Oxford area rail infrastructure improvements

II · 30 Jun 2019

Chonner said:
The new exit has had the hoardings removed from it now. No gateline and not in passenger use yet, but reports are it will be open soon along side the return of the old short stay car park.

Just waiting on a replacement fence I believe as the installed one wasn't deemed high enough to deter fare evaders. A pretty obvious thing to have not messed up, but given how long this project has taken I guess another week or two won't matter much. No gateline installed yet (or even any sign of one), but we'll see if it open at the same time as the short stay/staff car park.

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II · 7 Jul 2019

An update on my previous post. Gates for the gateline have come as surplus from Gatwick - apparently they went AWOL for a while but have now been located, so will hopefully be installed soon!

Oxfordblues · 8 Jul 2019

My goodness this is all taking a very long time, considering how remarkably quickly the new Chiltern platforms were built. If the contractors were deliberately stringing the job along to make it last as long as possible it wouldn't have taken much longer! (though I'm sure that's not the case)

The new entrance is urgently needed to cope with increased passenger throughput and speed up access/egress. If only the down-side exit from Platform 4 could be reopened off-peak that would relieve the pressure (I live off Botley Road so I would say that!)

swt_passenger · 8 Jul 2019

Oxfordblues said:
My goodness this is all taking a very long time, considering how remarkably quickly the new Chiltern platforms were built. If the contractors were deliberately stringing the job along to make it last as long as possible it wouldn't have taken much longer! (though I'm sure that's not the case)

The new entrance is urgently needed to cope with increased passenger throughput and speed up access/egress. If only the down-side exit from Platform 4 could be reopened off-peak that would relieve the pressure (I live off Botley Road so I would say that!)

It wasn’t part of the original plans, that’s probably why it all seems to be delayed. The TWA order application referred to it as a staff/emergency access, with passenger use being only a medium term possibility. (Quoted in post #69.)

Melancholia · 9 Jul 2019

Oxfordblues said:
If only the down-side exit from Platform 4 could be reopened off-peak that would relieve the pressure (I live off Botley Road so I would say that!)

Maybe when/if Platform 5 gets build, but I wouldn't hold up much hope...

Chonner · 16 Jul 2019

The Oxford Southern Ring Road overbridge is going to be replaced due to failing bearings, with the £40m cost mostly being footed by Oxford County Council.

It is a single span 4 track over bridge, not sure if it is electrification ready (looks pretty high clearance in the photo in the article) but one would hope the replacement will definitely be so.

£40m replacement of Kennington bridge could cause traffic delays in Oxford for two years

REPLACING a key bridge which carries one of Oxford's busiest roads could cost £40m and cause up to two years of disruption.

Oxfordshire County Council said it needs to replace the Kennington Bridge, which carries the A423, because bearings that support it have worn and there is no cost-effective way of replacing them.

About 53,000 vehicles – including 2,000 lorries and 350 coaches and buses – use the bridge every day.

Engineers have said replacing it is one of the most challenging projects in the county because of the impact the work will have on roads, utilities and the £150m Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme.

The county council installed supports under the bridge about two years ago.

Replacement is likely to start in 2021 and designs for what will replace the worn-out structure have yet to be completed.

The bridge will not be fully shut during its replacement – and traffic will be able to drive over it in both directions as contraflows will be put in place.

Yvonne Constance, the county council’s cabinet member for environment, said: “The bridge is an essential part of Oxfordshire’s transport infrastructure and is safe for continued use. Work is being carried out to ensure that it will remain safe while the replacement is designed.

“Replacing the bridge would have always been necessary at some point but previous inspections had suggested that would not be any time soon. We have concluded that bringing forward the replacement is the best way to secure the long-term viability of the strategic road work and delivery of a robust flood alleviation scheme.”

She added: “We fully recognise the impact that the construction will have on the Oxfordshire transport network and residents. We will work with all affected stakeholders so they can plan ahead and help us minimise the impact.”

Motorists who use the city council’s 1,400 spaces at Redbridge Park and Ride site are likely to end up in traffic when work gets underway, along with the tens of thousands of people who use the Oxford Ring Road every day.

Any diversions could pile more traffic on already saturated routes, including Botley Road.

The bridge was opened in 1965 and contains a Thames Water main and fibre optic cables. Power cables pass overhead and about 360 trains pass under the bridge every day.

The only times the council can request train lines are closed for maintenance are during the Easter and Christmas periods so work will be complicated by those limited working times.

