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

[Sun Chariot]

Yes just noticed the Verney Crompton railtour on 16 November cancelled because line not ready, sorry if mentioned before.

Yes - the deferred date (to 15th Feb 2025) was covered on the EWR Construction Progress thread, posts #1911-1913, 13th October. Here's Pathfinder's info

The Verney Venturer - Confirmed Timings Added - Pathfinder Railtours

Join us on the first railtour along the newly built East-West Rail route! Joining Stations: Bristol Temple Meads, Bristol Parkway, Cam & Dursley, Cheltenham Spa, Worcestershire Parkway, Northfield, Birmingham New Street, Nuneaton.

www.pathfindertours.co.uk

 

[12LDA28C]

Yes just noticed the Verney Crompton railtour on 16 November cancelled because line not ready, sorry if mentioned before.

It's been mentioned before. However, what's not clear is why the train has been postponed due to the 'line not being ready' when handover to Network Rail happened a week ago.

 

[zwk500]

It's been mentioned before. However, what's not clear is why the train has been postponed due to the 'line not being ready' when handover to Network Rail happened a week ago.

Not enough time to organise a crew knowledge training run before the tour?

 

[DarloRich]

I saw one of the GWR test runs at Bletchley High Level on Friday - i have to say the 800 looked very nice up there. I got a few poor quality photographs with my mobile as a momento.

Hopefully I will be around when the next set of runs happen before xmas ( apparently)

 

[The Planner]

It's been mentioned before. However, what's not clear is why the train has been postponed due to the 'line not being ready' when handover to Network Rail happened a week ago.

GSMR hasnt been signed off yet?

 

[Sun Chariot]

I saw one of the GWR test runs at Bletchley High Level on Friday - i have to say the 800 looked very nice up there. I got a few poor quality photographs with my mobile as a momento.

It made an impressive sight, didn’t it I saw it at Launton (near Bicester), then Swanbourne-Mursley (near Winslow), last Tuesday. A few photos are linked on post #35.

 

[Tilting007]

Paddington to Euston and return via MK tomorrow
5Q40/5Q46

 

[Sun Chariot]

Paddington to Euston and return via MK tomorrow
5Q40/5Q46

Here are today's. Tuesday's not yet fed into Realtime Trains

Realtime Trains | Departures from Winslow between 0600 and 2000 on 28/10/2024

Train information at Winslow between 0600 and 2000 on 28/10/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[12LDA28C]

Not enough time to organise a crew knowledge training run before the tour?

Possibly, but that depends on whether the route is now actually available for route learning or not.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Oct 2024 ==

GSMR hasnt been signed off yet?

Maybe, yes. Various adjustments to signal strength and so on were carried out last week and the engineers seemed reasonably happy at close of testing.

 

[zwk500]

Possibly, but that depends on whether the route is now actually available for route learning or not.

And the crew, of course.

Maybe, yes. Various adjustments to signal strength and so on were carried out last week and the engineers seemed reasonably happy at close of testing.

There are still 5Qxx runs happening today, do you know what the purpose of these runs (using an IET, by the look of it being ex-North Pole) is?

 

[12LDA28C]

And the crew, of course.

There are still 5Qxx runs happening today, do you know what the purpose of these runs (using an IET, by the look of it being ex-North Pole) is?

If it's the same as last week, measurements were being taken of the IET relative to platform lengths, I assume for SDO operation at intermediate stations along the route during diversions.

 

[Sun Chariot]

(14:00) Two workings cancelled and the IET on its way back to North Pole

Realtime Trains | 5Q47 1601 Bletchley High Level to North Pole Iep Depot | 28/10/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q47 1601 departure from Bletchley High Level to North Pole Iep Depot on 28/10/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[DarloRich]

Today's test runs show a paddington >mkc > Euston and return run.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Today's test runs show a paddington >mkc > Euston and return run.

If someone had told me, six months ago, that class 800 would be the EWR's most common traction this year - I wouldn't have believed 'em.

 

[DarloRich]

If someone had told.me,.six months ago, that class 800 would be the EWR's most common traction this year - I wouldn't have believed 'em.

it is certainly an odd one!

 

[Sun Chariot]

Unfortunately I can't get to see the action this week.
Surreal to think of a GWR IET stomping up the south WCML where, 40 years ago, my teen self's school lunch breaks meant watching the APT pass through Leighton Buzzard.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Unfortunately I can't get to see the action this week.
Surreal to think of a GWR IET stomping up the south WCML where, 40 years ago, my teen self's school lunch breaks meant watching the APT pass through Leighton Buzzard.

