Chiltern Oxford Link completed

[Buttsy]

The Jericho isn't reversible as it is only signalled for Down direction moves from Oxford.

The signs by the level crossing to the Trap Ground allotments I'm sure showed that trains (not necessarily passenger) can run in both directions on that line. I believe that it is only available as a freight loop in the up direction, or at least it was when the signalling was changed to allow Bicester trains to run on it in the down direction.

Certainly the line will become reversible for Marylebone services as this was the cheap answer rather than relaying the old LNWR route into Oxford that was around when I was a young kid. (I remember a 47 with headcode panel '0000' waiting under Walton Well Road bridge on this double track route to join the up main sometime in the mid 70s (1973/74).

 

[The Planner]

Down Jericho is exactly as it says, down only.

 

[Buttsy]

Down Jericho is exactly as it says, down only.

Fairly dos, I must have remembered the signs wrong.

 

[jimm]

That was more to do with people getting concerned about hacking into Oxford signalling as its getting a bit old. The independent line wont get built now. Still not convinced about needing the parcel bays for the Chiltern services from the timetabling Ive seen.

I appreciate you may not have had time to delve into the pile of documents on the council website but the planning statement says that as phase 1 of the station rebuilding, the work to create these two platforms also sets the alignments for the future platforms at the eastern side of the station.

And should a six-car Chiltern formation get a bit poorly (yes, even on Chiltern things break down occasionally...) while sitting in platform 3, with nowhere for an incoming train to go except an already-busy platform 1 if you don't have another bay - and then needing to shunt out again, which all eats up time - the second bay surely provides some robustness, plus somewhere for FGW sets on Oxford-Banbury duties to go at the times of the day when they don't run through to and from Paddington.

 

[jimm]

The signs by the level crossing to the Trap Ground allotments I'm sure showed that trains (not necessarily passenger) can run in both directions on that line. I believe that it is only available as a freight loop in the up direction, or at least it was when the signalling was changed to allow Bicester trains to run on it in the down direction.

Certainly the line will become reversible for Marylebone services as this was the cheap answer rather than relaying the old LNWR route into Oxford that was around when I was a young kid. (I remember a 47 with headcode panel '0000' waiting under Walton Well Road bridge on this double track route to join the up main sometime in the mid 70s (1973/74).

Must have been 1973, as the current Oxford North junction came into use at the end of October that year.

 

[a good off]

I agree Jimm. Something the current Oxford lacks is bolt holes to get you out of the mire when things fail/go wrong. On the Down its a bit easier as trains can run via the Old Up Main and into the Up platform but Up trains are stuffed as they can't use the Down side. Add some more trains on top of the existing service and it will all potentially come down like a house of cards with the slightest incident.

 

[Buttsy]

Must have been 1973, as the current Oxford North junction came into use at the end of October that year.

Thanks for that, I hadn't realised that my memory was that good I could remember stuff from when I was 4...

 

[midlandred]

A handful of progress photos from Water Eaton, Oddington and Bicester Town
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
The same link includes some photos today from Islip, Oddington, Langford Lane and Bicester

 

[trawscymru27]

Thank you for these, very interesting to see how work is progressing.

I understand that the line is to be electrified in the long-term, do you (or does anyone else) know if the bridge shown in picture 5 will require modification to allow this?

 

[HowardGWR]

A handful of progress photos from Water Eaton, Oddington and Bicester Town
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
The same link includes some photos today from Islip, Oddington, Langford Lane and Bicester

Gosh, that bridge just for a bridleway to Middle Farm is a bit OTT isn't it?

 

[Andyjs247]

Thank you for these, very interesting to see how work is progressing.

I understand that the line is to be electrified in the long-term, do you (or does anyone else) know if the bridge shown in picture 5 will require modification to allow this?

No further modification is required. The additional works to allow electrification (and W10 gauge container traffic) for East West Rail and "electric spine" are being done at the same time. This western section of the East-West project (the section between Bicester and Bletchley) is not expected to open until 2019, but doing the work now will avoid too much further disruption to Chiltern Railways' new Oxford-Marylebone service which begins this September.

