Chiltern Oxford Link completed

[swt_passenger]

Here's a snipped image from the TWA Order 'statement of case - drawings', which should allow the general layout to be understood. On the up side you'll see that the steps provide a route up to the top section of the ramp, and are away from the tracks.

 

[L&Y Robert]

I don't understand the track layout that is emerging. andyjs247's picture 1061 shows what appears to be a crossover from a down loop to a down main. (Is the Oxford dirtection "Down" in this case?) What we see, however, doesn't fit in with any arrangement for a double track junction - UNLESS - the whole thing is going to be hauled over one track's-worth to the left. In that case, what we are looking at could be a facing crossover on the "Main", giving access to the (yet to be assembled) "Up" junction points to the new chord. If all that is correct, then there is room on the right for the new chord's "Down" track, ultimately to join the "Down Main" behind the photographer somewhere. Who, out there, knows?

 

[The Planner]

Id suggest it is going to get moved over to the left.

 

[midlandred]

I've rejigged my collection of photos on this project, now by location within http://cliffjones.zenfolio.com/f780764441
I too took some photos in the last few days at London Road crossing, Bicester

Has anyone seen plans for an overbridge at Oddington Halt and now that will affect the residential property adjoining the present crossing?

 

[MK Tom]

I was never suggesting the ramps shouldn't be there - I was saying ramps that long should always have steps in addition, due to the sheer length of time it would take to ascend them.

The layout is a mystery to me too. Will double track continue beyond the chord junction towards Claydon for any distance before singling, or will only a single track leave the junction?

I've rejigged my collection of photos on this project, now by location within http://cliffjones.zenfolio.com/f780764441
I too took some photos in the last few days at London Road crossing, Bicester

Excellent work.

 

[steevp]

I've rejigged my collection of photos on this project, now by location within http://cliffjones.zenfolio.com/f780764441

Excellent job and thanks for sharing - great to see things as they are/were for comparison when work is done

 

[HowardGWR]

Excellent job and thanks for sharing - great to see things as they are/were for comparison when work is done

Indeed immensely valuable. We stayed once at Swanbourne and i had no idea a railway was nearby. In fact of course it isn't (nearby). Is it intended to reopen Swanbourne? It's nowhere near anywhere is it?

 

[swt_passenger]

Has anyone seen plans for an overbridge at Oddington Halt and now that will affect the residential property adjoining the present crossing?

There are plans of the footpath crossing closures, the new road over bridge, and a new footbridge in the file of drawings I linked to here: http://www.railforums.co.uk/showpost.php?p=1696323&postcount=573

You'll probably need to read them in conjunction with a normal map that shows the adjacent properties in detail.

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

The layout is a mystery to me too. Will double track continue beyond the chord junction towards Claydon for any distance before singling, or will only a single track leave the junction?

Track layouts are shown in the file linked to via the post above. They show a number of options dependent on whether or not EWR required infrastructure is built at the same time, or not.

I'd assume now that EWR requirements have been incorporated in this phase they'd build the complete junctions for the full double track layout initially, it would be odd to have to come back and re-work the whole thing a couple of years later.

 

[HowardGWR]

Here's a snipped image from the TWA Order 'statement of case - drawings', which should allow the general layout to be understood. On the up side you'll see that the steps provide a route up to the top section of the ramp, and are away from the tracks.

The adjacent playgroup lady is now making a fuss about overlooking, but I cannot believe the structure was not known about, after such an extensive consultation, so her moaning seems more than a little disingenuous to me. Mind, it is monumentally ugly and overbearing.

 

[The Planner]

Those plans are a little out of date, what happens at Gavray is that the double junction is put in and what is shown as the Down Claydon is basically a long stub until phase 2 comes along. Anything from Claydon will use the Up Claydon towards Bicester.

 

[Overload]

The Balfour Beatty New Track renewal train was spotted working today laying new sleepers from near Charbridge lane, pass the curve and towards the London road crossing. A DRS class 66 was also spotted parked near the Launton road bridge. Not sure if it bought the renewal train to Bicester though.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Andyjs247]

The adjacent playgroup lady is now making a fuss about overlooking, but I cannot believe the structure was not known about, after such an extensive consultation, so her moaning seems more than a little disingenuous to me. Mind, it is monumentally ugly and overbearing.