And 60-ish years ago, West Coast sleepers being diverted at Bletchley to run via Claydon LNE Jn into Marylebone, while the WCML wires went up.
I never managed to be on one of those, but I once did the Marylebone-Manchester sleeper running the whole length of the GC route. (Sorry OT!).

5Q40 now sitting at Euston P16.

Realtime Trains | 5Q40 0812 London Paddington to London Euston | 29/10/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q40 0812 departure from London Paddington to London Euston on 29/10/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Nicholas43]

Good to see revived service Oxford > Bletchley > Euston on the London & North Western Railway's branch line from Bletchley to Oxford, in some circles now being meekly referred to, swallowing its current absurd marketing hype, as "East West" rail.

 

[12LDA28C]

Good to see revived service Oxford > Bletchley > Euston on the London & North Western Railway's branch line, in some circles now being meekly referred to, swallowing its current absurd marketing hype, as "East West" rail.

What?

 

[Sun Chariot]

Are any of this thread's readers out to see the return working over the EWR?

...I once did the Marylebone-Manchester sleeper running the whole length of the GC route.

Wonderful! Was it steam-hauled? Your journey might be a super post on this thread:

Gresley Pacifics at Manchester (London Road)?

Did Gresley Pacifics visit Manchester London Road on a regular basis prior to the arrival of the Woodhead electric locos? Thanks in advance Davy

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[Class15]

What?

You will be able to make a journey like this: Oxford - Bletchley - Euston. Reasonably obvious I would have thought?

 

[Silver Cobra]

I managed to get a quick glance at the GWR 800 passing through Bletchley High Level towards Oxford as I came in to the bus station around 40 minutes ago (13:20-ish). I was quite confused at first as to why a GWR 800 would be out this way, but this thread cleared up that confusion.

 

[Sun Chariot]

I managed to get a quick glance at the GWR 800 passing through Bletchley High Level towards Oxford as I came in to the bus station around 40 minutes ago (13:20-ish). I was quite confused at first as to why a GWR 800 would be out this way, but this thread cleared up that confusion.

Good stuff, glad you saw it.

 

[The Planner]

Good to see revived service Oxford > Bletchley > Euston on the London & North Western Railway's branch line from Bletchley to Oxford, in some circles now being meekly referred to, swallowing its current absurd marketing hype, as "East West" rail.

No one really cares, it will be called East West going forward.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Network Southeast's "Three Counties" logo for Bletchley's DMUs (Bedford-Bletchley route, St Albans Abbey branch, Kettering-Corby branch).

Perhaps the "Three Counties" moniker can rise once again; reflecting Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire.

I can dream...

 

[12LDA28C]

Network Southeast's "Three Counties" logo for Bletchley's DMUs (Bedford-Bletchley, St Albams Abbey branch, Kettering-Corby branch).

Perhaps the "Three Counties" moniker can rise once again; this time reflecting Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire.

I can dream...

The 'Three Counties' though were surely Beds, Bucks and Herts, similar to the area covered by Three Counties Radio. Then what happens if and when the line gets extended to Cambridge? 'Four Counties'?

 

[Sun Chariot]

The 'Three Counties' though were surely Beds, Bucks and Herts, similar to the area covered by Three Counties Radio. Then what happens if and when the line gets extended to Cambridge? 'Four Counties'?

Yes those were NSEs "Three Counties". My idea was for the brand covering the Oxford-Bicester-Bletchley and Bletchley-Bedford segments.
It's safe to say I won't be around by tne time Cambridge gets reconnected.
I won't go any more OT - this is better covered in the related Speculative thread.

 

[12LDA28C]

Yes those were NSEs "Three Counties". My idea was for the brand covering the Oxford-Bucester-Bletchley and Bletchley-Bedford segments.

Which still doesn't take into account Cambridge, which is still covered by the EWR branding, or if you insist on a historical reference, the 'Varsity Line' if you prefer.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Which still doesn't take into account Cambridge, which is still covered by the EWR branding, or if you insist on a historical reference, the 'Varsity Line' if you prefer.

I tried explaining to my wife, the origins of "Varsity". When I said "Uni-varsity" in a very plummy voice, she looked blank.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Good to see revived service Oxford > Bletchley > Euston on the London & North Western Railway's branch line from Bletchley to Oxford, in some circles now being meekly referred to, swallowing its current absurd marketing hype, as "East West" rail.

Well, for what it's worth, the EWR line from MP 29m15c just east of Oxford Canal Jn, to Bletchley, is in Network Rail's North West & Central Region.
Things might get a bit more complicated when HS2 opens.