Oxford Corridor Phase 2 & Platform 5 updates

[BrianW]

Because, to be given the necessary Order under the Transport Works Act which authorized the whole scheme, Network Rail had to show that the scheme would be in the wider public interest.

Will it all have been worthwhile? OK, so hindsight's useful. Could foresight have anticipated problems? Yes. These particular problems; their scope and scale? Maybe. Unknown unknowns?

I suggest the possibility that Botley Road 'hid' likely problems was quite high. Why was the road not lower? It did often flood.

Did Platform 5 HAVE to be provided? In this way, at this location? Did the recent YHA Building HAVE to go?

I suggest that provision for double-deck buses and HGVs was unnecessary. Bikes and pedestrians easy. Shuttle electric/ hydrogen single-deck buses to/from Seacourt Park & Ride easy; maybe even some kind of 'light rail'?

For a city purporting to be at the centre of innovation, a real lack of imagination.

Is it really too late (oe too humbling?) for 'decision-makers' to own up to being wrong, call a halt and re-set?

 

[Nicholas43]

Will it all have been worthwhile? OK, so hindsight's useful. Could foresight have anticipated problems? Yes. These particular problems; their scope and scale? Maybe. Unknown unknowns?

I suggest the possibility that Botley Road 'hid' likely problems was quite high. Why was the road not lower? It did often flood.

Did Platform 5 HAVE to be provided? In this way, at this location? Did the recent YHA Building HAVE to go?

I suggest that provision for double-deck buses and HGVs was unnecessary. Bikes and pedestrians easy. Shuttle electric/ hydrogen single-deck buses to/from Seacourt Park & Ride easy; maybe even some kind of 'light rail'?

For a city purporting to be at the centre of innovation, a real lack of imagination.

Is it really too late (oe too humbling?) for 'decision-makers' to own up to being wrong, call a halt and re-set?

This thread is for updates on progress with the scheme that the Secretary of State approved. Speculation on different schemes would, I suggest, be better posted in the 'will parts of Oxford phase 2 be ditched' thread in the speculative section.

 

[Nottingham59]

This thread is for updates on progress with the scheme that the Secretary of State approved.

The Secretary of State approved a scheme with

"Likely temporary road closures would include a minimum 4 days’ road
closure to undertake the Botley Road bridge deck replacement and a
signalised single lane shuttle working system along Botley Road for six
months during the highway works. Some temporary footpath closures would
also be necessary"

I think we're well beyond that now .....

See para 61 of the Planning Inspectorate Report: https://assets.publishing.service.g...ion-phase-2-improvements-inspector-report.pdf

 

[class ep-09]

Will it all have been worthwhile? OK, so hindsight's useful. Could foresight have anticipated problems? Yes. These particular problems; their scope and scale? Maybe. Unknown unknowns?

I suggest the possibility that Botley Road 'hid' likely problems was quite high. Why was the road not lower? It did often flood.

Did Platform 5 HAVE to be provided? In this way, at this location? Did the recent YHA Building HAVE to go?

I suggest that provision for double-deck buses and HGVs was unnecessary. Bikes and pedestrians easy. Shuttle electric/ hydrogen single-deck buses to/from Seacourt Park & Ride easy; maybe even some kind of 'light rail'?

For a city purporting to be at the centre of innovation, a real lack of imagination.

Is it really too late (oe too humbling?) for 'decision-makers' to own up to being wrong, call a halt and re-set?

And keep worldwide know city with 3rd world country station. …

No. Happy to wait longer if necessary..

 

[BlueLeanie]

Will it all have been worthwhile? OK, so hindsight's useful. Could foresight have anticipated problems? Yes. These particular problems; their scope and scale? Maybe. Unknown unknowns?

If there was foresight:-

The station would have been built adjacent to Magdalen Bridge in the 19th century, not on a swamp practically in Berkshire.

GWR would have built the station on taller embankments with four platforms and had relief lines to Didcot.

BR would have demolished the swing bridge in the dead of night in the 1960s.

Berkshire and Oxfordshire would have worked together to build a new dual carriageway link road from the A34 to Ox Pens with a new rail and Thames Crossing in 196X ahead of the Westgate opening.

There hasn't been foresight for 170 years. Network Rail are dealing with centuries of mitigating against loud voices saying "Me! Me! Me!', instead of being decisive and delivering for the next 50 years for everyone.

 

[The Planner]

Berkshire and Oxfordshire would have worked together to build a new dual carriageway link road from the A34 to Ox Pens with a new rail and Thames Crossing in 196X ahead of the Westgate opening.

Where would all that traffic suddenly go once it arrived at Oxpens? Oxford has never been a car friendly place regardless of the years.

 

[The exile]

I suggest the possibility that Botley Road 'hid' likely problems was quite high. Why was the road not lower? It did often flood.

Many old roads were once lower. The floor level of the 18th Century cottages on my Road is about 2 feet below the pavement, as the one house which has never altered its front door testifies.

 

[Retorus]

And keep worldwide know city with 3rd world country station. …

No. Happy to wait longer if necessary..

