Chiltern Oxford Link completed

[route:oxford]

With the annual station usage estimates having been published yesterday, it's time to do some comparisons. In each case, the figures are the combined entries and exits figure for 2015/16, and the figure in brackets is that for 2014/15:

• Bicester North: 1,416,600 (1,696,402)
• Bicester Town/Village: 413,432 (88,440)
• Islip: 10,482 (6,858)
• Oxford: 6,564,678 (6,624,954)
• Oxford Parkway: 274,696 (N/A)

So Oxford Central has dropped 60,000 over the past year.

All it will take is 240 passengers a day from Bicester Village to Oxford Central to recover that.

 

[didcotdean]

Didcot Parkway is up 12% as well, so there doesn't appear to be a switch effect from there either.

 

[Wolvercoter]

But I was wondering what would happen to the bus from 11 December (technically every other bus is a rail replacement currently). Rather than bus service being reduced it is being extended to Kidlington and Woodstock. It will still serve Oxford station and it looks as if all buses will also serve both Oxford Parkway station and the Park & Ride terminal building.

Not all buses will go to Kidlington and Woodstock (also serving Blenheim Palace) - service frequency is every 30 minutes. Extra buses run between Oxford station and Oxford Parkway to maintain the same 15 minute frequency during the day and early evening. It looks to be more or less the same timetable 7 days a week.

That's right - Oxford Bus will be extending Park and Ride route 500 through to Woodstock, every 30 mins. In addition, Stagecoach Oxford have registered route 7 from 03/01/2017, which looks to be in direct competition with Oxford Bus 500. Details are on Traveline.

 

[ctyerkes]

That's right - Oxford Bus will be extending Park and Ride route 500 through to Woodstock, every 30 mins. In addition, Stagecoach Oxford have registered route 7 from 03/01/2017, which looks to be in direct competition with Oxford Bus 500. Details are on Traveline.

Interesting. Stagecoach 7 was the old Oxford city-Kidlington route, running in competition with OBC 2 route, until the two merged a few years back.

Pictures of Oxford platforms 1/2 taken on Tuesday morning:

 

[70014IronDuke]

Interesting. Stagecoach 7 was the old Oxford city-Kidlington route, running in competition with OBC 2 route, until the two merged a few years back.

Pictures of Oxford platforms 1/2 taken on Tuesday morning:

Thank you for the photos. Just to check orientation (thees photos made me realise that the last time I was at Oxford - at least, on the platforms - there were still Bulleid pacifics running into the station on the Pines Express and other such workings!)

Pics 1+ 3 are looking roughly north, right? In pic 3, you can see the top of the underbridge which carries the railway over the road to Swindon? so, to the left, somewhere near the white buildings (just visible) was the site of 81F, the old loco depot?

Wasn't there at least one north facing bay in this location in the 60s anyway? IIRC, it was used for Bletchley trains, but, presumably, it had earlier been used for GWR services to the north, when branches to Kidlington (? was it?) and Fairford were open?

I guess the old bay(s) were much shorter than these new jobs.

Pic 2 presumably is the new (well, new to me) main station building, booking hall etc?

 

[JamesT]

Thank you for the photos. Just to check orientation (thees photos made me realise that the last time I was at Oxford - at least, on the platforms - there were still Bulleid pacifics running into the station on the Pines Express and other such workings!)

Pics 1+ 3 are looking roughly north, right? In pic 3, you can see the top of the underbridge which carries the railway over the road to Swindon? so, to the left, somewhere near the white buildings (just visible) was the site of 81F, the old loco depot?

Wasn't there at least one north facing bay in this location in the 60s anyway? IIRC, it was used for Bletchley trains, but, presumably, it had earlier been used for GWR services to the north, when branches to Kidlington (? was it?) and Fairford were open?

I guess the old bay(s) were much shorter than these new jobs.

Pic 2 presumably is the new (well, new to me) main station building, booking hall etc?

