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

[whole diary]

[Western Pathfinder]

This may be of interest.
http://www.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk/news/16257529.improvement-works-mean-bus-replacement-services/?ref=rss

[ChrisB]

More traffic in the summer?

Even with the increase in tourists (usually coached in and out though), the level of traffic drops in & around Oxford in the summer. No universities, schools to work at neither school runs.

[ray951]

I have heard that Network Rail have recently (Dec 2018) been in discussion with Oxford City Council about replacing the Botley Road bridge in 2019. When I asked my source whether this meant applying for planning permission in 2019 or actually replace the bridge in 2019 they were adamant that it was replacement and not just the application. Apparently they are planning to dig a deeper road so I assume they want a wider bridge so that they can add additional platforms to Oxford station.

This is good news for users of Oxford station, but I am deeply sceptical that it is possible to replace the bridge this year given the fact that the replacement bridge probably hasn’t been built and the amount of consultation that will required given the amount of disruption this will cause in Oxford. For those not familiar with Oxford replacing this bridge effectively cuts off west Oxford from the city centre without any obvious way to mitigate the closure.

[ellendune]

For those not familiar with Oxford replacing this bridge effectively cuts off west Oxford from the city centre without any obvious way to mitigate the closure.

But replacing it with a wider bridge (both to road traffic and to rail) which is what Oxford City Council (OCC) want, would by the same count have tremendous benefits for road users.

I am sceptical that any such project could take place in summer 2019.  There would be a huge amount of preparatory work to minimise the duration of the road closure.  Starting in 2019 for a closure in 2020 would seem much more likely. 

One abutment would need widening and the other rebuilt completely in a new position further south. The road improvements underneath could then take place after the replacement bridge deck is in place with the new lower alignment built one side at a time.  A Christmas 2019 replacement would be possible. 

Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronyms

[IndustryInsider]

I'd be amazed if it was replaced in 2019, though fairly advanced plans are in place.  I believe the Westgate Hotel and a couple of other smaller old railway buildings will be demolished in order that the bridge can prepared on site to be slid into place to reduce the length of the disruption.  Part of the Youth Hostel will go in order to provide the extra platform.

[ellendune]

I believe the Westgate Hotel and a couple of other smaller old railway buildings will be demolished in order that the bridge can prepared on site to be slid into place to reduce the length of the disruption.  Part of the Youth Hostel will go in order to provide the extra platform.

In that case 2019 seems a non starter.  Even if the Youth Hostel does not need doing just to do the bridge. 

[IndustryInsider]

Indeed, though perhaps the Westgate Hotel will be demolished this year?  I see the little corner shop that was attached to it closed a few months ago.

[ellendune]

Indeed, though perhaps the Westgate Hotel will be demolished this year? 

Its website suggests it it still trading with no hint of closure.

[ChrisB]

It's such a major project that it would need funds allocated to it from CP6^▸ (Control Period 6 - The five year period between 2019 and 2024) well in advance, and this hasn't yet been done. Unless OCC are paying 100% for it, but I can't see that happening. But yes, that wouldn't have been first discussions - it's been talked about for over a year now.

[eightonedee]

Sounds like a long Christmas break job to me, I hope the team that made such a good job at Caversham Road Reading are still around to deliver!

[CyclingSid]

I hope it doesn't turn into another Cow Lane Reading affair. Just dig a bit out one side at a time. Cycled through yesterday and they still have a lot of work to do.

[Reading General]

If the road here is to be dug down further do you think it would require a sump for water collection similar to the Vastern Road bridge at Reading?

[ellendune]

If the road here is to be dug down further do you think it would require a sump for water collection similar to the Vastern Road bridge at Reading?

It will as I think its as near to the river than Vastern Road Bridge

[stuving]

If the road here is to be dug down further do you think it would require a sump for water collection similar to the Vastern Road bridge at Reading?

It will as I think its as near to the river than Vastern Road Bridge

That's not how it works, is it? If anything the opposite: assuming the watercourse you want to put the water into is below the drain invert under your bridge, if it's close then gravity may suffice but if it's further you may need to install pumps. Also, if the local road drains are higher, then even if a steady fall would be possible you would need to lay a new drain - and the cost of that might still be more than for using pumps. And of course it's the pumps that matter, and the reason for needing a sump. You may remember that this came up in the discussion of the bridge at Gypsy Patch Lane in Bristol a little while ago...

Of course if your local river is likely to be above your road level, and at a probability high enough that you have to cope with it (there's always a level above which you accept defeat), distance doesn't matter. The Environment Agency puts Vastern Road (most of it - not just under the bridge - and Caversham Road likewise) in their lilac flood risk band: 0.5% to 1.33% risk per year. This small area near the roundabout between the railway bridge and Reading Bridge should at least be getting plenty of thought in the current flood relief planning process - it contains Thames Water's head office and the local headquarters of the Environment Agency, both sites liable to flooding.

[ellendune]

Sorry I wasn't very precise in my description.

What I meant was that both sites are near to rivers that flood, that is near both horizontally and vertically. Indeed I suspect that Oxford is nearer the river level than Vastern Road. What I meant was that there was no way it could drain by gravity into the river and possible not into the sewer. 

So yes you do need a sump in those cases because the only way you are going to be able to get rid of the water is to pump it out! I assumed that Reading General's use of the term sump was referring to the wet well of a pumping station.