Chiltern Oxford Link completed

[midlandred]

5T00 Aylesbury 0603 to Oxford Parkway 0708 (arrived 0728) the first to run over the chord today

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Photos from this morning, [not the chord!], one at Bicester Village and two at Oddington

 

[ironstone11]

A couple of pictures Here of the first train on the Chord.

BREAKING NEWS...FIRST TRAIN ON THE LINE BETWEEN BICESTER AND OXFORD PARKWAY (28 September 2015)

The first train passed across the Bicester Chord and travelled on the new track to Oxford Parkway Station this morning. This marks the start of the month long period of driver training ahead of the reintroduction of passenger services on 26 October 2015.

 

[swt_passenger]

Not soon enough!

Although a letter this week to the Oxford Mail from one of the leading opponents of the line (and from a political party I'm forbidden from mentioning in the forums) questions whether Oxford Parkway station will be opened in time.

http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/op...ay_station_autumn_opening_set_to_be_delayed_/

How likely is that Network Rail and Chiltern will fail to open the new line on time? It's being heavily promoted on "Jack" and I've already bought my ticket for the first Saturday it is open.

Judging by the comments he got little or no sympathy.

The letter writer seems to have simply used his own inability to buy a ticket online to justify the suggestion that it won't open...

 

[route:oxford]

Unless I've missed it, I still don't think we have seen a timetabled service on the chord yet, have we? The few freight services timetabled to have used that route have been cancelled.

Is that about to change today? There are a number of ECS movements in the timetable today that are timetabled that way. Perhaps I am wrong, but there did appear to be a number of hi-viz clad workers standing, waiting on the newly opened footbridge -- looking down the chord, perhaps with some expectation?!

There have been warnings on the radio that trains have started operating on the line.

 

[L&Y Robert]

There have been warnings on the radio that trains have started operating on the line.

WARNINGS!

Warnings? But didn't we expect it?

 

[route:oxford]

WARNINGS!

Warnings? But didn't we expect it?

I suspect it is more for people who have made the lifestyle choice to wander along the line assuming because the line isn't "open" there aren't going to be any trains.

It also starts the clock on the countdown to the first predicted fatality at Wendlebury.

http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/8719765.print/

 

[Dampflok]

Much to my surprise, there were only two photographers on the new footbridge over the chord at Bicester to witness the first train - one was Steve Barker, Chiltern's chief engineer on the project and the other myself. There were also a couple of NR engineers present too.

We were lucky with the weather, there was quite a lot of mist around but the chord was clear. The sun still hadn't risen above the horizon as that would have made life difficult as cameras facing straight into it.

Nice that the unit was an eight car which later split into two and later still into three, to cover as much of the new track as possible.

Photo here:



"Clickable" image to take you to a larger image on my site.

The MoD train ran via the chord as well, though just a light engine on the outbound trip but a fairly decent load on the return. Still have to process these shots, so they will be on my site later...

Cheers, Geoff

 

[67018]

Nice that the unit was an eight car which later split into two and later still into three, to cover as much of the new track as possible.

Nice photo!

Out of interest, anyone know how Chiltern are managing to find 3 units of spare stock in the morning peak? I thought they were pretty much at full stretch in the peaks.

 

[Andyjs247]

Nice photo!

Out of interest, anyone know how Chiltern are managing to find 3 units of spare stock in the morning peak? I thought they were pretty much at full stretch in the peaks.

Well they are getting 9 ex TPE 170/3 2 car sets which will be converted to Chiltern spec 168/3s, ostensibly to run the Oxford service. In reality they will be for any of the routes. Not sure how many are available as yet but at least one has been out on driver training runs - I expect a few would be running in service now to free up the 3 units today. Given its only 4 weeks to start of service you'd hope they would have sufficient stock to train drivers etc.

 

[GatwickDepress]

Much to my surprise, there were only two photographers on the new footbridge over the chord at Bicester to witness the first train - one was Steve Barker, Chiltern's chief engineer on the project and the other myself. There were also a couple of NR engineers present too.

We were lucky with the weather, there was quite a lot of mist around but the chord was clear. The sun still hadn't risen above the horizon as that would have made life difficult as cameras facing straight into it.

Nice that the unit was an eight car which later split into two and later still into three, to cover as much of the new track as possible.

Photo here:

[photosnip]
"Clickable" image to take you to a larger image on my site.

The MoD train ran via the chord as well, though just a light engine on the outbound trip but a fairly decent load on the return. Still have to process these shots, so they will be on my site later...

Cheers, Geoff

Lovely photo there, Geoff. The gentle peach sky is quite something.

 

[Railsigns]

I was led to believe at the BiOx route briefing that the splitting distants at Bicester were the only ones currently on the network, excluding splitting banners which are commonplace.

