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Title: Charlbury station - facilities, services, improvements and incidents - merged posts Post by: willc on March 07, 2008, 00:08:39 David Cameron's research assistant has posted on the Charlbury.info website that Mike Carroll and Richard Rowland of FGW will be back in town on Friday, April 4, at 7pm (venue tbc) for an update on issues raised at a public meeting held in January - see earlier thread An evening out in Charlbury
(Topic now linked to Calendar - Lee Fletcher.) Title: Re: An evening out in Charlbury - the sequel Post by: willc on March 31, 2008, 19:39:59 The venue for Friday's meeting has now been confirmed as Charlbury Memorial Hall, in Browns Lane, at 7.15pm.
Title: Re: An evening out in Charlbury - the sequel Post by: IanL on April 04, 2008, 22:11:18 My notes on the redoubling are presented elsewhere so I wont repeat them. Meeting was only for 1 hour.
Interesting figures for the Cotswold line (not the thames valley) PPM was 61% for the CL in Dec/Jan, now up to 79%, still the worst performing FGW line but catching up to the rest of the FGW network. General consensus was that punctuality is improving but still needs work. Mike Carroll gave update on a list of irritants from the January meeting. 1.CIS stilll not working properly 2.Stopping with first class only on short platforms was expected to take a month to fully remove, now will be mid May. Agreed that the current situation where some trains regularly stop with standard on the platform (but sometimes dont) and some trains nearly always stop with first on the platform (but sometimes dont) is a pain in the neck and will be ended. 3. Carparking at Charlbury, needs integrated approach since BR residuals own the waste land between the road and station, NR to look at doing this work along with the redoubling since it requires a lot of landfill. 4. Late trains stopping short/trains not completing full journey...no real answer yet. 5. Short forming trains...didnt get to ask, sorry. Lots more questions but they were often about specific services and didnt really interest me. All for now Title: Re: An evening out in Charlbury - the sequel Post by: IanL on April 10, 2008, 09:50:57 Well, a few days past the meeting when all the positive news about improved punctuality and the redoubling was announced, and how are trains running: very poorly! Morning trains very late, cancellations most mornings, broken trains.
Oh but they have installed a cover to keep the rain off the Charlbury ticket machine. Title: Re: An evening out in Charlbury - the sequel Post by: Lee on April 10, 2008, 10:22:45 Well, a few days past the meeting when all the positive news about improved punctuality and the redoubling was announced, and how are trains running: very poorly! Morning trains very late, cancellations most mornings, broken trains. Oh but they have installed a cover to keep the rain off the Charlbury ticket machine. You have an interesting revision this morning as well. 09:37 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington due 11:58 This train will be started from Oxford.It will no longer call at: Worcester Foregate Street, Worcester Shrub Hill, Pershore, Evesham, Honeybourne, Moreton-In-Marsh, Kingham, Charlbury and Hanborough.This is due to an earlier broken down train. Title: Re: An evening out in Charlbury - the sequel Post by: IanL on April 10, 2008, 10:44:00 Lee,
This is the return journey of a train going to Worcester, the 0821 from Charlbury to Worcester which was running late due to the earlier broken train. so terminated at Oxford, ie cancelled from Oxford to WOS, therefore the return journey also cancelled until Oxford. Two cancellations for the price of one broken train...how can FGW promote this...."Improved efficiency" Ian L Title: Re: An evening out in Charlbury - the sequel Post by: IanL on April 10, 2008, 10:47:20 The broken down train....I suspect this was the 0637 HST from Charlbury, reported as 57min late into Oxford and only running with one engine working.
Title: Re: An evening out in Charlbury - the sequel Post by: swlines on April 10, 2008, 12:06:23 That one had it's Didcot Parkway stop axed and arrived Paddington 64 minutes late.