I think a bit of perspective on your part would be good here…

 

[class ep-09]

I think a bit of perspective on your part would be good here…

I won’t change my perspective ,I use this station almost number of times a month .

 

[gallafent]

Last chance to walk across the blue pedestrian footbridge on the east side of the tracks, according to a yellow sign it will be closed from 10am today (and is to be removed over the weekend)! There is still no public timetable for it (and the rail bridge) to be replaced ... good to know that the situation can still be made even more inconvenient without a published plan or timings for its resolution!

Apologies for the 25 minute warning!

 

[BlueLeanie]

Last chance to walk across the blue pedestrian footbridge on the east side of the tracks, according to a yellow sign it will be closed from 10am today (and is to be removed over the weekend)! There is still no public timetable for it (and the rail bridge) to be replaced ... good to know that the situation can still be made even more inconvenient without a published plan or timings for its resolution!

Apologies for the 25 minute warning!

With no traffic going under the bridge for at least the next 24 months, is there really going to be a considerable inconvenience to the pedestrian flow?

 

[fishwomp]

With no traffic going under the bridge for at least the next 24 months, is there really going to be a considerable inconvenience to the pedestrian flow?

Well, we won't be able to stand on the bridge and watch nothing happen below - it's been a good view of a usually empty site, with pumps going and no workers in recent months when I've looked. I appreciate that's because the hold up is slightly beyond the bridge, and where sewers or mains are, but I imagine most (now ex-) observers aren't going to recognize that.

 

[gallafent]

With no traffic going under the bridge for at least the next 24 months, is there really going to be a considerable inconvenience to the pedestrian flow?

Coming from the west, up the steps and over the bridge is (was) a substantially shorter, quicker, and less congested walking route to the station. Removal of that bridge increases distance, congestion, and time taken, to reach the station entrance from the west. (And "considerable" is your word, I didn't say that.) ... (edit) ... furthermore, I think that one now has to cross four road sections which are busy with bus, taxi, private hire, cycle, and private car drop-off traffic, instead of none, as well as mixing with all the cycle and scooter traffic (much of it illegal) on the shared use paths. Now you've made me think about it, it's actually a bigger change for the (even) worse than I had originally thought. I usually drive to Didcot to take the train these days, or just drive all the way to my destination, shrug.

 

[12LDA28C]

Coming from the west, up the steps and over the bridge is (was) a substantially shorter, quicker, and less congested walking route to the station. Removal of that bridge increases distance, congestion, and time taken, to reach the station entrance from the west. (And "considerable" is your word, I didn't say that.) ... (edit) ... furthermore, I think that one now has to cross four road sections which are busy with bus, taxi, private hire, cycle, and private car drop-off traffic, instead of none, as well as mixing with all the cycle and scooter traffic (much of it illegal) on the shared use paths. Now you've made me think about it, it's actually a bigger change for the (even) worse than I had originally thought. I usually drive to Didcot to take the train these days, or just drive all the way to my destination, shrug.

I’m sure it’s been posted on here that the gate to Platform 4 on the west side of the station will be used as an additional entrance, for at least most of the day. If so, that will counteract the bridge being removed, will it not?

 

[JamesT]

Coming from the west, up the steps and over the bridge is (was) a substantially shorter, quicker, and less congested walking route to the station. Removal of that bridge increases distance, congestion, and time taken, to reach the station entrance from the west. (And "considerable" is your word, I didn't say that.) ... (edit) ... furthermore, I think that one now has to cross four road sections which are busy with bus, taxi, private hire, cycle, and private car drop-off traffic, instead of none, as well as mixing with all the cycle and scooter traffic (much of it illegal) on the shared use paths. Now you've made me think about it, it's actually a bigger change for the (even) worse than I had originally thought. I usually drive to Didcot to take the train these days, or just drive all the way to my destination, shrug.

Are you thinking of a different bridge? Where are the four road sections you now have to cross? If you're coming from the West you're coming through the passageway under the rail bridge then turn left for the station. There's no traffic because it's a building site.

 

[fishwomp]

Are you thinking of a different bridge? Where are the four road sections you now have to cross? If you're coming from the West you're coming through the passageway under the rail bridge then turn left for the station. There's no traffic because it's a building site.

Nope, that's moved again (think it was some time in the last month)- you are now back to going beyond the roundabout and so crossing twice, or walking through the roundabout

 

[reddragon]

And keep worldwide know city with 3rd world country station. …

Well, the 1970's were bad but maybe not quite 3rd world!

 

[Mikey C]

Well, the 1970's were bad but maybe not quite 3rd world!

I imagine the Dons in Cambridge think Oxford is a 3rd World city

 

[JamesT]

I imagine the Dons in Cambridge think Oxford is a 3rd World city

Upstart splitters

 

[gallafent]

Nope, that's moved again (think it was some time in the last month)- you are now back to going beyond the roundabout and so crossing twice, or walking through the roundabout

Exactly: Park End Street Westbound; Park End Street Eastbound; Station Approach Southbound; Station Approach Northbound.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Dec 2024 ==

I’m sure it’s been posted on here that the gate to Platform 4 on the west side of the station will be used as an additional entrance, for at least most of the day. If so, that will counteract the bridge being removed, will it not?

