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

[zwk500]

yes it is the Bedford to Bletchley section but my thought was to wonder whether it was route learning for when Bletchley to Oxford opens.

I think it might have been this: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:17259/2024-10-15/detailed

It's the only light loco that run on tuesday afternoon in that direction according to RTT, and it has 5 minutes pathing between Woburn and Fenny Stratford, and 5 pathing and 2 engineering minutes between Fenny Stratford and Bletchley so it could easily have been held at a signal waiting for the time at Bletchley.

There's a return path a little later in the day and it doesn't appear to have any connection to the EWR project. The Derby RTC - Wembley HS and return paths are both VSTP, so were ad-hoc moves on the day.

 

[WolvertonWorks]

Thanks ZWK500 , that looks like it - I just loved the name of the engine

 

[zwk500]

Thanks ZWK500 , that looks like it - I just loved the name of the engine

Not a problem, it is a nice name after all a shame the loco wasn't for EWR but on a tangent, nice to see use being made of the Bedford-Bletchley line.

 

[richieb1971]

I've seen 6H10 sit on the dual carriageway bridge many times in the morning, when I questioned it, it was stated no signal is there. There must be something there to make them stop.

 

[317362]

Paths in for a Paddington-Milton Keynes via Claydon, with some toing and froing to Bicester and then back to North Pole are in for Tuesday 22nd October. May not be real. But is quite detailed. First path link below.

Realtime Trains | 5Q40 0812 London Paddington to Milton Keynes Central | 22/10/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q40 0812 departure from London Paddington to Milton Keynes Central on 22/10/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[800001]

Paths in for a Paddington-Milton Keynes via Claydon, with some toing and froing to Bicester and then back to North Pole are in for Tuesday 22nd October. May not be real. But is quite detailed. First path link below.

Realtime Trains | 5Q40 0812 London Paddington to Milton Keynes Central | 22/10/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q40 0812 departure from London Paddington to Milton Keynes Central on 22/10/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Paths actually start Monday 21st October, link to RTT below

Realtime Trains | Departures from London Paddington between 0600 and 2000 on 21/10/2024

Train information at London Paddington between 0600 and 2000 on 21/10/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[317362]

So presume* it must be an 80x which is a bit of a surprise (?)

*If it happens

 

[Peter Sarf]

Paths in for a Paddington-Milton Keynes via Claydon, with some toing and froing to Bicester and then back to North Pole are in for Tuesday 22nd October. May not be real. But is quite detailed. First path link below.

Realtime Trains | 5Q40 0812 London Paddington to Milton Keynes Central | 22/10/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q40 0812 departure from London Paddington to Milton Keynes Central on 22/10/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Would this be staff route learning for using Paddington as a terminus when WCML engineering work cuts Euston off ?.

 

[Chris125]

I'd love to think Hopwood persuaded the DfT to use IETs (freed up by 175s) on a Paddington-Reading-Oxford-Bicester-MKC service.... but I think we all know that's not happening. Might be quicker than waiting for Chiltern mind.

 

[fishwomp]

Would this be staff route learning for using Paddington as a terminus when WCML engineering work cuts Euston off ?.

I hope so - I've two crisp tenners coming my way if it happens: https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...ge-will-it-ever-get-built.236124/post-5889210 (@Bald Rick and @The Planner) - although I doubt it is that at this point (8 years to go ..).

Would this be staff route learning for using Paddington as a terminus when WCML engineering work cuts Euston off ?.

Could be a dry run for a tour of dignitaries on it - a line reopening is a big deal - and a 2-car DMU wouldn't really cut it.

 

[800001]

Would this be staff route learning for using Paddington as a terminus when WCML engineering work cuts Euston off ?.

Won’t it just be a test train, checking the route, signals etc?
Highly doubt it’s a route learner for Paddington, when East/West staff presumably have not even started route learning?