 

[HowardGWR]

Thank you for these, very interesting to see how work is progressing.

I understand that the line is to be electrified in the long-term, do you (or does anyone else) know if the bridge shown in picture 5 will require modification to allow this?

I don't know, but it's very graceful, quite Brunellian. Did he do any LNWR stuff?

Update: just seen Andy's reply.

 

[fgwrich]

Thanks to the use of Balfour Beatty's NTC machine on the project, the second track is now in place through Water Eaton station, and has been ballasted over the past few nights. Shouldn't be too long before it starts to head eastwards judging by the trackbed in Cliff's pictures.

 

[midlandred]

Gosh, that bridge just for a bridleway to Middle Farm is a bit OTT isn't it?

Thanks to the Creative Commons Licence, I've now added these photos of Water Eaton Crossing, replaced by the said overbridge

2 March 2007

13 November 2012

As soon as I can, I'll try and get to the site of the crossing

 

[giblets]

Suppose it would be crazy of them to do any prep work on the electric spine whilst the Leamington Banbury section is closed due to the landslide

 

[HowardGWR]

Thanks to the Creative Commons Licence, I've now added these photos of Water Eaton Crossing, replaced by the said overbridge

2 March 2007

13 November 2012

As soon as I can, I'll try and get to the site of the crossing

Great photos, thanks (and of historical value too).

I think I've sussed it. The 'bridleway crossing' also functions as accommodation for Middle Farm to reach the field on the northern Gosford side. One can see that the A34 people also had to build a huge bridge and I conclude that the owner was able to claim that the access for large vehicles should be maintained, thus the need for the mammoth bridge and embankments either side, to reach up to it. Of course it had to be higher in preparation for electrification too.

That's my theory anyway!

 

[midlandred]

Great photos, thanks (and of historical value too).

I think I've sussed it. The 'bridleway crossing' also functions as accommodation for Middle Farm to reach the field on the northern Gosford side. One can see that the A34 people also had to build a huge bridge and I conclude that the owner was able to claim that the access for large vehicles should be maintained, thus the need for the mammoth bridge and embankments either side, to reach up to it. Of course it had to be higher in preparation for electrification too.

That's my theory anyway!

Oh dear :cry: I'm having second thoughts now - it may in fact be the bridge to Northfield Farm, and not the bridleway to Middle Farm and the Water Eaton Estate

I will now have to get there and check

Update : Been and checked, and I was correct first time - phew! It is definitely a new over bridge to Middle Farm

 

[northwichcat]

Chiltern are advertising a job vacancy which includes a key responsibility of:

Prepare for the launch of Chiltern Railways’ new Oxford route through developing a marketing plan to maximise awareness and commercial benefit and then implement this plan.

 

[Class 170101]

Suppose it would be crazy of them to do any prep work on the electric spine whilst the Leamington Banbury section is closed due to the landslide

Thats far too much common sense.

Now go and sit in the naughty corner for using it

 

[The Planner]

Except you couldnt anyway, Electric Spine isnt funded, commited or out of early GRIP stages, ergo no design so nothing to prep for.

 

[RPM]

Now, the latest news is that consideration is being given to renaming one or both Bicester stations. As I predicted months ago, Chiltern are keen to rename ‘Bicester Town’ as ‘Bicester Village’. The locals however do not appear keen, and I must admit my sympathies are with them. I can see why Chiltern are keen to please BV, and I can also see why retaining the current station name might confuse tourists but I don’t think calling the station ‘Bicester Village’ is the answer. Maybe if ‘Bicester Town (for Bicester Village)’ sounds a bit daft then consideration should be given to reverting to an earlier title so we’d have ‘Bicester London Road (for Bicester Village)’?
They’re suggesting ‘Bicester North’ might be renamed as simply ‘Bicester’, or possibly “Bicester Garden Town’. There is apparently a public meeting tomorrow to discuss it.

