Nuneham Viaduct shut - Didcot- Oxford

[deltic]

News on Twitter that there are problems with Nuneham Viaduct leading to the line between Oxford and Didcot being closed

Breaking: the railway line between Didcot and Oxford is closed. An urgent safety inspection of Nuneham Viaduct, which is between Culham and Radley stations. An update is promised later this afternoon. I’m hearing it could be very serious indeed.

 

[Oxfordblues]

Thanks deltic. Does anyone know if it can be temporarily fixed or is it a long-term job?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Cross Country appear to have cancelled everything through the affected section for the rest of the day...

https://twitter.com/CrossCountryUK/status/1642880096124956672?s=20

Extract...

UPDATE: Train services are suspended between Banbury and Reading for the rest of today.

Coaches will be operating between Banbury, Oxford and Didcot Parkway for remainder of today.

And followed by...

https://twitter.com/CrossCountryUK/status/1642857056402038786?s=20

Further extract...

We're still awaiting news from the teams on the ground but in all honesty, it's not looking good. As the issue is with the structure of the viaduct, its possible this may take weeks to resolve.

 

[JN114]

Thanks deltic. Does anyone know if it can be temporarily fixed or is it a long-term job?

Possibly 2 weeks, more likely 6 to stabilise the viaduct. Longer to repair.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Possibly 2 weeks, more likely 6 to stabilise the viaduct. Longer to repair.

Any diversionary routes possible for Cross Country, between Reading and Banbury/Birmingham New Street, or is that it for through XC journeys for some time now?

 

[Kite159]

I wonder why XC are turning back at Banbury rather than at Oxford.

 

[Chingy]

Chiltern will no doubt see a large uptick in passenger numbers for the next few weeks.

Also, the route in question is a very busy freight route. Will be interesting to see where the numerous container trains get routed etc.

 

[The Planner]

Its going to be a good few weeks, 23rd April is being talked about, railway chat says the bridge is sinking.

I wonder why XC are turning back at Banbury rather than at Oxford.

RRB issues with Botley road work and getting in and out of Oxford?

 

[JN114]

Any diversionary routes possible for Cross Country, between Reading and Banbury/Birmingham New Street, or is that it for through XC journeys for some time now?

At one stage XC had a cadre of traincrew who signed Reading - Swindon - Cheltenham
- Birmingham; however I don’t know if that’s the case any more.

I wonder why XC are turning back at Banbury rather than at Oxford.

Oxford is a bit of a mess at present - probably simply a case of more reliable/resilient to do it at Banbury in the immediate term; then look to start to run to Oxford in the coming days when it can be planned for, crewed etc properly.

Blockades tend to be crewed differently to typical day to day through running - the resources just won’t be in the right places at the drop of a hat to pivot and run to/from Oxford.

 

[TurboMan]

railway chat says the bridge is sinking.

Yes, it's been like that for a while. A pronounced dip in the track and one of the arches dipping further and further away from horizontal for some months. There was a 50mph speed restriction for a long time, which went down to 20mph, then down to 5mph. Monitoring equipment was installed and linked to TVSC Oxford panel; the alarm must have gone off today.

 

[swt_passenger]

Any diversionary routes possible for Cross Country, between Reading and Banbury/Birmingham New Street, or is that it for through XC journeys for some time now?

It’s potentially a more difficult issue to find diversionary capacity for all the Southampton container traffic. Possibly some up the Chiltern line via Greenford?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Its going to be a good few weeks, 23rd April is being talked about, railway chat says the bridge is sinking.

Presumably this is the bridge over the Thames between Culham and Radley?
Has it just become unstable or has it been a concern for some time? [Just seen post #10 on this].
It's a pity it couldn't wait until the extra capacity is available at Oxford.
It appears to be quite a young bridge in railway terms, dating from 1929.
The bridge further south at Appleford is of a similar vintage (1927).

 

[The Planner]

It’s potentially a more difficult issue to find diversionary capacity for all the Southampton container traffic. Possibly some up the Chiltern line via Greenford?

Not gauge clear, its all WCML and ECML via Hertford loop.

 

[4COR]

Presumably this is the bridge over the Thames between Culham and Radley?
Has it just become unstable or has it been a concern for some time?

See @TurboMan's post above - it's been developing for a while and so I can't see this being a particularly quick fix, though would like to be pleasantly surprised... - presumably it affects both tracks so there's no scope for bi-di running on one either... (I had some recollection that it might be separate decks, but it doesn't look that way from photos from underneath).

 

[zwk500]

It’s potentially a more difficult issue to find diversionary capacity for all the Southampton container traffic. Possibly some up the Chiltern line via Greenford?

No Clearance for W10/12. Unless Bromsgrove is W10/12 cleared, it's GWML to Wembley Yard and back up the WCML.

 

[swt_passenger]

Not gauge clear, its all WCML and ECML via Hertford loop.

No Clearance for W10/12. Unless Bromsgrove is W10/12 cleared, it's GWML to Wembley Yard and back up the WCML.

