East-West Rail (EWR): Oxford-Bletchley construction progress

[12LDA28C]

These drivers are Chiltern employees operating out of Bletchley so they will not be existing drivers learning a new route as Chiltern has not previously had drivers based at Bletchley. Chiltern have not yet taken delivery of the trains as they are still with West Midlands Railway. They are drivers being trained from scratch which takes several months before hands-on learning to actually drive a train.

Only partially correct. Some existing drivers will be transferring to Bletchley when the depot opens so they would only need to learn the traction and the route from Milton Keynes to Bicester Village.

 

[RGM654]

Pathfinder is promoting a railtour including Bletchley - Bicester this November: https://www.pathfindertours.co.uk/events/the-verney-venturer/

 

[swt_passenger]

Pathfinder is promoting a railtour including Bletchley - Bicester this November: https://www.pathfindertours.co.uk/events/the-verney-venturer/

This was discussed a few weeks ago in post #1791 and replies.

 

[RGM654]

This was discussed a few weeks ago in post #1791 and replies.

Aplogies. Having just received a mailshot from Pathfinder, I scanned a page or two back but not quite that far.

 

[oxfordrelayer]

I have been told that the line will be running mid may - depending on driver training

 

[12LDA28C]

I have been told that the line will be running mid may - depending on driver training

Who told you that?

 

[DavidGrain]

The forthcoming test/training runs are scheduled until 16th May which I would guess is the date just before the May timetable comes into effect. The times shown in RTT would be the full timetable which I expect will be run as a ghost service for a few weeks before going live. I would not expect the full service to operate from the December date but are there in the working timetable to provide slots for the MKC-Bletchley and Bicester Village-Oxford sections of the line as they will be running alongside active services.

 

[12LDA28C]

The forthcoming test/training runs are scheduled until 16th May which I would guess is the date just before the May timetable comes into effect. The times shown in RTT would be the full timetable which I expect will be run as a ghost service for a few weeks before going live. I would not expect the full service to operate from the December date but are there in the working timetable to provide slots for the MKC-Bletchley and Bicester Village-Oxford sections of the line as they will be running alongside active services.

You're making a lot of assumptions. Remember, just because paths are in RTT for training runs along the full length of the route, does not mean that all those paths will be used, or indeed that any of those paths will necessarily be used from the first date that they appear in RTT. It's also by no means certain that those training run times will remain unchanged when the passenger timetable comes into effect, or that all those paths will be required on introduction of passenger service.

 

[DavidGrain]

You're making a lot of assumptions. Remember, just because paths are in RTT for training runs along the full length of the route, does not mean that all those paths will be used, or indeed that any of those paths will necessarily be used from the first date that they appear in RTT. It's also by no means certain that those training run times will remain unchanged when the passenger timetable comes into effect, or that all those paths will be required on introduction of passenger service.

As I read you comment, you say I am making assumptions and then agree with me.

 

[12LDA28C]

As I read you comment, you say I am making assumptions and then agree with me.

You say you would not 'expect the full service to operate from the December date' - there will certainly not be any kind of passenger service running from December. Also, those paths are not necessarily the finalised passenger train paths. It's not really clear what kind of service you're expecting to commence and when...

 

[Merioneth]

Was the Chiltern DVT sandwiched between 2 class 20s heading east past the Aldi in Bicester late this morning anything to do with EWR? There was what could only be described as ‘serious chopper thrash’ as it accelerated away from Bicester Village Station.

 

[swt_passenger]

Was the Chiltern DVT sandwiched between 2 class 20s heading east past the Aldi in Bicester late this morning anything to do with EWR? There was what could only be described as ‘serious chopper thrash’ as it accelerated away from Bicester Village Station.

At about 1130? It was a Bristol to Wembley depot ECS working according to RTT.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Was the Chiltern DVT sandwiched between 2 class 20s heading east past the Aldi in Bicester late this morning anything to do with EWR? There was what could only be described as ‘serious chopper thrash’ as it accelerated away from Bicester Village Station.

"Can't match this"

 

[BlueLeanie]

Who told you that?

There are all kinds of rumours floating about.

The last one I heard was a "Christmas Special" penciled in on two weekends of December 2024 shuttling between Milton Keynes, Bicester Village and Oxford. No calls at the new stations.

Knowing that there's going to a be a passenger "pathfinder" tour in November means all the the safety boxes have been ticked for a passenger service, so the prospect of a marketing exercise to get MK residents to visit Bicester by train on two weekends in December doesn't sound too unrealistic.

 

[Sun Chariot]

I have been told that the line will be running mid may - depending on driver training

I'm a little confused. Have you seen any specific documented evidence of the service introduction in mid-May 2025?

 

[PLY2AYS]

These drivers are Chiltern employees operating out of Bletchley so they will not be existing drivers learning a new route as Chiltern has not previously had drivers based at Bletchley. Chiltern have not yet taken delivery of the trains as they are still with West Midlands Railway. They are drivers being trained from scratch which takes several months before hands-on learning to actually drive a train.

