Some Chiltern Trains Observations and Questions

[Smod]

I haven’t had much experience of Chiltern Trains until recently, but I have been travelling between Marylebone and Oxford Parkway (OXP) quite a bit in the last few weeks and have a few observations and questions for the forum.

I have seen several Chilterns Trains units at Oxford (OXF) lately – including south of the station. They are obviously not arriving from OXP as the track is blocked. Given the slow progress on the new platform at Oxford station, are they thinking of turning trains south of Oxford station? And are these training runs?

Why do trains generally terminate in Platform 2 at OXP when the station entrance is on Platform 1? I arrived on platform 1 last week so presumably it’s not an issue with track layout.

On one journey I travelled from OXP to Bicester Village on the down line rather than the up line. At Bicester Village the next train was also in the “opposite” platform. Is this planned? Or if not, what would cause this?

Most of the traffic on the Oxford Parkway services is from Marylebone to Bicester Village – and I have been on several trans that have been full and standing. It was a surprise to me to see so many people leaving London to go shopping. Was there a lot of traffic via Bicester North before, or is this mostly new business? It looks like the new service has been as great success.

What are the 172s for? They are in the same livery as the 165s but I have used them a couple of times on runs to OXP which are usually 168s. They have 2x2 seats but no WiFi. So are they regarded as suburban or main line units?

Talking of WiFi, it’s not uncommon for the WiFi on 168s to be out of action. I’m not talking of poor reception for part of the journey – I’m finding no access at all on a proportion of journeys while others have been fine.

I enjoy seeing the class 121 at Princes Risborough from time to time, displaying destinations such as Barmouth. Presumably they don’t have a blind for Aylesbury.

All in all, travelling to Oxford via Marylebone has been a good experience.

 

[JamesT]

Running to Oxford is only two months away, so I would expect Chiltern to be gearing up with training etc.
Regarding the platforming, I would expect that they're running as they will be when running to Oxford. Might as well have everyone learn it once, rather than need to resign later.

 

[swt_passenger]

Chiltern's service will run from the bays at Oxford normally, however some services will be operated by the LHCS as now, and these will use the through platforms, shunting via Hinksey Yard between arrival and departure.

However to allow for all possible eventualities, drivers will get trained on a number of routes that with luck they will never use.

 

[Starmill]

I can't imagine that the Chiltern services from Oxford will use the 'wrong' platform at Oxford Parkway, as most currently do!

 

[swt_passenger]

I think there might be confusion about up/down in the original post above, as there is a direction change on the new chord at Bicester. A train from Marylebone is heading in the down direction, but after joining the newly redoubled track at Gavray junction is on the Up Bletchley, heading toward Oxford on the left hand track. On arrival at Oxford Parkway the majority of services use the facing crossover just east of the station to cross to what is the down platform for departure. Any service that arrives in OXP platform 1 cannot initially cross back to the down Bletchley so must run on the RH track at least as far as Bicester?

There are track diagrams in the main Chiltern Oxford thread here: http://www.railforums.co.uk/showpost.php?p=2694476&postcount=1699
...in fact many of the OP's questions will probably be answered in there somewhere.

 

[EAD]

Most of the traffic on the Oxford Parkway services is from Marylebone to Bicester Village – and I have been on several trans that have been full and standing. It was a surprise to me to see so many people leaving London to go shopping. Was there a lot of traffic via Bicester North before, or is this mostly new business? It looks like the new service has been as great success.

What are the 172s for? They are in the same livery as the 165s but I have used them a couple of times on runs to OXP which are usually 168s. They have 2x2 seats but no WiFi. So are they regarded as suburban or main line units?

I enjoy seeing the class 121 at Princes Risborough from time to time, displaying destinations such as Barmouth. Presumably they don’t have a blind for Aylesbury.

All in all, travelling to Oxford via Marylebone has been a good experience.

While I am now living near my namesake station, I grew up near Princes Risborough and regularly make journeys back out that way. The line has seen a massive transformation from its singled save money at all costs state in the 1980s.

Taking your questions - yes Bicester North used to take the Bicester Village traffic and there was a shuttle bus. It is now firmly in London tourist guides so very popular with visitors in particular from the Middle and Far East who take the train out there from London.

The 172s are suburban and were as far as I recall ordered to top up the fleet with the aim (at least initially/in theory) to run such services e.g. to Marylebone - High Wycombe. Of course since then (and as demands on fleet have grown) they can be found on many other services.

