L&Y Robert
Member
Shouldn't this thread be in "Infrastructure and Stations"?
. l would also like to know from Network Rail why trains cannot be diverted via Cotswold line.(no disrespect to any previous posters here )
Also can someone explain the differences between W6 , W10 loading gauges? I can understand that container traffic obviously needs special routing partly due to the length of some of the trains and the necessary clearance ,and lack of suitable paths across Birmingham ?
Shouldn't this thread be in "Infrastructure and Stations"?
Virgins website still saying WCML work to go ahead in February. It doesn't take much to say its been cancelled.
Hoping for a detailed press release from Network Rail today. Uncertainty and rumours no good to anyone. l would also like to know from Network Rail why trains cannot be diverted via Cotswold line.(no disrespect to any previous posters here )
Also can someone explain the differences between W6 , W10 loading gauges? I can understand that container traffic obviously needs special routing partly due to the length of some of the trains and the necessary clearance ,and lack of suitable paths across Birmingham ?
Virgins website still saying WCML work to go ahead in February. It doesn't take much to say its been cancelled.
Hoping for a detailed press release from Network Rail today. Uncertainty and rumours no good to anyone. l would also like to know from Network Rail why trains cannot be diverted via Cotswold line.(no disrespect to any previous posters here )
Also can someone explain the differences between W6 , W10 loading gauges? I can understand that container traffic obviously needs special routing partly due to the length of some of the trains and the necessary clearance ,and lack of suitable paths across Birmingham ?
See the following image for a display of the different loading gauge limits:Also can someone explain the differences between W6 , W10 loading gauges? I can understand that container traffic obviously needs special routing partly due to the length of some of the trains and the necessary clearance ,and lack of suitable paths across Birmingham ?
The differences between the restrictive W6 and more accommodating W10 gauge are primarily in the (square) upper corners for containers.W10 gauge allows 9’6″ high containers to be conveyed on standard-height wagons and this is important to maintain rail’s attractiveness in the intermodal market.
They are cleared on both lines so if they can get route conducted they would be fine.
And when was a gauging run carried out? I have never seen any evidence of a 22x running Wolvercot jct-Norton jct. When the 180s resumed operation in 2012, FGW carried out a full gauging run all the way out and back. Yes there were new platforms at three stations, so needed to be done, but they measured at every platform old and new. If a 22x has never been on the line, how does anyone actually know they will not hit something? Looks like a paper exercise which has never been confirmed with a real train, which presumably would have to be done in reality.
And even if they can run that way, I don't need to tell you, of all people, of the problems trying to path extra trains on the Cotswold Line. Never mind where conductors would come from, it's not as if FGW has drivers coming out of its ears anyway. Sometimes it's hard enough to rustle up a spare driver at Oxford, never mind sort out XC diversions.
No idea, Im not a gauging engineer, as you say it was probably a computer exercise using gauging software we have. The Sectional Appendix say they are clear and that is the baseline document we all work to, so if it says they are clear, they are clear.
Thats for XC and FGW to sort out and see if it is workable, as for paths, there may be a decision to run with inbuilt delay as the freight will be now on the WCML and NR coughs up (as they would for the route conducting etc...). It would all be worked through and decisions made.
Shouldn't this thread be in "Infrastructure and Stations"?
On the southern section of the Cotswold line after 10 there is only one slot per hour available.
It takes about 20 mins to travel the single track section between Charlbury and Wolvercote.
There are however, some gaps - for example there is nothing towards London from 13.00 until 15.00 as there is no 14.00 London bound service but other than that there are simply no available slots - there maybe a couple after 22.00
XC would probably be limited to running 1 train in either direction every 2 hours.
I acknowledge it may be quicker, but how would it be easier, particularly if you are disabled and have luggage? Also, when we get to the Easter holiday period, resourcing of sufficient road coaches could become a problem.Isn't this all a moot point anyway? - since, even if paths were available, a coach from Banbury to Leamington is easier and quicker, and would be the preferred option for most passengers anyway.
I acknowledge it may be quicker, but how would it be easier, particularly if you are disabled and have luggage? Also, when we get to the Easter holiday period, resourcing of sufficient road coaches could become a problem.
I was just highlighting that there is little to no capacity on the Cotswold line for the poster(s) who asked about re-routing.
You would at best be able to run 1 extra train either north or south and that isn't really viable.
Also, when we get to the Easter holiday period, resourcing of sufficient road coaches could become a problem.
That is a worry - it became an issue towards the end of the Dawlish closure last year, with coaches having to be sourced from further afield.
Thanks for all the relevant information ! I've read press releases where applicable. I might add that have a Disable Railcard so prefer to stay on a train , and be kept informed where necessary. I've learnt about W8 W10 gauging now !
I must admit I didn't know there is 9 miles of single track on Cotswold line. Hope to see for myself later in the year.!
Must spare a thought for all the people involved with all the unplanned extra work, from the Orange Army needed to fix the landslip at Harbury , to all the planning people who reschedule trains, not forgetting the front line people who have to explain it all to customers, sorry I mean passengers !! Then there's the Virgin people who thought they weren't need on 14/15 21/22 Feb who now have to work !!
Chiltern Railways said:Timetable from Monday 9 February onwards
We are going to be running an emergency timetable for at least the next few weeks and our plans include further enhancements to the service to provide as much of the normal Chiltern experience as were able.
These include:
- More trains running from Birmingham to Leamington Spa and Banbury to London with a step-straight-on replacement bus service in between
- An extension of the step-step-on replacement bus service to include buses direct from Warwick Parkway station to Banbury at peak times in addition to those from Leamington Spa for customers that normally travel from Warwick Parkway
- Fast silver trains with Business Zone carriages running between Birmingham and Leamington Spa and between Banbury and London with a connecting replacement bus services Extensive car parking facilities at Banbury and Warwick Parkway
- A Banbury Fare Match, meaning that passengers travelling from any of our West Midlands stations to London will pay the Banbury fare to London
- Over 30,000 Advance tickets will be available every week between the West Midlands and London
For full flexibility, Chiltern Railways annual and monthly season tickets will also be valid for travel on Virgin Trains and First Great Western for the duration of the closure period. This applies to Route High Wycombe and Route Banbury season tickets only.
Chiltern now look like they are trying to upgrade their service a bit and maybe try to keep a bit of the London-Birmingham market. I guess this blockage is going to cost them a fair bit of cash.
Interesting that they are sayng that season tickets will continue to be valid on Virgin and FGW, which implies that, very shortly, other tickets won't.
Which reminds me, today marks 1 year since the Dawlish collapse.
...
Interesting that they are sayng that season tickets will continue to be valid on Virgin and FGW, which implies that, very shortly, other tickets won't.
Alternative routes for West Midlands passengers:
Passengers travelling between London and the West Midlands may use Virgin Trains and London Midland services between London Euston and Birmingham New Street. Chiltern Railways tickets will be valid on these services, and on London Underground connections between Marylebone and Euston.
But further down that page which is ...
http://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/landslipleamington
it says:
with no limit of time mentioned.
Yes, that's the original bit that's been up since earlier in the week. My guess is that they will change that some time soon when the ticket acceptance stops. Presumably anyone who has pre-booked a ticket will then have to use the replacement bus or get a refund.