Free travel on the Bicester branch this bank holiday weekend

[whole diary]

[inspector_blakey]

...just download and complete the voucher at

http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=3917

[gwr2006]

This weekend marks the official launch of the new Bicester Link, which takes place at Bicester Town station at 10.30am on Saturday.

Bicester Link is a partnership between First Great Western and Oxfordshire County Council, who are funding 85% more trains fon the line for the next five years. There are now 11 trains throughout the day Mondays to Thursdays (12 on a Friday as there's an extra late-night train), 13 trains on a Saturday and a new all-year round Sunday service of 9 trains - a train every 90 minutes.

The enhanced service contrasts with the 7 trains specified for the franchise and a massive step up from the paltry two trains that DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) wanted to run back in 2005!

The new services will be celebrated with unlimited free travel over the weekend, and on Saturday there will be various activities on the trains, including a saxophone quartet, children's entertainer and facepainting plus free refreshments and special giveaways. A radio and newspaper advertising campaign is also underway and leaflets are being delivered to thousands of local houses to promote the line and the excellent fares available - just ^2 off-peak return.

Oxfordshire County Council and First Great Western have also worked together over the past few years to make improvements to both of the stations. This has included improved station car parking, improved waiting shelters, brighter lighting, repainting, new signage, new footpaths, more cycle parking, better information posters, noticeboards for the rail user group and renovation of the platform at Bicester Town.

More information can be found at the new Bicester Link website - www.bicesterlink.info

[IndustryInsider]

There are now 11 trains throughout the day Mondays to Thursdays (12 on a Friday as there's an extra late-night train), 13 trains on a Saturday and a new all-year round Sunday service.

The enhanced service contrasts with the 7 trains specified for the franchise and a massive step up from the paltry two trains that DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) wanted to run back in 2005.

All very good of course, and great to see the potentially dark days of 2005 behind us, but it should be pointed out that the weekday service (Friday's excepted) is still inferior to that which operated this time 10 years ago.

[gwr2006]

There are now 11 trains throughout the day Mondays to Thursdays (12 on a Friday as there's an extra late-night train), 13 trains on a Saturday and a new all-year round Sunday service.

The enhanced service contrasts with the 7 trains specified for the franchise and a massive step up from the paltry two trains that DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) wanted to run back in 2005.

All very good of course, and great to see the potentially dark days of 2005 behind us, but it should be pointed out that the weekday service (Friday's excepted) is still inferior to that which operated this time 10 years ago.

That may be the case but the new timetable should optimise use of the line by providing trains when they are most likely to be used...and with relaibility above 98% they're vey reliable too, I'm not sure that was always the case!  Also comparing the old and new, there are two more trains on a Saturday than there was 6 years ago and an all day Sunday service which never existed before.

[IndustryInsider]

That may be the case but the new timetable should optimise use of the line by providing trains when they are most likely to be used.

I will stick with my original comments regarding the service not being as good as 10 years ago. Please don't get me wrong, the improvements this timetable are most welcome and the weekend service is now the best it's ever been. But another evening service leaving Oxford before 7pm would be better - trains after the main peak hours service used to leave at 18:54 and 20:10, now it's 19:23 and 20:59.

Make a small change like bringing the 19:23 forward to 18:58 (still keeping a good connection from London and Reading, and not requiring any extra units) and bring the 20:59 forward to 20:29, and you have an improved service operating for the commuter - after all, the Bicester Village traffic has died down by then. That (given the infrastructure) would be optimising usage of the line in my opinion.

[Btline]

Everything will improve once Chiltern take the helm.

[cereal_basher]

Everything will improve once Chiltern take the helm.

What is your obsession with Chiltern? I doubt it will improve.

[Btline]

2 tph?

Direct and faster to London? Greater choice of destinations?

Better rolling stock?

Better reliability/punctuality?

...

[devon_metro]

Doesn't make Chiltern gods gift to the earth

[cereal_basher]

Once again, it will be 165s, so thats the same not better rolling stock.
And reliability and punctuality aren't much better on Chiltern than FGW^▸ (First Great Western).

[Btline]

No it won't. It'll be Clubmans: http://www.chiltern-evergreen3.co.uk/index.php/project-overview

And taking away the punctuality, it'll still be a quicker journey time for the likes of Islip (who, admittedly, won't have 2 tph, but near it in the peaks) and Water Eaton. Plus a link to the important centre of High Wycombe.

[devon_metro]

If Reggie Perin is anything to go by Chiltern look horrendous

[gwr2006]

Everything will improve once Chiltern take the helm.

There's quite a big difference between making best use of what is already there and a ^200 million rebuilding scheme (assuming the latter  gets the funding agreed with DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)!)

No it won't. It'll be Clubmans: http://www.chiltern-evergreen3.co.uk/index.php/project-overview

I wouldn't put money on it being Clubmans just yet - not now other parts of Evergreen 3 have been shelved and rolling stock is still up in the air.

[Btline]

If Reggie Perin is anything to go by Chiltern look horrendous

...now other parts of Evergreen 3 have been shelved...

When did this happen? On their website, it says nothing about this.

...and rolling stock is still up in the air...

Chiltern have already ordered 172 units for extra capacity. One assumes that they'll just boost the order quantity if the work is given the go ahead. The rest of the 168 fleet are getting power upgrades to match the acceleration of the 172s anyway.

And you're missing a key point - all the Turbos are used! (and the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) ones) So unless Chiltern get other old stock from elsewhere (unlikely, as it'll need ATP^▸ (Automatic Train Protection) etc.) it will be new build - i.e. 172s = Clubmans.

[Btline]

PS: Chiltern Evergreen is fully funded (according to the FAQs^▸ (Frequently Asked Questions) on their website).

So unless costs spiral out of control, I can't see any plans being shelved. Chiltern have completed 2 such projects on time and on budget already.