East-West Rail (EWR): Consultation updates [not speculation]

[MarkLong]

This is what has been published so far on the service pattern. What will actually happen is just conjecture

Route	tph	Calling at
Oxford to Milton Keynes Central	2	Oxford Parkway, Bicester Village, Winslow, Bletchley
Oxford to Bedford	1	Oxford Parkway, Bicester Village, Winslow, Bletchley, Woburn Sands, Ridgmont
Aylesbury to Milton Keynes Central	1	Aylesbury Vale Parkway, Winslow, Bletchley

Did Oxford to Bedford require a major upgrade between Bletchley to Bedford?

 

[camflyer]

According to my Oxford Mail the East-West Expressway (the competing road project) has been cancelled: Oxford to Cambridge expressway project cancelled by Grant Shapps | Oxford Mail

Not really surprising as it was too politically sensitive for the good folk of the shires. Hopefully the A428/Black Cat improvements will still go ahead so that there will be a good road link between Cambridge and Milton Keynes then windy roads onwards to "the other place".

If we had anything like an integrated transport policy in this country the Ox-Cam rail and road links would be part of the same project.

 

[fgwrich]

It’s still there on the TWA drawing, as “Station House”, and there’s a new road junction for it, teeing off the diverted main road over the bridge. The south approach road to the level crossing site remains as an NR compound/access.

Thanks @swt_passenger - are the TWA plans available to take a look at? I'm a little surprised it is staying, as it looks fairly closed to the trackbed. I had wondered if the skew of the bridge was to slightly 'kink' the railway away from the house by a fraction, as well as for the as yet to be built embankments leading up to the bridge deck.

 

[swt_passenger]

Thanks @swt_passenger - are the TWA plans available to take a look at? I'm a little surprised it is staying, as it looks fairly closed to the trackbed. I had wondered if the skew of the bridge was to slightly 'kink' the railway away from the house by a fraction, as well as for the as yet to be built embankments leading up to the bridge deck.

They are available on the NR website, but a bit hard to find. I explained where in post #3797, but they’ve moved them since...
This page:

Bicester to Bletchley/Milton Keynes - Network Rail

For the first time in over 50 years, Phase 2 will create direct connections between Oxford and Bletchley/Milton Keynes This project will link communities across the area, bringing faster journey times and easing pressure on local roads. To deliver East West Rail Phase 2, the EWR Alliance was...

www.networkrail.co.uk

scroll down to TWA order, then section 02 “TWA Application Documents”
The filename you need is “East West Rail NR15 Planning Drawings Route Sections 2A and 2B”.

https://sacuksprodnrdigital0001.blob.core.windows.net/east-west-rail/East%20West%20Rail%20-%20Western%20section%20-%20Phase%202/02%20TWAO%20application%20documents/East%20West%20Rail%20NR15%20Planning%20Drawings%20Route%20Sections%202A%20and%202B.pdf

So it‘s page 22 of the pdf. (I found I needed to download it and use a pdf viewer, scrolling through the document in a browser kept failing.)


But as drawn the tracks remain dead straight and the skew of the bridge is very clear.

 

[Kingham West]

I see the abandonment as good news , as a taxpayer The cost was 8bn £, I suspect the latest costs were rather more , and with a BCR of under 1.
The environmental damage is


We may wince at £1bn for EWR , but it’s starting to look a good buy , and offers a BCR of 6.7 .

Time to get on with Cambridge

 

[camflyer]

I see the abandonment as good news , as a taxpayer The cost was 8bn £, I suspect the latest costs were rather more , and with a BCR of under 1.
The environmental damage is


We may wince at £1bn for EWR , but it’s starting to look a good buy , and offers a BCR of 6.7 .

Time to get on with Cambridge

The plans for the Ox-MK-Cam "arc of prosperity" is the closest thing we've seen to joined up thinking in economic and infrastructure in many years. The problem is that if you take out one component - the expressway - but leave in the planned huge expansion of housing and business development along the corridor then you are just going to make congestion worse. EWR was part of the solution but it needed to be built with the expressway. It isn't a replacement for it.

 

[swt_passenger]

Did Oxford to Bedford require a major upgrade between Bletchley to Bedford?

As I said a few posts ago the TWA Order application does not include any significant amount of work to the Bletchley to Bedford railway section, as it is already an operational 2 track railway. The Design and Access statement is here, sections 2.5 and 2.6 refer. It’s not allowing me to copy from the pdf text.

https://sacuksprodnrdigital0001.blob.core.windows.net/east-west-rail/East%20West%20Rail%20-%20Western%20section%20-%20Phase%202/02%20TWAO%20application%20documents/East%20West%20Rail%20NR11%20Design%20and%20Access%20Statement.pdf

 

[MarkLong]

As I said a few posts ago the TWA Order application does not include any significant amount of work to the Bletchley to Bedford railway section, as it is already an operational 2 track railway. The Design and Access statement is here, sections 2.5 and 2.6 refer. It’s not allowing me to copy from the pdf text.

https://sacuksprodnrdigital0001.blob.core.windows.net/east-west-rail/East%20West%20Rail%20-%20Western%20section%20-%20Phase%202/02%20TWAO%20application%20documents/East%20West%20Rail%20NR11%20Design%20and%20Access%20Statement.pdf

Thanks, I asked because I have seen a report on the Rail magazine (On issue 926 or 925) that said the Bedford to Bletchley section still needs more funding to upgrade for the proposed timetable running.

