it a dump, it is well maintained and clean.

 

[twpsaesneg]

Building those platforms above roads and near an electrified railway with rumbles of trains going back and forth has got to be a daunting experience. The southern tip of p3-p4 at Bletchley is right above the main roads beneath and therefore the platforms on EWR are going to be right on top of the roads as well. I don't think this is practical but I may be wrong. I'm not sure if these new platforms are floating on stilts (unlikely) or if they are supported by something more solid. Either way having that much concrete hovering above a busy road junction seems dangerous, especially in the building stage. If there is more room between the above shot and the actual junction slightly to the north I would move it away from the roads. The station itself needs an overhaul. I saw a video from 1968 era and it looked the same as it does now. Otherwise the station will be a cross of old and new.

My Google Earth skills show me that there's enough room to fit a 200m platform between the existing toes of points for the junction between the Marston Vale line and the access to WCML North and the edge of the existing B4034 underbridge. The area underneath is railway access / parking for the stone terminal from memory, although I'm sure @Bletchleyite can confirm that! For what is an artists impression it looks reasonably sensible.
Building platforms over roads is nothing new anyway, Leagrave and Harpenden have both had platforms extended over road bridges in recent times as part of Thameslink Programme.

 

[swt_passenger]

There were links to a load of EWR planning drawings made available in this thread back in June, and I provided a direct link to the Bletchley station layout in August:

http://ewrconsultation.co.uk/docs/plans/Bletchley_Station/133735_2C-EWR-BBM-XXXXXX-DR-T-016059.pdf

The position of the station seems fairly settled.

 

[Elecman]

Indeed the access is to a stone/ cement works as well as a Network Rail maintenance depot and possibly Bletchley train maintenance sidings. Operational equipment is also installed under the viaduct itself

 

[coppercapped]

My Google Earth skills show me that there's enough room to fit a 200m platform between the existing toes of points for the junction between the Marston Vale line and the access to WCML North and the edge of the existing B4034 underbridge. The area underneath is railway access / parking for the stone terminal from memory, although I'm sure @Bletchleyite can confirm that! For what is an artists impression it looks reasonably sensible.
Building platforms over roads is nothing new anyway, Leagrave and Harpenden have both had platforms extended over road bridges in recent times as part of Thameslink Programme.

And Blackfriars and Bristol Temple Meads have platforms over rivers...

 

[HowardGWR]

Will there be a gap in that tall wall so that pax can walk across to the bus station? At the moment the station entrance seems unhandily on the wrong side of the railway for pedestrians and cyclists.

 

[work-traveller]

Will there be a gap in that tall wall so that pax can walk across to the bus station? At the moment the station entrance seems unhandily on the wrong side of the railway for pedestrians and cyclists.

The scheme is making passive provision for a new secondary entrance down onto Saxon Way. Watch this space to see as/when this becomes active provision in the not too distant future...

 

[Dunnyrail]

An interesting design and will offer a good interchange, but the depiction of the main Bletchley station does not bear resemblance to the real dump that it is.

Architects views never do create the illusion of a Dump or to be a Dump. Just look at the design of any old Tower Block!

 

[DarloRich]

Building those platforms above roads and near an electrified railway with rumbles of trains going back and forth has got to be a daunting experience. The southern tip of p3-p4 at Bletchley is right above the main roads beneath and therefore the platforms on EWR are going to be right on top of the roads as well. I don't think this is practical but I may be wrong. I'm not sure if these new platforms are floating on stilts (unlikely) or if they are supported by something more solid. Either way having that much concrete hovering above a busy road junction seems dangerous, especially in the building stage. If there is more room between the above shot and the actual junction slightly to the north I would move it away from the roads. The station itself needs an overhaul. I saw a video from 1968 era and it looked the same as it does now. Otherwise the station will be a cross of old and new.

building over the road is no real problem and from what I understand the platforms will not be over the road itself but finish somewhere around the current entrance to the stone terminal.

If you are concerned look at Blackfriars: platforms built onto a bridge over the Thames in Central London.

It looks like Reading station from that picture

I just noticed P7 and P8 have been made shorter. This is for the Marston Vale services?

If that is the case they are pretty much exclusively used for that purpose and parking freight. You won't get a normal sized train to use those platforms again.

P7/8?

