Cotswold Line redoubling: 2008 - 2011

[whole diary]

[Weston-Sub-Edge]

I think "Honeybourne Junction" is a as subsinct a name for the new set of points to the north end of the station. "Sheenhill" does not really cut the mustard in my opinion.

I look forward to work commencing on the island platform at Honeybourne. I would imagine this will not be to erksome given it's seemingly good condition.

As a regular user of the station pre 1969 and post 1981,it's rehabilitation is long over due. I feel Honeybourne has a great deal of passenger growth potential going forward.

As an aside, will the new siganlling around Honeybourne effectively act as a block post between Evesham & Moreton?

[Adrian the Rock]

...As an aside, will the new siganlling around Honeybourne effectively act as a block post between Evesham & Moreton?

Yes.  The actual block section will become Moreton-Honeybourne, with Honeybourne-Evesham being a separate TCB^▸ (Track Circuit Block) section.

[willc]

I would be surprised if it was given a name other than plain old Honeybourne, as the pointwork will be close to the station, see http://www.flickr.com/photos/willc2009/5581967759/ and http://www.flickr.com/photos/willc2009/5581965579/ which both show the current position of the 102 miles marker post which is near enough where the branch connection will diverge - and Insider's screengrab No 10 on page 77 of this thread, giving the driver's cab view approaching from the bridleway crossing on the training DVD.

TCB^▸ (Track Circuit Block) - track circuit block - will apply in the area controlled from Evesham signalbox from August, as it does in the area controlled since Monday from Ascott-under-Wychwood's new panel.

[willc]

Resleepering work has started on the down refuge siding at Moreton-in-Marsh but I hesitate to describe it as spot resleepering, given the number that have been condemned and replaced in the first few yards tackled, with many more yards and a lot of very obviously rotten sleepers to go. Pity there wasn't a bit more of that redundant track from Chipping Campden tunnel to go down here as well as at Honeybourne. Some cable ducting is being laid near the relay cabin and signal box.

Ride between Ascott-under-Wychwood and Charlbury now nice and smooth.

Couple of dozen more pictures taken last week now online here http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/pictures/oxfordshire_galleries/cotswoldline2009/

New Network Rail redoubling newsletter is online here http://c2448142.r42.cf0.rackcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Cotswold%20Line%20redoubling%20update%20June%202011.pdf

[willc]

Quick photo update from Honeybourne and Moreton-in-Marsh now online. At Honeybourne excavations are taking place alongside the approach road and next to the waiting shelter, where a concrete base has been poured as well. A big pile of railings was waiting to be placed around the island platform to make a safe working zone and several vans were parked in the sidings area, though couldn't see from the bridge whether any track has been laid there yet. At Moreton-in-Marsh, the track gang were making steady progress on sleeper replacement in the down refuge siding and a tamper that has been around since Monday was stabled for the day after working overnight on the new track through west Oxfordshire to get it fully bedded in to allow the speed restrictions to be lifted.

[Worcester_Passenger]

Does anyone know when FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are going to post the details of the August bus replacement timetables?

I've been asked about how you'd get from London to Worcester on the first Sunday (Aug 7). According to the National Rail journey planner, there's a couple of direct trains back to London in the evening, but none that would get you here during the morning or early afternoon.

The alternatives that they give are via Birmingham, with a coupld via Bristol Parkway. But there's nothing about buses from Oxford to Worcester. At first I thought that these might not posted yet - but that seems unlikely, given that it's only 6-7 weeks away. Is it possible that they're so slow that the get overtaken by the journey opportunities via B'ham or Bristol P'way?

The FGW 'North Cotswolds' webpage is still offering me the timetable for last month's work.

[ChrisB]

Does anyone know when FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are going to post the details of the August bus replacement timetables?

There's a Meet the Managers @ PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) this evening, and IO think the 'Manager that Knows'
will be there - I'll ask.

I've been asked about how you'd get from London to Worcester on the first Sunday (Aug 7).

I reckon the same easements will be in place as for last month....so via B/Parkway or the South Cotswolds I guess. There are likely to be those two Cheltenham trains extended to WOS^» (Worcester Shrub Hill - next trains) as before too, but not on a Sunday I doubt.

Is it possible that they're so slow that the get overtaken by the journey opportunities via B'ham or Bristol P'way?

Absolutely, yes!

[Worcester_Passenger]

Gosh, this site has serious influence.

I posted a question about the August timetables at 09:51 today - and now (11:08), the relevant information has turned up in the journey planner.

Dunno how you do it guys, but I'm impressed!

Alas, the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) page hasn't been updated, but I'll expect that later today.

[Worcester_Passenger]

Oops - spoke too soon. It looks like I've asked the journey planner a question in a different way. But I don't understand why I'm getting the 'wrong' answer.

If I ask for Padd'n -- Worcester, I'm offered a 10:37 departure, into Shrub Hill at 14:23, having changed at Bristol Parkway.

If I ask for the same thing via Charlbury, I'm offered a 10:42 departure, into Foregate St at 14:22 on the bus from Charlbury.

But I'd've thought the latter was quicker.

[willc]

John Stanley of the CLPG^» (Cotswold Line Promotion Group - about) tells me that work on clearing the island platform at Honeybourne was under way when he passed through today. Finishing touches-type work still going on at Charlbury (though the footbridge steps are still out of bounds) and Ascott-under-Wychwood stations.

[willc]

A Colas Rail ballast regulator was stabled at Moreton-in-Marsh today, presumably working overnight on the finishing touches to the track in Oxfordshire ahed of the lifting of the speed restrictions which are still in force on the sections of new track.

Bruern level crossing is back in action as planned with new barriers and warning lights. The compound at Ascott-under-Wychwood is being cleared out now that finishing touches have been applied to the station, while some tidying up of ducts around the signalbox is still going on. Platform numbers have now appeared on the platforms here and at Charlbury and lamp-posts on the new platform at Charlbury have been painted as well but the footbridge steps remain off limits.

[IndustryInsider]

Charlbury in the 'Up' direction is now providing automatic reports to TRUST^▸ (Train Running System TOPS) thus feeding in to Live Departures etc.  Doesn't seem to be doing the same in the 'Down' direction yet, but that might not happen as there's no signal to report a departure, only an arrival.

[willc]

Work is now well under way on the platform at Honeybourne, though rather more extensive than might have been expected. The old platform wall is being removed entirely, with foundations for a new wall being dug, with the earth core being pretty much all that will remain of the original platform. Excavations have revealed the remains of the base and piping of a water column which stood at the end of the platform near the road bridge. Pictures at http://www.flickr.com/photos/willc2009/
The cable ducting work in the car park area is complete, with a strip of new asphalt marking its route towards the waiting shelter.

[IndustryInsider]

A couple of trial runs for the proposed 07:15ish Charlbury to Paddington service will be organised over the coming months to ensure it can be achieved without compromising the other services.  One is pencilled in for July (15th I think), the other on a date in September.

[CLPGMS]

Further to William's report on Honeybourne platform, the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway "Steaming to Broadway" site reports that the bricks and slabs are destined for Broadway - see http://broadwaygwsr.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2011-05-22T23%3A54%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=7