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

[DarloRich]

fairly certain an NR test train ran along E-W recently - does any have any evidence or confirmation?

 

[12LDA28C]

fairly certain an NR test train ran along E-W recently - does any have any evidence or confirmation?

If you mean the one seen at Bletchley High Level, as far as I know it didn't venture any further west than the flyover. The only non-engineering train that has traversed the line so far is inspection saloon 'Caroline'.

 

[DarloRich]

If you mean the one seen at Bletchley High Level, as far as I know it didn't venture any further west than the flyover. The only non-engineering train that has traversed the line so far is inspection saloon 'Caroline'.

cheers - duff gen then ( word locally was that the 950 had been down the line)

 

[12LDA28C]

cheers - duff gen then ( word locally was that the 950 had been down the line)

I believe it was booked to, however due to the line still being a worksite it wasn't possible.

 

[DarloRich]

I believe it was booked to, however due to the line still being a worksite it wasn't possible.

cheers - semi duff gen then

( i didn't think it has as the usual source of evidence on these things local to me had none!)

 

[Freightmaster]

If you mean the one seen at Bletchley High Level, as far as I know it didn't venture any further west than the flyover.

Correct - it reversed using the crossover at Bletchley West Junction, by the cemetery.




MARK

 

[Elecman]

East West Rail has received formal ORR acceptance for service on thier webpage.

https://www.orr.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2024-10/network-rail-east-west-rail-phase-2-orr-authorisation-2024-09-30.pdf

 

[eastdyke]

East West Rail has received formal ORR acceptance for service on thier webpage.

https://www.orr.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2024-10/network-rail-east-west-rail-phase-2-orr-authorisation-2024-09-30.pdf

Good news for a number of reasons.
Anyone know when the first train will visit 'Claydon' for Calvert HS2 IMD?

 

[The Planner]

Good news for a number of reasons.
Anyone know when the first train will visit 'Claydon' for Calvert HS2 IMD?

Ages, it doesn't exist.

 

[eastdyke]

Ages, it doesn't exist.

Of course, but for construction?
I was under the impression that before the IMD is constructed a railhead will be built on the same site.
This to allow some materials needed to construct HS2 and for the IMD to be by train.
The railhead then to be converted into the IMD when no longer required.

 

[The Planner]

Of course, but for construction?
I was under the impression that before the IMD is constructed a railhead will be built on the same site.
This to allow some materials needed to construct HS2 and for the IMD to be by train.
The railhead then to be converted into the IMD when no longer required.

It may be used to deliver rail, OLE etc, but that is still a number of years away.

 

[DavidGrain]

Of course, but for construction?
I was under the impression that before the IMD is constructed a railhead will be built on the same site.
This to allow some materials needed to construct HS2 and for the IMD to be by train.
The railhead then to be converted into the IMD when no longer required.

Quainton is the railhead at present with lorries carrying materials along the trackbed north of Quainton Road station. I don't see that changing until tracklaying starts.

 

[eastdyke]

It may be used to deliver rail, OLE etc, but that is still a number of years away.

Quainton is the railhead at present with lorries carrying materials along the trackbed north of Quainton Road station. I don't see that changing until tracklaying starts.

Thanks both. I will be interested to see what unfolds in due course.

 

[oxfordrelayer]

I'm a little confused. Have you seen any specific documented evidence of the service introduction in mid-May 2025?

nothing documented yet - as soon as it is i will post

 

[IanH440]

Quainton is the railhead at present with lorries carrying materials along the trackbed north of Quainton Road station. I don't see that changing until tracklaying starts.

how does this work around the Quainton Railway Center - and their ability to use the old calvet line through the platforms?

 

[swt_passenger]

how does this work around the Quainton Railway Center - and their ability to use the old calvet line through the platforms?

The haul road they use goes nowhere near the Railway Centre, it’s diverted well away to the southwest of the NR line and joins the HS2 route’s future trackbed. They effectively have a private road network for this sort of material delivery. It’s not really an EWR construction issue however.

 

[12LDA28C]

nothing documented yet - as soon as it is i will post

I suspect there won't be any announcement for some time relating to an official start date for passenger services.