Re the 121 - pretty sure it has the correct blinds. 121 020 was the blue one that had extensive modifications such as central door locking and a passenger information system added as well. There is 034 as well in BR green I believe - that is less extensively modified so may have old blinds, but I suspect someone was having some fun with the destination shown

 

[Andyjs247]

What are the 172s for? They are in the same livery as the 165s but I have used them a couple of times on runs to OXP which are usually 168s. They have 2x2 seats but no WiFi. So are they regarded as suburban or main line units?

Taking your questions - yes Bicester North used to take the Bicester Village traffic and there was a shuttle bus. It is now firmly in London tourist guides so very popular with visitors in particular from the Middle and Far East who take the train out there from London.

The 172s are suburban and were as far as I recall ordered to top up the fleet with the aim (at least initially/in theory) to run such services e.g. to Marylebone - High Wycombe. Of course since then (and as demands on fleet have grown) they can be found on many other services.

The 172s are suburban in appearance and ambience. I thought they had at least some 2+3 seating, but they don't have tables or Wi-Fi. Their top speed is 100mph however - like the 'Mainline' 168s and 'Mainline Silver' LHCS sets.

I believe there are some booked 168 + 172 workings - these may be shown as 'MH' or 'Mainline Hybrid' in the timetable. Such workings carefully don't mention Wi-Fi. The 165s are limited to 75mph - it is unlikely you would find one on such a working.

The Bicester Village shuttle bus still runs, but now targets passengers arriving from the Birmingham and Banbury direction. The expectation is that passengers going to Bicester Village from London will use the direct train service.

Why do trains generally terminate in Platform 2 at OXP when the station entrance is on Platform 1? I arrived on platform 1 last week so presumably it’s not an issue with track layout.

On one journey I travelled from OXP to Bicester Village on the down line rather than the up line. At Bicester Village the next train was also in the “opposite” platform. Is this planned? Or if not, what would cause this?

I think there might be confusion about up/down in the original post above, as there is a direction change on the new chord at Bicester. A train from Marylebone is heading in the down direction, but after joining the newly redoubled track at Gavray junction is on the Up Bletchley, heading toward Oxford on the left hand track. On arrival at Oxford Parkway the majority of services use the facing crossover just east of the station to cross to what is the down platform for departure. Any service that arrives in OXP platform 1 cannot initially cross back to the down Bletchley so must run on the RH track at least as far as Bicester?

Such a train leaving OXP platform 1 and heading towards MYB will need to run on the RH Up Bletchley line (in the Down direction) as far as Gavray Junction. From there it would normally cross to the LH Up Bicester South West Chord (although it could be routed on the Down SW Chord and continue on the down as far as Princes Risborough)! One train that does this is the 0724 from OXP, coincidentally the flagship morning up LHCS 'Silver' train.

I believe the trailing crossover east of London Road level crossing is only signalled for a move towards Claydon and Bletchley (and vv); it is not possible to set a route to join the Up Bicester SW Chord at Gavray Jn if using that crossover.

As to why, well it allows both platforms at OXP to be occupied simultaneously. And there is one pair of services planned to use the opposite lines between Gavray Jn and Oxford Parkway as you describe. These are the 0708 ex BIT (to OXP) and the aforementioned 0724 ex OXP.

It may also happen if there is an extra train - say a freight running from Banbury Road sidings at Oxford Parkway to Acton. If platform 2 at OXP is occupied (often the case), then the freight can still reverse in platform 1. Or, depending on timing, reverse in 2 causing the next train from MYB to use platform 1. The likely knock on effect is that the next train must swap over at Bicester (so staying on the Down all the way). And so on ... until there is a chance to swap back. I suspect this is what happened.

Chiltern's service will run from the bays at Oxford normally, however some services will be operated by the LHCS as now, and these will use the through platforms, shunting via Hinksey Yard between arrival and departure.

However to allow for all possible eventualities, drivers will get trained on a number of routes that with luck they will never use.

Essentially it is because certain trains, not just LHCS, are too long for the bay platforms at Oxford. So therefore they must use the through platforms. According to the linked plans, the bay platforms 1 and 2 are 157m and 161m respectively and therefore can handle max 6 car (x23m). The Chiltern services can be up to 9 car.

 

[E16 Cyclist]

I did my training for this yesterday as we'll be signing the whole of Oxford station and as far as Hinksey Yard to the east of the station, predominately most services will use the platform 1 and 2 bays, however as these only hold 6 vehicles and the intention is to provide at least one loco hauled set and longer services platform 3 is likely to be used for these, and because of how busy Oxford station is its been agreed we can use Hinksey yard to get us out of the way and turned around to get back into the station for our booked departure. There is also a short shunt we can do if the need arises.