Bicester South Jcn. has the first and only example of an outer splitting distant signal.

What's unique about an outer splitting distant is that it can show the combination of green aspect in one head and double yellow aspect in the other head. No other splitting distant signal does this.

 

[DaveHarries]

Bicester South Jcn. has the first and only example of an outer splitting distant signal.

What's unique about an outer splitting distant is that it can show the combination of green aspect in one head and double yellow aspect in the other head. No other splitting distant signal does this.

Interestingly, on the Marylebone SimSig layout, there is also a splitting repeater (187R) for signal 187 (the last one trains from Marylebone see before the junction) prior to Bicester South Jcn for trains coming from Marylebone.

While I think of it another minor point: whereas OpenTrainTimes and RealTimeTrains still refer to "Bicester Town" station, SimSig has it has Bicester Village. The current layout on the SimSig sim was released back in August but I guess OTT & RTT will update when the new services commence.

I can do a screendump if it would be useful.

Dave

 

[The Planner]

You are assuming we have actually altered it on our side!

 

[Andyjs247]

You're assuming NR were consulted? Members of the East West Rail Consortium weren't...

 

[67018]

Well they are getting 9 ex TPE 170/3 2 car sets which will be converted to Chiltern spec 168/3s, ostensibly to run the Oxford service. In reality they will be for any of the routes. Not sure how many are available as yet but at least one has been out on driver training runs - I expect a few would be running in service now to free up the 3 units today. Given its only 4 weeks to start of service you'd hope they would have sufficient stock to train drivers etc.

Yes they are, but I haven't heard that any are in service yet. Guess they will have to be running pretty soon.

Presumably there must be some slack to account for schedule maintenance etc., so it could be possible to tweak that for a few weeks. Or maybe there's more 'spare' stock than I thought.

 

[RPM]

Bicester South Jcn. has the first and only example of an outer splitting distant signal.

What's unique about an outer splitting distant is that it can show the combination of green aspect in one head and double yellow aspect in the other head. No other splitting distant signal does this.

Thanks I had obviously slightly misunderstood what I was told. The question remains though, how can it be a splitting *distant* when it can show a red aspect?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Well they are getting 9 ex TPE 170/3 2 car sets which will be converted to Chiltern spec 168/3s, ostensibly to run the Oxford service. In reality they will be for any of the routes. Not sure how many are available as yet but at least one has been out on driver training runs - I expect a few would be running in service now to free up the 3 units today. Given its only 4 weeks to start of service you'd hope they would have sufficient stock to train drivers etc.

Two units have arrived so far, 168329 and 168325. Neither are yet in passenger service.

 

[Railsigns]

The question remains though, how can it be a splitting *distant* when it can show a red aspect?

In the same way that any signal may perform the functions of both stop and distant signals providing it's equipped with the necessary aspects.

Strictly speaking, a signal without a red aspect should be termed an isolated distant signal. If we add a red aspect to a distant signal does it cease to act as a distant signal? - No; it has just additionally taken on the role of a stop signal as well.

Most of the splitting distant signals on NR today can show a red aspect.

 

[RPM]

In the same way that any signal may perform the functions of both stop and distant signals providing it's equipped with the necessary aspects.

Strictly speaking, a signal without a red aspect should be termed an isolated distant signal. If we add a red aspect to a distant signal does it cease to act as a distant signal? - No; it has just additionally taken on the role of a stop signal as well.

Most of the splitting distant signals on NR today can show a red aspect.

Totally accept what you say. I'm just scarred from having had it drilled into me military fashion. "Definition of a distant - It cant show a red aspect".

 

[edwin_m]

Totally accept what you say. I'm just scarred from having had it drilled into me military fashion. "Definition of a distant - It cant show a red aspect".

I guess the term "splitting distant" comes directly from semaphore practice, where it was referred to as such even if the previous box's starter was on the same structure. In that case even though the distant arms couldn't show a stop aspect, the signal as a whole could.

 

[Oxfordblues]

Sorry if this has already been answered in the 84 poages of this thread, but what will become of the CCT (Covered Carriage Truck) and GUV (General Untility Van) currently stabled on Platform 5 at Oxford Station? I believe they're used for storage of materials such as rock-salt.

Is the plan for these venerable ex-Rail Express Systems parcels vans to be:

1. broken-up on site?
2. craned onto low-loaders and taken away for scrapping?
3. presented to a local heritage line for preservation?

I can't see them being fit for conveying by rail as I don't think they've moved for at least 25 years and they might be riddled with asbestos.

