Chiltern Evergreen 3 project - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[IndustryInsider]

No, I did mean up platform - passively provisioned to destroy the concourse, yes.

Fair enough.  I can't see that happening though.  Would cost far too much, and cause a huge amount of disruption, for far too small a benefit.  My money would be on a final layout similar to that in the diagrams without the dotted line part.  I've been wrong before though, so time will tell... 

[ChrisB]

Let's wait & see the redesign for the station?....that will give some better idea on the likelihood.

[ellendune]

No, I did mean up platform - passively provisioned to destroy the concourse, yes.

Fair enough.  I can't see that happening though.  Would cost far too much, and cause a huge amount of disruption, for far too small a benefit.  My money would be on a final layout similar to that in the diagrams without the dotted line part.  I've been wrong before though, so time will tell... 

It would probably mean constructing a new station building in front of the present one with an extended bridge to what would be the island platforms then demolishing the existing building to finish the dotted platform.

[ChrisB]

Notes from a meeting the CLPG^» (Cotswold Line Promotion Group - about) had with FGW^▸ (First Great Western) recently indicates that they seem to be on the same wavelength -

- Oxford station. Ideas are still developing, but the ultimate concept is for two island platforms to facilitate through working. In the down [direction] the YHA would have to go, and down trains would use the down [goods] loop which will be upgraded. Freight will go through the middle roads. The upside is more problematic,and will need the existing station structure to be removed. Botley Road bridge is to be rebuilt and the road layout under and around it improved.

I had a brief meeting with Oxford station management last night - it seems as though the current date for the demise of Oxford signalbox (and thuis I guess completion of the resignalling) - April 2015. Could the station be redesigned & built by then?....

[IndustryInsider]

I had a brief meeting with Oxford station management last night - it seems as though the current date for the demise of Oxford signalbox (and thuis I guess completion of the resignalling) - April 2015. Could the station be redesigned & built by then?....

That would be the likely date when (the serious) work will start not be finished, surely?  As with Reading station, the decommissioning of the panel box allows the land it currently occupies to be used for the down platform loop and the flexibility afforded by the new TVSC^» (Thames Valley Signalling Centre - about) at Didcot makes it a lot easier to provide any temporary signalling and track layouts that might be needed in stages before the full rebuilt layout is finished.

In the meantime work could start on areas such as the carriage sidings where the land is available and it won't affect existing signalling much?

Although on a smaller scale, the similarities to Reading are striking; signal box closes; Didcot takes over signalling; land used for platforms; bridges at both ends of station widened; new track north and south of station.  All resulting in a much more flexible station layout and more platforms.

[ChrisB]

Yes, I think you are right....that puts the work firmly in the next CP period. And why Oxford won't be ready for Chiltern until April 2016....

[IndustryInsider]

Just in time for the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) electrification as well.  Timescales will be very tight though... 

[paul7575]

Thinking back to the judicial review process, do the judgements ever get reported, or made available online?  I've tried a bit of Googling, but there doesn't seem an obvious place to find the details, only reports that it happened IYSWIM...

Paul 

[ellendune]

Try searching on http://www.bailii.org/

[paul7575]

Try searching on http://www.bailii.org/

Thanks for the tip but there's nothing coming up with obvious searches.

Paul

[ChrisB]

It should appear (not present at time of writing this though) on this page in the May 2013 section. Decision Date was 17/05/2013 and the case number you are looking for is [2013] EWHC 1238.

Cases 1237 & 1239 are there already, not sure why this one is still missing.

However, I think there's something attached to this post that you might be interested in 

[paul7575]

Interesting read - all about emissions, but then of course so much of the presumed pollution problem will be altered completely with the decision to electrify the whole area during the early years of operations...

Paul

[IndustryInsider]

An interesting document.  Point number 58 is my favourite. 

[paul7575]

Nice and succinct.

Just a shame it doesn't then show...

59.  Banned.

[paul7575]

Latest Track Access application from Chiltern is now online, confirming the staged opening mentioned by ChrisB in an earlier post #205:

In line with the amended project programme it is now envisaged that the first stage of passenger services will be triggered by the completion of the infrastructure upgrade between Bicester and the proposed new station at Water Eaton Parkway: this is expected in Summer 2015. The second stage is the extension of those services to Oxford in Spring 2016; once the required infrastructure is commissioned.

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browseDirectory.aspx?root=&dir=%5cTrack%20Access%5c1%20Current%20Consultations%5c2013.07.12%20Chiltern%20101%20SA%20-%20Closing%20date%2026%20July%202013