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

[12LDA28C]

As I thought. Testing of the route is over and done with.

Is it worth changing the thread title to reflect imminent (fingers crossed) driver training ?.

As you say, the route is complete, commissioned and open for traffic. Driver training has already commenced with several drivers having successfully signed the route.

 

[Peter Sarf]

As you say, the route is complete, commissioned and open for traffic. Driver training has already commenced with several drivers having successfully signed the route.

Good news there. Getting tantalisingly close to service.

Are the drivers who have successfully signed the route also passed for 196s ?.
Or so far passed (I presume) on the 165s, hence the visits to Birmingham ?.

 

[12LDA28C]

Good news there. Getting tantalisingly close to service.

Are the drivers who have successfully signed the route also passed for 196s ?.
Or so far passed (I presume) on the 165s, hence the visits to Birmingham ?.

Training on 196s has started, as of today nobody has yet signed 196s. All Chiltern drivers sign 165s (and 168s) as that is core traction.

 

[DarloRich]

Good news there. Getting tantalisingly close to service.

There is a class 33 hauled charter scheduled for February 15th (?) which should be the first paying passenger service along the line: https://www.pathfindertours.co.uk/events/the-verney-venturer/

A RAILTOUR TO THE REBUILT ‘EAST WEST RAIL LINK’ FROM BLETCHLEY TO BICESTER FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE 1990s ALSO FEATURING CLASS 33 CROMPTONS ON THE MIDLAND MAIN LINE AND CHILTERN LINE – AND MORE​

 

[12LDA28C]

There is a class 33 hauled charter scheduled for February 15th (?) which should be the first paying passenger service along the line: https://www.pathfindertours.co.uk/events/the-verney-venturer/

Indeed, if it runs, bearing in mind it's already been postponed once.

 

[DarloRich]

Indeed, if it runs, bearing in mind it's already been postponed once.

Correct, but the line is, at least, open this time

 

[Sun Chariot]

There is a class 33 hauled charter scheduled for February 15th (?) which should be the first paying passenger service along the line: https://www.pathfindertours.co.uk/events/the-verney-venturer/

As the Bletchley-Bicester line is a 6+ hours round trip by car for me, I won't get time to drive up and photograph it on the route. I suspect I'll also be required to prioritise my attention to my dear wife that weekend.

 

[TheHSRailFan]

There is a class 33 hauled charter scheduled for February 15th (?) which should be the first paying passenger service along the line: https://www.pathfindertours.co.uk/events/the-verney-venturer/

by the looks of it over 10 days later, it's certainly going ahead now
(that's not to say NR could turn around and say something is wrong, but by the looks of things it's happening!)

However, if you do want to get on now is the time as standard tickets are low!

 

[BlueLeanie]

We're only 16 weeks away from the May timetable change.

Is it likely that there will be a passenger service operating from then? If so, does that mean fares should be uploaded and passengers able to buy an Avanti+Connections ticket from Bicester Village in around 4 weeks?

 

[12LDA28C]

We're only 16 weeks away from the May timetable change.

Is it likely that there will be a passenger service operating from then?

Extremely unlikely. Many variables to be addressed before passenger service introduction can even be considered. No contract has yet been signed, for a start.

 

[Stephen42]

We're only 16 weeks away from the May timetable change.

Is it likely that there will be a passenger service operating from then? If so, does that mean fares should be uploaded and passengers able to buy an Avanti+Connections ticket from Bicester Village in around 4 weeks?

The schedules have been loaded as empty stock workings for the complete timetable period. Movements from depots/sidings exist both for the training schedule that were present for this timetable period and for the complete passenger timetable. It should be straightforward enough to make them passenger schedules once everything is ready and confirmed between May and December if everything is ready.

 

[dk1]

The schedules have been loaded as empty stock workings for the complete timetable period. Movements from depots/sidings exist both for the training schedule that were present for this timetable period and for the complete passenger timetable. It should be straightforward enough to make them passenger schedules once everything is ready and confirmed between May and December if everything is ready.

Yes I noticed that. At first thinking blimey there’s lots of early ECS moves to Milton Keynes but when it continued into lunchtime I guessed that was the reason. What an excellent service Bicester Village will have with Oxford.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The schedules have been loaded as empty stock workings for the complete timetable period. Movements from depots/sidings exist both for the training schedule that were present for this timetable period and for the complete passenger timetable. It should be straightforward enough to make them passenger schedules once everything is ready and confirmed between May and December if everything is ready.

Is the definitive complete timetable now in Realtime Trains, then? If so, 2110 weekday last train from Oxford to MKC is incredibly poor for the South East (and will make the line pretty useless for my main intended purpose for it!). Saturday appears to be 2315 which is considerably better, 2232 on Sunday which isn't terrible. Or could some of the weekday late evening ones still be missing from the data?

I note some early morning workings are now in though without which it'd be pretty useless for commuting, too.

 

[Stephen42]

Is the definitive complete timetable now in Realtime Trains, then? If so, 2110 weekday last train from Oxford to MKC is incredibly poor for the South East (and will make the line pretty useless for my main intended purpose for it!). Saturday appears to be 2315 which is considerably better, 2232 on Sunday which isn't terrible. Or could some of the weekday late evening ones still be missing from the data?

I note some early morning workings are now in though without which it'd be pretty useless for commuting, too.

Not confirmed but all the schedules join up neatly to form complete diagrams as far as I can tell. The 2110 is the last direct train from Oxford to Milton Keynes, the last train Oxford to Bletchley is 2310 similar to the Saturday time. This coincides with when trains at Bletchley on the mainline are pathed to use only the slows.