Title: Re: An evening out in Charlbury - the sequel Post by: gwr2006 on April 10, 2008, 19:44:11 Well, a few days past the meeting when all the positive news about improved punctuality and the redoubling was announced, and how are trains running: very poorly! Morning trains very late, cancellations most mornings, broken trains. Oh but they have installed a cover to keep the rain off the Charlbury ticket machine. For the record, the broken down train that delayed services into and out of Paddington this morning was a freight train that broke down at West Ealing so was nothing to do with First Great Western. The canopy on the ticket machine was requested by local people at the meeting in January so FGW have given them what they wanted. Title: Re: An evening out in Charlbury - the sequel Post by: IanL on April 10, 2008, 21:44:11 GWR2006,
Sorry not used to these smileys etc, the last comment was slightly tongue in cheek, yes we asked for the ticket machine to work in the rain, the cover was FGWs response promised back in Jan.....it arrived just (the week) before the followup meeting. We also asked in January for improved CIS, punctuality, reliability and while last week it looked as though some of those things were improving and some hadnt changed the point of my post was that straight after the follow up meeting it has all gone to pot again, now if the follow up meeting had been this coming friday FGW might not have got the same reception. As for the broken down train, due to the limited information available to passengers waiting on platforms or checking the computers before walking down to the station it is difficult to assess whether the delays are due to the broken down freight train elsewhere on the network (agree that this is not FGWs fault) or the heavily delayed broken train on our local bit of line (FGWs fault). Title: Re: An evening out in Charlbury - the sequel Post by: Chris from Nailsea on April 10, 2008, 22:02:31 Thanks, IanL!
I do agree with the need for proper covers for the ticket machines, if they are going to work the morning after an overnight downpour, for example! I (See http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=1297.msg7126#msg7126 for details!) Chris ::) Title: Re: An evening out in Charlbury - the sequel Post by: IndustryInsider on May 17, 2009, 23:52:33 3. Carparking at Charlbury, needs integrated approach since BR residuals own the waste land between the road and station, NR to look at doing this work along with the redoubling since it requires a lot of landfill. I wonder whether any thought has been given to solving Charlbury's parking problems by constructing a second car park on the other side of the track? Now that the station will be receiving a second platform linked by a footbridge, there would be enough room behind that new platform to build a single row car park extending the length of the platform (and slightly beyond) which would give the station another 60 spaces (approx.). As far as I can see it is land owned by NR. There's already an access road to this area from behind the nursery which leads down to the sewage works - it would need improving, but is only a short section of road about the same length as the current station approach. The area I am referring to is located on the link below. The access road curves behind the three roofed buildings to join the B4437. http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=charlbury&ie=UTF8&ll=51.872358,-1.490313&spn=0.001166,0.003457&t=h&z=19 (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=charlbury&ie=UTF8&ll=51.872358,-1.490313&spn=0.001166,0.003457&t=h&z=19) Title: Charlbury station - facilities, services, improvements and incidents - merged posts Post by: Richard Fairhurst on February 22, 2013, 11:37:46 Press release from FGW: http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/About-Us/Media-centre/First-Great-Western-has-altered-the-time-of-two-key-services-in-the-North-Cotswolds
Quote First Great Western is informing customers travelling to and from the North Cotswolds of changes to the train timetable from Monday 4 March. To improve train performance and to build greater resilience in the Oxford area alterations to train times are to be implemented.
"Due to a number of challenges performance on our services in this area has not been up to the standard we expect to deliver for our customers. ^We are working with Network Rail to improve the situation and these changes are just one of many ways we are working to provide a more punctual service.^ Title: Re: Fixing the 07.15 from Charlbury Post by: autotank on February 23, 2013, 11:19:18 The cynic in me says - Great more slowing down on an already slow route!
But if it can make the service more reliable, which is what most passengers rate the railway on then it's probably a sensible thing to do. I do hope that timings on the Cotswold route can be looked at seriously at the next major timetable change in a few years once Reading is finished. I remeber hearing that Oxford - Paddington was once timetabled for 43 minutes on some of the crack expresses?! Title: Re: Fixing the 07.15 from Charlbury Post by: smokey on February 23, 2013, 14:25:07 43 minutes it's possible!
Not sure I'd like it in the rear coach of Loco hauled stock! I make 43 mins for 63 miles 18 chain an average of 88.25MPH ;D Cracking good cheese this Gromit ;D :D Don't spare the horses :D Title: Re: Fixing the 07.15 from Charlbury Post by: Andy W on February 24, 2013, 09:59:12 43 minutes it's possible! In the days when the Cathedral Express was such and not downgraded to the Cathedrals Semi-Fast it ran non-stop from Oxford to Paddington. That was before First took over the Thames franchise & decided long distance travel is a lower priority. Not sure what the timing was then.Not sure I'd like it in the rear coach of Loco hauled stock! I make 43 mins for 63 miles 18 chain an average of 88.25MPH ;D Cracking good cheese this Gromit ;D :D Don't spare the horses :D But if it can make the service more reliable, which is what most passengers rate the railway on then it's probably a sensible thing to do. The most 'relaible' service seems to have been when the padding was at it's most excessive just prior to re-doubling. II do you have access to the punctuality figures out of interest.Title: Re: Fixing the 07.15 from Charlbury Post by: EBrown on February 25, 2013, 02:15:48 The cynic in me says - Great more slowing down on an already slow route! Why be cynical? Performance is down, by increasing timetabled journey times performance goes up. Win win for First; absolutely no gain for passengers (except their trains may arrived when timetabled). Quote Not sure I'd like it in the rear coach of Loco hauled stock! If you take the (fastest) timetabled train from PAD to RDG which is 24 minutes to cover the 35 miles and 73 chains the average speed comes out at 89.8mph. :) I like the idea of an Oxford fast that skips Slough, currently the fastest timetabled train is 1P56 which takes 56 minutes - sadly:
Title: Re: Fixing the 07.15 from Charlbury Post by: JayMac on February 25, 2013, 13:32:08 The problem is, that if you adjust the timings downward of 1P56, it then comes into pathing conflict with 1A85 from Plymouth to Paddington.
