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

[snowball]

And I've said the same on here several times. But it may be that, to compensate for HS2's delays, they're now being more flexible about it than the original plan. Either the handback is being done in more than one phase or HS2 Ltd are doing some EWR tracklaying themselves. I think the recently laid track near the depot is within the eastern end of what was HS2's patch, whilst there are still heavy earth- and bridgeworks to be completed at the west end of the patch.

 

[fgwrich]

Yes, I think that’s what’s been understood for a while, IIRC one of the EWR newsletters earlier this year said just that.

Speaking of which, Phil Marsh has revisited the site and the track now leads up to the edges of both sides of the HS2 worksite now. It cant be long before the closure of the old road begins and the new route opens allowing for the brick bridge to be demolished.

https://twitter.com/marshrail/status/1690811691355783168?s=46

 

[Elecman]

I was at the Calvert end today and that side of the embankment is substantially complete still external drainage earthworks to complete before EWR given access

 

[Mallyduck]

Speaking of which, Phil Marsh has revisited the site and the track now leads up to the edges of both sides of the HS2 worksite now. It cant be long before the closure of the old road begins and the new route opens allowing for the brick bridge to be demolished.

https://twitter.com/marshrail/status/1690811691355783168?s=46

 

[Dr A.Johnston]

Two videos appeared on YouTube this afternoon posted by 'DronePix'. Both of interest and well done, but sadly the first did not complete the passage from EWR track end to track end over the HS2 site but shows the current build status.

1. Calvert Buckinghamshire EWR HS2 flight path

2. Calvert Buckinghamshire EWR HS2 Tamping Train

Enjoy....

 

[swt_passenger]

Something I noticed in an unrelated thread, but apparently Buckingham Group contractors have just gone into administration, I think they were doing parts of the EWR scheme, (reported complete on their website) but are still a subcontractor in the HS2 interface area. They blame other contracting areas for the issues, ie not the rail contracts we‘re interested in.

I wonder if that’s a symptom of lack of progress in certain areas, or will the main contractor have contingency plans to cover this eventuality?

Their notice about the administration is here:

Why is the Company in this position?
Very strong delivery and commercial performance across most of the business has been outweighed by deep losses and interim cash deficits incurred on the three major Stadium and Arena contracts, and a substantial earthworks contract in Coventry.
This situation on these four long term major projects developed through a combination of unexpected impacts such as the extreme inflation linked to the Ukraine conflict and other challenges in the Sports and Leisure division.

Company Status and Next Steps 17 August 2023 – Buckingham Group Contracting

www.buckinghamgroup.co.uk

 

[Mark24]

Something I noticed in an unrelated thread, but apparently Buckingham Group contractors have just gone into administration, I think they were doing parts of the EWR scheme, (reported complete on their website) but are still a subcontractor in the HS2 interface area. They blame other contracting areas for the issues, ie not the rail contracts we‘re interested in.

I wonder if that’s a symptom of lack of progress in certain areas, or will the main contractor have contingency plans to cover this eventuality?

Their notice about the administration is here:

I believe it was work they carried out at Fulham’s football ground that got them into trouble. I think they were committed to complete a contract priced up before Covid but completed afterwards.

 

[hwl]

I believe it was work they carried out at Fulham’s football ground that got them into trouble. I think they were committed to complete a contract priced up before Covid but completed afterwards.

The Fulham new riverside stand project is still not complete. Very very behind.

Multiple problem projects (not just Fulham) + rampant construction inflation, plenty of other firms struggling too on the inflation front too.

 

[Mikey C]

The Fulham new riverside stand project is still not complete. Very very behind.

Multiple problem projects (not just Fulham) + rampant construction inflation, plenty of other firms struggling too on the inflation front too.

They're also working for Liverpool on the rebuilt Anfield Road End, and Birmingham City (rebuilt lower tiers) so have their fingers in a number of high profile projects!

 

[Dr A.Johnston]

Another video on YouTube appeared today showing the construction work around the EWR/HS2 site. Track bed works are coming along nicely but shows the scale of the work needed to be done yet - Posted originally by Micky2Cams

 

[Alex Mihai]

Quick question, sorry if I'm asking for information that has already been shared, I haven't been really up to speed with all the updates.
On OpenStreetMap (https://www.openstreetmap.org) the whole section from Bicester Village to Bletchley is now being shown as completed. I am aware that this isn't the case, so I also checked OpenRailwayMap (https://www.openrailwaymap.org/). Here it's a bit different with the track being shown to be completed from Bletchley to just before Verney Road Bridge, and then showing as 1 track completed from Verney Junction to Calvert Bridge. How much of this progress is actually there in reality? Thank you.