 

[12LDA28C]

The schedules have been loaded as empty stock workings for the complete timetable period. Movements from depots/sidings exist both for the training schedule that were present for this timetable period and for the complete passenger timetable. It should be straightforward enough to make them passenger schedules once everything is ready and confirmed between May and December if everything is ready.

As I've mentioned before, just because there are paths in for the training trains, this does not mean that they will all be used for training and although they reflect the passenger timetable, it also doesn't mean that all those paths will be used when passenger services commence, whenever that is.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Not confirmed but all the schedules join up neatly to form complete diagrams as far as I can tell. The 2110 is the last direct train from Oxford to Milton Keynes, the last train Oxford to Bletchley is 2310 similar to the Saturday time. This coincides with when trains at Bletchley on the mainline are pathed to use only the slows.

Thanks, that makes sense. I was worried for a bit then!

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Extremely unlikely. Many variables to be addressed before passenger service introduction can even be considered. No contract has yet been signed, for a start.

So yet again we've spent 100's millions on building this have known full well when it should be available for use yet uncertainty about when a service will start. Thought Labour were going to get a grip or is our new SoS less enthused about rail than the previous 5min wonder.

 

[dk1]

So yet again we've spent 100's millions on building this have known full well when it should be available for use yet uncertainty about when a service will start. Thought Labour were going to get a grip or is our new SoS less enthused about rail than the previous 5min wonder.

But it’s quite the norm with station/line openings these days. Both Cambridge South & Beaulieu Park for example give only sometime in 2025 as a guide.

 

[zwk500]

But it’s quite the norm with station/line openings these days. Both Cambridge North & Beaulieu Park for example give only sometime in 2025 as a guide.

I assume this is meant to be South?

 

[12LDA28C]

So yet again we've spent 100's millions on building this have known full well when it should be available for use yet uncertainty about when a service will start. Thought Labour were going to get a grip or is our new SoS less enthused about rail than the previous 5min wonder.

Feel free to contact the SoS, DfT and so on to voice your displeasure.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Jan 2025 ==

But it’s quite the norm with station/line openings these days. Both Cambridge North & Beaulieu Park for example give only sometime in 2025 as a guide.

Indeed although of course with station openings it's generally known well in advance who'll be running the trains that stop at those stations, the method of operation and so on. Also if those stations are on existing lines, minimal driver training will be required.

 

[dk1]

I assume this is meant to be South?

Haha yes. I’ll get my compass out

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

Talking of Cambridge North, when I stopped there last Thursday it was the first time I have seen the car park full. Bodes well for patronage at the South Station which I have always envisaged being the busier of the two.

 

[jammmmmsssssss]

But it’s quite the norm with station/line openings these days. Both Cambridge South & Beaulieu Park for example give only sometime in 2025 as a guide.

I think Cambridge South is delayed until January 2026 as Cambridge resignalling is delayed

 

[dk1]

I think Cambridge South is delayed until January 2026 as Cambridge resignalling is delayed

Probably for the best and will coincide with the new ECML timetable which impacts on West Anglia too.

 

[bspahh]

Talking of Cambridge North, when I stopped there last Thursday it was the first time I have seen the car park full. Bodes well for patronage at the South Station which I have always envisaged being the busier of the two.

I was at a meeting at the Novotel hotel at Cambridge North in September. It was really convenient for me to get there from Ely, but the car park was full at lunch time, so the next one is going to be at the Garden House hotel in the city centre

 

[dk1]

I was at a meeting at the Novotel hotel at Cambridge North in September. It was really convenient for me to get there from Ely, but the car park was full at lunch time, so the next one is going to be at the Garden House hotel in the city centre

Do you need to take your car for props etc?

 

[bspahh]

Do you need to take your car for props etc?

I didn't. A colleague might well have done, but he would have arrived earlier in the morning, and its easy enough to unload if you can the park somewhere. Our office is a 20 minute walk away if the car park was full.

There is also a lot of free parking, in the housing estate the other side of the guided busway, but its a couple of miles to drive there.

 

[dk1]

I didn't. A colleague might well have done, but he would have arrived earlier in the morning, and its easy enough to unload if you can the park somewhere. Our office is a 20 minute walk away if the car park was full.

There is also a lot of free parking, in the housing estate the other side of the guided busway, but its a couple of miles to drive there.

Okay. I know the area well and just couldn't imagine driving from Ely to Cambridge with such a good train service.

 

[DarloRich]

There is a private Paddington > Oxford > Euston charter along E-W on Friday 7th February. Apparently WCRC hauled.

Also a pair of back to back HST worked along the line last week.

 

[Sun Chariot]

There is a private Paddington > Oxford > Euston charter along E-W on Friday 7th February. Apparently WCRC hauled.

Also a pair of back to back HST worked along the line last week.

I can see Monday 3-Feb's 0Z43 path and today's 0Z44 path on RTT. I can't see one for last week, though.

Realtime Trains | 0Z43 0945 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Rugby Depot Access Line | 03/02/2025

Real-time train running information for 0Z43 0945 departure from Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Rugby Depot Access Line on 03/02/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 0Z44 0955 Rugby Depot Access Line to Rugby Depot Access Line | 04/02/2025

Real-time train running information for 0Z44 0955 departure from Rugby Depot Access Line to Rugby Depot Access Line on 04/02/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[DarloRich]

I can see Monday 3-Feb's 0Z43 path and today's 0Z44 path on RTT. I can't see one for last week, though.

thanks - that what you get for going on holiday - it is Tuesday today isn't it