Once you attempt to speed up one service that runs on the (at near capacity) main line between Reading and Paddington you have to consider all the other services it my come into pathing conflict with. Title: Re: Fixing the 07.15 from Charlbury Post by: Richard Fairhurst on February 25, 2013, 13:47:45 I like the idea of an Oxford fast that skips Slough, currently the fastest timetabled train is 1P56 which takes 56 minutes I thought the fastest train was the 17.22 from Paddington which takes 53 minutes. 1W07, for those who (unlike me) understand these things! (Previous post on Cotswold Line timings (http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=3602.msg97699#msg97699).) Title: Re: Fixing the 07.15 from Charlbury Post by: bobm on February 25, 2013, 13:52:03 The problem is, that if you adjust the timings downward of 1P56, it then comes into pathing conflict with 1A85 from Plymouth to Paddington. Once you attempt to speed up one service that runs on the (at near capacity) main line between Reading and Paddington you have to consider all the other services it my come into pathing conflict with. Just to re-inforce the point. I frequently catch 1A85 - the 12:55 from Plymouth - and I cannot remember a time when it has run straight off the Berks & Hants into the station. It always gets held at Reading West, or even occasionally, further back at Southcote Junction. Putting another train into the mix isn't going to improve things. Title: Re: Fixing the 07.15 from Charlbury Post by: EBrown on February 25, 2013, 14:16:28 I thought the fastest train was the 17.22 from Paddington which takes 53 minutes. 1W07, for those who (unlike me) understand these things! (Previous post on Cotswold Line timings (http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=3602.msg97699#msg97699).) I was referring to this: Quote 43 minutes it's possible! Which was referring to this:Quote I remeber hearing that Oxford - Paddington was once timetabled for 43 minutes on some of the crack expresses?! Perhaps your sarcasm would be appropriate if, I don't know, you read my post because OXF -> PAD is not the same as PAD -> OXF. Bignosemac, you are completely correct. I was more talking hypothetically given the current timetable, but that certainly isn't clear in anyway and I hadn't really considered other paths [other than they can be moved ;) ]! :) Title: Re: Fixing the 07.15 from Charlbury Post by: Richard Fairhurst on February 25, 2013, 14:29:34 Perhaps your sarcasm would be appropriate if, I don't know, you read my post because OXF -> PAD is not the same as PAD -> OXF. (http://cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/250x250/35117772.jpg) No sarcasm was intended. I am baffled as to why you've taken such a combative tone. Title: Re: Fixing the 07.15 from Charlbury Post by: Andrew1939 from West Oxon on February 25, 2013, 16:02:55 The original Cotswold Line timetable provided by Daft at the time of the current FGW franchise award did leave Slough out of the CL services. However many of the commuters from Slough to London like to sit in an HST instead of a Turbo, as most of us do, so the Slough stop was reinserted after they complained to Daft. From my not very frequent observations I do not think many people getting off CL trains at Slough originate from the CL. Many will have boarded the CL train at Oxford or Reading for the journey to Slough. Again from my infrequent observations I think a stop at Didcot would please more CL users than the Slough stop but I appreciate that more Didcot stops on trains from the Oxford direction would be difficult to path because of the need to cross so many lines often when other trains would be in the way and CL travellers not wanting to alight at Didcot would no doubt complain that it would lenthen their journey time. The timetablers just cannot please everyone.
Title: Re: Fixing the 07.15 from Charlbury Post by: JayMac on February 25, 2013, 16:09:15 and I hadn't really considered other paths Unfortunately, those who compile the timetable have to, otherwise we'd have two trains scheduled to be in the same place at the same time. ;) Title: Re: Fixing the 07.15 from Charlbury Post by: stebbo on February 25, 2013, 20:17:59 Autotank and Smokey should have ridden class 50s on the up Cathedrals Express in the 1970s. A tad slow on timing from Oxford to Paddington at 54 minutes on the Up Cathedrals Express but good fun round the curve at Didcot and through Reading on the old fast line.
