Oxford area rail infrastructure improvements

[absolutelymilk]

Now the remodelling has been done, will electrification to Oxford restart? Or is there more to be done before that?

 

[JamesT]

Now the remodelling has been done, will electrification to Oxford restart? Or is there more to be done before that?

Electrification was deferred by Grayling, I think it would have to go back to him to make a decision to go ahead again before anything would happen.

 

[jimm]

Now the remodelling has been done, will electrification to Oxford restart? Or is there more to be done before that?

In a word, no.

Wiring from Didcot to Oxford is dependent on the Government authorising money for the work as part of Network Rail's Control Period 6 spending, starting from next year.

No further alterations to track or signalling in the area are now needed before wires go up. Network Rail has plans prepared to electrify the track layout that has now been installed and around which any new station with more platforms will be built.

 

[alexx]

Futuristic images have been released by Oxford Science Park showing how a station on the site could look.
In what would be only the second station built in the city since 1935, it is envisaged that hundreds of commuters would use it daily to travel between central Oxford and the edge of Littlemore on the newly reopened Cowley Branch Line.

http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/16...for-a-new-railway-station-in-oxford-revealed/

 

[Doctor Fegg]

Had a run through Oxford today and got to ride over the extended loop line up to Wolvercote for the first time, though at very low speed due to the blanket restrictions in the area due to overheating rails.

Every down journey I've made this week (three I think) has been on the new loop - a strange sensation after so many years of going along the mainline!

The Oxford CIS appears to be having teething troubles with the new layout/signalling: the LED boards frequently get clogged up with "Not in service" trains, sometimes long after their scheduled departure. Station staff do at least seem on top of it and are correcting the announcements.

 

[swt_passenger]

Every down journey I've made this week (three I think) has been on the new loop - a strange sensation after so many years of going along the mainline!.

I expect the loop is now the fastest route from the platform, because it avoids the initial slow speed crossover to the down through line. I watched it happening on opentraintimes for a couple of hours a few days ago and I think just about every down passenger service used the loop.

 

[swt_passenger]

Shame the new map does not include routing indication/routes set (not sure what ott call it) - maybe they'll add it later.

It’s there now as they predicted, not sure when it was added. They’ve also made a significant improvement by “expanding” the diagram vertically so it no longer has that gap in the Oxford to Bicester line.

 

[II]

Good to see the new signalling settling in pretty well. Two failures in crossing telephone communications and one axle counter failure are the only issues I've been made aware of so far. There's still work to be done - as of the end of last week at least, Up Sidings 1 and 2 and the headshunt (still missing buffer stops) have yet to be brought into service, and there are still a number of 50mph TSR's in the area. Non operational works such as canopies, the side entrance, short stay car park and so on are still months away from being completed.

Next on my personal wishlist is to get the Phase 2 part of the works underway as soon as possible, especially the Platform 5 element of them. These can hopefully take place before the station gets redeveloped, which with all the fuss such a large project takes to get off the ground (funding, agreement on design, planning applications/approval, construction etc.) means it is still 5-10 years away from happening IMHO.

Then, following on from completion of Phase 2, I'd like to see the following programme of improvements in the following order of priority:

1) Electrification of Didcot to Oxford.
2) Remodelling of Wolvercote Junction (by extending the Down Oxford Relief to the junction you can reduce conflicting moves further by having Cotswold Line trains in both directions able to be signalled on/off the branch whilst parallel moves of both freight and passenger trains on the Up/Down Oxford can be made).
3) Redouble from Wolvercote Junction to just west of Hanborough. Ideally through to Charlbury, but the thorny issue of Combe and Finstock than raise their heads, so Hanborough might be a better bet in terms of getting funding.
4) Oxford to Cowley branch passenger services - complete with remodelling/removal of Hinskey Yard to re-introduce third (and possibly fourth) passenger standard line as far as Kennington Junction in order that they can be accommodated without stretching the current layout too far.
5) New station building.

This is in addition to already committed works such as East-West Rail, and other important projects a little further afield such as grade separation at Didcot and 'nice to have' things such as bi-di signalling all the way to Banbury.

 

[coppercapped]

Good to see the new signalling settling in pretty well. Two failures in crossing telephone communications and one axle counter failure are the only issues I've been made aware of so far. There's still work to be done - as of the end of last week at least, Up Sidings 1 and 2 and the headshunt (still missing buffer stops) have yet to be brought into service, and there are still a number of 50mph TSR's in the area. Non operational works such as canopies, the side entrance, short stay car park and so on are still months away from being completed.

