East-West Rail (EWR): Oxford-Bletchley construction progress

[fishwomp]

No but the number of people driving from Aylesbury to MK on weekday mornings and back in the evening is a good indicator that there's demand for 1tph at least.

Well, to be precise - a good indicator for one return trip per day at those specified times..

 

[zwk500]

Well, to be precise - a good indicator for one return trip per day at those specified times..

A strong commuter flow is the revenue base for the all-day off peak service. MK and Aylesbury aren't far apart, and MK will be the nearest location of many 'city level' amenities for Aylesbury. I would not be surprised to see a 3-car hourly DMU between the two being busy for most of the day.

 

[Bletchleyite]

A strong commuter flow is the revenue base for the all-day off peak service. MK and Aylesbury aren't far apart, and MK will be the nearest location of many 'city level' amenities for Aylesbury. I would not be surprised to see a 3-car hourly DMU between the two being busy for most of the day.

I completely agree. There are bus services, but these aren't very desirable for car owners, and there are plenty of cars going back and forth all day every day. A railway would also bring both closer together, benefitting both economies.

 

[stuu]

Latest signalling plans suggest it won't, its gone blue for passive provision.

Would that mean the junction isn't installed?

 

[The Planner]

Would that mean the junction isn't installed?

Looks that way. Various hoops to jump through to keep S&C on the ground that isnt commissioned.

 

[zwk500]

Looks that way. Various hoops to jump through to keep S&C on the ground that isnt commissioned.

That's a real shame. Is the curve not needed for freight to/from Calvert?

 

[12LDA28C]

No but the number of people driving from Aylesbury to MK on weekday mornings and back in the evening is a good indicator that there's demand for 1tph at least.

Indeed, which doesn't make my statement any less true.

 

[zwk500]

Indeed, which doesn't make my statement any less true.

True

 

[12LDA28C]

Would make Chiltern's job of getting units onto and off the service easier too.

How would it? The trains are not being maintained at Aylesbury.

 

[BrianW]

Looks that way. Various hoops to jump through to keep S&C on the ground that isnt commissioned.

S&C meaning for an 'outsider'?
I appreciate that initial costs may be saved by leaving out a junction, but how much to pay (and disruption) in the longer run if and when ...
I imagine these are everyday considerations for Planners, and less often for those who actually decide.
Would such a link be just to link MK and Aylesbury with a single track and crossovers each end?; not a four way grade separated super junction!!

 

[12LDA28C]

That's a real shame. Is the curve not needed for freight to/from Calvert?

No, as the household waste trains come from the south via Aylesbury to Calvert and don't get as far as Claydon where the curve would have been.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 May 2023 ==

S&C meaning for an 'outsider'?

Switches and crossings, i.e. pointwork / junctions.

 

[swt_passenger]

Looks that way. Various hoops to jump through to keep S&C on the ground that isnt commissioned.

I think I remember you saying the FOCs would insist on reinstatement to allow for the existing flows? Didn’t work out then?

 

[zwk500]

No, as the household waste trains come from the south via Aylesbury to Calvert and don't get as far as Claydon where the curve would have been.

Thanks, didn't know if there were plans to reroute the flow or for additionals.

 

[The Planner]

I think I remember you saying the FOCs would insist on reinstatement to allow for the existing flows? Didn’t work out then?

There probably has been some agreement about constraining when blocks can happen so the traffic isnt disrupted, and I assume some sort of agreement with FCC who run the power station etc...

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 May 2023 ==

S&C meaning for an 'outsider'?
I appreciate that initial costs may be saved by leaving out a junction, but how much to pay (and disruption) in the longer run if and when ...
I imagine these are everyday considerations for Planners, and less often for those who actually decide.
Would such a link be just to link MK and Aylesbury with a single track and crossovers each end?; not a four way grade separated super junction!!

Pretty much what the plan is, double lead at Claydon, then single line down to Aylesbury Vale with a loop at the new Greatmoor facilty.

 

[al green]

EEH has just launched a consultation on Nton-MK-Bucks corridor transport connectivity. This is your opportunity to make the case for the EWR MK-Ayl service, with, I suggest, extensions to Nton and OOC.

England's Economic Heartland

Connectivity Studies

www.englandseconomicheartland.com

 

[Trainee9]

Saw the installed footbridge to the Bletchley high level station today. It looks like it is intended to have a roof, which is not yet fitted.

 

[swt_passenger]

Saw the installed footbridge to the Bletchley high level station today. It looks like it is intended to have a roof, which is not yet fitted.

I think the roof is started but it’s mostly out of view behind the signal.

 

[Neen Sollars]

Decent You Tube video from NWP Exploring. He gets his east and west mixed up, but a good view of what is happening up and down the line.

 

[Kingham West]

Work going on during Saturday, at Calvert , the trace for the Aylesbury is very clear .

 

[snowball]

For an interesting timelapse, see this streetview near Bicester in April 2021, Nov 2021 and Jul 2022.

(If you don't see a range of dates, click on "see latest date(s)" or "see more dates".)

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.co.uk

Meanwhile, I'm confused about the identity of one of the bridges shown in the video in #1128 - visible from 15:00 to 15:18 and described as "the old Great Central bridge just down from Calvert." Could someone clarify please exactly which bridge this is?

 

[swt_passenger]

Meanwhile, I'm confused about the identity of one of the bridges shown in the video in #1128 - visible from 15:00 to 15:18 and described as "the old Great Central bridge just down from Calvert." Could someone clarify please exactly which bridge this is?

I think it’s the one I’ve arrowed on an extract from the HS2 maps, below. It looks as if they intend to have a drainage pond access track running under it, but in itself it doesn’t seem to be a key feature of either EWR or HS2 project.

 

[snowball]

I think it’s the one I’ve arrowed on an extract from the HS2 maps, below. It looks as if they intend to have a drainage pond access track running under it, but in itself it doesn’t seem to be a key feature of either EWR or HS2 project.

Many thanks. So it's this bridge, but seen from below.

 

[swt_passenger]

Many thanks. So it's this bridge, but seen from below. And the road over it will be diverted slightly to the north.

I’m not sure if the diversion is permanent. That map suggests to me that there’ll be a new bridge in line with it over HS2, but the road will be in the same position and heading in the same direction. But I also think it’s not really an EWR matter.

 

[snowball]

In fact I'd changed my mind about the diversion and edited it out while you were posting!

 

[swt_passenger]

In fact I'd changed my mind about the diversion and edited it out while you were posting!

No problem. I had a scout around on Google and i noticed it had a weak bridge warning sign, it looks as though it can’t be that significant a route, but then it is a sort of “money’s no object” type of scheme…

 

[Class 170101]

Latest signalling plans suggest it won't, its gone blue for passive provision.

Sorry? Gone blue?

 

[zwk500]

Sorry? Gone blue?

The colour key for signalling plans is quite strict - red for new, green for removed, black for existing things retains, and then blue for proposed at a later stage but not installed in the project concerned (sometimes blue boxes are used for other indications as well), then you get into other colours as required.

 

[The Planner]

Sorry? Gone blue?

@zwk500 has answered it.

 

[Trainee9]

No problem. I had a scout around on Google and i noticed it had a weak bridge warning sign, it looks as though it can’t be that significant a route, but then it is a sort of “money’s no object” type of scheme…

I parked alongside the bridge in question a month ago. It bridges the former Great Central trackbed, and there is now a new ground level diversion alongside it (possibly built for the reason mentioned here.) The old bridge is not in the path of the EWR, or the HS2.

 

[Neen Sollars]

Another super drone video on You Tube from The Boy. EWR from Calvert to Winslow.