Chiltern Oxford Link completed

[jimm]

Shuttering mystery solved. Passing through Oxford this morning an engineering team was indeed using it to reinforce the western side of the embankment carrying the Bicester line.

At Oxford station the track into the two former parcel docks has been severed, with some short sections of the track lifted and dumped on the parcels platforms. The GUV and CCT are still there but removal is surely only a matter of time once the short stay car park is closed off next week.

 

[Oxfordblues]

It would be nice if it's found necessary to drag the two parcels vans a short distance by rail to a more accessible location for removal by road. And what better loco for the job than the RES-liveried 08 shunter at nearby Hinksey Yard? It'd be Britain's last-ever parcels train!

 

[150219]

It would be nice if it's found necessary to drag the two parcels vans a short distance by rail to a more accessible location for removal by road. And what better loco for the job than the RES-liveried 08 shunter at nearby Hinksey Yard? It'd be Britain's last-ever parcels train!

It's not unknown to drag long forgotten vehicles out from obscurity, however in this event the points to/from the Docks were lifted a couple of weeks ago.

 

[jimm]

It would be nice if it's found necessary to drag the two parcels vans a short distance by rail to a more accessible location for removal by road. And what better loco for the job than the RES-liveried 08 shunter at nearby Hinksey Yard? It'd be Britain's last-ever parcels train!

a. Like I said, the track is no longer there to move than anywhere
b. I wouldn't dare trying to shift them an inch - that's assuming they are not rusted in place by now - so long is it since they last moved.
c. They are right next to the staff car park, so plenty of hard-standing for low-loaders and crane alongside.

 

[Andyjs247]

Looks like the days of those 2 parcels vans are finally numbered. I'd imagine they will need to be moved very carefully after at least 30 years without maintenance and are probably rusted to what remains of the track there so that the whole lot would have to be lifted out together.

The Oxford Mails says that the short-stay car park at Oxford Station is due to shut so that platform works can take place.

From Monday, February 22, users will have to use the Beckett Street long-stay car park instead.

This is so that workers can renovate a platform formerly used for goods to become a passenger platform for Chiltern Railways’ new service to London Marylebone, via Oxford Parkway station.

Elsewhere in the Oxford Mail it is reported that Network Rail has cleared 4000 tonnes of rubbish from the track between Oxford Parkway and Oxford. See Network Rail slams "mindless" fly tippers after £250,000 clean up mission.

THOUSANDS of tonnes of unwanted junk was dumped by "mindless" fly-tippers at Oxford's railway tracks.

Train provider Network Rail yesterday [February 10] slammed the lazy litterers who used tracks as a dumping ground, forcing them to fork out £250,000 to clear the mess.

A trampoline, shopping trolleys, asbestos-infested roofs, bicycles, televisions and gas canisters were left to decay by the rail tracks, between Oxford Parkway and Oxford Station, totalling 4,000 tonnes of waste.

 

[BRX]

£250,000? Really? Even if it was a lot of stuff to be cleared, that seems rather expensive.

 

[route:oxford]

£250,000? Really? Even if it was a lot of stuff to be cleared, that seems rather expensive.

It sounds like a bargain really. 4000 Tonnes at £82.60 a tonne landfill tax would be in the region of £330,000 - some of it must have been recycleable.

 

[edwin_m]

It sounds like a bargain really.

Especially if some of it was asbestos.

4000 tonnes would need at least two full-length freight trains to cart it away. I think they may have accidentally added a zero or two on that.

 

[BRX]

Especially if some of it was asbestos.

4000 tonnes would need at least two full-length freight trains to cart it away. I think they may have accidentally added a zero or two on that.

Oxford to parkway is about 8km.

So that would mean 5 tonnes of rubbish in every single 10m section of line.

Seems a lot.

 

[alexx]

Couple of other bits of info I spotted recently that might be of interest. First up, some overnight work next week:

We have been advised that planned rail maintenance operations will be taking place along the Bicester to Oxford line between Jarvis Lane, Bicester and Oxford Parkway Station from Monday 29th February to Friday 4th March 2016 between the hours of 00.25 – 06.00 on each of the four shifts.

These works will consist of re-grading and tamping ballast between Jarvis lane and Oxford Parkway Station each night and possible rail joint grinding in the areas around Jarvis Lane, MOD West sidings and Oxford Parkway Station.

And this latest update from the Bicester to Oxford collaboration website page here: http://www.bicestertooxfordcollaboration.com/in-your-area/wolvercote-first-turn.html - which I've pasted here as I get the feeling that the content on the page isn't archived, but overwritten on each update:

The East West Rail phase 1 works between Oxford Parkway and Aristotle Bridge (north of Oxford Station) are progressing well. We have almost completed civils work on First Turn Bridge and await the completion of rediversion works by the utilities companies ahead of plans to reopen the road bridge to traffic on 21 March 2016.

