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

[LUYMun]

Some construction updates:

Bletchley High Level Station
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Bletchley Flyover
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Salden Wood
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Swanbourne Station (former site)
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Moco Farm (bridge jacking trail)
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Winslow Station
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Verney Junction (former site)
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Claydon Loop (east end)
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Some construction updates (2 of 2):

Claydon Loop (+ HS2 Interchange & Claydon Curve)
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HS2 Calvert IMD Turnout
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Launton Station (former site)
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Charbridge Lane
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That looks fab - can't wait for it to open!

 

[AeM]

That looks fab - can't wait for it to open!

Great pics, many thanks!

 

[12LDA28C]

Neither here nor there, you can feed any engineering trains in from the south.

...assuming the track has been laid to allow that.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Thank you for all the replies it's very interesting to read , although I do not profess to funky understand the technical sides , but that description of the experiment from lowering mine speeds only to slowly increase them , means they should have if possible or workable , lowered the track , I guess that eoukd have been cheaper, but not sure if that would have been possible.
Really as was said they should have just altered it re built the bridge , and for aesthetic reasons in countryside they could have built a modern structure and refaced it with the old dressed stone work , to blend in better , than some motorway style modern bridge . Like they have at Leven with the Bawbee bridge.

Also this curve people are discussing , is this for the proposed link to Aylesbury or wherever it was supposed to reach .
As for GWR there was actually a mention in one of the railway magazines that ran an article on EWR , then again recently about the various new open access operators and new train routes , and there was mention of GWR trains running west from Oxford toward Milton Keynes .
After all the EWR services , are using cascaded or loaned 6 car 196's I think they are , I'd need to check , but if they are not running many services a day, it seems a missed opportunity to provide competitive services , that would give rail users more choice , simarly when it is eventually joined up to the greater Anglia region they took could extend their services westward toward Bedford for example , EWR is a pretty big project and probably one of the longest reopenings of all.
The fact it crosses the West coast mainline , midland mainline and ECML ought to give plenty of scope for extra services .
One thing that isn't being mentioned is will they allow freight trains to run, as this would help alleviate traffic on the roads , even though they are supposed to be upgrading roads .
The aim of government seems to be to get as many people on public transport as possible..this is clearly seen and was in the magazine article about the number of new stations being opened this year alone and last year or perhaps Chiltern could run it's Intercity services along there .
Other wise this expensive project is going to be very under utilised .
And that wasn't the aim when they decided to build it.

My bold.

At Steventon Network Rail could not lower the track much because there is a level crossing very near.

At Steventon the council refused planning permission to replace the bridge. However I wonder if what you suggest was considered. I don't think there have been any such planning issues for East West rail.

The 196s (six of the two car 196/0s ?) were I believe specifically ordered by West Midlands Trains for use on East West rail. They will be sub leased to Chiltern and operated by Chiltern if I remember correctly. Puzzles me how far ahead of use they were ordered.

I think the full route (East of Bedford) is a long way off.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I think the full route (East of Bedford) is a long way off.

I think there's a pretty reasonable chance it may never be built. The case for it is far weaker due to the huge cost of a wholly new alignment.

 

[12LDA28C]

Also this curve people are discussing , is this for the proposed link to Aylesbury or wherever it was supposed to reach .

Yes, the curve to link Aylesbury with EWR at Claydon LNE Junction.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

A really great set of pictures. Thank you.

Agreed. Thank you very much.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I don't think the Great Western has discontinuous electrification in the sense of regular non-electrified gaps in the OLE. There are points where the OLE stops and there are automatic-power-changeover (APCO) systems that the bi-mode trains to switch to/from the OLE in those locations. But I don't believe there's any locations where discontinuous electrification was used to avoid bridge rebuilds.

Aren't there GWML bridges in Cardiff with special treatment to allow wiring without rebuilding?
And doesn't the TfW CVL scheme (Cardiff Valleys) use discontinuous wiring on the various branches (not operational yet of course, and relatively low speed)?

 

[snowball]

Aren't there GWML bridges in Cardiff with special treatment to allow wiring without rebuilding?

Just one as far as I know, the intersection bridge where the main line goes under the curve from Queen Street.

I think a poster may have got mixed up between this and the discontinuous Valleys wiring.

