East-West Rail (EWR) countdown to entry into service

[Zomboid]

196s have the cameras fitted, at least according to photos of them, so they won't need additional infrastructure for DOO operation.

 

[BrianW]

How do you propose to run DOO without trains capable of DOO and no supporting infrastructure?

Perhaps speaking to project management of EWR would be more beneficial since they’re saying that running test trains and route learning trains on the same day is ‘too much’

Reminding me of Gerald Fiennes' I Tried to Run a Railway, which IIRC was published in 1967, over FIFTY years ago, half a century ... Do we learn nothing?? Still available ...

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

It's faulty - it's counting upwards.

This is one of those where the Transport Minister needs to knock heads, or preferably reads the riot act to the union (_if_ they are the only block now) and tells them who runs the railway.

What do you envisage would be the outcome if your stated action concerning the union were to happen?

 

[DavidGrain]

The 196s were built with cameras for DOO. Before they could be used on WMR they had to have them disconnected and guard's door controls fitted. I am sure the ones transferred to Chiltern have had the cameras reactivated and the trainee drivers have learned to use them.
As someone has mentioned above, no guards have lost their jobs. Chiltern drivers are used to working DOO south of Banbury and the new mark 5A trains are going to increase the number of guards working on the Chiltern Main Line to Birmingham.

 

[Bletchleyite]

What do you envisage would be the outcome if your stated action concerning the union were to happen?

I suspect Arriva are nervous of that likely outcome and so are dragging their heels...

 

[BlueLeanie]

How do you propose to run DOO without trains capable of DOO and no supporting infrastructure?

Perhaps speaking to project management of EWR would be more beneficial since they’re saying that running test trains and route learning trains on the same day is ‘too much’

Of course it's too much!

Running empty trains is a carbon disgrace in a heavily polluted City like Oxford.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Of course it's too much!

Running empty trains is a carbon disgrace in a heavily polluted City like Oxford.

That's a bit of an odd line given that you've got to test and train drivers to get the things in service, at which point they reduce the number of cars going into the city from the Milton Keynes side.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Oct 2025 ==

How do you propose to run DOO without trains capable of DOO and no supporting infrastructure?

One option would be to provide dispatchers. Though guards would probably be cheaper given the infrequentish service - it's only 4 diagrams (so 4 guards per shift), isn't it? Whereas you would presumably need more dispatchers than that:

MKC - one (or contract the Avanti ones to do it, I'm fairly sure WMT at MKC is all guard dispatched)
Bletchley - two
Winslow - two
Oxford Parkway - two (unless there already)
Bicester Village - two (unless there already)
Total 9 per shift.

Either way they do need to decide what they're doing!

 

[Carlisle]

Oxford Parkway & Bicester Vilage already have DOO equipment in use compatible with 165s

 

[D365]

Running empty trains is a carbon disgrace in a heavily polluted City like Oxford.

Oxford Parkway & Bicester Vilage already have DOO equipment in use compatible with 165s

Funnily enough, a Class 196 is not a Class 165. Things like platform-train interfaces will need to be tested/validated.

 

[Carlisle]

O

Funnily enough, a Class 196 is not a Class 165. Things like platform-train interfaces will need to be tested/validated.

Agreed,if we’re discussing 196’s they have body side cameras .

 

[87015]

Funnily enough, a Class 196 is not a Class 165. Things like platform-train interfaces will need to be tested/validated.

If that’s not been done what have the EWR and NR bigwigs been doing for the last nearly a year since the line was open, other than bunging LSL money for a fully catered afternoon out of Euston the other month?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Bletchley - two
Winslow - two
Oxford Parkway - two (unless there already)
Bicester Village - two (unless there already)

Would you really need one for each direction, it'd probably be annoying to plan around since you couldn't send 2 in different ways at the same time, but would it not be possible to have just 1 at those 4?

 

[PLY2AYS]

Would you really need one for each direction, it'd probably be annoying to plan around since you couldn't send 2 in different ways at the same time, but would it not be possible to have just 1 at those 4?

And get them to travel on the train as it makes its journey?

That would almost be a guard then…

 

[zwk500]

Would you really need one for each direction, it'd probably be annoying to plan around since you couldn't send 2 in different ways at the same time, but would it not be possible to have just 1 at those 4

You could but whatever you plan at some point there will be a delay and the trains will be at the station at the same time and one will have to be further delayed waiting for the despatcher to cross between the platforms.

However If the intention is not to pay for more guards then i cannot possibly see "them" wanting to pay for more platform staff to be on duty from first train to last.

I can understand why the union is in full siege mode but on this line its not doing itself any favours.
However the government(s) also havent done themselves any favours holding off on the official announcement of the TOC, and for the life of me I cannot fathom why they did that.

 

[PLY2AYS]

I can understand why the union is in full siege mode but on this line it’s not doing itself any favours.

I don’t think this is “full siege mode” to be honest with you… bit harsh on the union given that all they want is a safe service.
No ballot for industrial action has been given.
Drivers have merely pointed out that it is impossible to operate the trains they have in passenger service.
I don’t see how it’s drivers’ fault that there isn’t infrastructure in place.

It’s like trying to drive a road vehicle with no side windows or mirrors. No reasonable person would attempt it in the name of safety.