Activity to 14 February 2016

SOUTH OF WOLVERCOTE TUNNEL - IN THE VICINITY OF BLENHEIM DRIVE, BLADON CLOSE, ULFGAR ROAD, ST PETER’S ROAD, FIRST TURN, SHERIFF’S DRIVE, FAIRLAWN END AND UPPER CLOSE.

Backfilling of the RediRok retaining wall system continues. We are also installing trackside drainage on the east side of railway working northwards from Canal Bridge, and removing excavated material formed from drainage and Redi-Rok wall excavations.

We are also commencing installation of working platforms on both sides of the railway, two to the south and two to the north of First Turn Bridge to allow works on the noise barrier installations to start. This involves placing fill material to the embankments and compacting with a roller.

FIRST TURN BRIDGE

We are currently waterproofing the bridge deck, laying kerbs and installing ducts in preparation for mains and service diversion works by utility Companies.

WOLVERCOTE TUNNEL

Brickwork repairs to tunnel walls continue and we are installing pile caps to the north and south tunnel portals.

Inside Wolvercote tunnel

Wolvercote tunnel opposite end

The Wolvercote Tunnel was built in 1850 with stone walls and a brick arch barrel roof, and is a known flight corridor for bats, who also use it as an occasional roost. Ensuring bat welfare during the works is a high priority for the team, and we are working closely with Natural England to plan the works and gain the necessary licences and consents. The works required have been specifically designed and scheduled to minimise disruption to the roost, and will take place between July 2015 and end 2016.

NORTH WOLVERCOTE TUNNEL PORTAL TO NORTH OXFORD GOLF CLUB – IN THE VICINITY OF FIVE MILE DRIVE, CAREY CLOSE, WOODSTOCK ROAD AND LAKESIDE ADJACENT TO CUTTING

We continue to backfill behind Redi-Rok wall to the bottom of cutting slope on west side of railway

We are also commencing installation of working platforms on both sides of the railway to allow noise barrier works to start. This involves placing fill material to the embankments and compacting with a roller.

LAKESIDE FROM PEARTREE SITE COMPOUND TO OXFORD PARKWAY STATION – IN THE VICINITY OF LAKESIDE AND NORTH OXFORD GOLF CLUB

Track formation works are being undertaken working southwards towards Lakeside, along with the replacement of an existing culvert to the north of Lakeside. Installation of permanent boundary fence also continues.

PEARTREE SITE COMPOUND TO GOSFORD AND WATER EATON FOOTBRIDGE (NORTH OXFORD GOLF CLUB)

Installation of permanent boundary fence also continues, working southwards from the footbridge towards Pear Tree site compound.

 

[jimm]

Ground clearance work is now well advanced at the site of the new Aristotle Lane bridge over the entire formation north of Oxford station, to replace the existing ramped footbridge and the foot crossing. And lots of work going on all along the trackbed towards Wolvercote. Looks as though all the steel shuttering to reinforce the embankment is now in place here.

The parcels vans are still in place at Oxford station but platform 3 has now been truncated, with a buffer stop inserted part way along, so there's probably only room for a three-car Turbo now, rather than five cars.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

This all sounds like good steady progress.

 

[Oxfordblues]

Cycled past Oxford station yesterday and was amazed to see the CCT and the GUV parcels vans had both finally been removed. They'd occupied "Platform 5" for as long as anyone can remember, the GUV having last had works attention as far back as 1979!

Does anyone know where they've gone? I presume they're riddled with asbestos.

 

[HarleyDavidson]

Cycled past Oxford station yesterday and was amazed to see the CCT and the GUV parcels vans had both finally been removed. They'd occupied "Platform 5" for as long as anyone can remember, the GUV having last had works attention as far back as 1979!

Does anyone know where they've gone? I presume they're riddled with asbestos.

If they have asbestos in them, then they'd have to employed a specialist contractor as you have to do, otherwise I'd have thought they'd have just simply been cut up or lifted out or towed away.

 

[al green]

They're going to a heritage railway. I forget which one.

 

[js47604]

What's the mileage from Oxford station to Oxford Parkway station by rail?

 

[a good off]

They're going to a heritage railway. I forget which one.

They didn't in the end. The vans were cut up on site last week.

 

[cm39275]

They're going to a heritage railway. I forget which one.

That was the original plan, but it was deemed to expensive to move them so they were scrapped onsite last week. They both had been there since 1993.

 

[starlightEXPRESS]

What's the mileage from Oxford station to Oxford Parkway station by rail?

3 miles 42 chains (according to RailMiles).

 

[route:oxford]

3 miles 42 chains (according to RailMiles).

Or 80 minutes, according to a colleague, by car this morning...

 

[jimm]

Work to lay ballast for the second track north of Oxford North junction was under way today with a long train of wagons hauled by a DBS Class 66 on site all day and excavators unloading and spreading the ballast. Some of the empty wagons were backloaded with spoil by late afternoon.