The Botley Road which heads West is South of the station. The bridge you can see is for Castle Mill Stream.

Google Streetview still has an image from before this work started, so you can get some impression of how it was. The previous bays stopped well short of the bridge.

 

[The Ham]

With the annual station usage estimates having been published yesterday, it's time to do some comparisons. In each case, the figures are the combined entries and exits figure for 2015/16, and the figure in brackets is that for 2014/15:

• Bicester North: 1,416,600 (1,696,402)
• Bicester Town/Village: 413,432 (88,440)
• Islip: 10,482 (6,858)
• Oxford: 6,564,678 (6,624,954)
• Oxford Parkway: 274,696 (N/A)

...so ignoring Oxford Parkway the combined total for all the stations listed are:
8,405,192 (8,416,654), as such that is a "fall" of 11,462. However when you include Oxford Parkway you see a rise of 263,234 or a rise of 3.1%.

 

[ctyerkes]

Sorry, I should have added some figure legends to help explain, and probably also posted the pictures In a logical order! So here are some notes:

Photos 1 and 3 are looking in the down direction, taken from what is now platform 2, roughly where the buffer stop used to be on what was former platform 3. The old platform canopy which dated from GW days has been removed completely. Where the new platform 1 is (opposite), there used to be a couple of goods bays. A CCT and GUV were kept there for years, used as stores. The new building behind the new platform 1 is, I think, offices and the crew depot.

In photo 3 you can just make out a Chiltern 168 in the siding undertaking driving training. The bridge is not technically Castle Mill Stream, I think, but the 'cut' between the Stream and the Thames. The former Oxford depot is to the left, where the Portakabin buildings are - all of the area now forms the down stabling sidings.

Photos 2 and 4 are looking back in the up direction towards the main station building. At the right in photo 2 is the footbridge across from what is now platform 3 (used to be 1!) to what is now platform 4 (used to be 2!). The last dozen yards or so of the new bay platforms 1 and 2 used to be the short stay car park, so the erstwhile bay platform here has indeed been lengthened fairly substantially. There used to be a bay on the down side too, which was also used for the Fairford/Kidlington branch services.

Hope that all makes sense - let me know if anything else needs clarifying. I last visited the station about six weeks ago, and I was stunned by how much has happened in that time!

 

[route:oxford]

I was stunned by how much has happened in that time!

Don't be too stunned. It's just that in Oxford things tend to happen at a glacial pace, "real world" pace comes as a bit of a surprise...

For the next turn of events the Oxford City Council Exectutive are now threatening to halt services on the line over planning issues. Rumour has it that extra BTP officers will be based at Oxford for the opening to help combat the risk of protestors interfering with services.

Is there a historic precedent where a Council has successfully forced the closure of a railway line?

 

[ctyerkes]

Ah yes, I've just found out about this:

http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/1...Rail_as_the_firm_gets_set_to_breach_planning/

Hoping that Sunday's 'soft' launch will still go ahead - the equivalent for the initial opening to Oxford Parkway in October 2015 was rather fun.

 

[PhilipW]

I hope it never rains in Oxford. Not much shelter there.

 

[Nicholas43]

So Oxford Central has dropped 60,000 over the past year.

Oxford General, surely, in accordance with GWR practice? Or, maybe, Oxford Frideswide Square (as opposed, historically, to Rewley Road, and now to Water Eaton).
However, "Royal" Mail thinks Oxford General's postcode OX1 1HS is in Park End Street, which starts the other (east) side of Rewley Road.

 

[route:oxford]

Oxford General, surely, in accordance with GWR practice? Or, maybe, Oxford Frideswide Square (as opposed, historically, to Rewley Road, and now to Water Eaton).
However, "Royal" Mail thinks Oxford General's postcode OX1 1HS is in Park End Street, which starts the other (east) side of Rewley Road.

Frideswide Square is just the name of the square.