If it’s anyone’s fault, it’s passengers. If it weren’t for them, this service would be running perfectly and have been likely delivered on time.

 

[JamesT]

I don’t think this is “full seige mode” to be honest with you… bit harsh on the union given that all they want is a safe service.
No ballot for industrial action has been given.
Drivers have merely pointed out that it is impossible to operate the trains they have in passenger service.
I don’t see how it’s drivers’ fault that there isn’t infrastructure in place.

It’s like trying to drive a road vehicle with no side windows or mirrors. No reasonable person would attempt it in the name of safety.

If it’s anyone’s fault, it’s passengers. If it weren’t for them, this service would be running perfectly and have been likely delivered on time.

What infrastructure? The class 196s that Chiltern will be running the service with have cameras on. They don’t need mirrors or monitors on the platform.

 

[PLY2AYS]

What infrastructure? The class 196s that Chiltern will be running the service with have cameras on. They don’t need mirrors or monitors on the platform.

And yet, at the last update, there are no operational cameras on them.

I would gladly be corrected, however.

And, if there are functioning cameras on them, and training is ongoing, then the union aren’t in “full siege mode”

 

[greenline712]

Is is just me being suspicious, or will the full passenger opening of East West Rail be timed to co-incide with the taking of Chiltern Railways into public ownership?

That would be a good news story, wouldn't it??!!

 

[zwk500]

I don’t think this is “full siege mode” to be honest with you… bit harsh on the union given that all they want is a safe service.
No ballot for industrial action has been given.
Drivers have merely pointed out that it is impossible to operate the trains they have in passenger service.
I don’t see how it’s drivers’ fault that there isn’t infrastructure in place.

It’s like trying to drive a road vehicle with no side windows or mirrors. No reasonable person would attempt it in the name of safety.

If the issue is that DOO has been agreed but the vehicles aren't ready then I will happily withdraw my comment.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Oct 2025 ==

And, if there are functioning cameras on them, and training is ongoing

And if training is ongoing then I will ask again why the government waited so long to officially confirm the TOC.

 

[chrismk]

"Going East" has been written by KC Close and Robert Cook -Ambersley Press covers the story of the progress from closure to re-opening

 

[Bletchleyite]

And yet, at the last update, there are no operational cameras on them.

If that's proving difficult, surely there are some spare mirrors knocking around somewhere that could be installed? And for MKC, which would be the only new platform where you would be on the offside and thus have sighting issues due to the gangway, pay Avanti to dispatch them for now. We're talking 2 car DMUs, not 240m commuter trains here.

 

[DarloRich]

There is a steamer along the E-W this weekend. Same locomotive as last Saturday. Maybe they could run a service with steamers in the interim

 

[dk1]

Is is just me being suspicious, or will the full passenger opening of East West Rail be timed to co-incide with the taking of Chiltern Railways into public ownership?

That would be a good news story, wouldn't it??!!

I think its just you

 

[warwickshire]

Is is just me being suspicious, or will the full passenger opening of East West Rail be timed to co-incide with the taking of Chiltern Railways into public ownership?

That would be a good news story, wouldn't it??!!

And, don't forget by when the time comes around, for this, also conveniently time this one in with the New mk5s as well, two in one, the perfect news story,

 

[djox]

"Going East" has been written by KC Close and Robert Cook -Ambersley Press covers the story of the progress from closure to re-opening

There probably needs a new version to take us up to 2025 and beyond.
For those interested in the story upto 2023 the book is available on Bookshop.org here.
Link to buy Going East book.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

There probably needs a new version to take us up to 2025 and beyond.
For those interested in the story upto 2023 the book is available on Bookshop.org here.
Link to buy Going East book.

Perhaps a film of the project could be made called "The never-ending story".

 

[Mogz]

There is a steamer along the E-W this weekend. Same locomotive as last Saturday. Maybe they could run a service with steamers in the interim

Ooh! Do you have the details?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Ooh! Do you have the details?

Looks like Manchester Piccadilly - Reading and return, based on http://www.railtourinfo.co.uk/tours.html, 34028 is only going to be on the outbound journey.

The Railway Touring Company
Saturday 1st The Chiltern Explorer
1Z28 Manchester Piccadilly Reading
34028+47/57 (WCRC) (T&T) https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U68394/2025-11-01/detailed

47/57 (WCRC)
1Z30 Reading Manchester Piccadilly https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U68397/2025-11-01/detailed

 

[Mogz]

Looks like Manchester Piccadilly - Reading and return, based on http://www.railtourinfo.co.uk/tours.html, 34028 is only going to be on the outbound journey.

The Railway Touring Company
Saturday 1st The Chiltern Explorer
1Z28 Manchester Piccadilly Reading
34028+47/57 (WCRC) (T&T) https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U68394/2025-11-01/detailed

47/57 (WCRC)
1Z30 Reading Manchester Piccadilly https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U68397/2025-11-01/detailed

Thanks! ☺️

 

[DavidGrain]

Posted on Facebook The Chiltern Line Appreciation Society. Assured that it is not AI.

EDIT Image shows 196007 in Chiltern livery. I am guessing that this is in Milton Keynes Central. Since my original post I have learned that 196009 is also in Chiltern livery with the work being don at Wolverton.