A piling or drilling rig was in use just north of the bridge over the Oxford Canal at the southern end of Wolvercote but trees between it and the main line meant I couldn't see what it was working on.

 

[jimm]

Tracklaying is now making rapid progress between Oxford North junction and Wolvercote and the canopy over the old parcels platforms at Oxford station has been demolished

 

[absolutelymilk]

Presumably still aiming to have trains running from Oxford to Oxford Parkway for the December timetable change?

 

[168lover]

Presumably still aiming to have trains running from Oxford to Oxford Parkway for the December timetable change?

12th of December rings a bell for the supposed start of services

 

[alexx]

There's a couple of 29 hour possessions coming up on theine between Bicester Village and Oxford Parkway, on Sunday 8th May 00:00 - Monday 9th May 06:00 and Sunday 12th June 00:00 - Monday 13th June 06:00. Apparently the work "will comprise signalling, noise barrier installation and track work."

 

[Andyjs247]

Out of interest, how does everyone think the new service is running 6 months on? Personally speaking as an irregular user, the service between Oxford Parkway, Bicester Village and Marylebone appears to be running reasonably well now. And earlier teething troubles would seem to have been resolved judging by the general lack of news.

Loadings on off-peak services from London to Bicester seem healthy and there is often a mass exodus with few remaining to Oxford Parkway. Particularly when there's just been a 2-car set, I've almost had to fight my way through the hordes of shoppers eager to board when returning from Oxford Parkway to Bicester.

But I wondered if some more regular users could comment.

 

[jimm]

Oxford Mail story, with pictures, showing some of the progress on the demolition work on the old parcel platforms:

WORK to extend the platforms at Oxford Station is well underway, and trains could be running direct to London Marylebone by the end of the year.

Network Rail workers have been busy demolishing existing canopies and carriages which have stood at the station for more than 30 years to create space for the East West Rail service to run to the capital from December.

The operational building currently used by rail staff and as storage for the station's shops has to be demolished and relocated as part of the scheme.

http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/14...xford_station_s_platforms__progressing_well_/
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There's a couple of 29 hour possessions coming up on theine between Bicester Village and Oxford Parkway, on Sunday 8th May 00:00 - Monday 9th May 06:00 and Sunday 12th June 00:00 - Monday 13th June 06:00. Apparently the work "will comprise signalling, noise barrier installation and track work."

Notice Chiltern has sent out to residents in Islip about work there:

Station Approach will be closed at Islip station for a period of 4 weeks from 6th May to 12th of June to allow us to finish installing the noise barrier at this location and other junction works at this location. The station car park will be closed, and pedestrian access to both platforms will be via the ramp on the other side of the rail corridor.

We will be delivering concrete to our sites at Holts Farm and Northfield Farm via Islip on Sunday 8 May 2016. This is a one-off use of Islip for access due to the usual access road (Merton Road going through Merton Village) being closed due to other infrastructure works (unrelated to our project). The concrete lorries will be coming from and returning to Kidlington. Our working hours will be 8am to 6pm, and we are expecting 22 traffic movements in total (11 deliveries).

http://www.obrag.org.uk/668/importa...-activity-in-islip-6th-may-to-12th-june-2016/
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Observations around Oxford today - Thursday 5th May

The old single-track on the Bicester Line heading towards Wolvercote from Oxford North junction has been lifted and all-new material is being laid in its place.

At the station lots of work going on at the top end of the staff car park, which I assume is to prepare the footings for the temporary staff accommodation block.

 

[CarltonA]

I don't know the junctions north of Oxford very well. Is the old LNWR track bed being brought back into use through what was Port Meadow Halt?

http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/p/port_meadow_halt/index.shtml

 

[jimm]

I don't know the junctions north of Oxford very well. Is the old LNWR track bed being brought back into use through what was Port Meadow Halt?

http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/p/port_meadow_halt/index.shtml

No.

Oxford North junction, where the Bicester line diverges, is just to the north of Aristotle Lane. If you look up Aristotle Lane on Google Maps and use the satellite image you will be able to see the Network Rail site compound next to the school, just north of Aristotle Lane and the overbridge, with the junction above them.

 

[alexx]

Out of interest, how does everyone think the new service is running 6 months on?

I'm a semi-regular (2-3 times a week) user from BV to Marylebone and Oxford Parkway, and haven't run into any issues lately - in fact I'm quite impressed with the service. One minor grumble is the two-car formations can make things a bit tight sometimes - e.g. leaving Marylebone mid-afternoon calling at High Wycombe gets a bit crowded, but overall it's ok. Not used peak morning services towards Marylebone very often so can't really comment on loading there.

On a wider note, the level crossing at Bicester London Road is still coming down quite early for Oxford Parkway bound trains, and there seems to be a period mid-morning where the combination of two passenger trains and a goods service apparently mean the barriers are down for about 20 minutes. Going on local grumblings and not first hand experience of the latter, so might not be completely accurate.