The picture ( which is clearly marked "artist impression only") does seem to show P4/5 and 6 cut back and a new platform face built behind P6. I cant think that is correct.

 

[alexx]

There's a third round of public consultation events coming up next week along the Western Section, at Twyford, Charndon, Winslow, Newton Longville and Launton. The web page says that this is due to "some changes to the scope and delivery of the scheme in some areas".

Details here: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/our-railway-upgrade-plan/key-projects/east-west-rail/western-section/ (towards the bottom of the page) - which is also where, from 12th January, you should find documents related to this consultation.

 

[The Planner]

For changes, bet on the word "reduction"

 

[duffield]

For changes, bet on the word "reduction"

Given the way things have gone recently (e.g. EML electrification) I'd be very happy to have any sort of railway open between Bicester and Bletchley in the next 5 years (and yes, I am a potential semi-regular passenger on this route!)

 

[67018]

Given the way things have gone recently (e.g. EML electrification) I'd be very happy to have any sort of railway open between Bicester and Bletchley in the next 5 years (and yes, I am a potential semi-regular passenger on this route!)

Given the location of the consultation meetings in the small villages along the line, I'd have thought any changes are more likely to be details like footpath diversions and level crossing closures rather than any major change.

 

[HowardGWR]

For changes, bet on the word "reduction"

Thank you Eeyore. What single line only?

 

[InTheEastMids]

For changes, bet on the word "reduction"

I'm expecting it to be de-scoped to a 60mph max railway with a fleet of 230s.

I think this idea is just about insane AND short-sighted enough to be under serious consideration

Before you dismiss me, remember that Grayling is still SoS at DfT

 

[richieb1971]

Is there a reason why people are starting to talk with a sense of "my glass is half empty"?

 

[duffield]

Is there a reason why people are starting to talk with a sense of "my glass is half empty"?

I guess it's a general cynicism about the government's will to see major projects through in the light of such things as the partial cancellations of the GWML and MML electrification and the abandonment of the 'electric spine', plus the fact that the project took so long to get started and has already been downgraded from an electric to non-electric line...

 

[alexx]

There's a third round of public consultation events coming up next week along the Western Section, at Twyford, Charndon, Winslow, Newton Longville and Launton. The web page says that this is due to "some changes to the scope and delivery of the scheme in some areas".

Details here: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/our-railway-upgrade-plan/key-projects/east-west-rail/western-section/ (towards the bottom of the page) - which is also where, from 12th January, you should find documents related to this consultation.

Consultation details here: https://consultations.networkrail.c...t-west-rail-phase-2-round-three-consultation/

 

[alexx]

For changes, bet on the word "reduction"

Quite a few, it seems - including single track from Aylesbury Vale Parkway to Claydon, Newton Longville loops are gone, a smaller Winslow station, and more to find once I've dug through the document in a bit more detail.

 

[jyte]

has already been downgraded from an electric to non-electric line...

Oh wow I didn't know that had happened, count me as an added cynic.

Edit: I might be misremembering but didn't the sos announce he wanted a private enterprise to build, run, maintain (and presumably pay for) the new line?

 

[duffield]

Edit: I might be misremembering but didn't the sos announce he wanted a private enterprise to build, run, maintain (and presumably pay for) the new line?

Yes. The East West Rail company was launched on 14th December 2017 according to Railnews. The line will be funded by a mix of public and private finance.

As well as removing electrification, it's also now not intended as a freight line (which it was originally).

 

[Bletchleyite]

Quite a few, it seems - including single track from Aylesbury Vale Parkway to Claydon, Newton Longville loops are gone, a smaller Winslow station, and more to find once I've dug through the document in a bit more detail.

I assume that'll mean a reduced service - perhaps portion worked?

 

[HowardGWR]

..........and I thought I was joking in post #1460!

 

[work-traveller]

Quite a few, it seems - including single track from Aylesbury Vale Parkway to Claydon, Newton Longville loops are gone, a smaller Winslow station, and more to find once I've dug through the document in a bit more detail.

Single tracking of the Aylesbury/Claydon line also means that Aylesbury Vale Parkway now gets one additional platform, i.e. no 'west side' platform with associated footbridge, steps & lifts. Also this and Winslow have shorter platforms.
I believe that the passenger service pattern is unchanged.