Title: Re: Fixing the 07.15 from Charlbury Post by: Metric on March 28, 2013, 12:37:07 The 07.15 fix is not working, but I suspect this is no surprise to those who use the service.
In fact since the re-timing to 07.12, the very existence of an HST at Charlbury at 0712 has been a 50/50 affair. The absence of a train is shown as 'cancelled' but FGW tell us that it is a partial cancellation which now runs on time but starts at Oxford! Slightly Orwellian use of English I think. I'd be interested to know of others who have experience of this service before and after the re-timing. Any insights also appreciated from those who understand this better than I. A service to London around 0700-ish is great as you can get to London before 0900 without getting up with the lark on a regular basis. Title: Re: Fixing the 07.15 from Charlbury Post by: bobm on March 28, 2013, 12:47:27 There will be others on here who will have more informed opinions than I can offer - but may I welcome to the Coffee Shop nonetheless.
I did notice today that while the train managed to start at Charlbury this morning it was delayed for over an hour after getting trapped behind the failed 07:44 from Henley on Thames in the Maidenhead area. Title: Re: Fixing the 07.15 from Charlbury Post by: Metric on March 28, 2013, 13:03:16 I should add that I am not a train expert at all... but have always liked railways .. so live in hope. Several of the partial cancellations of the new-0712 have been non-single line related. Its simply been that the HST was u/s (we were told) at Oxford... This week on Wednesday we had an icicle in a tunnel as the reason for a delayed earlier train which infuriatingly left Charlbury going South as I turned into the new (and enlarged) car park. Shame that service could not have been delayed (but I'd expect that is just not practical) and become an 0712... (does sound a bit selfish!). I have to admit to considering going East and joining the Chiltern commuters from Banbury which I find sad.... but my own ability to be at work anywhere on time is suffering.
Title: Fixing the 07.15 from Charlbury Post by: Metric on March 28, 2013, 15:40:41 So some engaged customer service feedback from FGW - for which thank you - and I'm told that the 0712 was booked out of Charlbury 19 times to date in March, but actually left Charlbury on 15 occasions. I was simply unlucky as it looks as if I was on all of them. In a sad way I looked at my iphone where I photograph the departure screens when trains get delayed or cancelled and spotted a similar hit rate in Feb, but I'm told there were some additional failures in Feb when the train ran at 0715.
Knowing the hit rate feels good but does not make the service any better. Title: Re: Fixing the 07.15 from Charlbury Post by: CLPGMS on March 28, 2013, 21:28:05 According to the Raildar website, the 0712 has departed from CBY at the following times since 4th March:
4th - 0713. 5th - 0712. 6th - 0713. 7th - 07.12. 8th - 0712. 11th - 0713. 12th - 0711. 13th - 0724. 14th - 0712. 15th - 0713. 18th - 0712. 19th - 0712. 20th - cancelled (left OXF 0734). 21st - cancelled (left OXF 0734). 22nd - 0711. 25th - 0714. 26th - 0714. 27th - cancelled (left OXF 0734). 28th - 0713. Not scheduled to run on 29th. The 4th cancellation in March, mentioned by Metric, was on Friday 1st when the train should gave departed at 0715. Again, the train started at Oxford on time at 0734. Title: Charlbury station - facilities, services, improvements and incidents - merged posts Post by: Chris from Nailsea on February 26, 2014, 21:38:22 From the Oxford Mail (http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/11037658.Person_hit_by_train_at_Charlbury/?ref=var_0):
Quote Line re-opens after man killed by train at Charlbury A train line which was closed after a man was struck at Charlbury earlier today has now re-opened. Rail operator First Great Western suspended its services between Oxford and Worcester Shrub Hill due to the incident where a man was killed shortly before 12 noon. A replacement bus service was used and the service resumed just over two hours later and is now running normally. British Transport Police spokesman Brian Price said the man, who has yet to be identified, was pronounced dead at the scene and the incident was not being treated as suspicious. He said: ^Officers are working to establish the man^s identity and inform his family. A file will be prepared for the coroner. The train involved was a London Paddington to Hereford service.^ Title: Re: Person hit by train at Charlbury - 26 February 2014 Post by: CLPGMS on March 01, 2014, 19:06:33 It is understood that the man who was hit by a train was a member of a rail team working at the site of a small landslip about a mile west of Charlbury.