I have seen reports that the insulating paint and surge arrestors will now be used at other locations on the MML, TRU and in Scotland.

 

[Ploughman]

Does anybody have the eventual layout and any connections for the Quainton Rd Heritage site?

 

[12LDA28C]

Does anybody have the eventual layout and any connections for the Quainton Rd Heritage site?

How do you mean? The Quainton site is unaffected by HS2 construction and will remain unchanged. I don't believe there's any main line connection to the site now and I'm not aware any such connection is proposed.

If any EWR service using the spur to Aylesbury comes to eventual fruition, those trains will not be stopping at Quainton.

 

[swt_passenger]

If any EWR service using the spur to Aylesbury comes to eventual fruition, those trains will not be stopping at Quainton.

AFAICT from the EWR TWA order drawings the EWR work at Quainton Rd is mostly about fencing alterations to make both platforms completely inaccessible to railway centre visitors, removal of existing barrow crossings, and an additional doorway is to be added to the up side building to allow normal access from the opposite side away from the platform.

Completely separately, HS2 are closing the through road that passes over the bridge at the north of the station, but all that means is that access to the down side Quainton site is along a ‘no through road’ from the east. Not really an EWR matter.

There are however significant works planned at Aylesbury Vale Parkway to add the necessary through platform.

 

[12LDA28C]

AFAICT from the EWR TWA order drawings the EWR work at Quainton Rd is mostly about fencing alterations to make both platforms completely inaccessible to railway centre visitors, removal of existing barrow crossings, and an additional doorway is to be added to the up side building to allow normal access from the opposite side away from the platform.

If this is the case, how would visitors access the part of the Railway Centre which is on the Down side and includes the merry-go-round, bookshop and so on which is currently accessed via the footbridge from one platform to the other?

 

[swt_passenger]

If this is the case, how would visitors access the part of the Railway Centre which is on the Down side and includes the merry-go-round, bookshop and so on which is currently accessed via the footbridge from one platform to the other?

The fence route deviates as necessary to leave the footbridge steps outside the fenced area.

 

[Mark24]

The fence route deviates as necessary to leave the footbridge steps outside the fenced area.

It does seem an unnecessary overkill. The public stand on fence free platforms all over the country on far more active railways.
I suppose it would require an announcement system informing people using the railway centre to stand clear. The approaching train will not stop.

 

[janahan]

Being a museum and not a real station, people (especially children) may not be in a mindset of safty and minding the trains so actually a fence is required.

 

[12LDA28C]

Being a museum and not a real station, people (especially children) may not be in a mindset of safty and minding the trains so actually a fence is required.

The station of course is rather separate from the museum, and up until just a few years ago it certainly was used as a 'real station' to run main line shuttle trains to and from Aylesbury in connection with certain events at Quainton.

 

[BrianW]

The fence route deviates as necessary to leave the footbridge steps outside the fenced area.

I note that the fence to the lineside Platform is shown on the plan as 'Demountable fence', thus allowing the potential serving of the station by trains, if the fence is readily demountable- it's proximity to the platform edge is otherwise something of a constraining factor.

The station of course is rather separate from the museum, and up until just a few years ago it certainly was used as a 'real station' to run main line shuttle trains to and from Aylesbury in connection with certain events at Quainton.

 

[swt_passenger]

I note that the fence to the lineside Platform is shown on the plan as 'Demountable fence', thus allowing the potential serving of the station by trains, if the fence is readily demountable- it's proximity to the platform edge is otherwise something of a constraining factor.

The impression I get is that it would be dismountable for occasional special events, but I’ve no longer got any written explanations filed away, only the TWA drawings. Of course that was a few years ago and they could still do something different, but I’d tend to agree with #1511, there’ll be no normal calls.

 

[BrianW]

The impression I get is that it would be dismountable for occasional special events, but I’ve no longer got any written explanations filed away, only the TWA drawings. Of course that was a few years ago and they could still do something different, but I’d tend to agree with #1511, there’ll be no normal calls.