The shops to the South Side of Frideswide Square have a Park End Street address. Domino's is No19.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The 2016/17 NRT is out and Barry Doe will be further enraged when he sees the new Table 115 (Chiltern routes via High Wycombe).
The map has the Oxford branch joining the mainline the wrong way round (north of Bicester North, heading north).
Oxford station is also shown in light type instead of bold. Clearly it's no more important than Islip.
They also don't know the mileage from Oxford Parkway to Oxford.

And the map for Table 116 (Paddington-Bedwyn/Birmingham) shows the Bicester Village line as included in Table 116, but it's not, it's in Table 115.
Bicester is even in the Table 116 heading, but no trains are shown.
http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/3828.aspx

Actually, looking at the May 2016 version, most of these errors were already there and have not been removed.

 

[jimm]

I hope it never rains in Oxford. Not much shelter there.

Due to the late start on building/rebuilding the platforms, the construction of the new canopies is also running late.

 

[CyrusWuff]

Just a heads up that, as with the opening of Oxford Parkway last year, Chiltern are doing a "soft" launch of the through service to Oxford with the start of the new timetable on Sunday. The formal launch is on Monday, and will likely feature the press on a Silver set.

Looking at the timetable, this will be the 0720 from Oxford, due Marylebone 0820. Further digging, shows the set starting from Wembley LMD at 0539 and running ECS to Bicester Village, where it forms an 0626 to Oxford, arriving in Platform 3 at 0641. It then does a shunt to Hinksey Yard and is due back into Platform 4 at 0711.

Great Western's fastest journey opportunities around the same time involve getting either the 0716 CrossCountry service and changing at Reading, arriving in Paddington at 0816, or the 0734 direct, arriving 0829.

 

[route:oxford]

Great Western's fastest journey opportunities around the same time involve getting either the 0716 CrossCountry service and changing at Reading, arriving in Paddington at 0816, or the 0734 direct, arriving 0829.

There's an 07:15 rail-replacement service to Didcot Parkway getting in at 07:50, which connects to a service arriving into London at 09:00 this Sunday.

 

[CyrusWuff]

There's an 07:15 rail-replacement service to Didcot Parkway getting in at 07:50, which connects to a service arriving into London at 09:00 this Sunday.

Should have been clearer...I was referring to the "full" launch on Monday morning, which will almost certainly use one of the loco-hauled sets rather than one of the DMUs.

 

[jimm]

Should have been clearer...I was referring to the "full" launch on Monday morning, which will almost certainly use one of the loco-hauled sets rather than one of the DMUs.

It certainly will, as the 07.20 from Oxford succeeds the current 07.24 loco-powered service from Oxford Parkway - and is marked as MS on the timetable, ie Mk3 stock with a buffet/business zone coach. As much, it won't fit in the bay platforms, hence the trip to Hinksey to reverse and departure from platform 4.

 

[leomartin125]

It certainly will, as the 07.20 from Oxford succeeds the current 07.24 loco-powered service from Oxford Parkway - and is marked as MS on the timetable, ie Mk3 stock with a buffet/business zone coach. As much, it won't fit in the bay platforms, hence the trip to Hinksey to reverse and departure from platform 4.

The Chiltern 68 MK3's will come in, unload on P3 and then depart ECS to Hinksey Sidings where the driver will change ends, wait for the signal and then proceed into Platform 4 for departure to Marylebone.

 

[70014IronDuke]

The Botley Road which heads West is South of the station. The bridge you can see is for Castle Mill Stream.

Google Streetview still has an image from before this work started, so you can get some impression of how it was. The previous bays stopped well short of the bridge.

Thanks for clarification.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Sorry, I should have added some figure legends to help explain, and probably also posted the pictures In a logical order

Not at all, You can't think of everything!

Photos 1 and 3 are looking in the down direction, taken from what is now platform 2, roughly where the buffer stop used to be on what was former platform 3. The old platform canopy which dated from GW days has been removed completely. Where the new platform 1 is (opposite), there used to be a couple of goods bays. A CCT and GUV were kept there for years, used as stores.