Thanks both. So that route‘s presumably only ok for maybe the automotive traffic, and any trains able to use pocket wagons.

 

[TurboMan]

See @TurboMan's post above - it's been developing for a while and so I can't see this being a particularly quick fix, though would like to be pleasantly surprised... - presumably it affects both tracks so there's no scope for bi-di running on one either... (I had some recollection that it might be separate decks, but it doesn't look that way from photos from underneath).

Yes, both tracks and both just as bad. I think this will take quite some time to fix.

 

[crablab]

I think this will take quite some time to fix.

Demolish the brick abutments and start again level of bad?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

No Clearance for W10/12. Unless Bromsgrove is W10/12 cleared, it's GWML to Wembley Yard and back up the WCML.

Would the SWML/WLL work to Willesden?

 

[Horizon22]

I wonder why XC are turning back at Banbury rather than at Oxford.

Platform availability perhaps? Given GWR have had to probably terminate some units there and run back to Worcester/Hereford with longer turnarounds without trains being stepped up. Might be better tomorrow.

 

[The Planner]

Thanks both. So that route‘s presumably only ok for maybe the automotive traffic, and any trains able to use pocket wagons.

There was a plan to send some that way during Watford, but the embankments north of Risborough meant some nasty speed restrictions. May be sorted now.

 

[zwk500]

Thanks both. So that route‘s presumably only ok for maybe the automotive traffic, and any trains able to use pocket wagons.

GWML to Greenford triangle is W8 cleared, but from Ruislip to Aynho Jn is W6 only, so no boxes (no idea on car trains, they may be fine).

Would the SWML/WLL work to Willesden?

Not for W10. The WLL is W9 only, the SWML, Chertsey, Kew route is clear for W8 traffic (but heavily restricted), so you'd need well wagons for any W10/12 containers to go that way. The GWML is clear for W10/12 traffic all the way through, so I can't see much being sent via Chertsey.

 

[TurboMan]

Demolish the brick abutments and start again level of bad?

I'm not qualified to say, but the way one of the arches is dipping it doesn't look good to my untrained eye, unless there's a way to stop it dipping any further and then re-lay the track.

 

[Snow1964]

It’s potentially a more difficult issue to find diversionary capacity for all the Southampton container traffic. Possibly some up the Chiltern line via Greenford?

Some container trains run via Salisbury, Westbury, Bath, Bristol.
These are probably Avonmouth and South Wales ones. Don't know if they can then run via Cheltenham

Most of the old diversionary routes are now closed,
eg Andover - Marlborough - Cirencester - Andoversford.
Or line from Banbury - Hook Norton - Andoversford.
Or Crowley - Princes Risborough - High Wycombe to Maidenhead



Am I correct in thinking it is the multi-span metal bridge across the Thames near Abingdon, which is classed as a viaduct.

Not a brick or stone arched viaduct

 

[zwk500]

Some container trains run via Salisbury, Westbury, Bath, Bristol.
These are probably Avonmouth and South Wales ones. Don't know if they can then run via Cheltenham

Cheltenham/Bromsgrove appears to only be W8 from a brief glance at NESA. So would need very careful loading or well wagons.

See this Map (a little bit old now but gets the substantive point across): https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-co...ap-intermodal-sector-with-gauge-clearance.pdf

 

[12LDA28C]

At one stage XC had a cadre of traincrew who signed Reading - Swindon - Cheltenham
- Birmingham; however I don’t know if that’s the case any more.

In the days of loco-hauled on XC, I never saw any trains diverted that way with the usual diversionary route being Reading - Acton - Canal Wharf - Willesden - WCML. I guess some drivers might still sign that way or at least just need a refresher.

I once travelled on 1M79 the 1653 Reading - Liverpool which only got to Oxford due to flooding at Fenny Compton. The loco ran round at Oxford, then returned to Reading and then via the route as above, only to encounter flooding again at Bletchley! Eventual arrival at Birmingham was over 3 hours late.

 

[FGW_DID]

Am I correct in thinking it is the multi-span metal bridge across the Thames near Abingdon, which is classed as a viaduct.

Yes, the one between Culham & Radley stations.

From Google Earth:

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Platform availability perhaps? Given GWR have had to probably terminate some units there and run back to Worcester/Hereford with longer turnarounds without trains being stepped up. Might be better tomorrow.

Someone tells me better access to the M40 at Banbury , rather than fighting your way by coach (assuming you can get one or some , in the City of Dreaming Spires)

 

[Doctor Fegg]

Someone tells me better access to the M40 at Banbury , rather than fighting your way by coach (assuming you can get one or some , in the City of Dreaming Spires)

The perpetual jam that is Oxford's Botley Road certainly can't help. Mind you, that might get easier in just over a week's time when the road becomes a cul-de-sac for the rail bridge works...

 

[Oxfordblues]

I presume the aggregate for Oxford Banbury Road Sdgs could go via the Chiltern and the BMW trains from Cowley might be diverted that way (with a reversal at Acton Yard to be the right way round) depending on drivers' route knowledge and/or availability of Chiltern pilots?