Chiltern plan Oxford to Cowley service

[whole diary]

[ChrisB]

If everyone is prepared to wait while projects like these slip & further slip date-wise.

[stuving]

Without seeing the reported report itself, we only have Matt "the Weasel" Oliver's words. Read carefully, these do not back up his first paragraph, which said:

THE cost of bringing a rail passenger service back between East Oxford and the city centre could be more than ^450m.

This paragraph quoting Chiltern Rail shows this most clearly:

^A capacity increase would open the door for the Cowley Branch Line and allow us to run Chiltern trains between Oxford Station and Kennington junction.

So that ^450 Million is the estimate of what has to be spent, mostly for other reasons than Cowley, before the branch line service can run.

[IndustryInsider]

I'd have thought that a more modest upgrade, consisting of joining the current Hinksey Up Goods Loop by Kennington Junction and the Up & Down Passenger Loop south of Oxford station, would reduce the costs significantly.  That would give a three track railway with the extended loops giving a third bi-directional track and largely used just for the Chiltern service.  That way they would not conflict much with other services.  I assume that an extra platform at Oxford would still need to be constructed though.

The 1.15 miles of new track that would be needed could be accommodated within the existing land and all bridges already allow for an extra track in the location it used to exist in.  All that would need moving are a some equipment boxes and perhaps a bit of ground stabilisation.

At least that would allow the Chiltern service to get up and running and then if four tracking from Oxford to Didcot were to eventually happen then it could be incorporated into that scheme.  I'd be interested to know how much such an option has been considered.

[stuving]

I wonder what prompted this article. Having re-read it more carefully, kicking the misleading mustelids aside, I can't find any event, or reason for all these quotes, anywhere. So I wonder if it was just put together to fill a space, using material on file plus a few phone calls to press officers.

What there is, at the bottom, is this:

Oxford City Council has backed the redevelopment of Oxford Station, as well as plans for the Cowley Branch Line.

Earlier this month it suggested the route could be served by trams or light rail.

City council leader Bob Price said: ^The Cowley Branch Line is one of those things that makes so much sense and has long-term benefits.

^But putting extra tracks in will cost many millions of pounds and Network Rail will have to be a key player in that.^

That presumably came from a publication at the end of April in reply to the county's transport plans, which was reported in thisisoxfordshire. I can't find that "blueprint" on Oxford City's website.

I was also wrong to think there was a specific NR^» (Network Rail - home page) report. The mention of one was referring to the Western Route Study, the source of the ^175m and ^375m figure for four-tracking Oxford-Didcot (that is in the article, further down). The cost of Oxford Station^s redevelopment is attributed to "councils", though not to a document. "Additional costs for upgrading the branch line have also not yet been estimated. "

[Chris from Nailsea]

I wonder what prompted this article. Having re-read it more carefully, kicking the misleading mustelids aside, I can't find any event, or reason for all these quotes, anywhere. So I wonder if it was just put together to fill a space, using material on file plus a few phone calls to press officers.

I am shocked at your suggestion that the press might even be making up some 'news' to fill space, stuving! 

[didcotdean]

The National Infrastructure Committee recommended yesterday to the Government that "funding packages and progress schemes ... should include essential works required to enable passenger services between Oxford and Cowley no later than 2019."

Partnering for Prosperity

[ChrisB]

Wow, that's fast...

[didcotdean]

These NIC reports are all very bullish on everything.

[ellendune]

Wow, that's fast...

If it is to fit in with other Oxford works then some, at least of ti, needs to be.

[didcotdean]

One of the supporting consultants' reports, which don't necessarily represent the official view of the NIC, show a minimum of four and a possible fifth station (Redbridge P&R^▸ (Park and Ride), Littlemoor Park, Oxford Science Park, Blackbird Leys Road, and Cowley). This seems more like light rail than having the Chiltern trains trundling along it, but it isn't specified as to what might operate the route.

[FremlinsMan]

One of the supporting consultants' reports, which don't necessarily represent the official view of the NIC, show a minimum of four and a possible fifth station (Redbridge P&R^▸ (Park and Ride), Littlemoor Park, Oxford Science Park, Blackbird Leys Road, and Cowley). This seems more like light rail than having the Chiltern trains trundling along it, but it isn't specified as to what might operate the route.

The second stop sounds like Littlemore Park, which is near to Sainsbury's at Heyford Hill. https://goo.gl/maps/s11A5GR6w2B2

[didcotdean]

Yes it was just me mistyping probably as I used to live in Littlemoor Weymouth ...

[ChrisB]

Chiltern won't run 4 tph, so maybe they're the fifth suggested service with light rail running the other 4?

[Tim]

Chiltern won't run 4 tph, so maybe they're the fifth suggested service with light rail running the other 4?

maybe, but as soon as they add heavy rail to the mix will the costs, delays and complexities not shoot up?

[didcotdean]

There are also typically about half a dozen freight movements a day during the week.

I recall an 'Oxford Metro' study where this would form Line 1 and continue northwards breaking away from the railway line somewhere towards Kidlington and finally ending up at London Oxford Airport. Lines 2 and 3 were more fanciful ...