I don’t think that’s strictly true. As I understand it, the vast majority will be new/PQA drivers, but there will indeed be ‘older hands’ that are moving depot.
Although it won’t take long for a competent roster to be up and running as there will only be 2tph, so only 4-6 drivers need to be trained up to deliver a working timetables service (as I’ve heard through the grapevine).

Only partially correct. Some existing drivers will be transferring to Bletchley when the depot opens so they would only need to learn the traction and the route from Milton Keynes to Bicester Village.

Just seen this addition. Sorry was too eager to comment without following the thread through fully!

 

[jammmmmsssssss]

The handover of the line to NR was supposed to be two weeks ago but has been delayed. I believe it may now happen this week or next. As previously mentioned, ECS training paths are shown on RTT from December.

Has it happened yet?

 

[Merioneth]

At about 1130? It was a Bristol to Wembley depot ECS working according to RTT.

Thank you. It certainly shifted!

 

[DavidGrain]

Although it won’t take long for a competent roster to be up and running as there will only be 2tph, so only 4-6 drivers need to be trained up to deliver a working timetables service (as I’ve heard through the grapevine).

Don't trust the grapevine.
A round trip including layover time is 2 hours so that requires 4 trains in service. Assume 2 shifts per day so that is 8 drivers. Now I don't know how the drivers rosters work but I personally would plan for 4 days on 4 days off. So we are now at 16 drivers. Then we have to allow for breaks during the day, holidays, sickness, other reasons for leave etc. Your figure of 4-6 drivers is way out.

 

[Nottingham59]

How long does it take to learn a route of 35 miles?

 

[DavidGrain]

It is not just a route of 35 miles. The route knowledge includes both directions night and day. The complicated lines between Bletchley and MYC and into Oxford also need to be learned including all platforms at MKC. At Oxford this would include as far as Hinksey in case a train is diverted in to the through platforms. Also as I understand it, Tyseley will be doing the bigger maintenance jobs on the class 196s so EWR drivers might have to do trips to Birmingham.

 

[12LDA28C]

Has it happened yet?

Not to my knowledge

It is not just a route of 35 miles. The route knowledge includes both directions night and day. The complicated lines between Bletchley and MYC and into Oxford also need to be learned including all platforms at MKC. At Oxford this would include as far as Hinksey in case a train is diverted in to the through platforms. Also as I understand it, Tyseley will be doing the bigger maintenance jobs on the class 196s so EWR drivers might have to do trips to Birmingham.

I'm pretty sure EWR drivers will not be learning Hinksey. If an EWR train is signalled into P3 or P4 they can just reverse there, or do the south end shunt off P3. It's not been decided yet who will be taking the units to Tyseley for heavy maintenance.

How long does it take to learn a route of 35 miles?

Not all EWR drivers will need to learn the whole route.

I'm a little confused. Your follow on reply, was: "There are all kinds of rumours floating about"; you then covered two other topics and not the one relating to the service's introduction.

Have you seen specific documented evidence of the service introduction in mid-May 2025?

It was another poster who gave that reply...

Although in answer to your question I can say that nobody has, because no such evidence exists.

 

[PLY2AYS]

Don't trust the grapevine.
A round trip including layover time is 2 hours so that requires 4 trains in service. Assume 2 shifts per day so that is 8 drivers. Now I don't know how the drivers rosters work but I personally would plan for 4 days on 4 days off. So we are now at 16 drivers. Then we have to allow for breaks during the day, holidays, sickness, other reasons for leave etc. Your figure of 4-6 drivers is way out.

Apologies… I did mean per day.

But yes, obviously an entire link of around 20 or so drivers will be required (including spares and depot it’ll be closer to 22-25 per week)

But not all of the drivers driving will have to be fully qualified. Those undertaking their hours under instruction will still be driving, so it’s likely much less, but with more qualified DIs.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Thanks @12LDA28C and I've edited post #1845

 

[jammmmmsssssss]

Not to my knowledge

Do you know what's delaying it?

 

[Nicholas43]

Er, isn't this thread to discuss construction progress? Including, possibly, the delay to the construction of platform 5 at Oxford?

 

[swt_passenger]

Er, isn't this thread to discuss construction progress? Including, possibly, the delay to the construction of platform 5 at Oxford?

Yes, however P5 and other work at Oxford is not really part of the EWR project and has its own separate thread:

Oxford Corridor Phase 2 & Platform 5 updates

It was looking very wet under the bridge earlier this week, with machines pumping away the build up, would guess it was at least 6" deep at the lowest point. Is there to be a permanent pump here?? It must be one of the lowest points in that side of the city.

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[12LDA28C]

Do you know what's delaying it?

I heard a rumour that some subsidence had been discovered in the vicinity of the EWR / HS2 intersection which has had to be rectified, if true that would delay things a bit...

 

[jammmmmsssssss]

I heard a rumour that some subsidence had been discovered in the vicinity of the EWR / HS2 intersection which has had to be rectified, if true that would delay things a bit...

Oh no

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I heard a rumour that some subsidence had been discovered in the vicinity of the EWR / HS2 intersection which has had to be rectified, if true that would delay things a bit...

What is the geological strata in the area of the alleged subsidence?