Yes it all seems to be causing quite a stir locally. There was even a report on BBC South Today tonight about the bridge. As you rightly say, there has been extensive consultation including a public enquiry about Chiltern Railways' plans. Plans which have been in the public domain for quite some time now. However what I would say is perhaps you don't always get the impression of scale from seeing it just on the plan.

Apart from the overlooking, among other comments I've seen are about the scale of the structure and that it belongs in a theme park like Alton Towers! Don't get me wrong it is massive - I noticed the steps start from the pavement by the Launton Road - but I just don't see what alternative would be better given the need to provide a bridge in the space available. It is busy foot crossing and also part of the National Cycle network route 51. The design and therefore its size, is also dictated by the requirements of legislation for example the Equality Act 2010.

 

[Chris125]

The Balfour Beatty New Track renewal train was spotted working today laying new sleepers from near Charbridge lane, pass the curve and towards the London road crossing. A DRS class 66 was also spotted parked near the Launton road bridge. Not sure if it bought the renewal train to Bicester though.

Indeed, as can be seen in recent updates to the 'Oxford to Milton Keynes Railway' Flickr group - more are available on Derek Cooke's own page, including the newly installed footbridge steps. Great to see real progress being made!

Chris

 

[Andyjs247]

For those that are interested there is some more detail here showing what's happening at various points over the next few days and weeks in relation to road and crossing closures in Bicester at London Road, Tubbs Lane and Charbridge Lane.

 

[midlandred]

Managed to find some sunny periods today, so here's my collection of photos - http://cliffjones.zenfolio.com/p236166218
No wonder there are local complaints about the bridge at Tubbs Crossing!
Managed to photo 66001 on the COD train return journey
Enjoy!

That link has now gone as the photos have been merged into the collection at http://cliffjones.zenfolio.com/f780764441

 

[swt_passenger]

What appears to have been described as the 'loss of visual amenity' for residents living near Tubbs Lane crossing was considered acceptable by the TWA Order Inspector.

The Inspector's report is available online, it all got discussed, as did the alternative of a subway, and they appear to have built what was shown in the drawings. I suspect current complaints are a bit of a waste of time.

 

[cjmillsnun]

Oxford Morse?

Make it Oxford Endeavour

 

[L&Y Robert]

I don't understand the track layout that is emerging. andyjs247's picture 1061 shows what appears to be a crossover from a down loop to a down main. (Is the Oxford dirtection "Down" in this case?) What we see, however, doesn't fit in with any arrangement for a double track junction - UNLESS - the whole thing is going to be hauled over one track's-worth to the left. In that case, what we are looking at could be a facing crossover on the "Main", giving access to the (yet to be assembled) "Up" junction points to the new chord. If all that is correct, then there is room on the right for the new chord's "Down" track, ultimately to join the "Down Main" behind the photographer somewhere. Who, out there, knows?

Well, looking at Cliff Jones picture of 9th May, it HASN'T been hauled over one track's worth to the left! - so it isn't a facing crossover on the main, it's a trailing connection to the main - with catchpoints? Or what? Don't understand it, and that's a fact!

 

[jimm]

Well, looking at Cliff Jones picture of 9th May, it HASN'T been hauled over one track's worth to the left! - so it isn't a facing crossover on the main, it's a trailing connection to the main - with catchpoints? Or what? Don't understand it, and that's a fact!

Well maybe you should try looking at the website giving details of the work programme, which I and others have linked to several times now in this thread

http://www.bicestertooxfordcollaboration.com/diversions-and-notices/index.html

where it says the following

Sat 10 – Sun 11 May
08.00 – 18.00
Gavray Drive to Tubbs Lane
A rail-mounted Kirow crane will lay the assembled track crossover (S&C) units into their final position on the track between Gavray Drive and Tubbs Lane.

 

[ironstone11]

Well, looking at Cliff Jones picture of 9th May, it HASN'T been hauled over one track's worth to the left! - so it isn't a facing crossover on the main, it's a trailing connection to the main - with catchpoints? Or what? Don't understand it, and that's a fact!

Attached are the proposed track layouts. I suspect that for Bicester South and Gavray Jn. Phase 2B will be used.

 

[The Planner]

2B is pretty much what happens at Bicester apart from some changes to the MoD layout, loops and names. Anything south of Water Eaton is still up for debate....

