Chiltern Oxford Link completed

[BRX]

the combination of two passenger trains and a goods service

So are (regular) freight trains using the new link too?

 

[swt_passenger]

So are (regular) freight trains using the new link too?

As regular as they get to the Banbury Rd aggregates terminal (next to Oxford Parkway) or the MOD depot at Bicester. Presumably similar frequencies to how they used to run via Oxford North.

 

[alexx]

As regular as they get to the Banbury Rd aggregates terminal (next to Oxford Parkway) or the MOD depot at Bicester. Presumably similar frequencies to how they used to run via Oxford North.

Four movements a day I believe - one train to and from the MOD depot and the other to and from the Oxford Parkway aggregates terminal. Assume the MOD service will go via Oxford when that bit of the line re-opens as it originates from Didcot, not sure about the aggregate service though.

 

[The Planner]

The early morning stone service goes from December.

 

[swt_passenger]

The early morning stone service goes from December.

Presumably you just mean 'goes' from the Bicester end of the route, i.e. back to Oxford?

 

[jimm]

An excavator was in use at Oxford station today digging out the remains of the parcel dock platforms. New double track is now in place on the Bicester line trackbed most of the way from Oxford North junction to the point where it diverges from the Banbury line to cross over the Oxford Canal on a bridge.

Some new pictures from the line through Wolvercote here http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=9825.510

 

[midlandred]

jimm - thanks for the link to the Wolvercote photos
My photos from today are very similar, and include an image of the First Turn road bridge itself

 

[jimm]

Track is all connected up now at Oxford North junction and new double track - including points - running north from there past the divergence from the Banbury line is complete and ballasted. Tamper was at work yesterday. Someone else may know if tracklaying is making progress through Wolvercote now.

At Oxford station the last few lumps of concrete from the parcel dock platforms were being broken up using a hydraulic jackhammer fitted to an excavator.

 

[tsangpogorge]

Taking a slight tangent does any one foresee the Princes Risborough to Oxford via Thame route ever re-opening? Maybe once the east-west rail link is complete the route via Bicester will carry Oxford to Cambridge services and a re-instated Thame line would take over the London to Oxford via High Wycombe trains giving faster journey times and more importantly satisfy crayonistas like myself!

 

[MikePJ]

Taking a slight tangent does any one foresee the Princes Risborough to Oxford via Thame route ever re-opening? Maybe once the east-west rail link is complete the route via Bicester will carry Oxford to Cambridge services and a re-instated Thame line would take over the London to Oxford via High Wycombe trains giving faster journey times and more importantly satisfy crayonistas like myself!

No. Chiltern looked at it, and decided going via Bicester was a better option. The M40 has rather mangled a big chunk of the route, for a start.

However, Oxford City Council and Chiltern have both punted the idea of reopening passenger services on what remains of the line ("the Cowley branch") to improve connectivity to the BMW factory and Oxford Science Park. I used to work on the Science Park, and it could take upwards of 40 minutes to reach Oxford station from there by bus. Unfortunately, to operate a regular service it will almost certainly mean adding another track between Oxford and Kennington, which will be quite expensive and probably put paid to the business case.

 

[swt_passenger]

Taking a slight tangent does any one foresee the Princes Risborough to Oxford via Thame route ever re-opening? Maybe once the east-west rail link is complete the route via Bicester will carry Oxford to Cambridge services and a re-instated Thame line would take over the London to Oxford via High Wycombe trains giving faster journey times and more importantly satisfy crayonistas like myself!

There's a route comparison appraisal on the TWA Order website which is worth a look at:

http://www.chiltern-evergreen3.co.uk/uploads/09Sep2010/2.3.pdf

...there was only ever going to be one route chosen, and the "northern corridor" wins hands down IMHO.

Connecting via Thame was no longer on anyone's agenda once the decision they took had been researched; Chiltern have met their agreed franchise requirement for "a new route" to Oxford.