 

[swt_passenger]

Quick question, sorry if I'm asking for information that has already been shared, I haven't been really up to speed with all the updates.
On OpenStreetMap (https://www.openstreetmap.org) the whole section from Bicester Village to Bletchley is now being shown as completed. I am aware that this isn't the case, so I also checked OpenRailwayMap (https://www.openrailwaymap.org/). Here it's a bit different with the track being shown to be completed from Bletchley to just before Verney Road Bridge, and then showing as 1 track completed from Verney Junction to Calvert Bridge. How much of this progress is actually there in reality? Thank you.

The only gap now is at the EWR/HS2 interface, that’s been the case for a month or more. Post #1232 by @fgwrich a fortnight ago (and subsequent videos) are a good summary of the present position. It’s visibly double track to both sides of the gap.

There’s a key existing feature that needs removal, the brick arch bridge (4th picture) that takes the road over the original EWR formation, I believe that’s the hold up, after that’s gone the embankments to the east and west will be joined up and the track laying will be fairly quickly completed.

But the pictures give a very foreshortened view of the situation, the two bridges at Addison Rd, (thats the new wide steel bridge), and Gawcott Rd, (the brick arch yet to be removed), are still about a mile apart.

 

[Mikey C]

Quick question, sorry if I'm asking for information that has already been shared, I haven't been really up to speed with all the updates.
On OpenStreetMap (https://www.openstreetmap.org) the whole section from Bicester Village to Bletchley is now being shown as completed. I am aware that this isn't the case, so I also checked OpenRailwayMap (https://www.openrailwaymap.org/). Here it's a bit different with the track being shown to be completed from Bletchley to just before Verney Road Bridge, and then showing as 1 track completed from Verney Junction to Calvert Bridge. How much of this progress is actually there in reality? Thank you.

OpenRailwayMap uses the same data as OpenStreetMap, and indeed when you zoom in on the latter, it shows the same one track sections.

And both are "open source", and I think in this case someone has jumped the gun, and added a complete railway alongside 2 tracks under construction. I'll look into this (as an OSM updater myself).

 

[Neen Sollars]

Mostly snippets of EWR, however lots of action at Calvert EWR and HS2 intersection, the completion of which is vital for EWR timetable.

Thanks to Micky2Cams

 

[Sun Chariot]

I've just found this fascinating thread. Many thanks to all who've added information. I'm amazed at the scale of change at locations such as Claydon Junction / Bicester east of the old Town station / Winslow; places that I photographed at - and travelled over - before the line was mothballed.

The attached photos, of Winslow and of Verney Junction, date from March 2020

 

[BlueLeanie]

Realistically, when is it predicted that the first train will successfully travel from Bletchley all the way to Oxford across this section of E-W?

I don't mean passenger service, just anything whether that be a loco, ballast train, tamper unit.

 

[snowball]

Realistically, when is it predicted that the first train will successfully travel from Bletchley all the way to Oxford across this section of E-W?

I don't mean passenger service, just anything whether that be a loco, ballast train, tamper unit.

Given the delays to the area around the HS2 crossing, maybe about next spring?

 

[12LDA28C]

Given the delays to the area around the HS2 crossing, maybe about next spring?

There would be no need for a tamper, engineering train or loco to necessarily run the whole length of the line in one go. For example a ballast train originating at Hinksey might enter EWR from the Oxford end but would probably return the same way having dropped stone at the worksite.

 

[EIKN]

