Oxford station - facilities, improvements, parking, incidents and events - merged posts

[whole diary]

[Electric train]

Its possible that immediately behind it was the 1306 cross country service from Oxford to the north. Behind that would have been a terminating down local service, which would have to be cleared to the down sidings, and behind that would have been a Cotswolds service. So, its possible that the signaller took the decision to run the freight in order to clear the down line, as this would produce the least worst delay.


Regulation at Oxford is much more of an art than a science!

Yes, but that wouldn't justify the route being set up 6 minutes in advance, during which the ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock) for the 1301 Oxford - Padd could have been routed across.

I am not a sinaling Engineer but my understanding of the basics is setting up routes is not an instantaneous system there are a number of devices that limit what a signaler can do, trains have to be in-advance of controlling signals and there are a number of timers for things like line speed and the speed of the cross overs etc, 6 minutes may seem like a long time but the signaling system cannot differentiate between a fast passenger train and a slow moving freight

[Oxman]

Its also possible that the set for the 1301 was not ready to leave the down sidings, for any one of a number of possible reasons. Drivers are instructed to call the signaller when they are ready to move, and the signaller will not give the road until he has received this call.

[Gordon the Blue Engine]

Well done on your defence of NR^» (Network Rail - home page) at Oxford, Oxman, but 2 questions:
1. If by 1255 the driver of the set had not phoned in to say he was ready (unlilley in my view), clearly the signaller should have not blocked the route off the sidings in case the driver did then phone up.
2  Could not the loco and van have been brought into the down through line at Oxford and held there, thus allowing any following trains into the down platform line, and not blocking the route off the down sidings for the set for the 1301?

Anyway, maybe we can move on now.  I've made my point about Oxfrod.

However, interesting point that regulation may be more of an art than a science -  I remember many years ago Trains Illustrated (?) featuring articles asking the same question about steam locomotive driving.  I would say both are sciences, but then I'm an engineer.  Maybe there are other views.

[Oxman]

I did have the opportunity to spend time in the panel at Oxford (I have never worked for NR^» (Network Rail - home page), by the way!) and found it surprising how difficult it could be at times to operate what appears to be a fairly simple layout. Some of the overlaps are very restrictive. Having said that, I witnessed the odd cock up by signallers, usually to do with allowing an early running train into the upside platform ahead of the next scheduled service!

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Oxford Mail:

Compromise reached over rail line tree felling

Tree clearance work on an out-of-use section of railway trackbed between Oxford and Wolvercote has resumed after a compromise was agreed between Network Rail and Oxford City Council.

Tree surgeons working for the rail infrastructure company are now clearing low-hanging branches and shrubs to allow surveyors access to the trackbed of a former goods train loop line which runs along the eastern edge of Port Meadow and Wolvercote Common, from Aristotle Lane to the junction for the Cotswold Line to Worcester.

Tree felling work alongside Wolvercote Common was halted last month by the council^s trees officer Kevin Caldicott after the Sheriff of Oxford, Jean Fooks, complained that it could affect nesting birds.

Network Rail wants to carry out a detailed survey to assess what work will be needed to get the overgrown trackbed back into shape to carry a railway line again as part of its plans to increase capacity through Oxford.

If it was reinstated, trains from Oxford towards Banbury and the Cotswold Line would be able to run in parallel to Wolvercote, rather than having to share a single track.

A Network Rail spokesman said: ^We are aware of local people^s concerns and, following discussions with the council^s tree officer and ecologists, have agreed to limit the vegetation clearance to a metre-wide strip along the embankment. This will enable surveyors to assess the condition of the ground, while limiting the visual impact.^

The loop line was built in the early 1940s to cope with a surge in rail traffic during the Second World War. The track was removed after it was taken out of use in 1973. For most of its length it ran on an embankment separated from the main trackbed of the Oxford-Banbury line by a drainage channel.

[Btline]

Um, so why didn't they just do the 1 mtr strip if that's all that's required?

I suppose it's easier just to chainsaw the lot down than to select.

Anyway, surely when trains start running, the rest will have to be axed to prevent leaves in the line!

[TonyK]

Hmmm, ok.

But it was mainly the way the article portrayed this sheriff "riding out" to save the trees, shooting his pistol to stop the evil axemen.

The hell he did!

[Tim]

From the Oxford Mail:

The trees, which are on railway land, are being cut down to assess the potential for running larger freight trains through Oxford.

Sorry, but I don't believe that statement somehow.  I'm fairly sure that 'assessing the potential' (for longer freight trains) would be done well before any trees came down...

Paul`

I suspect they mean "assessing the commercial or technical viability of these trains".  Clear the siding and then run a trial service to see if longer trains run reliably and full enough to turn a profit. 

