East-West Rail (EWR): Oxford-Bletchley construction progress

[swt_passenger]

If Modern Railways are correct in explaining the track from the landfill to EWR is not guaranteed, (known as the Aylesbury link, but really an offline replacement of the original chord), and the revised layout in the IMD presentation, (post #323), is correct in explaining that the south to east access to the IMD and its overbridge have been removed from the scheme, then are they unnecessarily building earthworks for a chord, as seen in the video?

I‘ve annotated a drawing of the what was originally planned below:

 

[fishwomp]

If Modern Railways are correct in explaining the track from the landfill to EWR is not guaranteed, (known as the Aylesbury link, but really an offline replacement of the original chord), and the revised layout in the IMD presentation, (post #323), is correct in explaining that the south to east access to the IMD and its overbridge have been removed from the scheme, then are they unnecessarily building earthworks for a chord, as seen in the video?

I‘ve annotated a drawing of the what was originally planned below:

Well, HS2 are contracted to build the earthworks, but NR doesn't have to put the track down.. is still far better that the earthworks are "in the bag" than if NR had to do that as well ..

 

[swt_passenger]

Well, HS2 are contracted to build the earthworks, but NR doesn't have to put the track down.. is still far better that the earthworks are "in the bag" than if NR had to do that as well ..

I guess so. At least it looks like the whole area will have a much higher quality of earthworks and drainage etc, with various storage ponds and stuff like that…

 

[The Planner]

The FOCs and FCC will all over it if the top end isn't built. Wouldn't do NR that many favours either.

 

[zwk500]

If Modern Railways are correct in explaining the track from the landfill to EWR is not guaranteed, (known as the Aylesbury link, but really an offline replacement of the original chord), and the revised layout in the IMD presentation, (post #323), is correct in explaining that the south to east access to the IMD and its overbridge have been removed from the scheme, then are they unnecessarily building earthworks for a chord, as seen in the video?

I‘ve annotated a drawing of the what was originally planned below:

The drainage for the scheme (including retention ponds) will have been designed for the eventual end-goal, and that's something you don't want to have to fix later on. Also it's possible that the embankments are making use of spoil dug out for the cuttings that are actually needed, and if it isn't placed down nearby it'd need to be trucked to somewhere it can be dumped.

 

[CdBrux]

I presume it makes HS2 construction easier not having an already operational railway (as part of EWR) alongside it between Aylesbury and Calvert?

 

[hwl]

I presume it makes HS2 construction easier not having an already operational railway (as part of EWR) alongside it between Aylesbury and Calvert?

Yes, especially as they are having to move the existing alignment.

A key point about the future short gap between the waste plant and EWR is that no one wants to be held to a re-opening date for this section given the huge number of interaction and responsibilities elsewhere.
Any EWR Aylesbury services would be starting significantly later than Oxford - Bletchley.
The alignment of the short gap could also be a useful haul road given track laying starting out from Calvert.

 

[eMeS]

East-West rail progress and the new station on the bridge?/viaduct?/crossing? at Bletchley was shown on lunchtime local TV earlier today. Sorry, I can't remember whether it was BBC or ITV. Repeated later maybe?

 

[richieb1971]

Does anyone know where the track and other infrastructure will originate from for this IMD at Steeple Claydon?

 

[swt_passenger]

Does anyone know where the track and other infrastructure will originate from for this IMD at Steeple Claydon?

Do you mean where will the junction with the existing railway be?

 

[richieb1971]

Do you mean where will the junction with the existing railway be?

I found the location its a few clicks east of the Bicester Curve. I am interested in the logistics of getting the materials to build it and the track for HS2. How does it get there? Where does it origate from?

I read the material in post 323 but it doesn't reflect on the logistics how materials will get to the location of the IMD or where the HS2 track (300KM worth) is coming from.

 

[Bald Rick]

I found the location its a few clicks east of the Bicester Curve. I am interested in the logistics of getting the materials to build it and the track for HS2. How does it get there? Where does it origate from?

I read the material in post 323 but it doesn't reflect on the logistics how materials will get to the location of the IMD or where the HS2 track (300KM worth) is coming from.

The IMD is primarily for maintenance of the line when it is built.

HS2 will have slab track, and this is being built at a new factory at Shepton Mallet.
I’d be astonished if the rail came from anywhere but Scunthorpe.

 

[richieb1971]

The IMD is primarily for maintenance of the line when it is built.

HS2 will have slab track, and this is being built at a new factory at Shepton Mallet.
I’d be astonished if the rail came from anywhere but Scunthorpe.

Yes I understand. But as I understand it the junction provides HS2 access to trains before its completed. So the location in itself is serving 2 purposes. Is that right?

 

[The Planner]

If the rail is from Scunthorpe Id imagine they will feed a lot of it in via Washwood Heath as a temporary connection is being put in where the old CEMEX factory was.