 

[PLY2AYS]

Won’t it just be a test train, checking the route, signals etc?
Highly doubt it’s a route learner for Paddington, when East/West staff presumably have not even started route learning?

Unlikely to be SW Trains related is it? They do still have an Aventra locked up at Bicester.

 

[800001]

Unlikely to be SW Trains related is it? They do still have an Aventra locked up at Bicester.

The unit comes from North Pole at start of day, which implies it’s an IET.
As for the purpose, who knows as yet.

 

[jammmmmsssssss]

Paths actually start Monday 21st October, link to RTT below

Realtime Trains | Departures from London Paddington between 0600 and 2000 on 21/10/2024

Train information at London Paddington between 0600 and 2000 on 21/10/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Z01 0944 Oxford to Oxford | 21/10/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Z01 0944 departure from Oxford to Oxford on 21/10/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Z02 1339 Oxford to Oxford | 21/10/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Z02 1339 departure from Oxford to Oxford on 21/10/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

There's also 5Z01 and 5Z02 that day

 

[800001]

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:s79733/2024-10-21/detailed

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:s79736/2024-10-21/detailed

There's also 5Z01 and 5Z02 that day

Yes, they are Chiltern Railways paths.

These other paths commence at North Pole, so would appear they are scheduled for a different reason, what that reason is, is unknown yet.

 

[Halish Railway]

Would this be staff route learning for using Paddington as a terminus when WCML engineering work cuts Euston off ?.

Or to run GWR services to Milton Keynes when future Old Oak Common blockades happen to facilitate an interchange onto a fast Avanti or LNWR service to Euston, e.g. Cotswolds or Bristol to Milton Keynes.

 

[DavidGrain]

Shown as an 80x from PAD to Didcot then as a DMU thereafter which is logical as it will come of the overhead at that point.
I would not have thought it would be a press/dignitaries special until closer to opening for service.
Oxford-MKC-Oxford run is shown as TOC CH but others are shown as ZZ

Yes, they are Chiltern Railways paths.

These other paths commence at North Pole, so would appear they are scheduled for a different reason, what that reason is, is unknown yet.

Interesting to see what stock the Chiltern paths use as I don't think they have any of the 196s yet. It could be the trainers doing the route learning in which case they can use existing Chiltern trains

 

[Peter Sarf]

Shown as an 80x from PAD to Didcot then as a DMU thereafter which is logical as it will come of the overhead at that point.
I would not have thought it would be a press/dignitaries special until closer to opening for service.
Oxford-MKC-Oxford run is shown as TOC CH but others are shown as ZZ

Interesting to see what stock the Chiltern paths use as I don't think they have any of the 196s yet. It could be the trainers doing the route learning in which case they can use existing Chiltern trains

There are three 196/0s that are now off-lease (or suchlike so maybe just out of use) from WMT. Those would be available to testing/training on the route and they are finally meant for that route.

 

[800001]

Shown as an 80x from PAD to Didcot then as a DMU thereafter which is logical as it will come of the overhead at that point.
I would not have thought it would be a press/dignitaries special until closer to opening for service.
Oxford-MKC-Oxford run is shown as TOC CH but others are shown as ZZ

Interesting to see what stock the Chiltern paths use as I don't think they have any of the 196s yet. It could be the trainers doing the route learning in which case they can use existing Chiltern trains

There are 3 x 196 stored for EW, unsure where or what state they are in.
196007/009/010 are the units.

 

[Peter Sarf]

There are 3 x 196 stored for EW, unsure where or what state they are in.
196007/009/010 are the units.

I think they (196007, 196009 & 196010) are at Long Marston. They have been used until recently (August) so unless faults had developed I should imagine usable.

 

[D365]

Do the 196/0s for EWR require GOPs (guard operation panels) to be fitted?