 

[swt_passenger]

Thanks, I asked because I have seen a report on the Rail magazine (On issue 926 or 925) that said the Bedford to Bletchley section still needs more funding to upgrade for the proposed timetable running.

It’s a couple of foot crossing closures and a few accommodation bridges type of stuff. It‘s not really comparable with the amount of work on the Bicester to Bletchley section. The point has been raised a few times earlier in the thread, it’s enough modifications to level crossings to allow an increased frequency, but it doesn’t affect line speed or train performance as such.

 

[MarkLong]

It’s a couple of foot crossing closures and a few accommodation bridges type of stuff. It‘s not really comparable with the amount of work on the Bicester to Bletchley section. The point has been raised a few times earlier in the thread, it’s enough modifications to level crossings to allow an increased frequency, but it doesn’t affect line speed or train performance as such.

Thanks for your patient explanation.

 

[swt_passenger]

Thanks for your patient explanation.

I think there‘s possibly an element of exaggeration to some of the reporting. “Upgrade inflation”, in terms of how they describe stuff. NR press releases are similar, how often is normal maintenance reported as upgrading...

 

[jfowkes]

The plans for the Ox-MK-Cam "arc of prosperity" is the closest thing we've seen to joined up thinking in economic and infrastructure in many years. The problem is that if you take out one component - the expressway - but leave in the planned huge expansion of housing and business development along the corridor then you are just going to make congestion worse. EWR was part of the solution but it needed to be built with the expressway. It isn't a replacement for it.

But for the sake of the climate and environment, we need to stop building roads and encouraging car/truck/HGV use, regardless of congestion.

 

[camflyer]

But for the sake of the climate and environment, we need to stop building roads and encouraging car/truck/HGV use, regardless of congestion.

Presumably electric/zero emission vehicles will still need roads to operate on. We are talking about infrastructure for the next few decades. A plumber isn't going to catch the train from Buckingham to Bletchley regardless of how good the trains are.

 

[Steve Harris]

But for the sake of the climate and environment, we need to stop building roads and encouraging car/truck/HGV use, regardless of congestion.

I totally agree, but the only way to accomplish that is by lowering commuting by car (either build affordable housing where people work or making public transport commuting more appealing/cheaper than using a car) and getting more freight out of hgv's and onto the trains.

Unfortunately I don't see it happening quick enough to really make a difference.

Not too far from me, they're building even more houses just outside St Neots, right near the A428. No doubt they will be sold to people who will end up commuting to Cambridge (because they can't afford Cambridge prices) along the A428 (which travels at about 20-30mph if your lucky, at peak times). We really need the public transport infrastructure at the get go, not 5 or 10 years later !! As that is IMHO the only way your going to make a significant impact on Climate Change.

Edit: Yes EV's will come along and improve my last Statement. But what year will it be befre everyone owns a EV ?

 

[camflyer]

I totally agree, but the only way to accomplish that is by lowering commuting by car (either build affordable housing where people work or making public transport commuting more appealing/cheaper than using a car) and getting more freight out of hgv's and onto the trains.

Unfortunately I don't see it happening quick enough to really make a difference.

Not too far from me, they're building even more houses just outside St Neots, right near the A428. No doubt they will be sold to people who will end up commuting to Cambridge (because they can't afford Cambridge prices) along the A428 (which travels at about 20-30mph if your lucky, at peak times). We really need the public transport infrastructure at the get go, not 5 or 10 years later !! As that is IMHO the only way your going to make a significant impact on Climate Change.

Edit: Yes EV's will come along and improve my last Statement. But what year will it be befre everyone owns a EV ?

The way that EWR is going, we'll all be in flying cars before the train gets to Cambridge.

 

[cle]

Thanks for the calling pattern, and SWT, for the context. One would hope that Marston might be revisited in the light of the expressway cancellation.

The calling pattern is also pretty sparse for a new double mainline. But the Marylebone trains are x2 (I think x3 one day) and perhaps there is an allocation for frieght. I think the XC-type ambitions are de-scoped too. The issue is the MKC access I recall, even for the Oxford core services. XC might work towards the MML but that is veering off until the unknown. A more intensive shuttle pattern across the core might be the best we get.

Is there any update on the Aylesbury section go/no-go?

 

[Steve Harris]

The way that EWR is going, we'll all be in flying cars before the train gets to Cambridge.

Exactly.

