Cotswold Redoubling

[Mintona]

Rail bosses have agreed to improve services for passengers using the Cotswold Line by doubling up sections of the track.

The line, which runs between Worcester and Oxford, currently has three large stretches of single track.

The Office of Rail Regulation has announced it intends to allow Network Rail to double up some of the track.

The news has been welcomed by MPs who have previously complained about delays and problems on the route.

Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff said it was a major step in a campaign he has waged, along with others, for nearly 20 years.

"But it is only a step. I will not rest until the full redoubling occurs, that means the sections between Charlbury and Oxford and between Evesham and Worcester," he said.

West Worcestershire MP Sir Michael Spicer also said it was extremely good news.

"The present single tracks have been the cause for many years of most of the delays and problems on the route to London," he said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7699935.stm

 

[crewmeal]

Why they reduced to to a single track in the first place was beyond me. How much will cost to lay a second line again?

 

[The Planner]

Its only being done to appease the MPs, it doesnt need double tracking all the way from Norton to Wolvercote. Mr Luff will never rest as it will never be 2 tracked all the way through, the business case can't ever justify it.

 

[Metroland]

They said that about the Chiltern and carried on doing the rest of that..

 

[Techniquest]

What really needs doing still is Shelwick Junction to Malvern Wells. The amount of early terminations and delays caused by this single line section (with loop at Ledbury) is disgusting.

 

[The Planner]

They said that about the Chiltern and carried on doing the rest of that..

It could be said that was a bit of a bodge job too, the whole thing was based on the speed and braking of 168s, no future proofing for the stuff that knocks about down there now. Evergreen 3 goes a bit further as the Bicester chord gets put in and tracks to Oxford will be upped to 100mph.

 

[paul1609]

I think its ironic all the damage to this route is done by diverted wcml freights on infrastructure that in many cases hasnt been improved since BR days (look at how much of the rail on the route is secured by SHC clips). If Chiltern hadnt nagged and pushed both Railtrack and Network Rail to make the improvements for sprinter type vehicles there wouldnt be the capacity for these trains to be diverted!
I think Princes Risborough Platform 3 is still the only case of a platform at a NR station owned by the TOC simply because the infrastructure owner wouldnt fund it!

 

[Metroland]

The curious thing about the doubling scheme, is it's not much of a doubling at all with Finstock-Wolvercote being left single - which marginally improves this section. I have no idea if Wolvercote will be made double lead, although Oxford down loop is being improved to take passenger trains. The problem always was Oxford PSB (who controls the line completely to Ascott) never had anywhere to stack out-of-course late running Cotswold line trains, which caused considerable delay.

The redoubling scheme also leaves in mechanical boxes, which seems a missed opportunity when Oxford, Swindon B, Reading, Slough PSB/IECC is being replaced by the new Didcot Signalling centre and the Banbury area will go eventually under the West Mids signal scheme at Saltley.

 

[The Planner]

Wolvercote isnt being made a double lead, even though it needs it like you say. Oxford loop is another balls up, it gets passenger rated, but in one direction only. So up freights can no longer be tucked away in there if needed and its still no use for up trains off the Bicester branch. The Cotswold is fine unless, like you say, something goes wrong, the whole day is then knackered, much like on the Cambrian. The TVSC doesnt come in until 2010/11 as that when the interlocking gets shifted at Reading (as Reading cant start until the box goes). Banbury isnt going until at least 2013/14 and possibly later.