Title: Re: Person hit by train at Charlbury - 26 February 2014 Post by: bobm on March 01, 2014, 19:29:18 There was an unconfirmed report on the day that the man involved was working for Network Rail contractor Carillion Rail. The RAIB did go to the site but no word of any investigation as yet.
Thoughts with all concerned. From concersations I have had a driver feels bad enough when their train hits anyone, but particularly when it is "one of their own". Title: Re: Person hit by train at Charlbury - 26 February 2014 Post by: Chris from Nailsea on March 02, 2014, 20:27:31 From the Oxford Times (http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/11046221.Death_of_rail_worker_hit_by_train_being_investigated/):
Quote Death of rail worker hit by train being investigated (http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/resources/images/1986681.jpg?type=articleLandscape) Charlbury Station A man who was killed by a train near Charlbury on Wednesday was a rail worker believed to be in his fifties. He was struck by a First Great Western train travelling from London Paddington to Great Malvern on Wednesday at 11.40am. His death is not being treated as suspicious. British Transport Police officers and ambulance paramedics were called to Catsham Lane Bridge, between Charlbury and Chadlington, shortly before noon, but the man was declared dead at the scene. Network Rail spokeswoman Anne-Marie Batson said: ^Sadly, a rail worker was struck and fatally injured by a train near Charlbury. Emergency services attended the scene assisted by Network Rail staff. The police subsequently declared the incident to be non-suspicious. As a result, the Rail Accident Investigation Board (RAIB) confirmed it would not be investigating.^ However Office of Rail Regulation spokesman Brian Clarke said: ^We are gathering information on the fatality to establish what investigation is needed.^ Richard Fairhurst, who looks after transport issues for Charlbury Town Council, said: ^It^s a very sad thing. We haven^t had anything like that on the railway line for years.^ He said Network Rail had been carrying out work in the area. Mr Fairhurst added: ^People have been wondering whether it^s something connected to the work going on.^ Hmm. ??? Quote Network Rail spokeswoman Anne-Marie Batson said: ^Sadly, a rail worker was struck and fatally injured by a train near Charlbury. Emergency services attended the scene assisted by Network Rail staff. The police subsequently declared the incident to be non-suspicious. As a result, the Rail Accident Investigation Board (RAIB) confirmed it would not be investigating.^ My understanding is that the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (not Board) can and will investigate any such incident, whether the local police decide it is suspicious or not, if the RAIB decide it is appropriate to do so. Title: Re: Person hit by train at Charlbury - 26 February 2014 Post by: ChrisB on March 03, 2014, 09:41:20 Indeed, that's the local press adding two & two & making five....without checking their facts.
Quelle surprise! Title: Re: Person hit by train at Charlbury - 26 February 2014 Post by: Richard Fairhurst on September 12, 2014, 17:49:30 Followup report from the Oxford Mail: http://www.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk/news/11470377.Rail_worker_killed_after_stepping_in_front_of_Cotswold_Line_train_near_Charlbury/?ref=rss&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
Title: Re: Person hit by train at Charlbury - 26 February 2014 Post by: Chris from Nailsea on September 13, 2014, 00:16:50 Thanks for posting that news update, Richard Fairhurst.
Purely for ease of reference to all of our readers, some of whom may not be able to access links from mobile devices, I'll quote the full This Is Oxfordshire (http://www.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk/news/11470377.Rail_worker_killed_after_stepping_in_front_of_Cotswold_Line_train_near_Charlbury/?ref=rss&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter)article here: Quote Rail worker killed after stepping in front of Cotswold Line train near Charlbury An experienced railway worker died when he walked out in front of a Cotswold Line train near Charlbury, after telling a co-worker and friend to get lost. Dennis Williams, 52, returned to work on February 24 after taking a month off to recover from a hernia operation, Oxfordshire Coroner^s Court heard on Wednesday. The self-employed contractor, of Duffryn View, Rhymney, Gwent, had worked on the railways for 14 years and had been hired as a controller of site safety to oversee the repair of a section of embankment damged by a landslip between Charlbury and Shorthampton. On February 26, at about 11.38am, the married father of two children had a brief altercation with Anthony Thomas, with whom he was sharing safety responsibilities that day. Mr Thomas, who had known Mr Williams for about three years, told the court: ^He was very abrupt with me.^ The court heard that moments later Mr Williams walked on to the tracks in front of a train from London to Great Malvern, which was accelerating away from Charlbury station at more than 50mph. In a statement read to the hearing, train driver Kevin Tame said Mr Williams moved his arms above his head, signalling him to stop. Mr Tame could not halt the train in time, coming to rest 343 metres up the line after hitting Mr Williams. Oxfordshire Coroner Darren Salter recorded an open verdict, saying it was a ^somewhat perplexing^ case. He added: ^It seemed he stepped in front of the train in the full knowledge the train was there... (but) I can^t be certain that Dennis Williams intended to take his own life.^ Title: Charlbury station - facilities, services, improvements and incidents - merged posts Post by: Richard Fairhurst on February 20, 2017, 23:05:47 From charlbury.info (http://www.charlbury.info/news/2036):