Hi guys, I'm very interested, in these rail reopening projects , like the current Leven line reopening, the surprising fact that from the news we get up here in Scotland and having read in rail magazines , about the Completion of the borders railway.
The reopening of Ashington to Blyth ( underway )
The Ivanhoe line , and the strong push by the Scottish government to reconnect frazerburgh and Peterhead etc to the rail network.
And also the extension albeit in three seperate phases ,the oakhampton extension, I gather they will next do tavistock I believe it is to bere Alston , then fill the gap ( note I'm not very knowledgeable on railways and the industry, my interest is the reopening and new stations etc and also new rolling stock, or certain locos and older stuff like the HST's etc).
So I'm keenly following this as I did when they did the very first phase , in 2015 I think it was when they did was it Oxford to Bicster? Part if the old varsity line I gather . So that it connected Bicster to London ?
My question is does anyone have any up to date progress photos please , as it seemed way back in early summer one station ( might have been Winslow ) was looking very near to being finished , all I have is a photomontage of that station .
But I also understand that this project , when done will allow new services , stopping the need for folk to have to go via any of the London terminal stations .
Eg in theory GWR could run, from the West country to Norwich ( for example)
I only mention that, as in one rail magazine, it was taking about GWR and future proposals, from rolling stock to destinations etc and infrastructure.
Also I mentioned this because, GWR would be ideally placed to be competition to cross country , which only now has dreaded voyagers that are too short for any meaningful use.
Where GWR could operate via the reopened varsity line and offer services across country.
Or allow other operators to run long distance or regional services on it too.
In addition to the freight , which would take so many trucks off the roads..

The only crazy thing was the failed government pledge not only to have it all built by now but be electrified.
( Hence GWR , and their Bi mode units would be ideal ).
But I was as I say wondering please if anyone has any progress photos that are current , or know how much track is left to be laid, and what stage stations are at, is it just one new station or are there more , and is it true Aylsebury is getting a new link to this ? Is that the link that is close to HS2.
Also what's the delay around the HS2 area.

I thought I'd read that the bridges were built for the line to cross HS2, but I was confused by a plan , drawing of how it seemed HS2 runs alongside the varsity line for a short distance, is that the Calvert area?.
Sorry if it's a daft question, but I genuinely don't know the area , as I'm in the far southwest of Scotland, close to the coast , the part on the map that is close to the isle of man .

 

[swt_passenger]

[…]
Also what's the delay around the HS2 area.

I thought I'd read that the bridges were built for the line to cross HS2, but I was confused by a plan , drawing of how it seemed HS2 runs alongside the varsity line for a short distance, is that the Calvert area?.
Sorry if it's a daft question, but I genuinely don't know the area , as I'm in the far southwest of Scotland, close to the coast , the part on the map that is close to the isle of man .

The EWR bridge over the HS2 formation is built, and has been for some while.

But there’s a short length of embankment just to its west that cannot be completed as there’s an existing road bridge that’s still in use. That existing road goes over the old EWR track level, the replacement road will go under the new higher EWR level.

That length of embankment is only a couple of hundred yards long overall.

I‘ll add a reference to a video that explains the “gap”. Please have a look at post #1235 in this thread, it’s shown in the first video at about 21 secs. I’ve also annotated a screen shot:

 

[jfowkes]

I thought I'd read that the bridges were built for the line to cross HS2, but I was confused by a plan , drawing of how it seemed HS2 runs alongside the varsity line for a short distance, is that the Calvert area?.

You may have been confused because as well as EWR crossing HS2 at Calvert, there is also going to be an HS2 maintenance depot. This can be confusing on diagrams if it's not well labelled.

This will occupy the north-east corner of the HS2/EWR "cross" (image cribbed from https://assets.hs2.org.uk/wp-conten...vert-Boards-v2.0_Low-Res_24.05.22-FINAL-1.pdf):


It will be connected to both HS2 and EWR by rail, though of course no passenger services would ever use this connection.

 

[12LDA28C]

You may have been confused because as well as EWR crossing HS2 at Calvert, there is also going to be an HS2 maintenance depot. This can be confusing on diagrams if it's not well labelled.

This will occupy the north-east corner of the HS2/EWR "cross" (image cribbed from https://assets.hs2.org.uk/wp-conten...vert-Boards-v2.0_Low-Res_24.05.22-FINAL-1.pdf):

View attachment 143959
It will be connected to both HS2 and EWR by rail, though of course no passenger services would ever use this connection.

There will also be the section of line where HS2 runs alongside the existing route between Quainton and Calvert where as I understand it, HS2 has been tasked with re-laying the formation that the household waste trains will use to access the (relocated) waste disposal unit at Calvert, and which will form part of the 'Aylesbury Spur' from EWR, should that ever come to fruition.

 

[zwk500]

Hi guys, I'm very interested, in these rail reopening projects , like the current Leven line reopening, the surprising fact that from the news we get up here in Scotland and having read in rail magazines , about the Completion of the borders railway.
The reopening of Ashington to Blyth ( underway )
The Ivanhoe line , and the strong push by the Scottish government to reconnect frazerburgh and Peterhead etc to the rail network.
And also the extension albeit in three seperate phases ,the oakhampton extension, I gather they will next do tavistock I believe it is to bere Alston , then fill the gap ( note I'm not very knowledgeable on railways and the industry, my interest is the reopening and new stations etc and also new rolling stock, or certain locos and older stuff like the HST's etc).

