East-West Rail (EWR) countdown to entry into service

[birchesgreen]

Winslow Station just now. Don't worry, last video from me today!

Loving your work!

 

[sqwizz]

Thanks birchesgreen Just grabbing what I can with my phone while out on my run, it's just so exciting seeing the line being used!
There is one more of the IET that I forgot to post earlier, but I won't spam the thread again until we see something new (Class 196?)

 

[The Planner]

O/T a little, but do we think Chiltern will ever go back to competing on journey time on Oxford - ie will they revert to a pre-covid timetable - or are their Oxfords now resigned for intermediate journeys and connections, vs London-Oxford speed? I personally think a mix would be good (Oxford Parkway users I am sure would like the fast services) - maybe eventually 3tph with 1 fast and 2 of varying patterns.

Back on topic, this would of course up the Oxford-Bicester frequency to 5tph. And if additional services are added to Bletchley/Bedford, we'd see 6-7. Not counting my chickens on Cambridge just yet.

Another slightly tangential question - do we think there might be interest in starting up a second Marston service, replicating the faster EWR stopping pattern - to start to seed that connection at Bletchley, and the demand for faster journeys across there? It could feed an Oxford service, timetable-wise. Or would the MV section require a lot of improvement work which means it's not worth investing in building the customer base and pattern up?

5tph is going to cause issues at Oxford as it stands.

But GWR services wouldn't be travelling from Bletchley/MK to Euston, people would change on to existing LNWR or Avanti ones so there would be no path requirement into Euston - it gets around the path limits.
This is only really relevant for those around Oxford or the Cotswolds.
The current 51-55minute GWR best journey times for Oxford to Paddington increase to 80minutes for Oxford - Marylebone with Chiltern (with normal stopping pattern) or 37 minutes for Oxford to Bletchley and 30minutes on LNWR for Bletchley to Euston so could potentially still be quicker than Chiltern even with wait and interchange at Bletchley and Euston may be a more useful London destination for some.

I wouldnt be so sure.

 

[AeM]

Latest from NR:

https://www.networkrailmediacentre....n-oxford-and-milton-keynes-for-east-west-rail

 

[Sun Chariot]

Here's a small selection of my photos from today's workings. Two photos attached, more linked in my photos thread here:

Loco hauled around Havant

A railway reborn. The Varsity Line - from Oxford to Cambridge - is long gone; however, 2025 sees re-opening of the Bicester to Bletchley section. This week, Chiltern and GWR are conducting equipment and gauging tests; with 100mph running in places. Today's paths find a bit of sunshine, too! I...

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[Tilting007]

I don't understand that. If you want to go between the WCML and North Pole, why would you go all those miles via Oxford instead of via Willesden?

I agree. But that is what has been officially given as the reason so I can only assume it is when the GW is blocked meaning there is no access with Willesden South West Sidings..

GWR may have other plans but that is the reason given.

 

[Neen Sollars]

Have a cab ride on rusty rails.

 

[MerlinRail 804]

Apologies if this is a slightly stupid question: Are the test runs gonna be running most days? I wouldn’t expect them to be every day but surely most days would be sensible for finding the issues.

 

[DavidGrain]

Apologies if this is a slightly stupid question: Are the test runs gonna be running most days? I wouldn’t expect them to be every day but surely most days would be sensible for finding the issues.

Chiltern and GWR shown for Mon to Thur. GWR showing for Friday but not Chiltern

 

[12LDA28C]

Apologies if this is a slightly stupid question: Are the test runs gonna be running most days? I wouldn’t expect them to be every day but surely most days would be sensible for finding the issues.

Chiltern trains are running to test the GSM-R only. Any issues should certainly be identified in four days of running.

O/T a little, but do we think Chiltern will ever go back to competing on journey time on Oxford - ie will they revert to a pre-covid timetable - or are their Oxfords now resigned for intermediate journeys and connections, vs London-Oxford speed? I personally think a mix would be good (Oxford Parkway users I am sure would like the fast services) - maybe eventually 3tph with 1 fast and 2 of varying patterns.

