Recent content by Andyjs247

I’m not sure I would describe these as ‘accelerated’ works. At one stage it was EWR going to be open in 2017 then it was pushed back to 2019.

I think one of the biggest failures of the authorities was not to raise these concerns with the original consultations in around 2009/10. That and the failure to progress with other options - there was also a plan for Gavray Drive (currently a road that serves as an access to new Langford from...

No it could not! The A41 is not a suitable alternative route; if it was that easy to close London Road crossing it would have been done already. A sensible alternative which would allow the level crossing to close could be a bridge for light vehicles on a curved alignment between the junction...

It would but it would still run as a Class 6 and would be a lot of extra time and distance to get to where they need to be if it’s anywhere south.

Quite. It would be crazy *not* to make the link here permanent even if it will not be in daily use. Apart from Handsacre where else does HS2 physically link to the rest of the network anywhere to the south? HS1 has similar links at St Pancras Maintenance Siding to the MML and via Silo Curve to...

Between Aston and Duddeston used to be quadruple track and all electrified. Slow lines were taken out of use and dewired probably about the late 90s. There was also an electrified branch which went to Windsor Street but that closed earlier still.

Fishersgate

Treherbert

James Cook

Structures between Oxford and Bicester won’t need additional clearance for electrification - it was in scope at the time. I can remember a conversation with the late Adrian Shooter and him telling me that the footbridge at Bicester Village station had to be built with extra clearance to allow...

Not chalk around Horspath, no. Also the original tunnel there is now frequented by bats, another reason that Chiltern preferred to go via Bicester.

Services are planned to start in 2025 albeit within the December 2024 timetable. I believe the Class 196 units for EWR are being maintained at Tyseley.

Prior to ‘descoping’, plans were in place to replace the bridge with a two-lane structure with the necessary clearance for electrification. A new bridge would also have removed the bottleneck on the approach to Launton village. The existing bridge has now been retained after having been closed...

Only 3 bays at the west end now that P12 has been taken out of use. This is because P11 has been extended to accommodate a 5-car 80x, overall much more useful.

I think the main issue with Bedford is platform capacity as platforms 1,2 and 3 are pretty much fully utilised. This needs addressing for EWR to run through to Cambridge. It may well be that to accommodate extra platforms you’d end up replacing the bridges at Bromham Road to the north and Ford...