Radley Station - timetable changes, incidents and refurbishment (merged topics)

[whole diary]

[IndustryInsider]

Interesting one this. According to the new timetable, Radley won't be getting a 30-minute interval service throughout the day as suggested in this Oxford Times article, and I think 'gwr2006' was talking about it on here earlier in the year.

It does have a few extra trains, an increase to 30 from 27 a day from Radley to Oxford, and a total of one extra train the other way giving a total of 27. That's far short of what is suggested in that fairly recent article though? Has it got anything to do with the restoration of off-peak services at neighbouring Culham and Appleford, or is it just a case of the reporter not wording the article very well or misunderstanding the situation?

The station car park is also regularly full to capacity now on most weekdays - it would be nice if any increase in services could also come with a further expansion of the car park. This would be fairly cheap to do as land is available next to the current extent of the parking area and could easily allow another 20-30 spaces to be provided (about a 50% increase).

[paul7575]

The reporter probably got told that there was to be a half hourly service for commuters.

So, because as we know, reporters all believe commuter and passenger are synonymous, they get confused. This is because when the railway talks about commuter services, they mean services that are run only in the peaks...

Paul 

[Gordon the Blue Engine]

Two fatalities at Radley in 3 days - one on Friday when 1431 Oxford - Padd Turbo hit someone, and another one to-day at about the same time, but not sure what train was involved. Commiserations to the traincrew involved, emergency services people who attended and the hundreds of passengers affected.

[Gordon the Blue Engine]

I think to-day's was 1440 Oxford - Padd turbo.

[gwr2006]

I think to-day's was 1440 Oxford - Padd turbo.

That is correct.  It was the 1440 train formed of 2x 3-car Turbo, although journey retimed to 1559 - not that the CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) had been updated!  The leading unit was empty stock from the sidings and the rear unit was 1P51 the 1300 train from Great Malvern whch coupled together at Oxford.  It was due to call at Didcot Parkway, Reading & Slough.  The train departed Oxford full and standing as the Chiltern main line is closed for engineering work and Chiltern Railways from Birmingham Snow Hill are terminating at Oxford instead, with passengers forward on FGW^▸ (First Great Western).

Person jumped from platform into path of train which was travelling at 90mph and damaged equipment under the unit so the stock was unable to move until fitters arrived on site.  Train then ran non-stop to Reading and taken out of service.  Relief driver taxied from Oxford to Radley.

Line reopened at around 16:30.

[John R]

I think to-day's was 1440 Oxford - Padd turbo.

The train departed Oxford full and standing as the Chiltern main line is closed for engineering work and Chiltern Railways from Birmingham Snow Hill are terminating at Oxford instead, with passengers forward on FGW^▸ (First Great Western).

Line reopened at around 16:30.

It doesn't appear as though much effort had been made to make appropriate provision of stock onwards from Oxford if it left full and standing on a Sunday afternoon.

[IndustryInsider]

On a normal Sunday the Oxford-London trains are very full - especially later in the afternoon.  Not sure if the 14:50 is normally a 6-car, but the previous fast train at 13:38 (which starts at Oxford) was only a 3-car today.  It should have been a 6-car but a technical problem with one of the sets on its previous working from Paddington led to 3-cars being detached at Reading.  I was off to see the g/f and intended to catch it, but hastily changed my plans when it was full and standing before about 150 people arrived on a 168 from Birmingham and proceeded to cram aboard - I just missed the fatality by the sounds of it!

There's no reason (in theory) why an 8 or 9-car couldn't work on the Oxford-Didcot-Reading-Slough-Paddington route (provided that the main line platforms at Slough were used), and given the large number of Chiltern passengers (and the likelihood that similar arrangements are common on Sundays in the near future whilst Chiltern continue with works for the Mainline service next year), perhaps that should be the case on all non-HST^▸ (High Speed Train) operated services?  I would imagine Chiltern would have to agree to pay for the additional costs though.

[Ollie]

In an ideal world you could probably have Chiltern services continue from Oxford non-stop to Pad, but of course drivers need to sign the route and such...

[Ollie]

As an addition, I am reliably informed that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) and SWT^▸ (South West Trains) have coupled together at Salisbury before, so maybe Chiltern could have attached the unit to the FGW one, so avoiding having to train their drivers?

[willc]

Chiltern sets certainly used to couple to/uncouple from  Paddington services at Oxford when the Marylebone route was shut in the past but I haven't seen it done in recent years.

[ChrisB]

I've seen some Chiltern paperwork showing their units being coupled up to FGW^▸ (First Great Western) in future weekends, so it's definitely being considered.....the only prob that I can foresee is the return journey from PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains), where the Chiltern unit would lead (if attached to rear of FGW unit @ OXF^» (Oxford - next trains)) - can FGW drivers drive Chiltern units (i.e. are the cab layouts identical?) & what about cab radio frequencies?

I'll pass these comments abouit yesterday onto Chiltern....

I'm hearing the casualties at Radley were related....awful.

[eightf48544]

One time I believe there were some Chiltern Drivers who had signed Oxford Padd when the last diversions occurred. Re ChrisB's point  wehether FGW^▸ (First Great Western) drivers can drive Chiltern Turbos they could always have an FGW pilotman with a Chiltern driver.

As there isn't a full TV timetable book anymore I can't check if Chiltern still have their late evening Banbury Oxford to keep up route knowlege.

Of course the ghost train out of Padd to Aylesbury
(?) is partly to keep route knowledge South Ruislip to Padd. I expect it will be full of FGW HST^▸ (High Speed Train) drivers just beofre Christmas lerningt the road for the Banbury diversions.

[ChrisB]

As there isn't a full TV timetable book anymore I can't check if Chiltern still have their late evening Banbury Oxford to keep up route knowlege.

Yes, that service continues (Monday - Friday) - very useful it is too!

Of course the ghost train out of Padd to Aylesbury
(?) is partly to keep route knowledge South Ruislip to Padd.

What time does this run then? You're not referring to the Padd - WYC service are you?

[eightf48544]

Yep the WYC train around 11:XX  that's why Ayesbury was ? marked. It seems to vary it's destination and departure time in different timetables during teh many years it's run.

[gwr2006]

Yep the WYC train around 11:XX  that's why Ayesbury was ? marked. It seems to vary it's destination and departure time in different timetables during teh many years it's run.

It is headcode 2M24 and currently runs 11:36 Paddington to High Wycombe service, calling at Gerrards Cross (12:03), Seer Green (12:08) and Beaconsfield (12:11) before arriving HWY at 12:19. 

There is no inward working now as the stock comes off Wembley Depot at 10:43 and runs via South Rusilip (reverse) to reach Paddington at 11:20.