 

[67018]

Now, the latest news is that consideration is being given to renaming one or both Bicester stations. As I predicted months ago, Chiltern are keen to rename ‘Bicester Town’ as ‘Bicester Village’. The locals however do not appear keen, and I must admit my sympathies are with them. I can see why Chiltern are keen to please BV, and I can also see why retaining the current station name might confuse tourists but I don’t think calling the station ‘Bicester Village’ is the answer. Maybe if ‘Bicester Town (for Bicester Village)’ sounds a bit daft then consideration should be given to reverting to an earlier title so we’d have ‘Bicester London Road (for Bicester Village)’?
They’re suggesting ‘Bicester North’ might be renamed as simply ‘Bicester’, or possibly “Bicester Garden Town’. There is apparently a public meeting tomorrow to discuss it.

The local MP isn't keen, especially given the recent announcement about the Government putting in the cash to turn it into an expanded 'Garden Town' - http://www.tonybaldry.co.uk/2015/02...ver-proposal-to-rename-bicester-town-station/

 

[HowardGWR]

Now, the latest news is that consideration is being given to renaming one or both Bicester stations. As I predicted months ago, Chiltern are keen to rename ‘Bicester Town’ as ‘Bicester Village’. The locals however do not appear keen, and I must admit my sympathies are with them. I can see why Chiltern are keen to please BV, and I can also see why retaining the current station name might confuse tourists but I don’t think calling the station ‘Bicester Village’ is the answer. Maybe if ‘Bicester Town (for Bicester Village)’ sounds a bit daft then consideration should be given to reverting to an earlier title so we’d have ‘Bicester London Road (for Bicester Village)’?
They’re suggesting ‘Bicester North’ might be renamed as simply ‘Bicester’, or possibly “Bicester Garden Town’. There is apparently a public meeting tomorrow to discuss it.

Seems a bit barmy, neither station is central enough. What if the BV concern went bust eventually? When I was there, the old 'town' station seemed more central to me, even though I see it isn't, on the map.

 

[The Planner]

Bicester Village go bust? it will end up bigger than Bicester eventually.....

 

[edwin_m]

If they do this they ought to get the Village to pay for the free advertising.

 

[67018]

Bicester Village go bust? it will end up bigger than Bicester eventually.....

If it gets too big, will they have to rename it Bicester City? That's a good name for the station too.

Or, going on tourist perception and following the lead of the airports, 'London Bicester Village'...

 

[a good off]

Bicester Village go bust? it will end up bigger than Bicester eventually.....

Only £4k for a handbag... A bargain apparently said my
Wife.hock: Chiltern may be able to run shopper specials from Marylebone.

 

[gordonthemoron]

judging by google maps, Bicester north seems central to the whole built up area, if not actually in the town centre. Whereas Bicester Town is on the edge, quite close to Bicester Village

 

[jimm]

judging by google maps, Bicester north seems central to the whole built up area, if not actually in the town centre. Whereas Bicester Town is on the edge, quite close to Bicester Village

Don't go by Google, or at least call up the satellite image. Town station is rather closer to the Market Place and the town centre than North, which has been made to look central by housing and business developments north-east of the railway in recent decades.

 

[67018]

judging by google maps, Bicester north seems central to the whole built up area, if not actually in the town centre. Whereas Bicester Town is on the edge, quite close to Bicester Village

It depends what you mean by 'central'.

Bicester North is pretty close to the geographic centre of the built up area - draw a circle with a radius of a mile round the station and it neatly encloses most of the town. But, as jimm says, because the building has been round the station (which would have been outside the main town when built, like many other places).

Town is closer to the Market Square, but now nearer the edge of the town itself. Hence why there was plenty of space to build Bicester Village there in the first place. Expansion that way has been suppressed by the A41 and the large area of military bases (some of which is earmarked for future development).

So centrality depends on whether you live there or want to shop there!