Chiltern Evergreen 3 project - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[TonyK]

I strongly doubt it this time :-)

Wot I thought.

[SandTEngineer]

There is also an Oxford Phase 2 which is the addition of the 'Down Oxford Passenger Loop' and Platform No.5 together with some additional crossovers (but that is nothing to do with the Chiltern Oxford service).

[SandTEngineer]

And I suspect SandTEngineer is looking at something that is current. It may well be called that now, but we're discussing either post Dec 12, or post Phase 1. Why would the Signalling Scheme Plans show future names?

No, I wasn't.  A record of the current signalling at a site is called a 'Signalling Plan', 'Signalling Diagram', 'Domestic Diagram' or in the case of ex-WR lines a 'Locking Sketch', and is shown in black.  Future works are shown on a 'Signalling Scheme Plan' and show retained works in black, recovered works in green and new works in red (and sometimes future optional works in blue or dotted blue).

[SandTEngineer]

I strongly doubt it this time :-)

I know for sure - from NR^» (Network Rail - home page)'s Project Senior Sponsor....which is where my info came from initially, but now have it in writing

Following the commissioning of Phase 1, in 2018, it will be call the “UP Relief” all the way from Wolvercote Junction to Oxford station.

That should defuse any arguments!

I suspect he's a reader on here :-)

You have been very quite since we challenged your post.  Any more info to say we are wrong?

[ChrisB]

quiet, even.

I answered the challenge in the quote you used. I have that in writing /email. I'm happy.

[ChrisB]

Thanks for that confirmation, ChrisB.  The Phase 1 map is indeed correct then - I hadn't spotted it was differently labelled on the Phase 0 and Phase 1 maps.  Do we know if it will be called that from the completion of Phase 0 this December to the Completion of Phase 1 in 2018?

From out of the ether, I got a reply to my question....

From Phase 0 until the completion of Phase 1 the line between Wolvercote Junction and Oxford North Junction will be called the Up Passenger loop, from Oxford Junction to Oxford Station it will be called the Up Relief and from the station to the east towards Didcot it will be called the Up and Down Passenger.

[IndustryInsider]

Pleased to report that the old traincrew block has finally been vacated last night and staff transferred to the new 'temporary' building behind what will be the new platform 1.  This should have happened in late July based on original timescales, so is about three months late.  It does at least mean they can get on with demolishing the old crew building and rebuilding that section of the new platforms in the race to get things ready for 9th December.

[ChrisB]

Chiltern should receive the line for driver training at the end of November, I'm told - leaving 10 days for training

[rower40]

Chiltern should receive the line for driver training at the end of November, I'm told - leaving 10 days for training

While that doesn't sound very much, many drivers could be trained "on the job", with a driver-trainer (DSM - driving standards manager?) boarding at Oxford Parkway, and effectively "conducting" the driver the rest of the way into Oxford, and back again; the driver-trainer then changes platforms at Oxford Parkway and then conducts the next train.

[ChrisB]

Indeed, and as they're only learning a few miles from Parkway into the city, it should be fine.

[IndustryInsider]

Yes, I don't think that would present much of a problem as it's a short section and the last month or two has seen drivers learning the various shunt moves around the station which is far more complex.

[IndustryInsider]

All sorts of heavy machinery moving about bits of demolished train crew accommodation at Oxford at just before 10pm this evening, and making a right racket.  Bet that's gone down well with the nearby neighbours!

[ChrisB]

from NR^» (Network Rail - home page)';s Oxford newsletter -

Work continues at Oxford Station to construct new platforms and accommodation building at Oxford Station.  We have  written to our neighbours around  the station to let them know that we will be working 24/7 from Wednesday 9 November to Sunday 11 December.  This work is necessary to allow us to open the new platforms on time on 12 December. We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this work, but can assure our neighbours that we will do everything possible to minimise disruption during this time.

The residents had better get used to it....

[IndustryInsider]

The residents had better get used to it....

And I feel sorry for them.  24/7 working at a location so close to housing should not be allowed just because a project has fallen so far behind.

[paul7575]

The residents had better get used to it....

And I feel sorry for them.  24/7 working at a location so close to housing should not be allowed just because a project has fallen so far behind.

How much of the falling behind has been due to delays in starting while NR^» (Network Rail - home page) responded to objections by the same neighbours, eventually found by the planning process to be unjustified?   

"Own goal" is the first phrase that springs to mind.

Paul