The flood alleviation scheme’s length will eventually be about 5km long – and the bridge work affects about 60m of that.

Joanne Emberson Wines, the director of the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme, said: “The scheme partnership is committed to helping better protect people, properties, roads and railways around Oxford from flooding.

“We are working closely with Oxfordshire County Council to determine the best way to coordinate the work needed to the bride with the construction of the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme.”

Last month, the county council, the city council and other key Oxford bodies objected to the way the Environment Agency was trying to buy land for the scheme.

The councils, the Midcounties Co-op, Network Rail, Oxford Preservation Trust and University College, Oxford were all landowners fighting compulsory purchase orders along the 5km stretch.

Both city and county councils support the scheme but made ‘technical’ objections to the way the Environment Agency was seeking to buy land.

https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/1...bridge-cause-traffic-delays-oxford-two-years/

Oxfordblues · 19 Jul 2019

More "progress" at Oxford Station: the new fence adjacent Platform 1 has finally been dismantled, ready to replaced by a new new fence! But no sign yet of the urgently-needed ticket barrier at the new entrance/exit. Perhaps it'll be installed after the summer peak. I wait with infinite patience!

mr_jrt · 19 Jul 2019

Chonner said:
The Oxford Southern Ring Road overbridge is going to be replaced due to failing bearings, with the £40m cost mostly being footed by Oxford County Council.

It is a single span 4 track over bridge, not sure if it is electrification ready (looks pretty high clearance in the photo in the article) but one would hope the replacement will definitely be so.

Worth trying to get the span widened slightly so the Cowley branch could stay segregated for longer? Might help with any future passenger service proposals.

route:oxford · 19 Jul 2019

mr_jrt said:
Worth trying to get the span widened slightly so the Cowley branch could stay segregated for longer? Might help with any future passenger service proposals.

There are already 4 tracks running under the bridge.

Only three tracks over the Isis just South of Oxford station. Not sure what the long term plan is, but logic would suggest that in an ideal world with services running to Cowley, there would be at least a pair of fasts and pair of slows all the way from that junction right through to a rebuilt Oxford station.

Given it's Oxford, there's bound to be something unique about the three track bridge though. Bats, snails, newts or maybe someone famous slept under it.

Oxfordblues · 1 Aug 2019

More "progress" to report: the old new fence adjacent Platform 1 has finally been removed and the new new fence (taller and with spiked tops to deter fare-evading climbers) is currently being installed. It keeps people in work I suppose....

hwl · 2 Aug 2019

Oxfordblues said:
More "progress" to report: the old new fence adjacent Platform 1 has finally been removed and the new new fence (taller and with spiked tops to deter fare-evading climbers) is currently being installed. It keeps people in work I suppose....

Getting the fence right helps set the tone overall so surprising useful

II · 2 Aug 2019

A shame they didn't get it right first time around!

yorkie · 5 Aug 2019

Just a gentle reminder this thread is to discuss the Oxford area rail improvements

II · 19 Nov 2019

Oxfordblues said:
More "progress" at Oxford Station: the new fence adjacent Platform 1 has finally been dismantled, ready to replaced by a new new fence! But no sign yet of the urgently-needed ticket barrier at the new entrance/exit. Perhaps it'll be installed after the summer peak. I wait with infinite patience!

The ticket barriers were finally delivered today and are now sitting in the new gateline area ready for installation.

II · 21 Nov 2019

I'm hearing the barriers should be installed and the gateline open before the end of the year. Excellent news given the increasingly bad crowding at the current gateline when two busy trains arrive at once, and the relatively narrow route to it along Platform 3.

Oxfordblues · 21 Nov 2019

The new gateline, assuming it's suitably staffed, will be a huge improvement. In terms of overall journey times it'll be equivalent to accelerating the trains. It can take five minutes from detraining to reaching the station entrance at peak times.

Chris M · 23 Nov 2019

Oxfordblues said:
The new gateline, assuming it's suitably staffed, will be a huge improvement. In terms of overall journey times it'll be equivalent to accelerating the trains. It can take five minutes from detraining to reaching the station entrance at peak times.

I don't know about peak times, but it often takes 5 minutes to get from P4 to the street after arriving on a train from Paddington on a Sunday afternoon.

davetheguard · 7 Dec 2019

II said:
The ticket barriers were finally delivered today and are now sitting in the new gateline area ready for installation.

