Chiltern train from Marylebone to Banbury via Oxford

[Mikey C]

I friend of mine found himself on this train last week, the 23:11 from Marylebone which goes via Bicester Village to Oxford, then presumably reverses back to go north to Banbury, though sadly he didn't stay on for the whole journey and video it, which was very selfish of him

Is this the only train of the day which does this? I'm assuming this routing (marked on the rail maps as an occasional service) is for the usual route knowledge reasons

 

[capitalconnect]

I friend of mine found himself on this train last week, the 23:11 from Marylebone which goes via Bicester Village to Oxford, then presumably reverses back to go north to Banbury, though sadly he didn't stay on for the whole journey and video it, which was very selfish of him

Is this the only train of the day which does this? I'm assuming this routing (marked on the rail maps as an occasional service) is for the usual route knowledge reasons

There has been one Chiltern Railways service a day in each direction between Banbury and Oxford and vice versa for years. It even ran for years before the Bicester branch was connected to the Chiltern mainline. I am presuming it is probably to maintain driver knowledge in case any diversions are necessary.

 

[SargeNpton]

Wonder if the likely reason is so that the unit can be stabled overnight at Banbury.

 

[Watershed]

Two birds with one stone. Gets the stock stabled at Banbury. And in so doing, it keeps up drivers' route knowledge for the handful of times each year that Chiltern need to divert into Oxford during engineering works between Aynho Jn and Bicester South Jn (or sometimes further south).

 

[SynthD]

Two birds with one stone. Gets the stock stabled at Banbury. And in so doing, it keeps up drivers' route knowledge for the handful of times each year that Chiltern need to divert into Oxford during engineering works between Aynho Jn and Bicester South Jn (or sometimes further south).

Such works are on this weekend, but they aren’t running an Oxford to Banbury service. Have they in the past?

 

[The Planner]

Such works are on this weekend, but they aren’t running an Oxford to Banbury service. Have they in the past?

Yes, over Easter.

 

[warwickshire]

Such works are on this weekend, but they aren’t running an Oxford to Banbury service. Have they in the past?

Yes from Birmingham moor Street to oxford.
But when doing so due to length off train has been express from banbury to oxford via tackley.
However always has been only banbury drivers sign banbury to oxford via tackley.

 

[Watershed]

Such works are on this weekend, but they aren’t running an Oxford to Banbury service. Have they in the past?

Looks like the line is closed between Oxford and Leamington, so no way of running such a service. They certainly have done so in the past.

 

[Mikey C]

Looks like the line is closed between Oxford and Leamington, so no way of running such a service. They certainly have done so in the past.

Indeed the Chiltern Mainline is a nightmare this weekend, with closure between Wembley Stadium and High Wycombe, and between Princes Risborough and Leamington Spa.

London to Leamington Spa means a train to Aylesbury VP to pick up a rail replacement bus...

 

[Watershed]

Indeed the Chiltern Mainline is a nightmare this weekend, with closure between Wembley Stadium and High Wycombe, and between Princes Risborough and Leamington Spa.

London to Leamington Spa means a train to Aylesbury VP to pick up a rail replacement bus...

Probably easier to travel via Coventry!