I see now that that is (was?) a 2018 drawing- almost 'history'? Is it still valid? Is Planning Permission required? I note that the platform buildings. platform and bridge are 'listed': https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1390836?section=official-list-entrylisted buildng quainton

 

[swt_passenger]

I see now that that is (was?) a 2018 drawing- almost 'history'? Is it still valid? Is Planning Permission required? I note that the platform buildings. platform and bridge are 'listed': https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1390836?section=official-list-entrylisted buildng quainton

The TWA inspectors report and Secretary of State‘s response to it, ie the actual TWA Order, provide the necessary deemed planning permission, even for the listed structure matters. There‘s a separate application for listed building consent to the local authority.

The report is here, I’d recommend using searching for the many “Quainton Rd“ paragraphs, there’s far too much to copy here but it’s clearly all sorted out. They quote the district council‘s responses in a few places.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5e343cf640f0b609148d29c2/Network-Rail-East-West-Rail-Bicester-Bedford-Improvements-Order-Inspectors-report.pdf

 

[Neen Sollars]

Thanks for those great pics work-traveller and for the confirmation The Planner. Therefore the planning for an additional platform at Aylesbury Parkway indicates there will be freight and passenger trains using the Claydon Curve.
Eventually.

 

[BrianW]

The TWA inspectors report and Secretary of State‘s response to it, ie the actual TWA Order, provide the necessary deemed planning permission, even for the listed structure matters. There‘s a separate application for listed building consent to the local authority.

The report is here, I’d recommend using searching for the many “Quainton Rd“ paragraphs, there’s far too much to copy here but it’s clearly all sorted out. They quote the district council‘s responses in a few places.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5e343cf640f0b609148d29c2/Network-Rail-East-West-Rail-Bicester-Bedford-Improvements-Order-Inspectors-report.pdf

Thank you for the plan and this follow-up. I note the 25 references to 'Quainton' and 11 to 'Quainton Road'; and the repeated use of 'less than substantial harm'. The Inspector did his job and was supported in his views by AVDC, with conditions; it is now for the applicant to commence works in accordance with the approved plans within the five-year period of approval- which it seems they are doing.

It can be hoped that in the fullness of time the station may again be worthy of a train service.

 

[geoffk]

Thank you for the plan and this follow-up. I note the 25 references to 'Quainton' and 11 to 'Quainton Road'; and the repeated use of 'less than substantial harm'. The Inspector did his job and was supported in his views by AVDC, with conditions; it is now for the applicant to commence works in accordance with the approved plans within the five-year period of approval- which it seems they are doing.

It can be hoped that in the fullness of time the station may again be worthy of a train service.

Surely it would make sense to stop at Quainton Road when the site is open - reduction in car traffic and all that. A fair number of visitors must arrive from Aylesbury and MK.

 

[The Planner]

Surely it would make sense to stop at Quainton Road when the site is open - reduction in car traffic and all that. A fair number of visitors must arrive from Aylesbury and MK.

I expect a stop there will bust the single line section occupation.

 

[chris2]

So what would be the proposed service to Aylesbury and which stations would it be calling at?

 

[swt_passenger]

So what would be the proposed service to Aylesbury and which stations would it be calling at?

It was going to be Aylesbury to Milton Keynes calling at just Aylesbury Vale Parkway, Winslow, Bletchley. With no extensions at either end, especially not to Marylebone. This had been officially dropped by DfT before the TWA Order application.

However EWR Co have since published a 2023 route update that doesn’t include the Aylesbury service at all.

 

[12LDA28C]

Surely it would make sense to stop at Quainton Road when the site is open - reduction in car traffic and all that. A fair number of visitors must arrive from Aylesbury and MK.

The train service from Aylesbury which ran a few times a year on certain event days was knocked on the head a few years ago, due to not being cost effective I believe.

 

[imagination]

The train service from Aylesbury which ran a few times a year on certain event days was knocked on the head a few years ago, due to not being cost effective I believe.

It would presumably be somewhat more cost effective to stop a train that is going to run through the station anyway than it would be to run a train especially for the event though?

 

[al green]

It was going to be Aylesbury to Milton Keynes calling at just Aylesbury Vale Parkway, Winslow, Bletchley. With no extensions at either end, especially not to Marylebone. This had been officially dropped by DfT before the TWA Order application.

However EWR Co have since published a 2023 route update that doesn’t include the Aylesbury service at all.

On the instruction of DfT.