I took these pictures in Oxford last Monday. They show the new gateline, and the new building that has been built to house them. As can be seen, it is right next to the two bay platforms where Chiltern's services from London Marylebone terminate.

HowardGWR · 7 Dec 2019

davetheguard said:
I took these pictures in Oxford last Monday. They show the new gateline, and the new building that has been built to house them. As can be seen, it is right next to the two bay platforms where Chiltern's services from London Marylebone terminate.
View attachment 71280 View attachment 71281

Interesting, thanks. Perhaps it's an unfortunate image, but the first photo shows an area where I would not want to sit. Looks draughty too.

jimm · 8 Dec 2019

HowardGWR said:
Interesting, thanks. Perhaps it's an unfortunate image, but the first photo shows an area where I would not want to sit. Looks draughty too.

There's not really an expectation many people will be waiting there - unless people arrive very early for their train, the stock forming the next Chiltern departure is already in the platform when they get there.

As noted above, the main value of this is in relieving pressure on the barrier line in the main concourse, as commuters (from all directions, not just the Chiltern services) will soon wise up to its existence and leave and enter the platforms there, rather than having to weave through the crowds along platform 3 and use the concourse area.

II · 8 Dec 2019

Plenty of additional seating was installed along the north end of platforms 2/3 beyond the footbridge when works on the canopy were completed. A few seats along platform 1 would be welcome now that construction works have finished there, though they'd probably be better off a little further down the platform to avoid being a potential stepping stone for an assault on the tall metal fence by fare evaders, and to not hinder passenger flow off of arrivals.

As jimm says though, there's usually a set in the platform ready to board for the majority of passengers.

All in all, it's taken an age, but they've done a pretty good job at rebuilding this general area of the station.

davetheguard · 9 Dec 2019

II said:
Plenty of additional seating was installed along the north end of platforms 2/3 beyond the footbridge when works on the canopy were completed. A few seats along platform 1 would be welcome now that construction works have finished there, though they'd probably be better off a little further down the platform to avoid being a potential stepping stone for an assault on the tall metal fence by fare evaders, and to not hinder passenger flow off of arrivals.

As jimm says though, there's usually a set in the platform ready to board for the majority of passengers.

All in all, it's taken an age, but they've done a pretty good job at rebuilding this general area of the station.

It certainly looks better, in my opinion, than what was there before: a rather windswept short stay car park; closed Red Star office; and a couple of dumped GUV vehicles used for storing station cleaning equipment.

cm39275 · 10 Dec 2019

My understanding is that the new gate line is hopped to be up and running in time for the timetable changeover on December 15th, which is looking a plausible target date as gate line technicians where about testing and commissioning the new gate line today. It is also been speculated by myself and other station that during busy times that a one way system maybe put into place whereas entrance to the station platforms will be via the original gate line in the station concourse and the exit be via the new gate line.

jimm · 10 Dec 2019

cm39275 said:
My understanding is that the new gate line is hopped to be up and running in time for the timetable changeover on December 15th, which is looking a plausible target date as gate line technicians where about testing and commissioning the new gate line today. It is also been speculated by myself and other station that during busy times that a one way system maybe put into place whereas entrance to the station platforms will be via the original gate line in the station concourse and the exit be via the new gate line.

Seems unlikely. as it would not make much sense to anyone stepping off a train from the Cotswold Line or Banbury close to the concourse entrance and seeing a barrier line in front of them to be told to turn round and walk up to the other end of the building. Especially when one of the key pinch points for people moving about on the station is along platform 3 between the existing barrier line and the footbridge.

In the late afternoon, in particular, allowing the large number of homeward-bound Bicester, Cotswold and Banbury commuters to go through the new barrrier line and straight on up the footbridge to reach platform 4 is just common sense.

Oxfordblues · 17 Dec 2019

Good news! The new gateline has finally opened and is fully operational. I was the only user off a Didcot shuttle this afternoon, but I'm sure it'll be very popular once regular travellers realise it's there and others follow them. I think we can now close this thread. Mission accomplished!

swt_passenger · 17 Dec 2019

Oxfordblues said:
Good news! The new gateline has finally opened and is fully operational. I was the only user off a Didcot shuttle this afternoon, but I'm sure it'll be very popular once regular travellers realise it's there and others follow them. I think we can now close this thread. Mission accomplished!

There’s a couple of photos including one of the exterior been uploaded in the EWR thread here:
https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/east-west-rail-progress-and-updates.99892/page-114#post-4337435

Oxford area rail infrastructure improvements

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