Quote Charlbury station's car park could increase from around 200 spaces to almost 500 if plans by Great Western Railway go ahead. The train operator is proposing two expansions to the car park: * An additional deck over the lower-level car park, adding 112 new spaces * A ground-level extension at the edge of the water meadow, below the existing car park, adding 174 new spaces The ground-level extension would be constructed first so that parking spaces would remain available while construction work took place on the new deck. GWR say that passenger numbers at Charlbury have been increasing year-on-year, from 231,582 in 2009/10 to 327,518 in 2015/16. The current car park was 64% occupied when it was first opened in 2012, but has now reached 88%. The outline plans were presented at the planning meeting of Charlbury Town Council on 20th February. Questions from councillors included the need for landscaping; the possibility of an alternative location on the Forest Works side of the station (GWR said that this was their original intention but the landowner had not been willing); and the need for the town, district and county councils to be consulted and engaged so that a solution could be found to related traffic and parking issues in the town. Title: Re: 276 new spaces for Charlbury station car park? Post by: Western Pathfinder on February 20, 2017, 23:51:37 Interestingly I read on your website link that Chipping Norton news is in fact a German webpage about spots and blackheads with the odd advert for large fridge freezers !...
Title: Re: 276 new spaces for Charlbury station car park? Post by: ChrisB on February 21, 2017, 11:53:00 You're right about 'your website' for Richard does maintain it
Title: Charlbury station - facilities, services, improvements and incidents - merged posts Post by: Richard Fairhurst on March 21, 2018, 09:53:45 A planning application has just been lodged to extend the length of Charlbury's platforms: http://publicaccess.westoxon.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=P5D7KTRKI4L00
The Network Rail PDF (click 'Documents', then the icon on the right by 'Planning Statement') says Quote Platform 1 will be extended by 48.445m and Platform 2 by 74.680m, both extensions will include lighting, tactile paving and drainage. Alterations to the existing platforms will include realignment of copers, profiling of the existing platform surface, the addition of drainage and tactiles. This would bring P1 to 185m total (7.1 IEP carriages) and P2 to 177m total (6.8 IEP carriages), if my calculations are right. Slightly oddly it claims that these are necessary as part of the "West of England DMU Capability Works" to "accommodate DMU’s Class 165 and 166". It would be good to see a more uncluttered design than was achieved for the new P1, which is a bit of a forest of poles and arguably didn't do much for the setting of the listed station building. Title: Re: Charlbury platform extension Post by: stuving on March 21, 2018, 10:07:20 ... This would bring P1 to 185m total (7.1 IEP carriages) and P2 to 177m total (6.8 IEP carriages), if my calculations are right. Slightly oddly it claims that these are necessary as part of the "West of England DMU Capability Works" to "accommodate DMU’s Class 165 and 166". ... You're right -it is wrong, by NR's own delivery plan. "Charlbury up and down platforms" appears in the list of extensions to "7 car (26 m vehicles)" as part of W013 "North Cotswolds Line Platform Extensions". Title: Re: Charlbury platform extension Post by: Bmblbzzz on March 21, 2018, 11:54:13 Platform extensions? Crikey!
Title: Re: Charlbury platform extension Post by: ChrisB on March 21, 2018, 12:26:48 Yep - and others too, before Dec18
Title: Re: Charlbury platform extension Post by: Adelante_CCT on March 21, 2018, 12:47:42 Just need some trains to stop now!
Title: Re: Charlbury platform extension Post by: stuving on March 21, 2018, 12:52:05 Yep - and others too, before Dec18 The plan (as of December) said this about milestones: GRIP 3 completed, GRIP 6 TBC. So don't bet any money on completion by that (or any?) date. The full list of stretch platforms is: 6 car (26m Vehicle) Kingham up platform 7 car (26m Vehicle) Hanborough (Single) Charlbury up and down platforms Moreton In Marsh up and down platforms Honeybourne up and down platforms Evesham up and down platforms Pershore (single) Title: Re: Charlbury platform extension Post by: philipbourton on May 30, 2018, 00:18:31 Just need buffet facilities at Kingham again now as very frustrating if trains delayed and worse if station closed so no toilets.
