Cotswold Line redoubling: 2008 - 2011

[whole diary]

[IndustryInsider]

Yes, though the article was a bit too much like a party political broadcast for my liking. Talk of the work to upgrade the loops north of Oxford station as being completed already may have just been an editorial error, but it is several months off and all that has been done so far is the dropping of rails and sleepers ready for track work.

Actual physical works on this project are due to commence in the next week or so with a target completion date in good time for the December timetable change.

One asset to be removed during the work is the pointwork and ground frame north of Rewley Road carriage sidings. Whilst not in daily use, it has proved to be very handy over the years when there have been issues preventing trains leaving the sidings via the normal signalled route into the Up platform. It's a shame this flexibility will be removed.

[eightf48544]

One asset to be removed during the work is the pointwork and ground frame north of Rewley Road carriage sidings. Whilst not in daily use, it has proved to be very handy over the years when there have been issues preventing trains leaving the sidings via the normal signalled route into the Up platform. It's a shame this flexibility will be removed.

Two steps forward one step back. Why remove something which might prove useful in the future. I presumme the "bean counters" have worked out that it is cheaper to pay the TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) for blocking their trains in the sidings than to maintain the points and ground frame.

The poor passengers don't count, so next time the main points fail the poor commuters in the Thames Valley will have to put up with short and cancelled trains.

This is a case of "too much attention to the wrong detail".

[Btline]

Well when the Ox area gets new signalling, there will be the opportunity to upgrade the track work properly (+ loop on Cotswold line).

This is assuming the planners use some initiative.

[gwr2006]

Yes, though the article was a bit too much like a party political broadcast for my liking. Talk of the work to upgrade the loops north of Oxford station as being completed already may have just been an editorial error, but it is several months off and all that has been done so far is the dropping of rails and sleepers ready for track work.

Actual physical works on this project are due to commence in the next week or so with a target completion date in good time for the December timetable change.

One asset to be removed during the work is the pointwork and ground frame north of Rewley Road carriage sidings. Whilst not in daily use, it has proved to be very handy over the years when there have been issues preventing trains leaving the sidings via the normal signalled route into the Up platform. It's a shame this flexibility will be removed.

AFAIK^▸ (as far as I know) the ground frame at the north end of the Oxford Turbo Sidings is being removed so Network Rail can create the new Down Jericho Line. This is part of a scheme with Oxfordshire County Council to provide more and faster services between Oxford and Bicester Town.

The existing through siding which leads into the Up Goods Loop is being upgraded to passenger trains to use it as far as Oxford Nor6th Jn. in the down direction. This means trains heading towards Bicester will not have to cross over the up and down main lines twice when departing Oxford platform 3 and again to cross back over at Oxford North Jn.  This greatly increases reliability for CrossCountry and FGW^▸ (First Great Western) services (particularly those to and from the Cotswold Line) as it will allow parallel moves to be made clear of the main line. It also saves around two minutes running time.

It will also aid flexibility and reliability for services starting from Oxford as currently all trains departing platform 3 have to use the same ladder crossover as trains departing from the Down Carriage Sidings and heading to platform 1. Given the infrequent use of the ground frame its removal will benefit a far greater number of passengers.

[Btline]

Excuse my ignorance, but what is the "Down Jericho line"?

[gwr2006]

Excuse my ignorance, but what is the "Down Jericho line"?

This is the name being given to the upgraded up through siding by Network Rail, when it can be used by down trains heading towards Bicester.

[eightf48544]

Now that does sound like progress so perhaps removing the ground frame will not cause any problems.

Is this the line that Chiltern are porposing to use in conjunction with their proposed Marylebone service and bringing the mail dock into use as passenger platforms?

[IndustryInsider]

Actual physical works on this project are due to commence in the next week or so with a target completion date in good time for the December timetable change.

One asset to be removed during the work is the pointwork and ground frame north of Rewley Road carriage sidings. Whilst not in daily use, it has proved to be very handy over the years when there have been issues preventing trains leaving the sidings via the normal signalled route into the Up platform. It's a shame this flexibility will be removed.

AFAIK^▸ (as far as I know) the ground frame at the north end of the Oxford Turbo Sidings is being removed so Network Rail can create the new Down Jericho Line. This is part of a scheme with Oxfordshire County Council to provide more and faster services between Oxford and Bicester Town.

The existing through siding which leads into the Up Goods Loop is being upgraded to passenger trains to use it as far as Oxford Nor6th Jn. in the down direction. This means trains heading towards Bicester will not have to cross over the up and down main lines twice when departing Oxford platform 3 and again to cross back over at Oxford North Jn.  This greatly increases reliability for CrossCountry and FGW^▸ (First Great Western) services (particularly those to and from the Cotswold Line) as it will allow parallel moves to be made clear of the main line. It also saves around two minutes running time.

It will also aid flexibility and reliability for services starting from Oxford as currently all trains departing platform 3 have to use the same ladder crossover as trains departing from the Down Carriage Sidings and heading to platform 1. Given the infrequent use of the ground frame its removal will benefit a far greater number of passengers.