As far as I've read, it's only opened on special occasions for those with mobility difficulties, but I'd be glad if your suggestion were actually the case! It would need a staff member there doing manual ticket checks ...

 

[12LDA28C]

As far as I've read, it's only opened on special occasions for those with mobility difficulties, but I'd be glad if your suggestion were actually the case! It would need a staff member there doing manual ticket checks ...

Indeed, which is what they used to do when the gate was open fairly regularly between certain hours of the day although that was many years ago now.

 

[fishwomp]

Two articles in the local paper today:

Update on when Botley Road footbridge will be removed

Network Rail has announced a new schedule for removing a footbridge linking Oxford rail station with Botley Road.

www.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk

- in a nutshell - they didn't remove it last week due to weather, so they're doing it this weekend instead.

Traders will stage Botley Road protest when rail minister visits Oxford

Businesses will stage a protest when a rail minister visits Oxford

www.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk

- in a nutshell - there's an update coming next week, or Lord Hendy's getting the shovel out himself to give it a hand.

 

[Edvid]

It's planned for next month.

Had a look on one.network and the associated Thames Water works are currently scheduled to run until 25 April 2025.

 

[duffield]

It's planned for next month.

Had a look on one.network and the associated Thames Water works are currently scheduled to run until 25 April 2025.

The current prediction from Thames Water is that they will run out of money at the end of March unless they get their emergency funding. If that happens the work might be halted before completion.

Thames Water will run out of cash by March without £3bn emergency funding

Britain’s biggest water supplier reports 40% increase in pollution incidents, blaming a wet spring and summer

www.theguardian.com

 

[reddragon]

Quoting post 354 "The current prediction from Thames Water is that they will run out of money at the end of March unless they get their emergency funding. If that happens the work might be halted before completion."

Even if Thames Water does go bust, it will enter special administration and carry on as normal, just with new ownership.

You really think they'd allow taps to run dry & sewers to flood?

 

[duffield]

Even if Thames Water does go bust, it will enter special administration and carry on as normal, just with new ownership.

You really think they'd allow taps to run dry & sewers to flood?

"You really think they'd allow taps to run dry & sewers to flood?"

No. And I didn't say that. I've been reading up on Special Administration and the emphasis is very much about "keeping essential services going" which would obviously cover water supply and sewage disposal, but it really does not make it clear if, for example, that would prevent the pausing of works in progress which do not immediately affect these functions.

Will TW even do this work directly or will they subcontract it? Is it possible payments to such a subcontractor might stop at least temporarily if they go bust? Is there a definite, guaranteed answer to these questions?

 

[reddragon]

"You really think they'd allow taps to run dry & sewers to flood?"

No. And I didn't say that. But any ongoing works not essential to the immediate provision of those services might pause. Pausing these specific works while in progress would not immediately interrupt either sewage disposal or water supply.

Will TW even do this work directly or will they subcontract it? Is it possible payments to such a subcontractor might stop at least temporarily if they go bust? Is there a definite, guaranteed answer to these questions?

Externally funded jobs for utilities such as this are funded by separately held funds and managed by the client (Network Rail), and often delivered by the clients contractors, often using contractors with joint delivery contracts for both the railways & utilities as it's far simpler. HS2 for example employ Thames Water contractors directly to undertake their work on water / sewer diversions to simplify management costs.

I don't know the details of this contract but I can tell you that the chance of it halting are approximately 0%.

 

[Edvid]

Problems occurred when retrieving your information

s606665.t.en25.com

Work to build foundations for the new rail bridge will commence on Monday.

New rail bridge location​

Monday (6 January) will also see the start of work on the foundations for the new rail bridge. This work will involve piling activity to drill large piles into the ground. The drilling will take place during the day, but some work will also take place at night, including using a crane to lift large equipment into place. The images above show the areas marked out under the rail bridge where piling is due to take place.

Meanwhile, below Botley Road there are 11 cables none of the utility companies claim to own; they'll be spiked next week.

 

[fishwomp]

Problems occurred when retrieving your information

s606665.t.en25.com

Work to build foundations for the new rail bridge will commence on Monday. Meanwhile, below Botley Road there are 11 cables none of the utility companies claim to own; they'll be spiked next week.

Fantastic news, thanks for sharing.

 

[zwk500]

Work to build foundations for the new rail bridge will commence on Monday. Meanwhile, below Botley Road there are 11 cables none of the utility companies claim to own; they'll be spiked next week.

Here's hoping nothing serious goes bang as part of that, although this snippet from the article is hedging it's bets:

Testing of unidentified cables

Amongst the maze of utility services below Botley Road, there are 11 cables on each side of the bridge that are not claimed by any of the utility companies. While they are not believed to be live, we can’t take any chances, so next week, SSE, we will be testing them using a process known as ‘spiking’.

This testing will take place on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday on both sides of the bridge. While the work will be conducted behind safety fencing, access to the walkway will be temporarily restricted for safety reasons for brief periods.

Please be aware that loud bangs may occur during the testing process.