Title: Re: Charlbury platform extension Post by: Richard Fairhurst on September 05, 2018, 18:35:13 Contract awarded for completion by December: https://www.railbusinessdaily.com/dyer-butler-awarded-cotswolds-platform-extension-programme-by-network-rail/
Title: Re: Charlbury platform extension Post by: CMRail on September 05, 2018, 22:22:28 Contract awarded for completion by December: https://www.railbusinessdaily.com/dyer-butler-awarded-cotswolds-platform-extension-programme-by-network-rail/ There is a planned North Cotswolds closure in November I believe for some of the works to take place. Title: Re: Charlbury platform extension Post by: ChrisB on September 06, 2018, 14:43:24 yep, I think a full 9 days
Title: Re: Charlbury platform extension Post by: charles_uk on November 19, 2018, 11:18:39 Judging by comments on Twitter this morning it seems the closure and changes were not as well publicised as they could have been:
Quote @GWRHelp In at HND Station right now. 1poster by ticket machine (I have a season ticket so won't see that) which says problems between MinM and Worcs. Nothing to alert me to problem at #HanboroughStation Quote @GWRHelp are you not running the 7.21 Hanborough to Paddington service? This change isn’t specifically mentioned. Is it cancelled all this week? Quote Morning gang @GWRHelp What has happened to the 7:12 from Charlbury to Paddington this week? It's vanished from the timetable Quote .@GWRHelp #Hanborough passengers wondering this morning what happened to the 0721 Hanborough - Oxford service ...mysteriously didn't appear on departure boards?... As far as I could tell, there is no published timetable for services this week. Customers were expected to use the GWR website to plan their journey and see if their service was still running. Title: Re: Charlbury platform extension Post by: Richard Fairhurst on November 19, 2018, 18:15:34 The 07.12 from Charlbury seems to have gone entirely; there's some changes in the late afternoon; and the last down train of the evening appears to be bustituted. GWR's only concession to this is saying "trains continue to run, but at slightly different times to normal" on the engineering works page of their website. This is a bit "Beware of the Leopard", frankly.
Title: Re: Charlbury platform extension Post by: Richard Fairhurst on January 01, 2019, 10:49:43 Up platform extension now in use; down not yet.
Title: Re: Charlbury platform extension Post by: Richard Fairhurst on January 02, 2019, 08:49:43 ...though the IET platform length databases don’t appear to have been updated, so you can’t actually board/alight on the extended platforms yet - unless it’s an HST service with a switched-on conductor!
Title: Re: Charlbury platform extension Post by: IndustryInsider on January 02, 2019, 12:07:12 ...though the IET platform length databases don’t appear to have been updated, so you can’t actually board/alight on the extended platforms yet - unless it’s an HST service with a switched-on conductor! I would imagine the SDO database will be updated in one big hit when all the platforms are ready and open, rather than on an incremental basis which is confusing to staff and increases the risk of errors. Hopefully that won't take too long. Title: Re: Charlbury platform extension Post by: ChrisB on February 18, 2019, 15:23:39 Yup - there is a cost in updating the SDO database & uploading to the IETs.
Title: Re: Charlbury platform extension Post by: charles_uk on March 07, 2019, 08:00:50 Well, we're well into March and those platform extensions look lovely and pristine. However, as a nine coach IET pulled into Hanborough this morning it reminded me why the opening of these extensions can't come too soon.
The 07:10 Moreton-in-Marsh to Paddington was started from Oxford this morning due to a problem under investigation. That meant those who had picked up on this went for the 05:28 Hereford to Paddington instead. As always at Hanborough, passengers were spread out over the whole platform. The train turns up with first class at the front, leaving just three standard class doors available and a rush of passengers down the platform to the first standard class coach. A minor irritation but it does delay the service by a couple more minutes whilst the queue to board slowly progresses. Title: Re: Charlbury platform extension Post by: ChrisB on March 07, 2019, 08:24:55 In the HST days, people piled in via 1st class and walked through. Has that changed with the IETs?
Title: Re: Charlbury platform extension Post by: charles_uk on March 07, 2019, 08:52:40 In the HST days, people piled in via 1st class and walked through. Has that changed with the IETs? At Hanborough the first class coaches on an HST were never platformed. Some do board via the first class coach on the IETs but most gravitate towards the standard class doors. Once the platform extensions are open it won't be an issue. Title: Re: Charlbury platform extension Post by: IndustryInsider on March 11, 2019, 10:25:36 Not at Charlbury, but good to see the new modern looking waiting room open at Moreton-In-Marsh, though it does look a bit out of place with the character of the rest of the station! A new waiting looks to be under construction at Kingham, and an additional shelter is being provided at Hanborough (about time too!), so more is going on than just platform extensions.