Yes, that's the whole purpose of the project (along with similar measures for the down goods line). It won't save two minutes in running though as it only takes a train to Bicester just over two minutes to get from Oxford to Oxford North Junction anyway. However, my point remains (sorry about the pun!), I see no reason why work on this modest, but useful, project means the ground frame has to be removed though?

GWR2006, do you know what the state of play with the other parts of the improved Oxford-Bicester scheme are at? I heard talk of 55mph running on the branch a while ago, but everything seems to have gone quiet on that front?

[willc]

I think until the fate of the Chiltern scheme for running to Oxford via Bicester is decided, Network Rail won't be doing anything other than maintaining the status quo on the branch. Why bother if there's the prospect of a major improvement project on the horizon, which will involve renewing most, if not all, of the track?

[Moreton134]

Hi! this is my first post but have been reading with great interest mainly about the plans for the Cotswold Line.    Does anyone know if the old bullhead track at Moreton and Evesham main station areas will be replaced as part of the redoubling scheme?   I respectfully realize this could be difficult with the 1960's signal box/signalling infrastructure and that the semaphores will remain at Moreton-in-Marsh and maybe Evesham (unless Evesham box closes).   However places like Abergavenny and Kidderminster have got modern track with old signalling equipment.   Any thoughts?   

[IndustryInsider]

I think until the fate of the Chiltern scheme for running to Oxford via Bicester is decided, Network Rail won't be doing anything other than maintaining the status quo on the branch. Why bother if there's the prospect of a major improvement project on the horizon, which will involve renewing most, if not all, of the track?

Those were my thoughts too, but I noticed that GWR2006 made specific reference to these enhancements as being part of a package with the OCC, so I wondered whether other improvements on the branch were still taking place?

[gwr2006]

GWR2006, do you know what the state of play with the other parts of the improved Oxford-Bicester scheme are at? I heard talk of 55mph running on the branch a while ago, but everything seems to have gone quiet on that front?

I believe Network Rail has completed a GRIP2 report for the county council which has identified a number of options, and a range of costs between ^3m and ^12m.  Both are also working with Chiltern Railways to ensure that abortive work is kept to a minimum or some enhancements with short-term and long-term benefits are identified.

Certainly a 50mph line speed is still being considered as the track is capable of that but level crossings at Oddington and Langford Lane are problematic as it could involve changes to the strike-in and strike-out treddles to activate the warning lights. The current line speed on the approach to these crossings reduces from 40mph to 30mph. Some form of differential line speed for DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit)/freight is being looked at to remove the 20mph speed restriction near Islip. A review of sectional running times has already been done to optimise the timetable, and some journey time reductions should be possible in December. A large scale upgrade of the route is unlikely now that other rail-industry projects are coming forward.

Chiltern Railways and East West Rail are working together to deliver the infrastructure for both projects, with Chiltern leading on this west of Bicester (as part of Evergreen 3) and East West Rail leading east of milepost 19, both reporting to a joint project team. As they need track with a line speed of 100mph it is likely that the existing track will be taken away or relaid on more appropriate sleepers/formation.

Apart from track work, the extra evening and Saturday services that were introdcued from December are being funded by the county council, and more daytime, evening and Sunday trains are to be introduced in May, again funded by the county council. Both stations have also been repainted/improved over the past couple of years, and the council is now working with FGW^▸ (First Great Western) to install new brighter lighting.

[IndustryInsider]

OK, thanks very much for that update.

[Btline]

Hi! this is my first post but have been reading with great interest mainly about the plans for the Cotswold Line.    Does anyone know if the old bullhead track at Moreton and Evesham main station areas will be replaced as part of the redoubling scheme?   I respectfully realise this could be difficult with the 1960's signal box/signalling infrastructure and that the semaphores will remain at Moreton-in-Marsh and maybe Evesham (unless Evesham box closes).   However places like Abergavenny and Kidderminster have got modern track with old signalling equipment.   Any thoughts?   

Welcome to the forum.  I am not sure about this, but someone else will know! Hopefully, most of the signal boxes will be axed on the route.....

[willc]

Hi! this is my first post but have been reading with great interest mainly about the plans for the Cotswold Line.    Does anyone know if the old bullhead track at Moreton and Evesham main station areas will be replaced as part of the redoubling scheme?   I respectfully realize this could be difficult with the 1960's signal box/signalling infrastructure and that the semaphores will remain at Moreton-in-Marsh and maybe Evesham (unless Evesham box closes).   However places like Abergavenny and Kidderminster have got modern track with old signalling equipment.   Any thoughts?   

I doubt it. Everything stops at Moreton and Evesham anyway, so the wear and tear on the track is low, due to the low speeds in the stations and bullhead rail will last for years in such situations. The redoubling budget is going to be tight, so no point spending money where you don't need to.

As for all these extra trains on the Bicester line, I hope someone is going to use them, because numbers on the current service are very low whenever I see them at Oxford. Sometimes it would be cheaper to hire a couple of taxis. Neither Oxford station, nor Bicester Town, is exactly brilliantly sited for the centre of either place.