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East-West Rail (EWR): Oxford-Bletchley construction progress

Trainee9

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Bletchley Viaduct: The span across piers 28-27 next to Buckingham Road still lacks an edge beam. It is reported elsewhere that it would not fit and had to be returned (no sign of it on site this morning). The giant crane has also gone as it was contracted to be elsewhere.
 

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8128

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59CosG95

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The London Road level crossing in Bicester is going to be shut for five days over the August bank holiday weekend (under an EQR order):

Interested to know whether it's just 'track stuff', or whether it is the promised signaling upgrade to the level crossing.

(https://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/upcoming-engineering says the closure is between Wembley Stadium and Bicester.)
There'll probably be other works going on in that timeframe south of Bicester, as is often the case on BHs.
 

The Planner

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The London Road level crossing in Bicester is going to be shut for five days over the August bank holiday weekend (under an EQR order):

Interested to know whether it's just 'track stuff', or whether it is the promised signaling upgrade to the level crossing.

(https://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/upcoming-engineering says the closure is between Wembley Stadium and Bicester.)
It doesn't say that, it says limited through trains on August Bank Holiday. The block is between Haddenham and Bicester for the signalling fringe change as part of East West. The boundary of control is being established between Marylebone and Rugby ROC. There is single line working from Oxford Parkway to Bicester Village. Earthworks at Piddington as well.
 

8128

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It doesn't say that, it says limited through trains on August Bank Holiday. The block is between Haddenham and Bicester for the signalling fringe change as part of East West. The boundary of control is being established between Marylebone and Rugby ROC. There is single line working from Oxford Parkway to Bicester Village. Earthworks at Piddington as well.
Which part of that necessitates the level crossing being shut?

What is an EQR order?
I am familiar with normal road closures involving railways but never heard of EQR before.
Sorry, that was a typo. I meant EWR.
 

ashkeba

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It is worth pointing out that Brunel or Stephenson would have used pre-cast concrete had it been available to them, they chose the most appropriate materials and methods available to them at the time
Maybe but Brunel often used cosmetic façades that had no engineering reasons, even if only to be seen by a few walkers and riders and railway workers. I think he would have done something more interesting than flat concrete. Maybe a liner in the form to make the surface look like stone blocks?
 

DarloRich

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I think he would have done something more interesting than flat concrete. Maybe a liner in the form to make the surface look like stone blocks?

Or perhaps, being a decent engineer, he would be trying to use the newest materials that offered him the best return for his investors money and mean they didn't have to spend loads of money looking after the structure during its life.

Now, you could say the structure could be made to look less harsh or stark (which is a fair point) but that costs money you need to take from elsewhere in the project. Bletcho is hardly an area of outstanding natural beauty or interesting architecture. I mean, it isn't Fenny Stratford!
 

ashkeba

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Now, you could say the structure could be made to look less harsh or stark (which is a fair point) but that costs money you need to take from elsewhere in the project. Bletcho is hardly an area of outstanding natural beauty or interesting architecture. I mean, it isn't Fenny Stratford!
I thought we were discussing somewhere like Launton.

How much would a multiuse liner in the concrete former cost? More or less percent than the unnecessary cosmetic portals on Box Tunnel, or the Doric pillars of Maidenhead Bridge? I believe Brunel would have built beautiful as well as functional.
 

zwk500

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I thought we were discussing somewhere like Launton.

How much would a multiuse liner in the concrete former cost? More or less percent than the unnecessary cosmetic portals on Box Tunnel, or the Doric pillars of Maidenhead Bridge? I believe Brunel would have built beautiful as well as functional.
Aren't those aesthetic flourishes usually put in because some Lord or other demanded it in recompense for having his land ruined by the railway?
 

Trainee9

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Bletchley Viaduct: Today the last edge beam on the section spanning piers 28-27 was lowered into place by a giant red crane. In the closed section of the Buckingham Road a fleet of heavy trucks was waiting to take away the components of the crane.
 

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swt_passenger

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Bletchley Viaduct: Today the last edge beam on the section spanning piers 28-27 was lowered into place by a giant red crane. In the closed section of the Buckingham Road a fleet of heavy trucks was waiting to take away the components of the crane.
Thanks for the update. Does that mean the north end of the viaduct is continuous now, between the box and the end of the embankment where the station will be?
 

Hughby

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Thanks for the update. Does that mean the north end of the viaduct is continuous now, between the box and the end of the embankment where the station will be?
Not quite - there are two gaps. One is the small gap between the box over the WCML and an original pier ( sorry, I don't know the pier numbers). The second is behind the Golden Curry restaurant.


