Cotswold Line redoubling: 2008 - 2011

[whole diary]

[willc]

More to come later, as today is a big day at Charlbury. The bits of the footbridge they started to fit last week are now all in place and the point was loaded on to the transporters ready for the move down to Cornbury so should be going into place this afternoon. New track at Shorthampton is nearing completion and the new panel is inside the box at Ascott.

[SandTEngineer]

The final two remaining signal posts have been erected either side of Charlbury (AW2407, and AW2408), though AW2407 has only got the theatre box installed and not the main lens yet.

Also, it looks like equipment (bags of concrete, etc.) are now being dropped off at the sites for the new LED signals in the Honeybourne and Evesham areas to be numbered in the E24xx range.  Below are the five relevant pages from the route learning booklet showing signal locations and number which I thought you (and possibly others) might find useful, Will?

Any chance of seeing the remaining missing pages??

[willc]

At long last, 29 pictures from yesterday's activities at Charlbury online. Running a bit late like installation of the junction point. Apart from what you can see in the pictures, there are more ramp sections in place on the Charlbury footbridge. The rest are due to be lifted into position on Wednesday. At Ascott-under-Wychwood the ramp on the existing platform at the level crossing end has been removed. Didn't get a chance to have a look at the far end where it will be extended to see if that has gone as well.

Almost forgot. Links to pdfs of paperwork relating to the singling of the line from the Signalling Record Society archive have been posted here http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/37989-cotswolds-redoubling-now-its-for-real/

See post No 7.

[Oxman]

Will, just having a look at your pics. Let me be the first ( at least this time ) to thank you. They provide a superb construction diary.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Indeed: thanks very much for your generous contribution of real-time pictorial reference material here, willc. 

[IndustryInsider]

The final two remaining signal posts have been erected either side of Charlbury (AW2407, and AW2408), though AW2407 has only got the theatre box installed and not the main lens yet.

Any chance of seeing the remaining missing pages??

No problem, though they're not quite so interesting!  Page 3 appears on page 77 of this thread, pages 8-12 are on the previous page, and page 2, and 4-7 are below:

HANBOROUGH TO FINSTOCK


ASCOTT & SHIPTON AREA


KINGHAM AREA


MORETON-IN-MARSH AREA


BETWEEN MORETON-IN-MARSH AND CAMPDEN

[SandTEngineer]

The final two remaining signal posts have been erected either side of Charlbury (AW2407, and AW2408), though AW2407 has only got the theatre box installed and not the main lens yet.

Any chance of seeing the remaining missing pages??

No problem, though they're not quite so interesting!  Page 3 appears on page 77 of this thread, pages 8-12 are on the previous page, and page 2, and 4-7 are below:

Thanks very much for these.

[willc]

A planned 'quick look' at progress this evening on the way home took rather longer than I expected, as the line was chock-a-block with ballast trains at Charlbury, Shorthampton and Ascott-under-Wychwood.

Tracklaying was about to start through Ascott-under-Wychwood station, with the base ballast being packed down and trains of ballast standing either side. One train also had wagons loaded with sleepers in the formation. Couldn't see but the junction point must have gone, although the semaphore down starter signal is still in place for the moment. Its replacement is switched on east of the station.

Both ramps on the existing platform have been removed and there is a pile of blocks, presumably for the extension, at the back of the platform next to the coal yard access.

Pictures at the usual place.

[ChrisB]

The ticketing easements for this week.....

The engineering blockade between Oxford and Worcester between Saturday 28 May and Sunday 5 June 2011 has resulted in the need to make some changes to ticket routeings and validities. This aims to explain what First Great Western is doing for our customers travelling to, from or via Reading and London, in terms of easements to routeings, and times of validity of various off-peak tickets.


ROUTEING EASEMENTS*

*Please note that where route ^Evesham^ is referred to in this document, the same applies to all other routeings with Evesham in, such as ^London Evesham^, but NOT ^Evesham/Stroud^, which is dealt with separately.

As the line via Evesham will be closed to through services between Worcester and Oxford for the duration of the works (with bus replacement services operating where appropriate), we are allowing customers with tickets on route ^Evesham^ to travel via Stroud (or Bristol Parkway) and Swindon. Customers holding tickets on route ^Evesham/Stroud^ will also be permitted to travel via Bristol Parkway. There will be a limited number of direct trains between Hereford/Great Malvern/Worcester and London Paddington via Cheltenham and Swindon, but tickets on route ^Evesham^ will be accepted via Stroud or Bristol Parkway on all services, including those where a change of train is necessary.

Customers wishing to travel via Bristol Parkway may do so on First Great Western or CrossCountry services.

Tickets from Hereford, Ledbury, Colwall, Great Malvern and Malvern Link on routes ^Evesham^ and ^Evesham/Stroud^ will also be accepted for travel via Newport on Arriva Trains Wales services.

WHEN A CUSTOMER USES A TICKET ROUTED ^EVESHAM^ OR ^EVESHAM/STROUD^ ON A SECTION WHERE IT WOULD NOT NORMALLY BE VALID, NO BREAK OF JOURNEY IS PERMITTED WHILE ^OFF ROUTE^, OTHER THAN TO MAKE CONNECTIONS. For example, a customer travelling on a Great Malvern to London Terminals ticket routed ^Evesham^ cannot break their journey at Swindon unless a change of train is required.

We have not made any special arrangements for customers to travel via Birmingham. Many stations have a route ^Birmingham^ available if customers wish to travel that way, and others are well catered for by the above arrangements.