As for the question regarding bidirectional running between Bicester Village and Oxford Parkway both lines are signalled bidirectionally and some services are booked to operate this way, either for logistical reasons such as the don't want to cross the loco hauled set over the points directly outside Oxford Parkway station or they want to ensure the systems are running correctly and running booked services is the best way to do this

 

[midlandred]

I enjoy seeing the class 121 at Princes Risborough from time to time, displaying destinations such as Barmouth. Presumably they don’t have a blind for Aylesbury.

121034 at Princes Risborough, 2015 - for Barmouth!

 

[Smod]

Thanks to all for your comprehensive replies to my questions. And love the photo.

 

[Bishopstone]

I'm thinking Barmouth/Cambrian coast was a rare destination for 121s, even in BR days...?

 

[150219]

121034 at Princes Risborough, 2015 - for Barmouth!

The blinds carried by 121034 aren't originals. They were fitted when the unit was under the ownership of the Tyseley Railway Museum. When the unit was transferred to Aylesbury, the blinds were retained. 121020 is fitted with an old 165-type digital display.

When 121034 started revenue earning runs on the Aylesbury branch, it carried paper labels with Aylesbury Town and Princes Risborough. Over time these either fell out, or were deliberately removed.

Incidentally the original 121 blinds, as fitted from new showed an incorrectly spelt 'Princess Risborough', although Aylesbury was correctly shown!

 

[jimm]

Why do trains generally terminate in Platform 2 at OXP when the station entrance is on Platform 1? I arrived on platform 1 last week so presumably it’s not an issue with track layout.

You would have been doing well to arrive in platform 1 - it is only half-built, as it is the new bay platform for Chiltern services.

The platforms at Oxford were renumbered in June. The north bays are 1 (being built) and 2 (former platform 3).

The former platform 1 (ie Didcot/London-bound platform) is now platform 3, with what used to be platform 2 (ie Cotswold/Banbury-bound side) now platform 4.

Platform 3 is signalled for bi-directional working and trains from the Didcot direction can terminate there, but trying to use it regularly is simply not possible when every service going south from Oxford needs to use that platform and most terminating trains go into platform 4 so that they can be sent out of the way quickly into the down sidings.

The bi-di signalling giving access to platform 3 is useful when there is disruption (such as train failures in platform 4) and if a train is late from London and needs to be turned back quickly. Signallers will also put terminating services in there if there is a big enough window between southbound trains, as it gives access to the up side sidings and avoids the need for a shunt move across the north end of the station to get stock from the down sidings back into the station.

 

[swt_passenger]

You would have been doing well to arrive in platform 1 - it is only half-built, as it is the new bay platform for Chiltern services.

The platforms at Oxford were renumbered in June. The north bays are 1 (being built) and 2 (former platform 3).

I think the original post makes sense once you notice it is mostly about Oxford Parkway, (OXP). I read it wrong initially a few days ago, but it turned out some of the questions were about current journeys.

 

[EAD]

The blinds carried by 121034 aren't originals. They were fitted when the unit was under the ownership of the Tyseley Railway Museum. When the unit was transferred to Aylesbury, the blinds were retained. 121020 is fitted with an old 165-type digital display.

When 121034 started revenue earning runs on the Aylesbury branch, it carried paper labels with Aylesbury Town and Princes Risborough. Over time these either fell out, or were deliberately removed.

Incidentally the original 121 blinds, as fitted from new showed an incorrectly spelt 'Princess Risborough', although Aylesbury was correctly shown!

Thanks for that - I knew someone would have the full story! Given I no longer live in the area I only ever need to alight at PRR these days and therefore have very rarely used the bubble shuttle over the years.

 

[RobLawrence]

Talking of WiFi, it’s not uncommon for the WiFi on 168s to be out of action. I’m not talking of poor reception for part of the journey – I’m finding no access at all on a proportion of journeys while others have been fine.

I commute daily on this route and generally find the wifi to work better than it did initially. The 165/3s tend to be the most problematic around connectivity and the third party wifi supplier as good as confirmed this to me in writing when I was getting repeated problems in the early days.

Would be interested to know which variant of 168 you have experienced wifi problems on -- and where on the train you were seated. Coverage seems to be patchy.

 

[Smod]

Would be interested to know which variant of 168 you have experienced wifi problems on -- and where on the train you were seated. Coverage seems to be patchy.

I normally sit around the middle of the leading coach. And yes I have a feeling that wifi problems have been more common with 168/3s.