 

[route:oxford]

However, Oxford City Council and Chiltern have both punted the idea of reopening passenger services on what remains of the line ("the Cowley branch") to improve connectivity to the BMW factory and Oxford Science Park. I used to work on the Science Park, and it could take upwards of 40 minutes to reach Oxford station from there by bus. Unfortunately, to operate a regular service it will almost certainly mean adding another track between Oxford and Kennington, which will be quite expensive and probably put paid to the business case.

There are around 40,000 people living or working within a short walk of a potential Science Park and Business Park stations. Maybe a few 1000 more if it were to be extended to Horspath - planning ahead for infill housing around the running track.

Simply cutting a few thousand car journeys around the Science, Business Park & BMW would make a significant difference to congestion in the city - probably enough to make the difference with the business case.

 

[RPM]

No. Chiltern looked at it, and decided going via Bicester was a better option. The M40 has rather mangled a big chunk of the route, for a start.

Other issues are Wheatley, where a substantial section of trackbed has been built over & Horspath tunnel & cutting which are a nature reserve. It is also only a single track formation and unsuitable for 100mph running.The Bicester chord is a far superior option.

 

[87015]

The evening hauled commuter is now full (ie 3 to a bay in the front coach) to Bicester - will the few extra 170s be enough to cater for the demand when it opens through to Oxford itself? Unless they are all choosing to go on that particular train and the units are much emptier of course...

 

[route:oxford]

The evening hauled commuter is now full (ie 3 to a bay in the front coach) to Bicester - will the few extra 170s be enough to cater for the demand when it opens through to Oxford itself? Unless they are all choosing to go on that particular train and the units are much emptier of course...

What's the scope for lengthening that service?

In due course, it wouldn't surprise me if Chiltern create a few high-density power-door Mk3s

 

[cle]

Is it full to Bicester or to Oxford Parkway?

Bet the weekend/off-peak Village traffic is booming too.

 

[jimm]

Remains of the old parcel platforms at Oxford station have all been cleared away and the last bits of track cut up into short lengths ready for removal. Hardcore was being spread and compacted across the whole area today. Tracklaying crews seem to have moved on from the vicinity of Oxford North, so I assume they are moving up towards Wolvercote now.

Not Chiltern-route related but large amounts of preparatory work now going on around Hinksey ahead of the August blockade to raise the level of the tracks there.

 

[Oxfordblues]

There seems to have been no moves yet to evacuate the former Red Star parcels office/signing-on point/catering building and they're working around it. Anyone know when the deadline is for demolishing it?

 

[swt_passenger]

There seems to have been no moves yet to evacuate the former Red Star parcels office/signing-on point/catering building and they're working around it. Anyone know when the deadline is for demolishing it?

Don't know about dates or deadlines, but the main issue that led to all the planning delays was the details of the 'temporary' new train crew and facilities building. I think eventually its height was reduced slightly?

I would expect that building needs to be ready for occupation before the existing building is demolished, (unless of course there is to be another short term temporary base for those facilities)? So I'd be watching out for the replacement building 's progress.

 

[jimm]

Signs of progress on the area where the old parcels platforms were removed, with a concrete foundation poured on the alignment of the new platform's front wall and lots of boring/piling work going on alongside yesterday.

No sign of progress on the new staff building, with lots of plant and contractors' vehicles on the area where it will go.

Some track work was also going on north of the station on the bi-directional line and redundant track on the old LNWR formation near Oxford North junction has been lifted.

 

[petegunstone]

Some photos from the west side of the railway, to the north of the station, gradually moving north to the bridge Walton Well Street, taken this morning:

 

[L&Y Robert]

Good and informative pictures - thanks petegunstone. But looking at them I realise that I'm not entirely clear on the details of what's happening! Chiltern into Oxford - yes, got that. Coming down the Up Relief are they? Or a seperate and dedicated new road right into the new platforms? If so, is it going round behind the carriage sidings - that is to the east of them? - and a single track? If not, wot???