 

[AlterEgo]

There is a railtour slated to take in the line next month: https://www.pathfindertours.co.uk/events/the-verney-venturer/

 

[Sun Chariot]

There is a railtour slated to take in the line next month: https://www.pathfindertours.co.uk/events/the-verney-venturer/

Yes - see posts #1791-4 (26th August)

 

[Snow1964]

New drone video, of the East West rail where it crosses HS2, showing the area where the rail line crosses the bridge over the under construction line.

Not my video, but recently uploaded on you tube

 

[3973EXL]

There is a railtour slated to take in the line next month: https://www.pathfindertours.co.uk/events/the-verney-venturer/

Re-dated - Now 15 Feb

 

[bspahh]

The Branch Line Society's Branchline News issue 1457.2337 says:

East West Rail: Signalling commissioning is now due at 06.00 Sun 20 Oct 2024.

 

[12LDA28C]

Re-dated - Now 15 Feb

Not sure that 'first railtour' claim will still be valid in February!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Oct 2024 ==

The Branch Line Society's Branchline News issue 1457.2337 says:

Indeed, but I'll believe it when I see it. The commissioning has already been delayed once...

 

[Peter Sarf]

Thanks @Snow1964 for posting. From the video I notice there is what appears to be a separate walkway either side of the track bed on the EWR line bridge over HS2 - as in outside of the main beams (at 1m00s). I am comparing it to the next (concrete ?) bridge to the West (?, at 1m30s).

 

[12LDA28C]

Thanks @Snow1964 for posting. From the video I notice there is what appears to be a separate walkway either side of the track bed on the EWR line bridge over HS2 - as in outside of the main beams (at 1m00s). I am comparing it to the next (concrete ?) bridge to the West (?, at 1m30s).

That is the trackside cabling housed in troughing which forms a lineside walking route. A very useful feature which is also found along the track from Bicester Village towards Oxford.

 

[Peter Sarf]

That is the trackside cabling housed in troughing which forms a lineside walking route. A very useful feature which is also found along the track from Bicester Village towards Oxford.

Thanks. I wondered why it appeared to be absent at the next bridge. Probably simply a wider span there accommodating the the walkway/cable-trough ?. Interesting difference.

 

[WolvertonWorks]

(Please delete if not in appropriate forum)

I was walking on Tuesday afternoon along the footpath that runs beside the line from Bow Brickhill level crossing to the bridge where one can go under the line to Caldecotte Lake when a single engine came along, at fairly slow speed, and then stopped, presumably at a signal.

The engine then continued on its way towards Bletchley - sorry I didn't think to take a photo nor am I able to recognise classes but I did notice it had a sign on it saying it was called Cassiopeia.

I did wonder if it was checking out something for the E-W rail route but a bit of goggling suggests it was may have been Rail Operations Group BR Class 37 37800.

​

 

[DavidGrain]

(Please delete if not in appropriate forum)

I was walking on Tuesday afternoon along the footpath that runs beside the line from Bow Brickhill level crossing to the bridge where one can go under the line to Caldecotte Lake when a single engine came along, at fairly slow speed, and then stopped, presumably at a signal.

The engine then continued on its way towards Bletchley - sorry I didn't think to take a photo nor am I able to recognise classes but I did notice it had a sign on it saying it was called Cassiopeia.

I did wonder if it was checking out something for the E-W rail route but a bit of goggling suggests it was may have been Rail Operations Group BR Class 37 37800.

​

If it was a Rail Operations Group loco then my guess is that it was route learning and the stop may have been for the driver to take notes.

 

[LalRattyMember]

If it was a Rail Operations Group loco then my guess is that it was route learning and the stop may have been for the driver to take notes.

Isn't that on the Bletchley - Bedford section though, rather than the "new" railway from Bicester to Bletchley? Could still be route learning of course as some freight still trundles that way.

 

[WolvertonWorks]

Isn't that on the Bletchley - Bedford section though, rather than the "new" railway from Bicester to Bletchley? Could still be route learning of course as some freight still trundles that way.

yes it is the Bedford to Bletchley section but my thought was to wonder whether it was route learning for when Bletchley to Oxford opens.