[paul7575]

No, what I mean is that there is a current CP4^▸ (Control Period 4 - the five year period between 2009 and 2014) project already doing the design work to GRIP4 (single option development, ie they have got beyond choice of options) to run longer freight trains on this route. It's a subset of a national train lengthening project and already reflects a policy to run longer trains - they wouldn't do that unless it was already proved to be viable.

The work anticipated on the route (as at Mar 2012) is as follows:

Southampton Western Docks Extend Up / Down Docks branch
Southampton Maritime ^ Redbridge Extend Depot Reception sidings
Eastleigh Provide 775m Up Loop
Wallers Ash Re-site signalling
Oxford Extend Down passenger loop to Wolvercot Junction
Fenny Compton Increase speed of entry / exit to 40 mph
Dorridge Extend Down loop to 775m
Washwood Heath Extend Up/Derby Slow and Washwood Heath Goods Loop to 775m

It is that level of detail that suggests that the trains will happen, the decision isn't pending these trees being investigated.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the British Transport Police press release:

British Transport Police (BTP) is appealing for information after a cycle was stolen from Oxford rail station.

Investigators have released CCTV of a man they would like to speak to in connection with the theft, which took place on Thursday, 22 March.

PC Bob Burrowes, investigating officer, said: ^The victim, a 42-year-old from Oxford, had left her bike locked to the cycle racks outside the station at around 3.15pm. When she returned to collect it at 9.50pm she realised it had been taken.^

Officers have conducted several lines of enquiry into the incident including speaking to local commuters and anniversary visits in the area but to no avail. CCTV has been viewed and police are now keen to speak to the man pictured, who is believed to have key information.

 

PC Burrowes said: ^From viewing CCTV footage at the station, we know what a man was seen loitering around the bike racks around 5.15pm. If you recognise the man pictured and think you can tell us who he is, please get in touch.

^Unfortunately cycles are a popular target for thieves but there are several steps people can take to ensure their bikes are adequately marked and secured to help reduce the risk of becoming a victim of bike theft.

^The best thing to remember is to register your bike and also to ensure a solid lock is used to secure it. If a bike is adequately marked, it makes it much easier to identify and therefore reduces its desirability to thieves.^

BTP officers regularly conduct cycle crime awareness surgeries at stations to offer crime prevention advice and identify the top locations for bike theft regularly, they are then targeted them through covert and overt policing operations to try and catch would-be offenders in the act.

Anyone who can name the man in the CCTV images should contact BTP on Freefone 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference B13/LNA of 16/05/12. Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Police advice for making your bike more secure:
- Get your bike tagged and register it at www.bikeregister.com
- Ensure you have a solid lock
- Always lock your bicycle through its frame, not just through the wheel
- Fix your bike to solid, immovable objects in recognised cycle storage areas
- Whenever possible, lock your bike in a busy, well-lit and CCTV-covered area

[Chris from Nailsea]

Another incident - from the British Transport Police press release:

CCTV released: Cycle theft sees 13-year-old boy^s bike stolen ^ Oxford

British Transport Police (BTP^▸ (British Transport Police)) officers are appealing for information after a 13-year-old boy had his bike stolen from Oxford rail station last week.

Investigators have today released CCTV of a man they would like to speak to in connection with the theft, which took place on Tuesday, 14 August 2012.

PC Roddy Brown, of BTP at Oxford station and who is investigating the theft, said: ^The young victim secured his bike to the racks at the station with a lock around midday. When he returned around 2.30pm, he noticed his bike had been taken.

^After viewing CCTV a man is seen to arrive at the racks on a bike at 2.15pm, before stealing the boy^s bike and riding off.^

Officers are conducting a number of enquiries into the incident including speaking to anyone who may have witnessed the incident, viewing CCTV as well as carrying out anniversary visits to the station.

PC Brown added: ^Officers will continue to carry out high visible patrols in and around the station and bike racks, delivering crime prevention advice for owners who fail to properly lock and secure their cycles.

^We work closely with train operator First Great Western to tackle cycle crime at rail stations and ask passengers to report any suspicious behaviour to a member of staff or police.^

Earlier this week, a man was arrested and charged for the attempted theft of a bike at the same station. Jason Mark Kilduff (33) of Linnet Close, Oxford, was charged with one count of going equipped and two counts of theft of a cycle. He is next due to appear at Oxford Magistrates^ Court on Friday, 7 September with bail conditions not to enter Oxford rail station.

TIPS TO ENSURE YOUR BICYCLE REMAINS SAFE AND SECURE:

Bicycles are a popular target for thieves. Here are some simple tips to ensure your cycle remains secure:

^ Always lock your bicycle whenever you leave it at a designated cycle rack area. Lock the frame and both wheels to a cycle stand.