 

[jimm]

Good and informative pictures - thanks petegunstone. But looking at them I realise that I'm not entirely clear on the details of what's happening! Chiltern into Oxford - yes, got that. Coming down the Up Relief are they? Or a seperate and dedicated new road right into the new platforms? If so, is it going round behind the carriage sidings - that is to the east of them? - and a single track? If not, wot???

Chiltern trains will run between Oxford North junction and the station using the up loop line, which is being made bi-directional.

The idea of a separate line behind the carriage sidings was part of Chiltern's original plan way back when, to allow the service to be controlled from Marylebone signalbox, but that idea was overtaken by the decision to go ahead with East West Rail.

As part of the changes in the Oxford station area over the next few years, the up side carriage sidings are now going to be shuffled across the formation a bit to the east, with a fan of five new dead-end sidings installed.

 

[L&Y Robert]

Thanks jimm for that. But another question is bothering me a bit - is the Down loop finished? Operational? Is is it still proposed to make the up and down loops the main running lines and the existing up and down roads 'the goods loops'? I remember reading something of the sort - a couple of years ago I think it'd be.

 

[The Planner]

Still the plan as far as I know and should come in as part of phase 1 of Oxford resig. These works are phase 0.

 

[jimm]

Thanks jimm for that. But another question is bothering me a bit - is the Down loop finished? Operational? Is is it still proposed to make the up and down loops the main running lines and the existing up and down roads 'the goods loops'? I remember reading something of the sort - a couple of years ago I think it'd be.

Most of the track is now laid on the down loop line, but not ballasted, and there is still no connection at the south end.

As The Planner says, the extended down loop will be brought into use in Phase 1 of the Oxford area resignalling, which is due to be implemented in Spring 2018. This will also see a lot of other alterations to the track layout, such as installation of the full new Oxford North junction, to allow parallel moves to and from the Bicester line - the interim layout to be used from this December only has a single-track connection - along with alterations to the stabling sidings and pointwork around the station and down to Hinksey.

Once that work is completed, along with the new signalling, then the electrification teams will be able to get to work.

This Network Rail video gives a fair idea of the broad scope of what will happen around Oxford in the next few years and right at the end you can actually see the track laid on the down loop.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp3FauL13H4

What the video doesn't indicate, other than the substation near Oxford North junction which will need to be connected to them, is that the overhead wires will extend just past Oxford North for a short distance on to the Bicester line and up to Wolvercot junction, where the Cotswold Line diverges. I assume the pointwork of the Cowley branch will also be done at the same time. If so, all the complicated bits of track work around Oxford will have 25kv, irrespective of the timing of wiring on East West, Electric Spine north from Oxford to Banbury and the Midlands, or the possible stub of wiring to Hanborough on the Cotswold Line to allow emus to turn back there.

Latest projected date for the wiring to be operational that I know of is June 2019.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Lots of work still going on for foundations at what will be the north end of the new platform 1 bay at Oxford station yesterday and the starting signal for departing trains is now in position. Also signs of further ballasting work on the Bicester line and there was a Colas tamper parked in the plant sidings near the station.

 

[petegunstone]

Images from First Turn bridge:

 

[MarkRedon]

I see no ships! Photos not uploaded?

 

[swt_passenger]

Images from First Turn bridge:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/s0rgxqcqzv4egp4/Photo 14-07-2016 19 38 29.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/dbwzftkvifwi52f/Photo 14-07-2016 19 39 57.jpg?dl=0

Seems one of those puzzling features of the board software - it works as URLs without the IMG tags.

 

[MarkRedon]

Seems one of those puzzling features of the board software - it works as URLs without the IMG tags.

How on earth did you get that to work? I'm impressed... Overall, I like the bulletin-board / forum software, which generally works well.

The pictures show encouraging signs of progress. Thanks to all recent contributors.