TICKETING EASEMENTS

Off-Peak tickets - Travel towards London

From all stations Hereford to Worcester Shrub Hill inclusive, via Cheltenham Spa
These tickets will be valid on the 0708 Worcester ^ London Paddington service (via Cheltenham). As there is no suitable connecting service from Hereford, Ledbury, Colwall, Great Malvern and Malvern Link, it is recommended that customers from these stations travel via Newport (see below).

No break of journey will be permitted between Worcester and Didcot Parkway, other than to make connections, on tickets routed ^Evesham^; customers holding tickets on route ^Evesham/Stroud^ may not break their journey between Gloucester and Swindon if travelling via Bristol Parkway.

From all stations Hereford to Worcester Shrub Hill inclusive, via Newport
Customers from Hereford, Ledbury, Colwall, Great Malvern and Malvern Link wishing to travel via Newport may do so on any service timed to depart Newport from 0800, using any suitable connecting service available to Newport (the most suitable being the 0713 from Hereford, which connects out of the 0600 Worcester ^ Hereford service).

No break of journey will be permitted between Hereford and Didcot Parkway, other than to make connections, on tickets routed ^Evesham^; customers holding tickets on route ^Evesham/Stroud^ may not break their journey between Hereford and Swindon.

Off-Peak tickets - Travel from London

The 1722 and 1822 direct services from Paddington (1750 and 1850 from Reading) will terminate at Oxford during the blockade. In their place, the 1748 Paddington to Cheltenham service is extended to Hereford, and the 1847 service is extended to Worcester Shrub Hill. Off-Peak tickets will be valid as follows:

Tickets to all stations Hereford to Worcester Shrub Hill inclusive, travelling via Cheltenham Spa, will be valid via Swindon and Stroud/Bristol Parkway on any service. No break of journey will be permitted between Didcot Parkway and Worcester Shrub Hill, other than to make connections, on tickets routed ^Evesham^; tickets routed ^Evesham/Stroud^ will not be permitted for break of journey between Swindon and Gloucester, if travelling via Bristol Parkway.

Tickets to all stations Hereford to Worcester Shrub Hill inclusive, travelling via Newport, will be valid via Newport on any service. No break of journey will be permitted between Didcot Parkway and Hereford, other than to make connections, on tickets routed ^Evesham^ or between Swindon and Hereford on tickets routed ^Evesham/Stroud^.


Off-Peak Day, Off-Peak 1st and Off-Peak Travelcard tickets on code P7 ^ Travel towards London

Outward travel with tickets routed ^Evesham^ on restriction code P7 will remain restricted to 1000 arrival at a London Terminal.

From all stations Hereford to Worcester Shrub Hill inclusive, these tickets will be accepted via Newport, or Worcester-Cheltenham-Stroud/Bristol Parkway-Swindon, but break of journey will not be permitted between Hereford and Didcot Parkway (if travelling via Newport) or Worcester and Didcot Parkway (via Cheltenham), other than to make connections.

Off-Peak Day, Off-Peak 1st and Off-Peak Travelcard tickets ^ Travel from London

Tickets to all stations Worcester Shrub Hill to Hereford inclusive will be valid via Swindon-Bristol Parkway/Stroud-Cheltenham or via Newport on any service. No break of journey will be permitted between Didcot Parkway and Worcester Shrub Hill (if travelling via Cheltenham) or Didcot Parkway and Hereford (via Newport), other than to make connections.

[Worcester_Passenger]

Thanks for posting that. I have to go to London later this week, had looked at the fares from the booking engines and couldn't see any easements there. At one stage railheading at Cheltenham looked more attractive.

[grahame]

Did this (from the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) site) get reported on fares / bookings? [Sorry - haven't read back through the whole thread]

I STILL WANT TO TRAVEL INTO PADDINGTON BUT CAN ONLY FIND FARES INTO EUSTON?

If you still wish to travel into London Paddington, you will need to select the "travel via" option on the advanced options section on the website and type in Stroud. This will then allow you to use the services still operating into London Paddington.

I wonder what proportion of customers will know to do this, or will read the FAQ^▸ (Frequently Asked Questions).   Can't the booking engine be programmed to work in a more intuitive way?

[ChrisB]

No, because it works on fastest journey, which is what the public say they want....

[JayMac]

Fastest journey is often the most expensive journey, which is what the TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) most definitely want to sell.

I too think booking engines should automatically offer up the correct routeing when you select a particular London Terminal. They should also automatically offer the cheapest routeing option - or at least show those fares alongside the 'normal' routeing.

Maybe the set-up should be, "There may be faster, more expensive journey options, please click here to check", rather than the current, "There may be cheaper, slower options".

[Worcester_Passenger]

Did this (from the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) site) get reported on fares / bookings? [Sorry - haven't read back through the whole thread]

I STILL WANT TO TRAVEL INTO PADDINGTON BUT CAN ONLY FIND FARES INTO EUSTON?

If you still wish to travel into London Paddington, you will need to select the "travel via" option on the advanced options section on the website and type in Stroud. This will then allow you to use the services still operating into London Paddington.

I wonder what proportion of customers will know to do this, or will read the FAQ^▸ (Frequently Asked Questions).   Can't the booking engine be programmed to work in a more intuitive way?

And when I did this earlier this week, I got the higher fares that are charged to travel the slower route via Stroud.

[IndustryInsider]

No, because it works on fastest journey, which is what the public say they want....

Good old Barry Doe provides a text book example, concerning a journey from Bradford to London, of how inflexible the on-line booking systems are in the current RAIL - and how those without good knowledge could quite legitimately be 'guided' into buying a far more expensive fare.  He goes on to extol the virtues of RailPlanner over the web based systems as it lists all reasonable alternatives, even if slower.  Bradford to London is by no means the only example where potential passengers can be duped.