Title: Re: Charlbury platform extension Post by: ChrisB on March 11, 2019, 14:38:37 THe 'shelter' at Hanborough is going to be a ticket office with waiting area included.....that and Moreton facilities have been financially supported by the CLPG
Title: Re: Charlbury platform extension Post by: IndustryInsider on March 11, 2019, 15:04:38 Oh, right. That’s good news then. It must be an additional building or a modification of the old shelter though as the new shelter is definitely just a shelter and down towards the London end of the platform.
Title: Re: Charlbury platform extension Post by: ChrisB on March 11, 2019, 15:06:56 oh, an additional building - I see what you mean. yes an additional shelter too.
Title: Re: Charlbury platform extension Post by: IndustryInsider on March 27, 2019, 16:25:19 oh, an additional building - I see what you mean. yes an additional shelter too. Looks like they’ve just started on the foundations for the combined ticket office and waiting area at Hanborough. Title: Re: Charlbury platform extension Post by: charles_uk on March 29, 2019, 08:08:26 Looks like they’ve just started on the foundations for the combined ticket office and waiting area at Hanborough. The building is now in situ at Hanborough. Yesterday, as I got off the 15:22 PAD:GMV, there were just foundations but overnight the unit has been put in place. Title: Re: Charlbury platform extension Post by: charles_uk on March 29, 2019, 17:38:47 Hmmm.... tried to upload a picture just then and now I can't see my post at all!
Title: Re: Charlbury platform extension Post by: grahame on March 31, 2019, 07:05:48 Hmmm.... tried to upload a picture just then and now I can't see my post at all! I think that is fixed for you now ;D Title: Re: Charlbury platform extension Post by: IndustryInsider on March 31, 2019, 10:17:16 So it looks like an end of April target to get all the platform extensions open on the Cotswold Line, rather than the original end of March target. Let’s hope it doesn’t slip any further than that.
Title: Re: Charlbury platform extension Post by: IndustryInsider on May 08, 2019, 15:30:50 So it looks like an end of April target to get all the platform extensions open on the Cotswold Line, rather than the original end of March target. Let’s hope it doesn’t slip any further than that. Well, it didn’t happen in April, but a date of Monday 20th May has now been announced, so not long to wait, and in time for the busy summer season thankfully. Title: Re: Charlbury platform extension Post by: charles_uk on May 20, 2019, 08:12:43 So it looks like an end of April target to get all the platform extensions open on the Cotswold Line, rather than the original end of March target. Let’s hope it doesn’t slip any further than that. Well, it didn’t happen in April, but a date of Monday 20th May has now been announced, so not long to wait, and in time for the busy summer season thankfully. Well, the full platform was certainly in operation at Hanborough this morning. Presumably I was the only Coffee Shop member catching the 0710 MIM:PAD this morning as I felt a little bit of a lemon being the only person standing on the platform extension whilst everyone else was bunched down the other end! Title: Charlbury station cafe Post by: Richard Fairhurst on December 06, 2021, 10:22:57 The little coffee shop at Charlbury station has today reopened under new ownership.
It's now called "Cafe de la Gare", which is a hint that it's now being run by Cafe de la Post from the neighbouring village of Chadlington. Open from 6am, though I apologise for not getting up this morning to try it out, nor venturing down now in the pouring rain... Title: Re: Charlbury station cafe Post by: IndustryInsider on December 06, 2021, 10:27:39 Good to see it’s reopened. Hope it can survive as such businesses are now much more marginal with the reduction in commuters. Quite a few have yet to reopen.
Title: Re: Charlbury station cafe Post by: Richard Fairhurst on December 06, 2021, 13:05:44 Absolutely, yes.
I suspect the commuter/leisure mix will have changed - apparently they did a dry run on Saturday and were pleasantly surprised at the number of leisure passengers using it. It's notable that Charlbury has become the railhead for Soho Farmhouse, and you'll very often see taxis and minibuses picking up groups to take there - I wonder if they might be a lucrative potential market too. This page is printed from the "Coffee Shop" forum at http://gwr.passenger.chat which is provided by a customer of Great Western Railway. Views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site if you feel that content provided contravenes our posting rules ( see http://railcustomer.info/1761 ). The forum is hosted by Well House Consultants - http://www.wellho.net |