 

[Sonik]

Yes I understand. But as I understand it the junction provides HS2 access to trains before its completed. So the location in itself is serving 2 purposes. Is that right?

Yes - the HS2 document at post #323 makes reference to reusing track materials, so it looks like the initial track layout is just for the railhead, later to be modified for the IMD.

Can't find it right now but there's also a reference somewhere in the EWR documentation to making freight movements using 'basic signaling' so I took that to mean that HS2 will need to start making deliveries before EWR signaling is complete. Aggregates and cement will be needed for the HS2 base formation before the slabs and rail can be laid.

 

[mwmbwls]

East-West rail progress and the new station on the bridge?/viaduct?/crossing? at Bletchley was shown on lunchtime local TV earlier today. Sorry, I can't remember whether it was BBC or ITV. Repeated later maybe?

BBC 1 "Look East" 18:30hrs 29/06/2033 -Lead item.

 

[The Planner]

Yes - the HS2 document at post #323 makes reference to reusing track materials, so it looks like the initial track layout is just for the railhead, later to be modified for the IMD.

Can't find it right now but there's also a reference somewhere in the EWR documentation to making freight movements using 'basic signaling' so I took that to mean that HS2 will need to start making deliveries before EWR signaling is complete. Aggregates and cement will be needed for the HS2 base formation before the slabs and rail can be laid.

Not sure that is the case now, awful lot of aggregate stockpiled up there as well as at Marsh Lane.

 

[ashkeba]

BBC 1 "Look East" 18:30hrs 29/06/2033 -Lead item.

Look East (West) on iPlayer, not Look East which leads with a child on life support. It will vanish from some platforms about 7pm tonight.

 

[bspahh]

Look East (West) on iPlayer, not Look East which leads with a child on life support. It will vanish from some platforms about 7pm tonight.

It starts after about 4 minutes here

BBC One - Look East (West), Evening News, 29/06/2022

Latest news for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Milton Keynes and Northants.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[DarloRich]

a LONG train of side tippers noted moving onto and off the flyover yesterday. Still takes a bit of getting used to seeing trains on the flyover.

just as an addition to @richieb1971 comments: are we expecting HS2 construction trains to use the E-W line to access thier construction sites?

 

[Trainee9]

a LONG train of side tippers noted moving onto and off the flyover yesterday. Still takes a bit of getting used to seeing trains on the flyover.

On Wednesday evening as I drove by the Bletchley High Level station I saw a line of wagons parked up there.
On another forum there is a report from last Saturday with photos of a trainload of rail parked on the EWR track near Newton Longueville.

 

[swt_passenger]

There’s a BBC local news report here, presumably based on last nights TV news report mentioned earlier:

East-West Rail: Bicester to Bletchley phase 'on time'
The second section of a £5bn rail link is on time and on budget, according to the company behind it.
Work began on the 21-mile (33km) £760m Bicester to Bletchley stretch of the Oxford to Cambridge East-West Rail project in 2020. It will include two new stations, new bridges, track-laying and partly rebuilding a viaduct.
East-West Rail Company Alliance director Mark Cuzner said it was "on programme" to finish in 2024.
The project aims to connect the university cities of Cambridge and Oxford by the end of the decade.
The first section to upgrade the railway between Oxford and Bicester was completed in 2016.

East-West Rail: Bicester to Bletchley phase 'on time'

Work on the 21-mile (33km) £760m stretch should be complete in 2024, says the company behind it.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[fgwrich]

Being a BBC Regional Article, it was also featured on BBC South Todays lunchtime news.

 

[swt_passenger]

Being a BBC Regional Article, it was also featured on BBC South Todays lunchtime news.

Yes, and I suppose we’ll get that even more now as the BBC intend removing the separate Oxford local news segment from the evening version of South Today.

 

[Bald Rick]

BBC 1 "Look East" 18:30hrs 29/06/2033 -Lead item.

wow - news reports from the future!

 

[fgwrich]

wow - news reports from the future!

Severe delays on East West, or news that we've fully re-opened the line through to Cambridge and Electrified it?

 

[DarloRich]

Another long train of autoballsters on waiting to come off the flyover last night AND a long train of falcon type wagons tucked in behind.

 

[vic-rijrode]

Severe delays on East West, or news that we've fully re-opened the line through to Cambridge and Electrified it?

... or following the latest OMEGA 666 variant of COVID-19 wiping out 95% of the UK's population, all rail services have ceased.

 

[II]

Track and signalling layouts now available to view on Signalmaps (along with much more of the WCML)

Signal Maps

View live signal maps for train lines across the UK

signalmaps.co.uk

 

[mwmbwls]

wow - news reports from the future!

Oops = Apologies