 

[dooton]

Chiltern services Monday will be operated by 2, 2 car 168s coupled. Wednesday and Thursday will be a single 168. They are conducting GSM-R testing all week. Unsure of what GWR are doing.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Do the 196/0s for EWR require GOPs (guard operation panels) to be fitted?

EWR is I think to be DOO so I doubt it.

 

[Bald Rick]

Would this be staff route learning for using Paddington as a terminus when WCML engineering work cuts Euston off ?.

It isn’t

I hope so - I've two crisp tenners coming my way if it happens: https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...ge-will-it-ever-get-built.236124/post-5889210 (@Bald Rick and @The Planner) - although I doubt it is that at this point (8 years to go ..).

Sorry

 

[BlueLeanie]

They are certainly expecting to make good time on the trip.

Location	Platform​	Arrive​	Depart​	Path​	Line​
Milton Keynes Central [MKC]	1​		1510​		SL​
Denbigh Hall South Jn		pass​	1514​
Bletchley High Level [BLU]	8​	1516​	1601​
Winslow [WNO]		pass​	1607​
Claydon West Jn		pass​	1610​
Bicester Gavray Junction [XGY]		pass​	1614​
Bicester Village [BIT] Service stops for pathing (passing train)	1​	1615​	1620​
Oxford Parkway [OXP]	1​	pass​	1626​
Woodstock Road Junction ½ min pathing allowance		pass​	1627​
Oxford North Jn.		pass​	1629​		UML​
Oxford [OXF] Pathed as Class 80x on diesel at 125mph from here		1631​	1639​	UML​	UML ​

So it departs MK Central at 15:10, and arrives in Oxford at 16:31. I make that 81 minutes with pathing stops. But the pathing stop at Bletchley is 45 minutes, and at Bicester Village 5 minutes. The actual travel time in an 80X on diesel is going to be just 31 minutes MKC to OXF.

Will be interesting to see the actual timings in a few days if it runs.

 

[DavidGrain]

I think they (196007, 196009 & 196010) are at Long Marston. They have been used until recently (August) so unless faults had developed I should imagine usable.

There was a report on this thread that the traction training was being done at Tyseley which makes sense as WMR trainers have the knowledge. Chiltern Trainers need to acquire the route knowledge before they can pass that on.

 

[eastdyke]

Would this be staff route learning for using Paddington as a terminus when WCML engineering work cuts Euston off ?.

Only partly right, it's for Ministers and their Aides [who according to the front page of the Sunday Times tomorrow are about to take oversight of HS2] so that they can try to understand what a [nearly] finished new section of railway looks like. The 45 minutes at BLU gives them ample time to take in what needs to be done along the Marston Vale, through Bedford and onto Cambridge to complete EWR.
Simples

 

[Peter Sarf]

Only partly right, it's for Ministers and their Aides [who according to the front page of the Sunday Times tomorrow are about to take oversight of HS2] so that they can try to understand what a [nearly] finished new section of railway looks like. The 45 minutes at BLU gives them ample time to take in what needs to be done along the Marston Vale, through Bedford and onto Cambridge to complete EWR.
Simples

My bold.
BLU = Blundelsands & Crosby according to National Rail Enquiries which is on the banks of the Mersey - last seen further North up the WCML. But RTT shows "Bletchley High Level (BLU)". One of them must be wrong ?.

 

[takno]

My bold.
BLU = Blundelsands & Crosby according to National Rail Enquiries which is on the banks of the Mersey - last seen further North up the WCML. But RTT shows "Bletchley High Level (BLU)". One of them must be wrong ?.

According the schedule files from Network Rail BLU is Bletchley HL. Blundelsands & Crosby is BLN, and always has been.

 

[Samzino]

My bold.
BLU = Blundelsands & Crosby according to National Rail Enquiries which is on the banks of the Mersey - last seen further North up the WCML. But RTT shows "Bletchley High Level (BLU)". One of them must be wrong ?.

Blundelsands & Crosby is coming up as BLN to me on NR Enquiries