For those interested in progress it's worth keeping an eye on https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/i...t-west-rail-bletchley-to-oxford-line/page/85/
 

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swt_passenger

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8128

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The London Road level crossing in Bicester is going to be shut for five days over the August bank holiday weekend (under an EWR order):

Interested to know whether it's just 'track stuff', or whether it is the promised signaling upgrade to the level crossing.
Its interlocked into the signalling. If you are messing with that then it takes the LC out.

For anyone interested, Network Rail have confirmed that one of the effects of the signalling upgrade will be too reduce the amount of time the LC is down.
 

Trainee9

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Bletchley Viaduct: Following some crane action overnight, piers 26-25 have now been spanned with concrete beams (the gap behind the Golden Curry takeaway). The remaining gaps are the small angled gap between the viaduct and the north end of the Box, and the gap 17A-16 at the southern end.
The Buckingham Road was re-opened to traffic a few days ago.
Update 12 Aug: Some scaffolding has appeared at the north-eastern corner of the Box, suggesting that the wedge-shaped connection to the viaduct is going to be cast in situ. A post elsewhere notes that the beams for the gap 17A-16 have been delayed.
 

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alexx

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The London Road level crossing in Bicester is going to be shut for five days over the August bank holiday weekend (under an EQR order):

Interested to know whether it's just 'track stuff', or whether it is the promised signaling upgrade to the level crossing.

(https://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/upcoming-engineering says the closure is between Wembley Stadium and Bicester.)

There's also a minor closure this weekend, from 10pm Sunday to 6am Monday if I recall. Maybe connected to the work over the bank holiday weekend, maybe not. The pedestrian/cyclist crossing lights have been installed but covered for a few weeks so perhaps they're going to get these working. Will update you on Monday if anything seems different.
 

Trainee9

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Bletchley Viaduct: Some scaffolding has appeared at the north-eastern corner of the Box, suggesting that the wedge-shaped connection to the viaduct is going to be cast in situ. On the span by the Buckingham Road, some oddly bulky parapet blocks have appeared on the east side. They look like they would topple off if not secured in place.
Update Tuesday: Yesterday a green heavy duty crane could be seen at the south-western end of the Water Eaton Road compound. This morning several beams were in place across the final gap (image 1001), and two more waiting on lorries to be lifted.
 

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CyrusWuff

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Chiltern have no service between Bicester South Junction and Bicester Village all this weekend (nominally 0215 on Saturday to 0510 on Tuesday, with a full "wheels free" shutdown of Marylebone IECC in the early hours of Sunday) to allow for installation of additional signals between London Road level crossing and Gavray Junction to reduce the length of time the barriers are down, and also to alter the protection arrangements so that EWR engineering trains can access the route towards Claydon.

Trains from Marylebone that would normally run to Oxford will terminate at Bicester North, buses between Bicester North and Bicester Village (supplementing the normal Bicester Village shuttle bus) and a shuttle train service between Bicester Village and Oxford. Pilot working is due to be in place between Bicester Village and Oxford Parkway on Sunday and Monday.
 

eastdyke

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Bletchley station new platforms.

This popped up in my feed yesterday, from Buckinghamshire live: [I do dislike 'restored Varsity Line' but hey ho]

East West Rail: New Bletchley station first look on the soon-to-be restored ‘Varsity Line’


Three computer generated images supplied by VolkerFitzpatrick have been reproduced in the linked piece. Two images are annotated incorrectly, the 'from the north' is actually from the south and vice versa.
I attach just the view that shows the platforms (from the north) and raise 2 comments:
1. The platforms are exposed. Never mind a howling storm, just a whiff of rain or wind and nobody will leave the comparative comfort of the very small area at the top of the lift shafts/stairs.
2. The cattle pens safety refuge areas and the sloping walkways to them can be seen off the platform ends. Sure one hopes that they will never be needed but they are there for that eventuality. Persuading anyone to use them even under an obvious need would be challenging. [And just how were they sized anyway? I did try to work it out at the design stage and came up with quite a small capacity but then got overwhelmed by personal events before I could look further]


1630138869945.png

These computer images show the soon-to-be built train platforms connecting Bletchley to the restored Varsity Line which once transported Britain’s top wartime codebreakers.

The Bletchley High-Level Station project will see two new platforms added to the existing railway station, connecting it to the new East West Rail Line.

This will rejoin the disconnected Oxford–Bicester and Marston Vale Lines, restoring the so-called Varsity Line which linked Oxford and Cambridge from 1845 to 1967.