I suspect these were 'goods' as you know them, but I think these were (or at least one was) what the Bletchley DMUs used after the closure of the LNW station. [/QUOTE]
...

Photos 2 and 4 are looking back in the up direction towards the main station building. At the right in photo 2 is the footbridge across from what is now platform 3 (used to be 1!) to what is now platform 4 (used to be 2!). The last dozen yards or so of the new bay platforms 1 and 2 used to be the short stay car park, so the erstwhile bay platform here has indeed been lengthened fairly substantially. There used to be a bay on the down side too, which was also used for the Fairford/Kidlington branch services.

Ah, so the bay for those trains was on the down side. I hadn't realised that. Why did the GWR have north facing bay(s) on the down side then. Perhaps you are correct, they were for parcels stuff all along.

As I remember it, bays apart, Oxford was in some ways rather like many of the GWR/GC joint stations - with two 'main lines' running through the centre, having no platforms, and with passenger stoppers using two loops on each side. Except, of course (unlike the joint stations), virtually every passenger train would be sent via the platform lines, and it was goods which used the centre, non-platform through roads.)

Is this still the arrangement?

 

[59CosG95]

Regarding the launch, the wibble is that 68010 is to be named "Oxford Flyer"; it's headed south from Gresty Bridge today with a bag over its nameplate.

 

[swt_passenger]

The Chiltern 68 MK3's will come in, unload on P3 and then depart ECS to Hinksey Sidings where the driver will change ends, wait for the signal and then proceed into Platform 4 for departure to Marylebone.

Yes, this has been discussed a few times since September when it was first mentioned, and has been in RTT for some time.

 

[ctyerkes]

As I remember it, bays apart, Oxford was in some ways rather like many of the GWR/GC joint stations - with two 'main lines' running through the centre, having no platforms, and with passenger stoppers using two loops on each side. Except, of course (unlike the joint stations), virtually every passenger train would be sent via the platform lines, and it was goods which used the centre, non-platform through roads.)

Is this still the arrangement?

Yes, exactly like that. As here (taken same day): https://youtu.be/DWHkHUUSCAY

 

[jimm]

Ah, so the bay for those trains was on the down side. I hadn't realised that. Why did the GWR have north facing bay(s) on the down side then. Perhaps you are correct, they were for parcels stuff all along.

Both the up side and down side bay platforms at the north end of Oxford station in GWR/early BR days were used by services to Witney/Fairford, Blenheim & Woodstock, stopping trains up the Cotswold Line to Kingham/Worcester and stoppers to Banbury.

Platform 2 (ex-3) continues to perform this function for the Oxford-Banbury stoppers that don't run through to/from Paddington - and the morning Cotswold halts train from Worcester terminates there.

As far as I know, the parcel docks were only ever used for parcels and perishable traffic.

 

[Oxfordblues]

The Chiltern 68 MK3's will come in, unload on P3 and then depart ECS to Hinksey Sidings where the driver will change ends, wait for the signal and then proceed into Platform 4 for departure to Marylebone.

Oh dear! An STP freight has been input for Monday morning which might scupper that: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/R72003/2016/12/12/advanced

05:54 Didcot Yard-Morris Cowley occupying Hinksey Reception from 06:13 til 07:20. Somebody tell Chiltern Trains!

 

[The Planner]

There is more than one reception road.

 

[a good off]

Oh dear! An STP freight has been input for Monday morning which might scupper that: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/R72003/2016/12/12/advanced

05:54 Didcot Yard-Morris Cowley occupying Hinksey Reception from 06:13 til 07:20. Somebody tell Chiltern Trains!

There are two reception roads.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

There is more than one reception road.

Sorry, missed your post.

 

[Class 170101]

In any event if there wasn't the STP freight should be re-timed.

 

[The Planner]

It shouldnt have even been offered and uploaded if there was one road, let alone re-timed.