Chiltern Evergreen 3 project - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[ChrisB]

As mentioned, the drivers' accommodation block failed planning last week. After that report went to the printers. Thus Chiltern's press release is more up to date.

[IndustryInsider]

Can you give more information on that, Chris.  I thought the train crew block at Oxford had passed the final planning hurdle with work set to start next month - the closure of the staff car park being the first step?

[ChrisB]

Not seen anything on the web about it - but various railway managers discussing it since Friday - both GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) & Chiltern. A quick search of the City Council planning weekly list throws nothing, but I wonder how quick they are to update. Interesting

[IndustryInsider]

Interesting indeed.  I was under the impression that the only outstanding issue was with regard to the noise barriers in Wolvercote/Cutteslowe.

[IndustryInsider]

A briefing document was issued to staff yesterday (making no mention of any more delays) regarding the construction of the bay platforms at Oxford.  Principal timelines are as follows:

1)  Short Stay/Disabled parking relocated to the Becket Street Long Stay Car Park:  15/02/16 to 03/01/17
2)  Removal of parcels wagons in east dock platform and demolition of dock platforms canopy:  13/02/16 to 24/02/16
3)  Bay platform construction works: 29/02/16 to 16/09/16
4)  New 'temporary' building construction (phase 1 for GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)):  16/03/16 to 19/07/16
5)  Demolition of current staff block: 30/07/16 to 10/08/16
6)  New 'temporary' building construction (phase 2 for M&S/SSP/Rail Gourmet):  11/08/16 to 09/12/16

Key for the new service of course is that bay platform construction works, scheduled to finish on 16th September.  Not sure if that's the date everything is commissioned for use, or just when construction finishes, but there will obviously need to be a period of route learning for the drivers after that as well, so no surprise the opening has been delayed until the December timetable change date.  Even if if was ready a couple of weeks before that date, there's little point going to the hassle of having a revised timetable for such a short time.

[ChrisB]

And there's still some points/signals work to do - maybe included in the Hinksey works block?

[TonyK]

According to Oxford City Council's planning portal, the application for:

Variation of condition 7 (Time limit of 3 years) of prior approval 15/00096/PA18 (Application seeking prior approval for development comprising extension to the length of existing north bay platforms, replacement platform canopies, new re-locatable rail staff accommodation building and reconfiguration of short stay and staff car parking under Part 11 Class A Schedule 2 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995.) to allow the approved TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) accommodation building to remain for 6 years from occupation of the building

was approved on 1 December 2015. Have I missed something here?

[IndustryInsider]

And there's still some points/signals work to do - maybe included in the Hinksey works block?

Yes, alterations to the track and signalling at both Oxford station and Oxford North Junction need to be completed by the end of the year.  Staged weekend possessions might be enough, though taking advantage of longer blockades might well be utilised.

[paul7575]

Not sure if there's a better place to post this, but I used Oxford Parkway yesterday and was pleasantly surprised at the amount of the car parking capacity in use, at around 1300 I would think the carpark could have been 70% full?

I'm not convinced they have the number quite right for blue badge holders though, there's a huge number marked out for the three or four actually in use.   Suppose this is a common feature of modern car park design though...

Came back from High Wycombe on a 2 car 168 that was pretty much full and standing as far as Bicester Village, but even then about half the passengers carried on to Parkway.

Has anyone heard what the passenger numbers are generally showing?   Encouraging generally?

Paul

[John R]

I'm not convinced they have the number quite right for blue badge holders though, there's a huge number marked out for the three or four actually in use.   Suppose this is a common feature of modern car park design though...

Or maybe the law? The number of disabled spaces always appears grossly out of proportion with those actually in use.

[JayMac]

Railway, thus private, land. There is no statutory requirement that specifies minimum disabled parking space provision. The Equality Act merely requires reasonable adjustments to accommodate those with protected characteristics.

Whilst there's no specific legislation regarding parking provision for those with protected characteristics, there is guidance published by the British Standards Institute. That guidance may be persuasive in law for any dispute about lack of provision.

I don't think it's much use for disputing over-provision though. That is subjective after all.

[ChrisB]

Whatever standard or 'Standard' that is used, it does proscribe the number of disabled spaces as a % of the total.

[TonyK]

I have heard the figure of 4%, minimum 4 spaces, used in the context of supermarket car parks. If that were used at Oxford Parkway, it would lead to over 50 disabled spaces. That would probably be over-egging the pudding. Without making sweeping generalisations, many disabled people with a blue badge - and possibly a Motability vehicle - would drive to their destination, so not using a station car park. The balance is probably therefore very different to Tesco or Sainsbury, where a greater proportion of people arriving by car are likely to have a blue badge.

[JayMac]

It's worth pointing out that a Blue Badge confers no automatic special privilege in car parks on private land.

[TonyK]

It's worth pointing out that a Blue Badge confers no automatic special privilege in car parks on private land.

Lack of one seems to convey special penalties, though. Arguably.