 

[Mikey C]

I totally agree, but the only way to accomplish that is by lowering commuting by car (either build affordable housing where people work or making public transport commuting more appealing/cheaper than using a car) and getting more freight out of hgv's and onto the trains.

The vast amount of freight traffic on the roads will never return to the railways. The railway will never be able to compete for local journeys, and the passenger stations have long lost their ability to deal with non passenger traffic. There isn't the capacity anyway

 

[Ianno87]

The vast amount of freight traffic on the roads will never return to the railways. The railway will never be able to compete for local journeys, and the passenger stations have long lost their ability to deal with non passenger traffic. There isn't the capacity anyway

But rail can stop more freight in future not having to resort to road, through things like the Ely scheme providing capacity in the future.

 

[The Planner]

Thanks for the calling pattern, and SWT, for the context. One would hope that Marston might be revisited in the light of the expressway cancellation.

The calling pattern is also pretty sparse for a new double mainline. But the Marylebone trains are x2 (I think x3 one day) and perhaps there is an allocation for frieght. I think the XC-type ambitions are de-scoped too. The issue is the MKC access I recall, even for the Oxford core services. XC might work towards the MML but that is veering off until the unknown. A more intensive shuttle pattern across the core might be the best we get.

Is there any update on the Aylesbury section go/no-go?

There is an hourly freight path included. XC won't be using it unless diverted. Aylesbury is "paused", though a lot of that will probably be blamed on HS2 integration.

 

[work-traveller]

Looking at the photo, is the house by the level crossing due to remain or will that be demolished?

The property is remaining, albeit with a railway commissioned at the edge of the property. The owner sold the property to the project, which will then resell it upon completion, with whoever buys it being fully aware of an operational railway at the edge of the property. Whilst the previous owner (understandably) didn't want a railway reopening at the edge of their property, there will be a buyer who is satisfied with the set-up. Heck, with the passage of time (years between acquisition and resell) it's even possible that the project will either break even on the transaction or turn a modest profit.

 

[DavidGrain]

I was surprised by the pause of the Aylesbury with the big HS2construction depot at Calvert as I would have thought that they would get the upgrade done before the site is fully operational as there must surely be rail traffic in and out of the site.

 

[swt_passenger]

Four photos of progress with the Bletchley flyover rebuild on a Twitter post here:

https://twitter.com/Marshrail/status/1372620765032554496/photo/1

Does it look as if the concrete wall units are hollow, presumably they get filled with a continuous concrete pour once up to full height?

 

[The Planner]

I was surprised by the pause of the Aylesbury with the big HS2construction depot at Calvert as I would have thought that they would get the upgrade done before the site is fully operational as there must surely be rail traffic in and out of the site.

The problem being that HS2 is in such close proximity to the Aylesbury line north of Quainton that if EW finished first you would likely still be closing it to enable HS2 construction.

 

[Steve Harris]

The railway will never be able to compete for local journeys, and the passenger stations have long lost their ability to deal with non passenger traffic.

Hence why I said "public transport" rather than railway/trains.

I can assure you, I know that railways won't solve climate change. It will be a plethora of measures that will, which will either not happen or will happen far to late. You know that, I know that. So I think we best leave this discussion there, as we are veering way off topic.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The problem being that HS2 is in such close proximity to the Aylesbury line north of Quainton that if EW finished first you would likely still be closing it to enable HS2 construction.

Is there any risk that HS2 could block or render unviable the formation so Aylesbury can never open, or is work being done to ensure it isn't prevented?

 

[edwin_m]

The problem being that HS2 is in such close proximity to the Aylesbury line north of Quainton that if EW finished first you would likely still be closing it to enable HS2 construction.

I believe HS2 actually sits on the current formation for some distance, so has to re-build it further over. So any work restoring/upgrading it before that would probably be a waste of money.

 

[Mikey C]

Hence why I said "public transport" rather than railway/trains.

I can assure you, I know that railways won't solve climate change. It will be a plethora of measures that will, which will either not happen or will happen far to late. You know that, I know that. So I think we best leave this discussion there, as we are veering way off topic.

When I mentioned local journeys, I was referring to freight rather than passenger use. EWR will give additional capacity for longer distance and heavy things to be carried by rail, but a business in Milton Keynes wanted to deliver something to Bicester or Oxford won't be using EWR, but rather the inadequate road network.

 

[The Planner]

Is there any risk that HS2 could block or render unviable the formation so Aylesbury can never open, or is work being done to ensure it isn't prevented?

I believe HS2 actually sits on the current formation for some distance, so has to re-build it further over. So any work restoring/upgrading it before that would probably be a waste of money.

No, the HS2 design as @edwin_m requires a deviation for the Aylesbury to Calvert route, which will have to happen regardless of E-W.

 

[Brissle Girl]

Is there a risk the re-alignment could be descoped as part of an HS2 cost saving exercise, and thus the line closed, with freight to Calvert being redirected?