^ Consider using more than one lock to secure your bike and ensure that you use a recognised security standard lock. D-locks, extension cable or heavy chain locks are certified locking mechanisms. It is important to ensure that yours are up to date.

^ Make the lock(s) and bike hard to manoeuvre when parked by ensuring little room between the stand and the bike.

^ Do not allow your lock(s) to come into contact with the ground, where they are viewed as more vulnerable.

^ Take a photograph of your bike and record your frame number and key details. This will be crucial in recovering your bike if it is stolen.

^ Mark your frame with your postcode in two separate locations, one of which should be hidden. Attach a ^Coded Cycle^ label to reduce the risk of making your bike a target for theft.

^ Do not ride with valuables in open baskets or panniers.

^ Register your bicycle at www.bikeregister.com or www.immobilise.com

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Oxford Times:

Rail bosses are shutting the back entrance to Oxford Station to stop fare dodgers.

The gate off platform two is open during the morning and evening peak hours and leads out into Roger Dudman Way for commuters heading to and from West Oxford.

But First Great Western, which runs the station, is sealing off the exit from January 1. It estimates up to one in five passengers using it haven^t paid their fare because it does not have a ticket barrier.

First Great Western spokesman James Davis said: ^Unfortunately, as many as 20 per cent of people using this gate do so without a valid ticket or without a ticket at all, which clearly isn^t fair on the majority of customers who choose to pay the correct fare for their journey.

^To reduce ticket fraud, and ensure that those who are paying for their tickets are not subsidising those who don^t, we plan to close the platform two exit from January 1, 2013.

^Customers will still be able to access the station from the main entrance, a short walk away, and those with bikes will be able to use the customer lifts provided.

^We^re sorry for any inconvenience caused to our paying customers. We will continue to monitor the situation and keep this under review.^

Yesterday, some passengers raised concerns about extra crowding at the main exit barriers off platform one and inconvenience for people wanting to go to West Oxford and Botley.

Sally Grover, 61, from Tackley, is a library manager in Oxford and uses the station every day. She said: ^It will seriously inconvenience a large number of people, particularly those who live and work in Botley, those who carry cycles, and those who simply do not want to queue at the platform one barriers at busy times. People have to rush across the platform and bridge banging their bikes against people^s ankles.

^It happens, I use my bike and it is inevitable. A bike is an unwieldy thing to carry. We pay over the odds for our tickets and the station facilities should meet the needs of passengers, not the convenience of the station staff.^

Another rail user, who did not want to be named, added: ^I only use it if I have an off peak ticket and the trip, usually with delays, has meant I end up arriving in peak times.^

The gate is open from 6.30am to 9.30am and 5pm and 8pm on week days. Occasionally First Great Western will station staff there to check passengers^ tickets.

Mr Davis would not comment about how much it would cost to install a ticket barrier at the exit.

[JayMac]

Inconvenience 4 out of 5 of the passengers who use the exit because 1 out of 5 take advantage.

Nice one FGW^▸ (First Great Western). Great customer service. 

[grahame]

According to the plan at (Oxford - next trains)/plan.html?rtnloc=oxf" target="_blank">http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/sjp/OXF/plan.html?rtnloc=OXF this gate gives access to the accessible parking.  So presumably it will become inaccessible accessible parking 

I've not been round the back of Oxford station, but as I recall it's quite a long way around.   If you want to get to the accessible parking in the future when arriving from London, you'll need to go over the footbridge, out through the main building, turn right outside, go round the bike park, under the bridge, and turn right up the road the the parking.  Or have I missed something?

[IndustryInsider]

I've not been round the back of Oxford station, but as I recall it's quite a long way around.   If you want to get to the accessible parking in the future when arriving from London, you'll need to go over the footbridge, out through the main building, turn right outside, go round the bike park, under the bridge, and turn right up the road the the parking.  Or have I missed something?

It's worth pointing out that this exit is closed for the majority of the day anyway, so it'll be no less accessible than it would be at, say, midday.  I'm not sure if there's any disabled parking on that side of the station (though as you point out is does say there is on the map), but I think there's a help point for arriving passengers to contact station staff, so that anyone with disability issues can be escorted through the gate by station staff (it works on a magnetic swipe card) as they do now 'out of hours'.

I'm not defending this decision on a customer service basis though, as it is a useful exit, and I would have thought that ramping up the number of times ticket inspections are made, to say a couple of times a week, would be a better option for everybody.  When the gates were originally installed there were inspections more often than not, but in the last year or so I can't remember a single occasion when revenue/gateline staff have been checking tickets there.