Bicester Link/Bicester Town branch

[Mojo]

Is this line for real? I went on it for the first time yesterday and wondered why it took so long from looking at the timetable and comparing it to maps it didn't seem that far. We seemed to pootle along at around 30mph the whole way and the train was empty. If I wasn't on a refurbished 165 it could have just as easily been a preserved railway.

When I got to Bicester Town I noticed the signs were in English and Chinese! I'm sure someone told me a few years ago that Bicester Village is a hotspot for Chinese tourists.

The line is DOO too, and no stations appeared to have ticket issuing facilities.

Probably the most unusual line I'll travel on in a while. Check it out!

 

[the sniper]

When I got to Bicester Town I noticed the signs were in English and Chinese! I'm sure someone told me a few years ago that Bicester Village is a hotspot for Chinese tourists.

Oh, it definitely is. I don't think I've ever seen a higher concentration of Chinese people in one place then I did there!

'Bicester Village', the shopping centre/fake high street, is a very weird place, so it's interesting to hear that the branch line to Bicester Town is just as odd!

 

[Ivo]

When I used that line last year it was snowing

It would probably make more money as preserved railway. Until EG3 comes along anyway.

 

[Jordy]

Very strange line - did it last month. How are you supposed to purchase a ticket if you want to travel from Islip to Bicester?

 

[Aictos]

I did that route when I went up to Oxford on the Deltic Railtour, really ought to have a 121 or similar on it.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I wonder if you could do a top and tail plandampf along it......?

 

[scotsman]

I was in Oxford filming/photting a fortnight ago, a couple were waiting on Platform 3 for Bicester. The train arrived, the CIS read "1st Train BICESTER TOWN/2nd Train GREAT MALVERN/3rd Train WORCESTER SHRUB HILL" (or similar), they didn't get on - instead they argued over whether this was their train as they seemed to think the CIS (which had "PLATFORM 3 printed above it) was referring to which platform the train was departing from. I stepped in and asked them where they were going, assured them that this was their train and the woman turned round and bawled to her husband, who was asking the driver, " 'ERE! THIS LAD SAYS IT'S ARRS" in the best Cockney accent I've ever heard.

 

[ailsa]

I used to use the Bicester line regularly many years ago. The line speed if I recall correctly is 30mph Oxford to Islip and 40mph Islip to Bicester. One day, in the days before OTMR, we got delayed at Oxford north junction for quite some time. A 58 with what I assume was 'government supplies' came off the branch, and then we took off for Bicester. We did Oxford north junction to Bicester in around 13 minutes, including the stop at Islip. It scared the cr*p out of me - I had no idea a train could rock around so much and still stay on the rails!

 

[37372]

Probably the most unusual line I'll travel on in a while. Check it out!

No, don't, it's bloody boring!
I've done many branchlines in my time, but the Bicester branch must be without a doubt one of the strangest lines I've ever done. I've alighted at both Bicester Town and Islip (there isn't much there...), it really is like being on a preserved line sans mk1s and thrashy locos.

 

[Mojo]

I don't disagree with you that it is boring, but unusual nonetheless!

As an aside, do Turbos (165s/166s) make anyone else really sleepy? I was really tired yesterday when on my Thames Rover ticket when on Turbos, but soon woke up when on other trains! Maybe it's the type of services they operate but a Turbo is the only type of train I've ever fallen asleep on (with the exception of the Sleeper of course) or maybe it's just me!

I'm glad that FGW's refurbishment seems to have fixed the problem that makes all Turbos smell of stale urine though! Ironically the only refurbished Turbo I was on all day yesterday was on the Bicester Link!

 

[Ivo]

They don't make me sleepy; they make me bored! And staring at the internal displays repeating the same "call NRE" etc nonsense for literally years on end just makes it worse... How long have those displays been programmed to mention things like engineering works and calling NRE?!

 

[Mojo]

Yes those displays
Are really annoying
Because they take
Ages to scroll
Between all the
Pieces of
Information.

 

[Jordy]

They don't make me sleepy or bored, they make me angry! Awful things, and those displays are bloody useless!

 

[ailsa]

I like them myself - those seats are just the right shape for my back. Nice and relaxing (except when speeding!)

Nice to hear that the refurb units smell better though.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

The speed I think is due to the track or signals being in awful conditions

 

[LE Greys]

If it doesn't get cut, this line is in for a few changes in a few years. It's Chiltern's basis for Evergreen 3 (link below), providing a connection at Biecester, a speed increase, better links into Oxford and a new station in north Oxford.

http://www.chiltern-evergreen3.co.uk/uploads/images/Scoping%20report%20Evergreen%203%20Final%2022%2004%202009.pdf

 

[ailsa]

I guess, given the state of the line, FGW will be quite happy for Chiltern to take it over. I don't imagine it turns a profit at the moment. As far as I can tell Chiltern will be using the old parcels station at Oxford and running new track along the LMS trackbed, with the whole lot being signalled from Marylebone.

I asked one of the guards about the low line speed once and was told it was because the cost of maintaining the track didn't make it worthwhile to go any higher. Yes they did put guards on occasionally!