 

[moggie]

2B is pretty much what happens at Bicester apart from some changes to the MoD layout, loops and names. Anything south of Water Eaton is still up for debate....

Anyone know what the train running time is between Wolvercot Jcn and Oxford station terminus platforms? That length of effective single line for Chiltern / EWR services seems to be a constraining feature for the future.

 

[The Planner]

The Up and Down Jericho is going to get a bit of a caning. I am still of the belief that if E-W really takes off then Oxford North is going to become the new Colwich.

 

[HowardGWR]

Attached are the proposed track layouts. I suspect that for Bicester South and Gavray Jn. Phase 2B will be used.

The attachment is the present layout. ??

 

[ironstone11]

The attachment is the present layout. ??

As far as I know, that is the latest information in the public domain.
But as The Planner points out, the section south of Water Eaton is still up for debate.... I think it will bear little resemblance to the layout shown in 2B, which was designed with only Chiltern's interests in mind and which gave them dedicated access to Oxford Stn.

 

[Andyjs247]

Just been over London Road crossing and noticed that there is now the beginnings of a trailing crossing visible (on the Claydon side). At Gavray Junction they have begun moving the switches - layout 2B would seem to be accurate.

The following is from the Bicester to Oxford collaboration website. It details the purpose of road closures at London Road over the next few days/weeks and was current on Thursday however is now archived so may not still be accurate.... Nevertheless it does describe what is going on in more detail.

London Road Level Crossing

Date. Duration of closure. Reason for closure

1 May 0700 to 1700 Long welded rail train

8 May 0700 to 1700 (minibus) NTC lay Down Bletchley London Road to A41 bridge

9 May 0700 to 1700 (minibus) Kirow lay London Road S&C, weld joints west of London Road

12 May 0700 to 1700 (minibus) Kirow lay Gavray S&C, weld joints London Rd S&C

14 May 1100 to 1500 (minibus) Top ballasting from autoballasters, weld joints Gavray S&C

16 May 0700 to 1700 (minibus) S&C and plain line tamping

17/18 May 0001 Sat to 2359 Sun Commissioning of automatic safety equipment

20/21 May 2300 to 0600 (minibus) Drop long welded rails between Jarvis Lane and A41 bridge

23–26 May 0001 to 2359 (minibus shuttle) Alterations to level crossing

3 June 1500 to 2300 (minibus) Lay sleepers Up Bletchley, restress Down Bletchley

4 June 1500 to 2300 (minibus) (Contingency) Lay sleepers Up Bletchley, thimble on rail

25 June 1500 to 2300 (minibus) S&C and plain line tamping, weld joints

26 June 1500 to 2300 (minibus) Contingency) S&C and plain line tamping, weld joints

3 July 1500 to 2300 (minibus) Restress track

4 July 1500 to 2300 (minibus) (Contingency) Restress track

Minibus will shuttle pedestrians when there is no access at crossing
Contingency shifts are to allow for incomplete works from the previous shift.

Road traffic will be redirected via B4100 London Road, A4421 Neunkirchen Way/Seelscheid Way, A4421 Wretchwick Way, A4421 Charbridge Lane and Launton Road.

...

It seems that there is some work being done as far as Jarvis Lane (on the EWR route towards Claydon) at this time.

 

[jimm]

Anyone know what the train running time is between Wolvercot Jcn and Oxford station terminus platforms? That length of effective single line for Chiltern / EWR services seems to be a constraining feature for the future.

What has Wolvercot junction got to do with it? That's where the Cotswold Line diverges. The Bicester line junction is Oxford North, which is about a minute from the station.

As others have noted, the final future layout at the north end of Oxford has yet to be determined. Network Rail last year showed a plan at various briefings with a double ladder junction at Oxford North, in conjunction with the reversible line, but that is just a possibility. And until decisions are made on what Oxford station will look like in the future, the track layout will also remain up in the air.

 

[HSTEd]

That thing has got to be the largest footbridge I have ever seen - it really is huge.
And people wonder why we still have huge quantities of level crossings.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

That thing has got to be the largest footbridge I have ever seen - it really is huge.
And people wonder why we still have huge quantities of level crossings.

At least it's green...

 

[edwin_m]

The attachment is the present layout. ??

Look at pages 2 and 3.