Yes. I visited the site a few years ago and it seemed so forlorn with the obsolete signs and overgrown tracks at the station.Crossing the road I think.
I think they're well beyond that. Was driving past Newton Longville in the summer, and saw engineering crews on the embankments. I don't know if they were doing earthworks or tree clearance, but they had already set up a worksite for lorries etc.I've seen this story on a few sites: https://www.railwaygazette.com/uk/east-west-rail-surveys-underway/57827.article
I assume this is referring solely to the Bedford-Cambridge section? It's not clear from the article, which refers to the entire Oxford-Cambridge route, but I assume the environmental surveys have already been carried out west of Bletchley?
East West Rail progress(@ProgressEast): Verney Junction platforms removed #eastwestrail
a little update. Sad day for most of us who like railway history. Verney Junctions platforms(The furthest most point the Metropolitan Railway got to) have been demolished to make way for the link.
I shall very much look forward to going on it, am I right in saying it will be double track throughout at up to 100mph and will open entirely by 2025-26?I can understand the sadness and sentiment of those who mourn the removal of old platforms from stations which will not be restored, especially those who remember the line in use, but remember, the line itself is rising from the dead, and this is something to celebrate. I for one am delighted as it’s a line I’m actually likely to use on a regular basis.
Also seen as the Bletchley flyover is being demolished, is there any idea what it's replacement will be like and when it will be completed?
Spans over the WCML are just a concrete box as far as I am aware.As it was a listed structure, I would expect its replacement will look exactly the same as the original, but without the "concrete cancer" (rusted reinforcement steels).
I shall very much look forward to going on it, am I right in saying it will be double track throughout at up to 100mph and will open entirely by 2025-26?
Ok, nice. I've always thought it was a unique feature, glad it will be a similar structure. Although will it be different in some way to allow for Bletchley High-Level platforms 7 & 8 to be built?As it was a listed structure, I would expect its replacement will look exactly the same as the original, but without the "concrete cancer" (rusted reinforcement steels).
Also, nice. Look forward to that, so EWR will directly link to or provide easier links to the WCML, MML, ECML, GEML and CML? If so, then wow, it will transform links across the country!Double track from Bicester to Bletchley, opening 2024/5, assuming Governement funds it.
Ok, nice. I've always thought it was a unique feature, glad it will be a similar structure. Although will it be different in some way to allow for Bletchley High-Level platforms 7 & 8 to be built?
Also, nice. Look forward to that, so EWR will directly link to or provide easier links to the WCML, MML, ECML, GEML and CML? If so, then wow, it will transform links across the country!
Good.The line from Aylesbury to join the main part of EWR will still be single track but will be upgraded.
Oh ok right, we shall see the result soon.It's not a complete replacement, just 14 spans that need replacing to meet modern standards. So I imagine it will be pretty similar apart from the platforms.
Only as far as the MML by 2024/2025. The section to Cambridge is a fair way away yet.
There is an engineering drawing in post #3838 in this thread. As said the bit over the WCML will be a box structure, but either side of that it will be similar to what’s already there.I shall very much look forward to going on it, am I right in saying it will be double track throughout at up to 100mph and will open entirely by 2025-26?
Also seen as the Bletchley flyover is being demolished, is there any idea what it's replacement will be like and when it will be completed?
Have they decided the route to get to Cambridge yet? Will they reuse the old St Johns station as I recall there was a chance of that.
Thanks for that.There is an engineering drawing in post #3838 in this thread. As said the bit over the WCML will be a box structure, but either side of that it will be similar to what’s already there.
I also uploaded a pdf “side view” of the flyover in post #3769, which shows which piers will be replaced and which will be strengthened.
I see what you mean about it being early days for the route to Cambridge.Have they decided the route? Yep: https://eastwestrail.co.uk/the-project/central-section (where "decided the route" means "decided which crayon line they're going to develop into a route")
Will they use St Johns? No.
Also, is the plan to electrify it in about a decades time?
I'm sceptical too, as less than half of the UK railway is electrified, so that instantly makes me sceptical.Some people on here seem to think it electrification will be finished about 4 years post opening.
I'm personally sceptical giving the absence of any concrete plans so far.