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

[Class 170101]

What has absolute block got to do with the original question asked? Clearly EWR will not be absolute block.

My point being can you install signals that cannot show a stop (red) aspect anymore?

 

[zwk500]

My point being can you install signals that cannot show a stop (red) aspect anymore?

Yes. Perfectly normal to install signals without red aspects.

 

[Mikey C]

If even 10% of the traffic goes by train you'll need more than a couple of 4 car units every 30 minutes. The Vale line services will be impacted as well. It will be interesting to see how its handled. I recently went to the Universal park in Osaka Japan and the trains were rammed with people.

I imagine the main rail passenger flow, indeed the most important flow, will be from London on the Thameslink, rather than EWR. I can't imagine Universal will expect people to go to Bedford and change onto EWR to return to Kempton Hardwick.

 

[The Planner]

My point being can you install signals that cannot show a stop (red) aspect anymore?

You do if you are transitioning between 3 to 4 aspect.

 

[12LDA28C]

My point being can you install signals that cannot show a stop (red) aspect anymore?

There are plenty of colour light distant signals on the Chiltern route already, all worked under TCB.

 

[Mark24]

Huge milestone in major railway project welcomed for town

A huge milestone in the first connection stage of East West Rail between Bicester and Bletchley is cause for celebration, says councillor

www.oxfordmail.co.uk

 

[richieb1971]

The above report mentioned a rail construction train of which there are 2 in the country. I never saw any such train the pics. Looked like it was laid in a traditional way to me.

 

[Last Hurrah]

Wouldn’t this be the optimum time to install foundation piling / electrification masts before any train service is introduced, even if wires were to follow at a later date

 

[12LDA28C]

Wouldn’t this be the optimum time to install foundation piling / electrification masts before any train service is introduced, even if wires were to follow at a later date

It would, but that would add extra cost and won't happen. It wasn't done at the western end of the route between Bicester and Oxford either although at least bridges were gauged for OHLE.

 

[Benjwri]

The above report mentioned a rail construction train of which there are 2 in the country. I never saw any such train the pics. Looked like it was laid in a traditional way to me.

The ‘NTC’ (New Track Construction Machine) is shown in the tbumbnail picture of that article, and can be seen in this video.

 

[Elecman]

Wouldn’t this be the optimum time to install foundation piling / electrification masts before any train service is introduced, even if wires were to follow at a later date

Yes any sensible sane government would authorise such a thing.. sadly we don’t have one of those

 

[JamesT]

It would, but that would add extra cost and won't happen. It wasn't done at the western end of the route between Bicester and Oxford either although at least bridges were gauged for OHLE.

My understanding from previous posts is that bridges that required work were sorted out, but there are bridges on the route that would have to be replaced for electrification.

 

[Elecman]

My understanding from previous posts is that bridges that required work were sorted out, but there are bridges on the route that would have to be replaced for electrification.

Correct

 

[swt_passenger]

The above report mentioned a rail construction train of which there are 2 in the country. I never saw any such train the pics. Looked like it was laid in a traditional way to me.

Please see post #1399 or #1405 for relatively recent photos of the Balfour Beatty new track construction train or ‘NTC’, it’s been covered in both photos and videos many times previously in this thread.

 

[al green]

My understanding from previous posts is that bridges that required work were sorted out, but there are bridges on the route that would have to be replaced for electrification.

During the EWR TWAO public inquiry I asked a couple of questions about this.
Questions and responses from NR below. From Inquiry Doc NR 211

3. The cost of replacing those existing bridges between Bicester and Bletchley
that would need to be replaced/subject to some works to enable electrification
but which are not currently proposed to be replaced?

There are 5 structures along this route which would require partial or complete
demolition followed by replacement with new structures to provide for future
electrification. The total cost to the project of these works would be
approximately £34.5m.


4. The cost difference between works to those bridges before EWR2 becomes
operational as compared to after it has become operational?

The total cost of the above works once EWR2 has become operational would be
approximately £41.8m. This means that the difference in cost between doing the
works before EWR2 becomes operational and afterwards is approximately £7.3m.

 

[Elecman]

Another unnecessary wasted extra cost due to Government incompetance

 

[chris2]

Is there an estimate cost for electrification of the line?

 

[Elecman]

Woukd be a good place to have used the High Output train as all the cables are in a known location away from the cess and now we use standardised foundation piles and depths

 

[jfowkes]

All sleepers and rails have now been laid between Bicester and Bletchley, as reported by Phil Marsh on twitter:

THE BIG ONE FOLKS! @VolkerRailUK have laid the final sleeper and rails in the @HS2ltd intersection area at Calvert this week.

 

[richieb1971]

Nice to see that we have a link to East to West through from Bletchley to Oxford again.