Back on topic, this would of course up the Oxford-Bicester frequency to 5tph. And if additional services are added to Bletchley/Bedford, we'd see 6-7. Not counting my chickens on Cambridge just yet.

Another slightly tangential question - do we think there might be interest in starting up a second Marston service, replicating the faster EWR stopping pattern - to start to seed that connection at Bletchley, and the demand for faster journeys across there? It could feed an Oxford service, timetable-wise. Or would the MV section require a lot of improvement work which means it's not worth investing in building the customer base and pattern up?

Chiltern don’t currently have the stock available to return to a pre-Covid timetable. That’s why the Oxfords now stop at various intermediate stations and take longer to complete the journey as a result. If the 68s and Mk5s get cascaded to Chiltern then things might change.

 

[Mark24]

What are the two central rails used for on Bletchley flyover?

 

[507020]

How common is overcrowding between Oxford and Bicester (currently the most popular flow from Oxford except for Paddington) on existing services? I doubt it would happen frequently, but it wouldn't be good if demand for Bicester ends up leaving too little space for Winslow / Milton Keynes passengers.

Oxford - Bicester Village will see a doubling in frequency and capacity will be split between Winslow/Bletchley/Milton Keynes Central only and stations to Marylebone. The issue is that while Marylebone services are a variety of train lengths, even a 2 car 165 has many, many more seats than a 196.

It is a shame that such awful units are proposed for use on the new service. The 196s are the worst on the network and CAF have really disgraced themselves compared to their other GB products.

There is turnback facility at Bletchley for trains from the West in either platform, so running Oxford-Bletchley services with strengthened LNWR formations on WCML trains stopping at Bletchley would certainly be a possible option, inconvenient as the change would be.

You can terminate at Bicester Village. If many people leave the Chiltern service there, then it might be a good place for GWR to dump people from Great Malvern and Bristol, to wait for a service to Marylebone to empty out without taking up platforms at Oxford.

What are the two central rails used for on Bletchley flyover?

My understanding is that 4 rails like this on bridges and viaducts are simply used for strengthening, but some say they would prevent the train from falling off in the event of a derailment.

 

[Snow1964]

What are the two central rails used for on Bletchley flyover?

Usually known as guard rails, they have been used for decades and stop a derailed wagon from moving too far to the side and falling off the structure. Most viaducts without substantial side walls have them.

An odd wagon being derailed was not unheard of in days of 4 wheel wagons. Nowadays with better couplings likely to be multiple vehicles, and don't want them falling off tall structure.

 

[Mark24]

Usually known as guard rails, they have been used for decades and stop a derailed wagon from moving to far to the side and falling off the structure.

That makes sense. Thanks

 

[DarloRich]

Chiltern are supposed to run to Fenny Stratford today using the Bedford facing line over the single track viaduct from the high level platforms at Bletchley

 

[IslandLine101]

Why are GWR playing such an active part in testing given there are no plans for them to regularly run over the finished line?

 

[12LDA28C]

Chiltern are supposed to run to Fenny Stratford today using the Bedford facing line over the single track viaduct from the high level platforms at Bletchley

EWR trains will need to reverse at Fenny in order to access Bletchley depot.

 

[DarloRich]

EWR trains will need to reverse at Fenny in order to access Bletchley depot.

indeed - just interested they are using the Cambridge flyover at this early stage. There is a lot of local chatter that it is, erm, chuffed ( it isn't obviously)

 

[cle]

Why are GWR playing such an active part in testing given there are no plans for them to regularly run over the finished line?

Interesting that it times up with the launch of Bristol-Oxford direct services, which use the same stock. Wishful thinking I'm sure, but good to at least clear it and know it's possible one day.

