Rather a shame that on week 4 the reason given on PA for reservations not working and Reading destination on external displays is that GWR still haven't added the route to their train computers.
Fixed that for you!
All printers are long defunct.
According to Recent Train Times, the eastbound service is about 5 mins late on average, arriving within 5 mins 4 out of 5 times.
No inside info, but I don't see this route being merged with EWR at any point. The level of through traffic would be minimal, there'd likely be a disbenefit to the service for passengers to Oxford itself and there's no significant operational savings/bonuses that result from it.
I thought they were planning to extend EWR trains further west?
What would be the disbenefit for Oxford passengers?
Various proposals have been put forward, nothing particularly firm though. Cowley or Didcot are usually mentioned (as well as Reading by more optimistic groups), but AFAIK running all the way to Bristol hasn't been seriously suggested other than by campaign groups.
Primarily greater delays, although there is potential for capacity issues waiting for a platform slot that meets the timetable paths either side.
EWR is to be run by Chiltern, whilst the Oxford to Swindon service is run by GWR. Even when both come under the OLR umbrella, they are different stock, crews and depots so something would have to change. Never say never though.
Surely the platform demands are greater for a terminating service than one going through?
Not at Bletchley and Milton Keynes it can't.
Bletchley it has totally separate platforms from the West Coast Mainline and I cannot imagine for the extension into Milton Keynes there is that much contention?
Bath Spa has to be one of the busiest 2 platform stations in the country. Passenger demand to/from London is only slightly lower than Bristol Temple Meads, despite the latter serving a much larger urban area.
There are gaps you have to hit between Bletchley and MK. You arent re-writing the slow line timetable.
You can only do Bedford to Milton Keynes with a reversal.
Thought so .So, how would a Oxford to Milton Keynes to Bedford be achievable without calling at Bletchley twice?!
EWR currently uses the bays at Oxford, so won't be able to do that if running through, so it will put greater pressure on the remaining platforms. Equally the terminating service from Bristol doesn't need a gap across Oxford North Jn to tie into, it can just drop into the sidings if needed.
EWR isn't separate from the Marylebone-Oxford service or, as mentioned, the WCML slows. The last bit into MK *is* a minefield for the timetable.
I guess if Oxford gets 4 through platforms, it will ease things. Certainly two expected on the west side.
I think the plan is for one additional through platform (5) - there isn’t a plan to add anything further AFAIK?
It wouldn't, unless you build the North to East chord.
The current works are also designed to allow one of the Chiltern bays, (P2?), to be converted into a through platform in the longer term, but as far as I know the additional works required for that cannot start unless or until the existing station building is significantly altered or demolished. However the station building changes are not currently funded.
For the benefit of newer readers (not including yourself obviously), the possibility of such a chord has been extensively discussed on these forums in the past. There are a lot of buildings in the way, and the likelihood of it ever being built is very small.
Its only small until someone decides it needs building.
Maybe , in the short term, passengers for Milton Keynes will interchange at Bletchley....But one day, there might be very full trains, far exceeding estimates of demand.
Can the Bedford line be accessed from Bletchley HL platforms? I assumed so but couldn't find a track plan.