This line played a crucial role in World War II, transporting academics from Britain's elite universities to do their vital work at Bletchley Park – home of the Enigma codebreakers.

The new platforms are due to be opened in 2024, with an extension of the existing pedestrian bridge connecting them to Bletchley’s existing concourse.

Work has already begun on demolishing the station’s flyover, and foundations for the bridge extension have now been laid.

Construction of the new platforms is due to begin in spring of 2022. The project will be completed by contractor VolkerFitzpatrick, which promises minimal disruption to passengers..

John Cox, the firm’s managing director for rail, said: “Our team is immensely proud to be undertaking these key upgrades.

“We also hope to support employment opportunities in the area, and any available positions will be posted on our job portal.”

After serving as a vital passenger and freight route throughout the war, avoiding the Luftwaffe bombing raids which devastated London, the Varsity Line was closed in 1967.

British main line railways were nationalised in 1948, and the route had experienced falling demand and increasing operational costs since the war’s end.

While the Oxford–Bicester and Marston Vale Lines remained, passengers travelling onward were required to take a bus between Bicester and Bletchley.

Plans to revitalise the entire route were first proposed in 1995 and got underway in 2015, now designated a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project.

East West Rail will connect the Great Western, Chiltern, West Coast, Midland, East Coast, West Anglia, Great Eastern and Cotswold main lines, all while avoiding London congestion.

VolkerFitzpatrick says it will “bring people closer to the things that matter most” including jobs and homes, providing “reliable, quick, environmentally sustainable journeys and more affordable travel”.
 

thomalex

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The station and viaduct look pretty dire if I'm honest. I can see the argument that adding embellishments would add cost to the project that could be better spent elsewhere but part of the challenge with engineering is integrating some decent design into the fundamental structure which doesn't incur additional cost.

Take the viaduct for example, some curves or tapering rather than slab sides for the supports and subtle arching for each of the decks would make the whole thing look much more considered.
 

100andthirty

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What seems to be missing from the design is an entrance on the shopping centre side of the railway which would open up the station to "the other side of the tracks".
 

swt_passenger

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Bletchley station new platforms.

This popped up in my feed yesterday, from Buckinghamshire live: [I do dislike 'restored Varsity Line' but hey ho]



Three computer generated images supplied by VolkerFitzpatrick have been reproduced in the linked piece. Two images are annotated incorrectly, the 'from the north' is actually from the south and vice versa.
I attach just the view that shows the platforms (from the north) and raise 2 comments:
1. The platforms are exposed. Never mind a howling storm, just a whiff of rain or wind and nobody will leave the comparative comfort of the very small area at the top of the lift shafts/stairs.
2. The cattle pens safety refuge areas and the sloping walkways to them can be seen off the platform ends. Sure one hopes that they will never be needed but they are there for that eventuality. Persuading anyone to use them even under an obvious need would be challenging. [And just how were they sized anyway? I did try to work it out at the design stage and came up with quite a small capacity but then got overwhelmed by personal events before I could look further]


View attachment 101851
Those images have been doing the rounds for a while, the local media site seems just playing catch up. My post #166 quoting the contract award news includes the same stuff, but I’m fairly sure it’s been used before in previous announcements.
 

eastdyke

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Those images have been doing the rounds for a while, the local media site seems just playing catch up. My post #166 quoting the contract award news includes the same stuff, but I’m fairly sure it’s been used before in previous announcements.
Thanks, yes you are right and I've not been keeping up either :)
 

swt_passenger

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Thanks, yes you are right and I've not been keeping up either :)
I didn’t think those drawings were very accurate at all either, they surely must predate the decision to remove the existing viaduct sections, they seem to show the original concrete balustrades, (is that the right term?) but significantly they don’t show the WCML box structure.
 

eastdyke

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I didn’t think those drawings were very accurate at all either, they surely must predate the decision to remove the existing viaduct sections, they seem to show the original concrete balustrades, (is that the right term?) but significantly they don’t show the WCML box structure.
When I was last taking an interest, the TWA/Planning drawings were predicated on retaining a 'refurbished' viaduct.
Both the exposed nature of the platforms/minimal passenger shelter and [small] safety refuge areas were also part of those drawings.

Perhaps more shelters and enlarged safety refuge areas are now planned?
 

mr_jrt

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Which way would any platform extensions for 8/12 car trains go? Presumably from the northern end? Given the viaduct works, would it have made sense to have built if nothing else, at least the foundations for them into the new structures?
 

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