Are there any good observation areas planned for where HS2 and EWR cross paths? For those of us who love our trains with 2 brand new railways it does seem like a good place to have one. I know its not in the mandate but I find network rail love hiding their railway these days behind high walls and fences. The best places are those left alone from yesteryear.

 

[swt_passenger]

Nice to see that we have a link to East to West through from Bletchley to Oxford again.

Are there any good observation areas planned for where HS2 and EWR cross paths? For those of us who love our trains with 2 brand new railways it does seem like a good place to have one. I know its not in the mandate but I find network rail love hiding their railway these days behind high walls and fences. The best places are those left alone from yesteryear.

A bit early to say, because modern bridges over railways have such high parapets, but somewhere on the recently opened road that passes under EWR but then rises to go over HS2 just north of the intersection might allow views of the HS2/EWR bridge. Somewhere looking southwards from the top right of the first photo in post #1378?

But from what the earlier photos of work in progress show it looks like there won’t be any footpaths alongside the new roads, I suppose that’s fairly normal for the minor roads in the area.

 

[Oxfordblues]

2 brand new railways

Not exactly "brand" new: it's where the LNWR Oxford branch crossed the Great Central Railway.

 

[richieb1971]

Not exactly "brand" new: it's where the LNWR Oxford branch crossed the Great Central Railway.

It's new as in new build. The land there doesn't look anything like it did before so what goes there is anyone's guess.

 

[Mark24]

Not exactly "brand" new: it's where the LNWR Oxford branch crossed the Great Central Railway.

I don’t think there had been any trace of the old great central railway bridge even before the HS2/East West Rail works started.
I would love to see a photo of the original bridge if anyone has a copy of it.

 

[Benjwri]

I would love to see a photo of the original bridge if anyone has a copy of it.

Railway Archive holds a photo, I will not repost the image here, but it is available on their website at this link.

I don’t think there had been any trace of the old great central railway bridge even before the HS2/East West Rail works started

You are correct, there wasn't, not that it would've been much use, given the crossing is actually reversed now, GC used to travel over the LNWR, whereas HS2 will travel under EWR/

 

[zwk500]

Are there any good observation areas planned for where HS2 and EWR cross paths? For those of us who love our trains with 2 brand new railways it does seem like a good place to have one. I know its not in the mandate but I find network rail love hiding their railway these days behind high walls and fences. The best places are those left alone from yesteryear.

There will be nothing explicitly planned as part of either project, due to conflict with the neighbours. Similar reasons are behind the increasing prevalence of fences and walls (alongside trespass). 1.8m parapets required for electrification also don't help matters where provided. The HS2 Maintenance depot is planned for the North-East corner of the crossing so there almost certainly won't be a vantage point on that side. The public road nearby is planned to go under EWR but I'm not sure if it might go over HS2 and this may provide an opportunity, even without a footpath.

 

[fishwomp]

The public road nearby is planned to go under EWR but I'm not sure if it might go over HS2 and this may provide an opportunity, even without a footpath.

Northwest of the crossing of EWR/HS2 is a bridge over HS2 (road must be almost open now..) and due west of intersection on EWR is also an overbridge - there have been a few photos from that point. Also the overbridge at Calvert Station may with a zoom catch movements on both lines.

 

[swt_passenger]

The public road nearby is planned to go under EWR but I'm not sure if it might go over HS2 and this may provide an opportunity, even without a footpath.

It definitely does go under EWR (that’s already opened) and then rise over HS2. You can see the latter bridge being built in the first photo in #1378

 

[Mark24]

Railway Archive holds a photo, I will not repost the image here, but it is available on their website at this link.


You are correct, there wasn't, not that it would've been much use, given the crossing is actually reversed now, GC used to travel over the LNWR, whereas HS2 will travel under EWR/

Thanks @Benjwri. Some very interesting photos on that link.

Nice to see that we have a link to East to West through from Bletchley to Oxford again.

Are there any good observation areas planned for where HS2 and EWR cross paths? For those of us who love our trains with 2 brand new railways it does seem like a good place to have one. I know its not in the mandate but I find network rail love hiding their railway these days behind high walls and fences. The best places are those left alone from yesteryear.

There was a footpath from Charndon to Steeple Claydon, just north of where East West Rail crosses HS2, as shown on the ordinance survey map below. I’m sure this path will have to be reinstated, presumably with a footbridge? Hopefully offering some good views of both E/W and HS2.

 

[The Planner]

Thanks @Benjwri. Some very interesting photos on that link.


There was a footpath from Charndon to Steeple Claydon, just north of where East West Rail crosses HS2, as shown on the ordinance survey map below. I’m sure this path will have to be reinstated, presumably with a footbridge? Hopefully offering some good views of both E/W and HS2.

View attachment 150375

That will be bang smack inside the HS2 depot. It will be diverted or stopped up.