Ivanhoe is still in very early stages, Okehampton to Tavistock is a very, very long way from happening.

But I also understand that this project , when done will allow new services , stopping the need for folk to have to go via any of the London terminal stations .
Eg in theory GWR could run, from the West country to Norwich ( for example)

These are extremely unlikely except for one-off moves. There was talk of EWR going as far as Reading for connections to Gatwick and Hampshire/Dorset but that's a long-term aspiration not part of any specific plan.

The only crazy thing was the failed government pledge not only to have it all built by now but be electrified.
( Hence GWR , and their Bi mode units would be ideal ).

While extremely frustrating, it is one of those 'perfect being the enemy of good' situations. Electrification was of limited benefit until wider upgrades were done, and while it would have been better to do it, it is overall better to get the line open and then upgrade it when it needs it.

 

[swt_passenger]

The potential for additional ”cross country type” links, that were once mentioned by EWR, were removed from the scope of the project by DfT before the TWA inquiry. Although there are many theoretical lengthened services, as we write the project east of Bedford is not even confirmed, and although extensions west of Oxford seem possible they’re not exactly visible in official sources.

But my preference would be to keep this discussion to the agreed subject of construction of the Bicester to Bletchley section.

 

[Yindee8191]

There’s a new item on HS2’s ‘In Your Area Map’ that suggests Gawcott Road will be closed starting yesterday and running for about a month. It mentions that the existing Charndon Lodge bridge will be demolished in this time - guessing that’s the one that’s holding up the embankment work? https://www.hs2.org.uk/work-items/notice-of-road-closure-gawcott-road-calvert/

 

[Wyrleybart]

There was talk of EWR going as far as Reading for connections to Gatwick and Hampshire/Dorset but that's a long-term aspiration not part of any specific plan.

100mph 2 or 3 car DMUs on the GWML !!! About as popular as a fart in a spacesuit !!

While extremely frustrating, it is one of those 'perfect being the enemy of good' situations. Electrification was of limited benefit until wider upgrades were done, and while it would have been better to do it, it is overall better to get the line open and then upgrade it when it needs it.

 

[janahan]

100mph 2 or 3 car DMUs on the GWML !!! About as popular as a fart in a spacesuit !!

If I remember right, way back when this re-opening was proposed the idea was for a 100 - 125mph capable line (also electrified) and according to proposal videos, served by what looks clearly like intercity trains. Not sure what the final line speeds will be, but I assume nothing will stop a 800 Dual Mode on diesel power runnign there?

 

[12LDA28C]

If I remember right, way back when this re-opening was proposed the idea was for a 100 - 125mph capable line (also electrified) and according to proposal videos, served by what looks clearly like intercity trains. Not sure what the final line speeds will be, but I assume nothing will stop a 800 Dual Mode on diesel power runnign there?

Line speed will be 100mph and the projected journey times are modelled on services using 100mph stock.

 

[swt_passenger]

There’s a new item on HS2’s ‘In Your Area Map’ that suggests Gawcott Road will be closed starting yesterday and running for about a month. It mentions that the existing Charndon Lodge bridge will be demolished in this time - guessing that’s the one that’s holding up the embankment work? https://www.hs2.org.uk/work-items/notice-of-road-closure-gawcott-road-calvert/

Yes, I’m sure that’s the correct explanation. That’s the left/right road and brick arch bridge on the screen grab in my post yesterday. I believe where they refer to the tie in works to join the “new temporary road” they mean the stretch further to the north of the EWR crossing. Where the new road passes under the replacement Charndon Lodge bridge it will be in its permanent position.

I’ve annotated part of an earlier photo provided by @fishwomp, (I hope that’s ok), to show what I think is the change from permanent to temporary alignment:

 

[janahan]

Line speed will be 100mph and the projected journey times are modelled on services using 100mph stock.

To be fair, that makes a lot of sense, I remember raising my eyebrows when it was first speculated at up to 125 in the original proposal, as there is not much scope for 125mph on that line except in certain areas, and felt that 100mph was more suitable. Nevertheless, to answer the earlier question about a GWR reading to EWR train, technically it should be possible with a 5 car Bi Mode IET, however, not sure if it is not the most efficient, or commercially viable