Next on my personal wishlist is to get the Phase 2 part of the works underway as soon as possible, especially the Platform 5 element of them. These can hopefully take place before the station gets redeveloped, which with all the fuss such a large project takes to get off the ground (funding, agreement on design, planning applications/approval, construction etc.) means it is still 5-10 years away from happening IMHO.

Then, following on from completion of Phase 2, I'd like to see the following programme of improvements in the following order of priority:

1) Electrification of Didcot to Oxford.
2) Remodelling of Wolvercote Junction (by extending the Down Oxford Relief to the junction you can reduce conflicting moves further by having Cotswold Line trains in both directions able to be signalled on/off the branch whilst parallel moves of both freight and passenger trains on the Up/Down Oxford can be made).
3) Redouble from Wolvercote Junction to just west of Hanborough. Ideally through to Charlbury, but the thorny issue of Combe and Finstock than raise their heads, so Hanborough might be a better bet in terms of getting funding.
4) Oxford to Cowley branch passenger services - complete with remodelling/removal of Hinskey Yard to re-introduce third (and possibly fourth) passenger standard line as far as Kennington Junction in order that they can be accommodated without stretching the current layout too far.
5) New station building.

This is in addition to already committed works such as East-West Rail, and other important projects a little further afield such as grade separation at Didcot and 'nice to have' things such as bi-di signalling all the way to Banbury.

Where's the 'Like' button? My feelings entirely!

 

[deltic08]

Great to see the resignalling works completed on time and so far performing well.

Does this mean a continuation of electrification from Didcot to Oxford or will it have to wait until Newbury is completed?

 

[snowball]

Does this mean a continuation of electrification from Didcot to Oxford or will it have to wait until Newbury is completed?

My impression from reading this thread is that Newbury electrification will be completed by the end of this year. Didcot to Oxford electrification was suspended in November 2016 and seems likely to require re-authorisation as a CP6 project. My impression is that it has better chances of early approval than Chippenham - Bath - Bristol - Filton, because of the remodelling/ resignalling still required at Bristol East and South.

Edit: maybe the people working on Newbury will be moved to south Wales?

 

[II]

Yes, it forms part of the CP6 pool of projects. An easy one to get going again though as there is a plan of what is required and where, dozens of piles already driven into the ground, and a fully functioning ATS at Radley. The ongoing saga with the 769 conversion might well help a positive decision to be made early. Stabling 387s at Swindon really is a poor second to having them stabled at the purpose built sidings at Oxford.

 

[Melancholia]

The Oxford CIS appears to be having teething troubles with the new layout/signalling: the LED boards frequently get clogged up with "Not in service" trains, sometimes long after their scheduled departure. Station staff do at least seem on top of it and are correcting the announcements.

The system needs an update. What the 'Not in service' trains are Class 5 arrivals and departures that are not automatically detected and cleared when a train departs or arrives off/on the platform.

 

[Oxfordblues]

Yes, it really is a madness that an empty train from the carriage sidings is Class 5 and the system perfectly logically indicates that it is "not for public use". The platform staff must be tearing their hair out having to "correct" the announcements for every starting train! How does it work elsewhere?

 

[jimm]

The panelling underneath the new canopies on platforms 1, 2 and the north end of 3 is now almost complete but still no sign of permanent lighting or departure indicators.

 

[II]

A few developments over the last month or so:

1) Oxford Up Sidings 1 and 2 have now been brought into use to give Rewley Road its full compliment of 5 sidings.
2) The headshunt is opening in the next couple of weeks - work to finish the track and walking routes now looking complete.
3) The new station canopies now have working lighting, as I saw them being tested last week. Supports for the departure indicators now just await those indicators to be fitted.
4) Work on the new gateline exit by platform 1 is now progressing quickly - though I heard a rumour that Chiltern are arguing over what they should contribute towards the staffing of it!

 

[swt_passenger]

4) Work on the new gateline exit by platform 1 is now progressing quickly - though I heard a rumour that Chiltern are arguing over what they should contribute towards the staffing of it!

Earlier in the thread (post #69) I’d found from the TWA stuff that this was to be initially for staff/emergency use, but possibly later for peak hours use only, is that still the case?

