Cowley line to reopen

[The Planner]

The image shows a large empty paved space, with a pavement surrounding, plus seating area for goodness knows who.

That space is essentially the same shape and size of the existing former BMW group car park behind Tesco, a link with an overhead map of the area is here:-

Google Maps

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

maps.app.goo.gl

So what's the point of this big empty space? A railway station car park for people from South Oxfordshire area with little access to public transport? Will there be similar at the Science Park?

I can't quite decide whether it's raised up and maybe an underground car park? It seems to be the same height as the Tesco cold store from some angles.

Looking forward to seeing the compo face stories about being fined for parking at Tesco and catching a train.

 

[dk1]

Looking forward to seeing the compo face stories about being fined for parking at Tesco and catching a train.

They’ll be zero sympathy

 

[JamesT]

There are no underpasses that pass under the railway in that picture. A modern bridge has to be wide enough and strong enough to allow two modern cargo bicycles to pass in an active travel focussed city and still leave space for pedestrians.

Further to that, currently the nearest crossings are a bridge where Blackbird Leys Road crosses the line, and the underpass where Watlington Road goes under the line. Neither are particularly pleasant for cycling. A crossing that isn’t shared with a road will be very welcome.

 

[hwl]

On another note, will this service offset any inconvenience with the trouble/delay extending to Platform 5 at Oxford station?

Even more reason to get it done and ready before this service opens and there will be extra services though P3 and P4 compared to today. (Which given timetables is a bit more on an issue for P4)

 

[MarkyT]

Yes in principle, but that then puts Platform 3 under pressure with trains in both directions.

#2 could be the default for northbound CR/EWR trains from Cowley towards Bicester, then #3 could remain clear for southbound XC, GWR, CR, EWR trains. Southbound CR/EWR could use #2 when expedient. I doubt if it's possible with the new underbridge, but it could be beneficial for capacity and performance if the deck was further widened and #1 also made into a through platform, then perhaps CR/EWR extended to Cowley wouldn't need to use #3 in either direction.

The signalling alterations for Cowley are substantially more complex than those needed for Okehampton. They may well require at least some possessions of the mainline to implement.

There weren't really any for Okehampton. The pre-existing train staff method was retained. There were a few standalone occupation/footpath level crossing improvements en route with self contained warning lights and gate locks I understand and I believe a new cable was installed along the line which could support future signalling developments like a shut-in faclity for freight beyond Okehampton to Meldon.

As to Cowley, here's my sketch from a decade ago with the original station names concept. Note I provided intermediate signals on the single line for flighting a freight and and passenger in the same direction to save occupancy. Becasue the branch is so short I have assumed all the signals shown would be 3-aspect. The mid section ones are almost free in the sense that if they didn't have red aspects there would need to be a yellow/green distnt at roughly the same position anyway.

 

[Zomboid]

Foster + Partners unveils plans for Oxford science campus and train station

Foster + Partners has unveiled its proposals for an expanded Oxford science campus, including a new train station

www.architectsjournal.co.uk

A couple of images that show what Littlemore station certainly won't end up looking like once the cost estimate is complete.

 

[MarkyT]

Foster + Partners unveils plans for Oxford science campus and train station

Foster + Partners has unveiled its proposals for an expanded Oxford science campus, including a new train station

www.architectsjournal.co.uk

A couple of images that show what Littlemore station certainly won't end up looking like once the cost estimate is complete.

An unusually large extent of canopy roof over the platform for a modern development. Perhaps they're thinking about solar panels on top. It's also a very wide platform. I'd guess at least 5m.

 

[Zomboid]

I think we can actually expect a ticket machine and 2-3 bus shelters, but it's nice to see the ambition which will be thwarted.

 

[RUK]

View attachment 191062

Is this to scale? As in, if the section you’ve marked will be ~800 m long, then will the platforms for each station be about half that, around 400 m long each, so that they would fit the longest trains on the national network, for maximum future-proofing?

 

[sh24]

I think we can actually expect a ticket machine and 2-3 bus shelters, but it's nice to see the ambition which will be thwarted.

However there will be multiple emergency exits for the likely event of a burning training stopping right by the platform...

 

[The Planner]

Is this to scale? As in, if the section you’ve marked will be ~800 m long, then will the platforms for each station be about half that, around 400 m long each, so that they would fit the longest trains on the national network, for maximum future-proofing?

I doubt the platforms will be longer than 150m or the closest for a 6 car formation.

 

[BlueLeanie]

An unusually large extent of canopy roof over the platform for a modern development. Perhaps they're thinking about solar panels on top. It's also a very wide platform. I'd guess at least 5m.

It's certainly in keeping with the rest of the Ellison Institute that is currently being built. The overview video of the build can be found here:- https://www.eit.org/.

Are the Science Park & Larry Ellison part funding the station? When it's being funded by someone with a Net Worth of around £200Bn, it might result in nice things!

Looking at the image of the station platform, I'd guess the stop board will be at the first seat coming from the distance. The rest being on too steep a curve to be used in normal circumstances.

The "Town" end of the station looks a little different with the picture showing a dank and narrow tunnel in the distance that leads from deprived council scheme. From the tunnel entrance there is a basic metal staircase rising up to a functional elevated platform.

The tunnel doesn't seem in keeping with the rest of the "vision". From google maps it looks dark, narrow dank. Perhaps it should be rebuilt with a better experience in mind given the number of people who will be using the station from Littlemore. Being mindful that it's actually the main access road for around six homes.

 

[mr_jrt]

A platform that wide is certainly one way of protecting the trackbed for a future second line...I would think if you were willing to spend that much on passive provision for making the platforms that long, you would also leave space for a loop of some sort should service levels need to increase in the future.

