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The end is nigh for Banbury's semaphores..
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The Planner
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Starts in the next couple of months with a big blockade in July 2016 to commission it all.
L&Y Robert
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I quote "The modernization will mean improved headways between Banbury and Aynho Junction, as well as a rationalised layout at Banbury Station to improve operational flexibility and minimise on-going maintenance requirements".
What rationalised layout? What are they gonna do? Is there a plan - a drawing? Who knows about it? I don't!
What rationalised layout? What are they gonna do? Is there a plan - a drawing? Who knows about it? I don't!
brianthegiant
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I wonder what is the reliability of mechanical signalling vs electronic? My guess is that mechanical is less reliable, more variables like temperature, wear, etc.
Likewise the difference in cost of maintenance?
Likewise the difference in cost of maintenance?
HarleyDavidson
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I would say that the mechanical method is far more reliable than electronic, you only need to see how often things like the resignalling of other lines & areas such as the SWT WoE line & Ash Vale to Alton line has gone.
They regularly screw up due to signalling issues. How often do you hear of a mechanically controlled area screwing up completely.
Cherry_Picker
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Haven't seen a drawing (I'm sure one exists) but there will be two through platforms on the up instead of a through platform and a bay like at the moment.
ironstone11
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There is a thread relating to the changes at Banbury on this forum. "Depot at Banbury" dated September of 2014. There is a link to some planning documents, although I don't know if it works!
carriageline
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But yet resignalling schemes such as the East Coastway this weekend went near enough without a hitch. And that was going from semaphore and AB to control from a ROC!
HarleyDavidson
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We'll see! Wait until the comms links go kaput or the cable fairies have some fun!
carriageline
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Either way, there is enough redundancy (or at least should be
) to allow for that. But thats moot, cable fairies can still affect mechanical boxes. I worked a mechanical box, and the upkeep it required was astronomical. S&T hated it. Replacement parts were difficult to get hold of, finding staff that could fit said parts was difficult, any sort of locking fault on the frame would mean locking fitters hundreds of miles would come, and that normally meant weeks if not months.
Whilst if that box was in a mechanical only area, it would probably of been in better shape. I visited some very well kept mechanical boxes recently, even then the signallers admitted some were getting a bit long in the tooth.
Mechanical may or may not be more reliable, but they cost a damn fortune to staff. Which lets be honest, is the main driver behind these schemes.
Ah but thats because of the exceptional signallers
Ah! I didn't want to say, but that's because they only recruited the best, so I hear
As there are at least two diverse comms routes the cable fairies will have their work cut out.
RPM
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Is this likely to be delayed at all by the Harbury landslip? Dark mutterings are afoot that the line might not reopen until June or July. The work at Banbury is surely not compatible with all the extra shunts and reversals that are currently going on.
The Planner
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All the sidings on the up side go and replaced with a new depot for Chiltern on the down side. New through platform 4 on the up replacing the current bay which goes (as does the un-named one on the down). Speedier turnouts on the goods loops (which plough through Banbury South box so don't expect that to be saved), bi-di working through the station with a new crossover at Banbury North to help deal with the stone train. Mixture of 3 and 4 aspect signalling down to Heyford replacing the 2 aspect stuff now.
pdeaves
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carriageline
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except that it was 15 months late...
True, true! You would hope it all worked with the time they had
the issue I believe was a new type of receiver that hadn't really been used before, and they was unsure on its reliability! But that's just rumour on the ops floor HarleyDavidson
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except that it was 15 months late...
Which is about the average delay on a SN train to Portsmouth or Southampton!
L&Y Robert
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My thanks to Cherry Picker (6), Ironstone11 (7), and The Planner (14) for the info. For years I have thought that the UP loop should have a platform face. The south-end bay could so easily have connected to the north-end bay and the platform face continued past the stairs from one to the other. The north end bay platform still exists, although the alignment is not right for a 'through', and it has no track. It could be widened to pass the stairs though. There is also ample room for a second up loop for freight traffic further out if needed. I noticed that the new footbridge to the car-park passes over this wide formation in a single clear span, suggesting that two parallel tracks might be in prospect.
Is the 'Chiltern depot on the south side' to be on the site of the old steam sheds?
Is the 'Chiltern depot on the south side' to be on the site of the old steam sheds?
The Planner
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You are correct, the new platform 4 is a separate loop which joins up with the existing up goods at the south end of the station. The depot is where the old steam sheds are.
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