Can a 5 car 80x platform at every EWR station? Inc MKC 2a?

 

[eastdyke]

Interesting that it times up with the launch of Bristol-Oxford direct services, which use the same stock. Wishful thinking I'm sure, but good to at least clear it and know it's possible one day.

Can a 5 car 80x platform at every EWR station? Inc MKC 2a?

The Bletchley HL and Winslow platforms included in the approved TWAO were 106m, but I am not sure what was built bearing in mind the revised Safety areas at the platform ends. That is to say do the barriered areas reduce the 106m or were they added on?

5 car 80x are just short of 130m.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The Bletchley HL and Winslow platforms included in the approved TWAO were 106m, but I am not sure what was built bearing in mind the revised Safety areas at the platform ends. That is to say do the barriered areas reduce the 106m or were they added on?

5 car 80x are just short of 130m.

Though if you did run an MKC-Bristol via Oxford XC-a-like service (or indeed divert actual XC that way for engineering works, which I would be surprised not to see at some point) I doubt it would call at Bletchley or Winslow, so it probably doesn't matter.

 

[zwk500]

The Bletchley HL and Winslow platforms included in the approved TWAO were 106m, but I am not sure what was built bearing in mind the revised Safety areas at the platform ends. That is to say do the barriered areas reduce the 106m or were they added on?

5 car 80x are just short of 130m.

106m Operational Length for Bletchley 7/8 and Winslow is stated in the TPRs. (2025 v4).
MK 2A is 124m, for reference.

 

[eastdyke]

Though if you did run an MKC-Bristol via Oxford XC-a-like service (or indeed divert actual XC that way for engineering works, which I would be surprised not to see at some point) I doubt it would call at Bletchley or Winslow, so it probably doesn't matter.

Without getting too far ahead here, the full benefits of a Bristol - EWR service would need to go to Cambridge so BLU for best connectivity please!

106m Operational Length for Bletchley 7/8 and Winslow is stated in the TPRs. (2025 v4).
MK 2A is 124m, for reference.

Thanks.
So the platforms were built longer then, from seeing a flypast the barriered sections must be around 5-6m [guess].

 

[DarloRich]

Can a 5 car 80x platform at every EWR station? Inc MKC 2a?

a 4 car 377 just fits in MKC 2A

 

[TurboMan]

Why are GWR playing such an active part in testing given there are no plans for them to regularly run over the finished line?

Preparation for a possible diversionary route for when the GWML is closed at Old Oak for HS2.

 

[12LDA28C]

Interesting that it times up with the launch of Bristol-Oxford direct services, which use the same stock. Wishful thinking I'm sure, but good to at least clear it and know it's possible one day.

Can a 5 car 80x platform at every EWR station? Inc MKC 2a?

No. Winslow and Bletchley High Level are 4-car platforms.

 

[dan4291]

The first Chiltern train to run on this line had a metal plate on the front that said '84 C'. Does anyone know what that is in reference to?

 

[zwk500]

The first Chiltern train to run on this line had a metal plate on the front that said '84 C'. Does anyone know what that is in reference to?

Shed 84C was Banbury, so perhaps a reference to which depot's drivers got the honour of the first train over the line? And at the very end of the video you can see 'Banbury Drivers' on the plate.

 

[12LDA28C]

a 4 car 377 just fits in MKC 2A

Strange, as the length of Platform 2A is 124m, which should be able to accommodate a 5-car train.

 

[swt_passenger]

The first Chiltern train to run on this line had a metal plate on the front that said '84 C'. Does anyone know what that is in reference to?

Banbury depot. It was mentioned on Monday in the earlier infrastructure thread:

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

I'm intrigued what diversions GWR would be likely to do using EWR, as they'd be incredibly roundabout if they were for instance going to Euston via Oxford and a reverse at Milton Keynes Central - you'd be adding on probably nearly two hours. Or is this on behalf of Avanti who might well want to...

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