Oxford Parkway to Marylebone (and other Chiltern Routes) timetable consultation

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

Many thanks for posting that update on this topic, IndustryInsider. 

It may even help to calm member Btline down ... possibly? 

[ChrisB]

Very pleased to see that some of the suggestions I (and doubtless many others too) made have been taken on board.  The main one is the addition of an early 06:05 train from Bicester to Oxford Parkway calling at Islip. 

An ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock) working to form the 0630 ex-Oxford Parkway (anyone discovered the 3-letter acronym yet?) being turned into a service to enable Islip commuters to board (easement allowing this) to obtain an earlier MYB^▸ (London (Marylebone)) arrival by going via Parkway. I understand this easement will apply to several trains in both directions in order to improve the number of available services.

[grahame]

[Oxford Parkway (anyone discovered the 3-letter acronym yet?)

This may just be someone's guess / something for the rumour mill, but I found "OXP"

https://foursquare.com/v/oxford-parkway-railway-station-oxp--opens-2015/50c208cefe70202788da2a32

[Oxonhutch]

An ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock) working to form the 0630 ex-Oxford Parkway (anyone discovered the 3-letter acronym yet?) being turned into a service to enable Islip commuters to board (easement allowing this) to obtain an earlier MYB^▸ (London (Marylebone)) arrival by going via Parkway. I understand this easement will apply to several trains in both directions in order to improve the number of available services.

From my submission to Chiltern on 15-9-2014 reported on Page 1:

May I please suggest that you consider staggering the stopping times at Islip in the up and down directions so that there is a more even arrivals and departures pattern throughout the day. By way of new Routing Guide Easements, Islip customers may be encouraged to back-track via either Oxford Parkway or Bicester Town to reach their intended destination, and at a time closer to the hour their choosing.  These backward connections should be positively engineered, and very importantly, advertised.

I am glad I was not a lone voice and that the provision of easements has been taken on board.  It is most important though that these back-tracking connections via Oxford Parkway (or Bicester Village) are overtly shown on the Public Timetable as a legitimate connection - and not just the subject of a footnote or worse still, just an easement hidden in the National Routeing Guide.

[ChrisB]

AIUI^▸ ('as I understand it'), it's not a overall easement, just on particular trains, mainly in or close to peaks. Only via Parkway too, so mainly usable by those going to/from London. The local User Group OBRAG, is well on top of want they need locally.

[Btline]

Well well well, that Silver train in the morning peak will be very popular!
Almost all seats at tables, good views from all seats, seats actually comfortable...

With this timetable, I suspect there will be a notable drop in passengers at Hanborough and Oxford stations (and Charlbury? - only a 30 minute drive).

Glad that Islip has not seen too many extra services - the overall journey time is very important!

Bring it on - if passengers on FGW^▸ (First Great Western) fall, they only have themselves to blame...

[Chris from Nailsea]

It may even help to calm member Btline down ... possibly? 

No ... apparently, it didn't. 

[Andrew1939 from West Oxon]

You will be lucky to get from Hanborough to Oxford Parkway in half an hour at peak time. OK out of peak hour but can be much longer at peak hour. On the odd occasion it has taken me 35 minutes just to do the 4 miles or so from Long Hanborough to Woodstock departing at 08.10 and arriving in Woodstock at 08.45. The A4095 is congested to Bladon roundabout from 07.00 as rat runners use it to avoid the A40 to Oxford and to get to the M40 near Bicester. Then there is peak hour congestion getting either through Kidlington or on the A44. Would be Oxford Parkway users from the Witney direction will have to reckon on a 2 or 3 mile queue into Long Hanborough as well at some peak times. At the best it is a slow crawl.
I agree there will be loss of business at Hanborough to FGW^▸ (First Great Western) but this will be more off-peak and the loss will be because the 30 minute service frequency. How FGW will fight back I do not know. Off-peak Advance fares now available are very attractive but the recent relaibility and punctuality record is appalling as any regular Cotswold Line user knows.