 

[Melancholia]

Staff will be provided by GWR, as vacancies have already been adveritsed a few months back, and the new gateline will be used as exit only for the time being.

 

[swt_passenger]

Staff will be provided by GWR, as vacancies have already been adveritsed a few months back, and the new gateline will be used as exit only for the time being.

Thanks. Probably makes sense to leave departing passenger using the existing entrance building, as they don’t normally arrive all at the same time...

 

[II]

The headshunt is now fully commissioned, so that's all of the Up Sidings now in use - though various equipment and facilities still need to be installed or moved.

Staff will be provided by GWR, as vacancies have already been adveritsed a few months back, and the new gateline will be used as exit only for the time being.

Yes, I never doubted GWR would provide the staff as they run the station, but I gather there are/were a few arguments as to how much Chiltern were to pay towards the costs of them. Hopefully any issues have, or will shortly, be resolved.

 

[FGW_DID]

The headshunt is now fully commissioned, so that's all of the Up Sidings now in use

Now that is good news.

 

[JN114]

Now that is good news.

Hear hear!

 

[jimm]

The lights built into the new canopies on platforms 1, 2 and north end of 3 are now working - at long last.

But the lampposts on the north end of platform 2 are now out of action with temporary lights strung along the fence at the back of the platform.

 

[Melancholia]

But the lampposts on the north end of platform 2 are now out of action with temporary lights strung along the fence at the back of the platform.

It's an ongoing issue, as the timers for the lights are set for summer time, so the lights were coming on way too late in the dark winter hours. Someone decided to switch them off completely.

Apparently, the timer for the lights is in the old PSB building, and since it closed in July last year, someone either forgot to change it, or access is not allowed.

 

[Neen Sollars]

If you would like to view some superb photographs of the Oxford area track improvements showing the new and improved track layouts including the start of the East West Rail link to Bicester see David Harvey`s flickr album. Thanks to him for taking the time to visit Oxford and take the shots, I am sure he would welcome more views of his great works.

 

[Geogregor]

If you would like to view some superb photographs of the Oxford area track improvements showing the new and improved track layouts including the start of the East West Rail link to Bicester see David Harvey`s flickr album. Thanks to him for taking the time to visit Oxford and take the shots, I am sure he would welcome more views of his great works.

How about providing link to the album?

 

[Neen Sollars]

42 excellent photos from David Harvey showing completed Oxford area track improvements

https://www.flickr.com/photos/unravelled/

enjoy

 

[unravelled]

I'm glad the photos are of interest. I'm afraid you'll find that my organisation of them isn't the best, but there are several albums such as this for Aristotle lane photos,
https://www.flickr.com/photos/unravelled/albums/72157640353126193

I lived in Walton Well Road through the 50s and 60s, so the bottom of the road was my easiest spotting location, though I did venture farther afield whenever possible.

Thanks

Dave

 

[Neen Sollars]

Just posted this on East West Rail thread:
Yes its route B for me and heading north after Cambourne taking over the busway. Train terminates at Cambridge North. Change here for Newmarket, Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich via new chord to connect with existing junction. Either express bus to Cambridge City Centre or Rail Shuttle Service. Lots of room at Cambridge North for additional platforms. Also change here for Norwich.
Oxford - Cambridge line, or the "Oxford-Cambridge Knowledge Corridor" Departs: Cambridge North, Calling at, Cambridge Science Park, Cambourne, (New) Sandy, Bedford, Bletchley, Winslow, Bicester, Oxford Parkway, Oxford, and wait for it, Oxford Science Park terminating at Oxford Business Park.
Oxford and Cambridge centres of world beating expertise in tech, science, medical science and biotech, this route worth billions of £££££sssss to the post Brexit UK economy. And I think for once the politicians actually get it!

East West Rail to arrive in Cambridge 2030? Time for more Oxford Area Improvements. New Oxford station needed, together with Bay platforms 1 & 2 converted to through platforms, platforms 1,2 & 3 to serve London Marylebone and East West Rail to Milton Keynes and Cambridge North. Oxford to Cambridge services start at new Oxford Business Park on part re-instated Cowley branch.
Platform 5 re (?) instated at back of Platform 4 although there hardly seems room to fit when viewed from David`s (unravelled) recent photographs.
Make it so!

 

[Chonner]

The new exit has had the hoardings removed from it now. No gateline and not in passenger use yet, but reports are it will be open soon along side the return of the old short stay car park.