 

[route:oxford]

Is the plan for these venerable ex-Rail Express Systems parcels vans to be:

1. broken-up on site?
2. craned onto low-loaders and taken away for scrapping?
3. presented to a local heritage line for preservation?

I can't see them being fit for conveying by rail as I don't think they've moved for at least 25 years and they might be riddled with asbestos.

No doubt there will be some group in Oxford who tries to "save" them in a bid to try and stop the upgraded station.

I say winch them up a few feet in the air and pop them on the swing bridge.

 

[fgwrich]

I'm sure I've seen it somewhere that they are under the ownership of FGW/ Given their usefulness, I'm sure they'll end up preserved somewhere!

 

[Andyjs247]

Sorry if this has already been answered in the 84 poages of this thread, but what will become of the CCT (Covered Carriage Truck) and GUV (General Untility Van) currently stabled on Platform 5 at Oxford Station? I believe they're used for storage of materials such as rock-salt.

Is the plan for these venerable ex-Rail Express Systems parcels vans to be:

1. broken-up on site?
2. craned onto low-loaders and taken away for scrapping?
3. presented to a local heritage line for preservation?

I can't see them being fit for conveying by rail as I don't think they've moved for at least 25 years and they might be riddled with asbestos.

As I understand it the parcels vans are being preserved (but I'm not sure where). They will be moving by road as after 30 years - yes I remember them being there mid 80s! - they won't be fit to travel by rail as they are. Road transport is complicated by the redevelopment outside the station at Frideswide Square. But Chiltern will need the site clear soon.

 

[RobLawrence]

I wanted to revisit an earlier post, now some time has passed:

Two quick questions about likely (season) ticketing policy - and I appreciate this is in the 'infrastructure and stations' thread, so apols if there is already a relevant discussion.

Will 'Bicester Stations' become a like-for-like replacement destination for season-ticket holders (like me)? To put it a different way, could I pick up services to London from either station on an equivalently priced Bicester to Marylebone annual season?

Secondly, how might Chiltern chose to price its seasons? What latitude does it have to set its own prices? I note that presently, commuters from Oxford and Islip (and, theoretically Bicester Town) pay £5,436 annually. Bicester North commuters pay about £800 less (£4604). So could we expect Chiltern to offer Oxford/Islip commuters a big saving on 'via Bicester only' season tickets? Would that make such tickets comparable in price to Bicester North ones?

Insights valued. Speculation not unwelcome!

At the time a couple of people replied to say Bicester stations would be grouped.
Are we sure Bicester stations will be grouped? No sign of a consolidated pocket timetable for Bicester yet....

 

[swt_passenger]

At the time a couple of people replied to say Bicester stations would be grouped.
Are we sure Bicester stations will be grouped? No sign of a consolidated pocket timetable for Bicester yet....

A play with the NRES journey planner (smartphone version) does show a "Bicester Stations" origin. The Desktop version shows Bicester, Bicester North and Bicester Village.

However as of now it doesn't come up in the season ticket calculator.

I found some £6 Advance fares from Oxford Parkway to Marylebone for the end of October (Friday 30th about this time of night).

 

[route:oxford]

I found some £6 Advance fares from Oxford Parkway to Marylebone for the end of October (Friday 30th about this time of night).

It's a good price. A colleague who lives in Kidlington mentioned he'd bought some for the first weekend.

Walk to station and get train to London for around the same price as parking in Oxford for 3 hours on a Saturday!

 

[Kite159]

Is Chiltern going to be providing a "Rail Replacement" bus link from Oxford Parkway to the main Oxford station or will it have to be via a regular passenger service bus and a walk to the station from the city centre?

 

[jimm]

Is Chiltern going to be providing a "Rail Replacement" bus link from Oxford Parkway to the main Oxford station or will it have to be via a regular passenger service bus and a walk to the station from the city centre?

The connections will be provided by Oxford Bus Company's route 500, the Water Eaton park-and-ride service. A footnote in the new Chiltern timetable booklet says they will be running to and from Oxford station, so the bus route is being extended from the current terminus at Magdalen Street, presumably as a temporary measure until the line into Oxford is opened.

 

[RobLawrence]

Some good news from Chiltern who tell me that:

"All journeys to / from the South will be fully inter-available between the two [Bicester] stations."

They have also quoted me some very favourable season ticket prices (that it doesn't feel appropriate to share publicly because they are still awaiting DfT sign off on them).

 

[jimm]

Some good news from Chiltern who tell me that:

"All journeys to / from the South will be fully inter-available between the two [Bicester] stations."

They have also quoted me some very favourable season ticket prices (that it doesn't feel appropriate to share publicly because they are still awaiting DfT sign off on them).

And why wouldn't they have been interavailable anyway? It would have been plain daft to do anything else.