 

[MarkyT]

Is this to scale? As in, if the section you’ve marked will be ~800 m long, then will the platforms for each station be about half that, around 400 m long each, so that they would fit the longest trains on the national network, for maximum future-proofing?

Not really intended to be to scale, just a rough operational sketch. New platforms length to be whatever is required by train service proposed. Parties need to consider and agree what the maximum train length is likely to be long term and either construct for all future needs or build cheap initially but safegaurd additional land and position the new signals for any future extension that may be likely.

I doubt the platforms will be longer than 150m or the closest for a 6 car formation.

That seems reasonable.

 

[Zomboid]

Oxford Parkway and Bicester Village have 8 car platforms, and I think stations towards Marylebone do too, so it would seem sensible to go 8 car for these if those trains are to serve them too. They don't often run more than 6 at the moment, though.

 

[cle]

Hopefully their new stock in discussion is walkthrough, so could do some SDO if required.

I also do like the idea of loops or provision for second lines - even if it’s the midpoint station as a loop. Can see this being popular, and stimulating a lot more development.

 

[RUK]

However there will be multiple emergency exits for the likely event of a burning training stopping right by the platform...

A burning train? Are they planning on using Class 175s or Class 180s for the services stopping there? I guess they will need more trains for the new services on this branch.

 

[sad1e]

Is it just me me or do i think this reopening is going to go the same way as the Sinfin North branch.

As shown by the very short life of the Sinfin North branch reopening short stubs of freight only like isn't exactly the most successful thing, Even if they are in urban areas.

Sinfin Branch Line - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[JamesT]

Is it just me me or do i think this reopening is going to go the same way as the Sinfin North branch.

As shown by the very short life of the Sinfin North branch reopening short stubs of freight only like isn't exactly the most successful thing, Even if they are in urban areas.

Sinfin Branch Line - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

From that article, it sounds like the Sinfin branch was scuppered by a very poor provision of services at 4 trains per day. Whereas Cowley is starting with 2tph and there is clear demand for passenger services in both directions.

 

[fishwomp]

Is it just me me or do i think this reopening is going to go the same way as the Sinfin North branch.

As shown by the very short life of the Sinfin North branch reopening short stubs of freight only like isn't exactly the most successful thing, Even if they are in urban areas.

Sinfin Branch Line - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

It's just you - it really really couldn't be more different!

Sinfin was a near single employer works train to an industrial site, rather than a local service to a densely populates part of a city. Similar to sites like IBM halt in Scotland, Lympstone Commando etc... a Google maps satellite view of Sinfin shows how small the population is - I struggle to see any residential plots near the line!!

This Oxford project is not for the purpose of BMW Cowley employees' commute, although some might use it.. Cowley and Littlemore have large population, are also part of more house building in the area, along with employers like the science parks home to multiple companies.

 

[BlueLeanie]

Is it just me me or do i think this reopening is going to go the same way as the Sinfin North branch.

As shown by the very short life of the Sinfin North branch reopening short stubs of freight only like isn't exactly the most successful thing, Even if they are in urban areas.

Sinfin Branch Line - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Have you taken a look at a map?

It's a very different proposal. The population a short walk from the two new stations comes in at around 40,000 people. The major employers at BMW, ARC, and Science Park, probably employing around 10,000 between them.

It will be a real shame if there isn't a station at Redbridge though. It would be a great transport interchange.

 

[Zomboid]

It will be a real shame if there isn't a station at Redbridge though. It would be a great transport interchange

That would be a good development, but I guess something to tackle once the line is open. Hopefully with platforms so the Didcot line trains can call as well.

 

[JamesT]

That would be a good development, but I guess something to tackle once the line is open. Hopefully with platforms so the Didcot line trains can call as well.

The Redbridge park and ride is North of the junction with the branch, so if you built a station there then it would be possible for all trains to stop there.
However, such a station is not part of the planned reopening. I can't seem to find any sort of options document to see if it was considered.

 

[Zomboid]

I think it's been floated as a wishlist thing, but I don't see it happening any time soon. If it did happen then a single platform on the relief line would be the budget option with only really branch trains able to call, a second one on the northbound side would be needed for Didcot trains.

 

[The exile]

From that article, it sounds like the Sinfin branch was scuppered by a very poor provision of services at 4 trains per day. Whereas Cowley is starting with 2tph and there is clear demand for passenger services in both directions.

What's more, IIRC, those 4 trains didn't often actually match the shift change times,

 

[officewalla]

All very well but the real need for increased capacity locally is in the Grove/Wantage area. Been talk of a station there for years and with 10000 new houses going up, the train needs to take the strain as the roads are pish.

 

[Zomboid]

All very well but the real need for increased capacity locally is in the Grove/Wantage area. Been talk of a station there for years and with 10000 new houses going up, the train needs to take the strain as the roads are pish.

Yes, but neither here nor there for Cowley. Aside from being in the same county there's no link between the two.

 

[BrianW]

Yes, but neither here nor there for Cowley. Aside from being in the same county there's no link between the two.

There is a link.
Folk living in Grove/ Wantage area may wish to work in Oxford, or on the Oxford- Cambridge arc, Bicester, MK, etc; or at the Science Park; or ...

 

[Zomboid]

In which case reopening Cowley ought to strengthen the case for Grove.

 

[lachlan]

In which case reopening Cowley ought to strengthen the case for Grove.

The proposed Bristol-Oxford hourly service could serve a reopened Grove station. Depending on interchange times, it could work for commuting to Cowley.