Elecman
Established Member
All the operational DNO electric supplies are installed and live for Signalling/GSMR/Points Heating
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When the line was mothballed in 1990-ish, it was mothballed, not lifted.. until some track was stolen. Good that someone's checking it's still there, there's a thief about!Tracks were already continuous from Bicester and Bletchley to either side of the “HS2 interface area” by November 2023, the signals were already powered up and being tested by then, and the tracks through the HS2 area were reported completed in March - so appearing complete is not really a surprise?
Passenger is next year. You might get some freight before that.Do we know when the western section of EWR is planned to start operating? I had read 2024 but wouldn't be surprised if it's delayed!
Do we know when the western section of EWR is planned to start operating? I had read 2024 but wouldn't be surprised if it's delayed!
You have to wonder why its going to take another year before the service startsThe Western section between Oxford and Bicester has been operating for a number of years as part of Chiltern services to/from Marylebone. Oxford to Milton Keynes services are currently predicted to commence in Summer 2025.
Ditto. Be rusty and graffiti'd by then.You have to wonder why its going to take another year before the service starts
Track looked pretty rusty at Launton yesterday.Ditto. Be rusty and graffiti'd by then.
Are you sure you mean MK, and not Bletchley?The Western section between Oxford and Bicester has been operating for a number of years as part of Chiltern services to/from Marylebone. Oxford to Milton Keynes services are currently predicted to commence in Summer 2025.
"accelerated to commence in 2030" apparently, per EWR website. Yep, 14 miles of already open track..Services from Oxford go to MK. With services to Bedford about 5 years later.
Its pointless to rebuild that section until its clear that going to Oxford is going to happen."accelerated to commence in 2030" apparently, per EWR website. Yep, 14 miles of already open track..
You'll be able to change at Bletchley for Bedford before the line is rebuilt - hourly service and 45 min journey - but am not sure how soon the line shuts for rebuild,
It's not a rebuild, just replacing crossings with bridges. How are folk from Cambridge getting to Oxford without it?Its pointless to rebuild that section until its clear that going to Oxford is going to happen.
Has any construction/preparatory works began on the Oxford-Bedford bit? Could still be cancelled. The connection to Aylesbury was already pausedIt's not a rebuild, just replacing crossings with bridges. How are folk from Cambridge getting to Oxford without it?
Bedford doesn't seem important by itself otherwise it would open ASAP. Obviously waiting for the Cambridge connection.
It's been fast tracked, it's just that its been fast tracked from what seems like a very slow timetable.Has any construction/preparatory works began on the Oxford-Bedford bit? Could still be cancelled. The connection to Aylesbury was already paused
What do you mean by Oxford-Bedford? EWR splits those into Oxford-Bletchley and Bletchley-Bedford. The former of those is almost finished as per https://eastwestrail.co.uk/news/latest-stories/east-meets-westHas any construction/preparatory works began on the Oxford-Bedford bit? Could still be cancelled. The connection to Aylesbury was already paused
The final section of track has now been laid between Bicester and Bletchley
You could not bother to run any services over it, but there’s effectively no point trying to cancel Oxford-Bletchley.East West Rail Alliance is on track to hand over the project to Network Rail later in 2024, with remaining work this year focusing on completing the installation of railway systems equipment, testing and commissioning, the construction of Winslow station car park, completion of Winslow station and landscaping. Passenger services are due to start from 2025.
New govt will have a lot of calls on the public purse so risk is of further delayIt's been fast tracked, it's just that its been fast tracked from what seems like a very slow timetable.
I'm not sure if anything still needs signing off all the action is still on the Bedford to Cambridge section politically speaking.
There isn't a Oxford Bedford bit. Oxford to Bletchley is all re build. Bedford to Bletchley is getting a makeover and Cambridge to Bedford is a new build.
Every "bit" is being treated politically different from the other. Which is strange when it has the goal of being end to end.
Oxford to MKC via Bletchley due to open next YearAre you sure you mean MK, and not Bletchley?
Has any construction/preparatory works began on the Oxford-Bedford bit? Could still be cancelled. The connection to Aylesbury was already paused
No, there is no authorisation to build the Beford-Cambridge route yet. An application for a Development Consent Order has not even been submitted yet. There have only been preliminary rounds of consultation, the most recent of which was in May 2023 if I remember correctly (though it feels much longer ago). Among other things there is local opposition to the proposed demolition of houses to widen a short section of the Midland Main Line to six tracks north of Bedford Station.Sorry, muddled up - meant to say Cambridge-Bedford!
You have to wonder why its going to take another year before the service starts
Ditto. Be rusty and graffiti'd by then.
It hasnt been signed off into use yet and Chiltern don't have any 196s to driver train on yet either. Freight will run on it before the end of the year.Track looked pretty rusty at Launton yesterday.
The track's in place, the signals are working. Does this mean the line is available for use by freight or for route learning (for freight or passenger), or are there further items of work required before either can happen?
If freight is operating, is it likely that we'll see a rail tour operate on the route this year?It hasnt been signed off into use yet and Chiltern don't have any 196s to driver train on yet either. Freight will run on it before the end of the year.
Are you sure you mean MK, and not Bletchley?
You have to wonder why its going to take another year before the service starts
Track looked pretty rusty at Launton yesterday.
The track's in place, the signals are working. Does this mean the line is available for use by freight or for route learning (for freight or passenger), or are there further items of work required before either can happen?
No idea, if someone wants to put a tour across there with a route trained driver then I assume its up to them.If freight is operating, is it likely that we'll see a rail tour operate on the route this year?
Except that a more logical timescale would have been to have been in a position to start this process so that it finishes when the assets become available for use. (Accept that route learning would need to wait until then, but I would have thought that would be a relatively small part of the process.) Unfortunately I don't think the DfT do "logical" very often, and in particular the delays in choosing a TOC to run it won't have helped.Pretty straightforward - drivers are still being recruited and training takes around 12 months or more, dependent on various factors.
Except that a more logical timescale would have been to have been in a position to start this process so that it finishes when the assets become available for use. (Accept that route learning would need to wait until then, but I would have thought that would be a relatively small part of the process.) Unfortunately I don't think the DfT do "logical" very often, and in particular the delays in choosing a TOC to run it won't have helped.
Six class 196 units were included in the WMR order for use on EWR and those units are in the process of being introduced into service and bedded-in on WMR routes.Except that a more logical timescale would have been to have been in a position to start this process so that it finishes when the assets become available for use. (Accept that route learning would need to wait until then, but I would have thought that would be a relatively small part of the process.) Unfortunately I don't think the DfT do "logical" very often, and in particular the delays in choosing a TOC to run it won't have helped.
The risk then is of course that there is an unexpected last minute delay in finishing off the civil engineering and you’ve got trained drivers and “millions of pounds worth of new trains sitting doing nothing” for 12 months and, in the case of the drivers possibly jumping ship through boredom.Except that a more logical timescale would have been to have been in a position to start this process so that it finishes when the assets become available for use. (Accept that route learning would need to wait until then, but I would have thought that would be a relatively small part of the process.) Unfortunately I don't think the DfT do "logical" very often, and in particular the delays in choosing a TOC to run it won't have helped.