Oxford Corridor Phase 2 & Platform 5 updates

[Techniquest]

This is sure turning into a monster of a challenge! Hopefully it'll be worth the wait!

 

[Merioneth]

There’s still almost no work being done every day. Plenty of marshals in pink overalls getting in the way, however. It seems to take two people plus a hired van with an in-flight bog to manage the traffic lights into Oseney Mead, 400m west, let alone the other crossing points.
Utterly hopeless, but nice work for Kier Group.

 

[Oxfordblues]

It's been good news for us cyclists in West Oxford with Botley Road much more civilised and I've witnessed a notable increase in cycling. Ironically the proprietor of the local bike shop has expressed concern at the potential loss of Christmas trade. I'd have thought he can expect a boom with cycling now the quickest way into town.

 

[fishwomp]

Took a look at south of the station yesterday. A set of points has been installed already, and a few yards off track. I don't know when that was done.

On the north side of the station, not much to see yet but the former buildings of the signal box are demolished.

 

[JamesT]

Took a look at south of the station yesterday. A set of points has been installed already, and a few yards off track. I don't know when that was done.

On the north side of the station, not much to see yet but the former buildings of the signal box are demolished.View attachment 149311View attachment 149312

I would expect that track work was part of this summer’s blockade https://www.networkrail.co.uk/runni...re/oxfordshire-signalling-and-track-upgrades/

During our nine-day upgrade in Summer 2023 (29 July – 6 August), we installed high speed crossovers, updated signals and made changes to Osney Lane footbridge. We demolished the old brick pillar to make space for installation of track that will later serve the new platform 5.

 

[Oxfordblues]

I expect to see some serious progress starting in January. The new nursery on Becket Street car park looks ready, to allow demolition of the old "Turbo Ted's Nursery" next to the Sheepwash Stream. With that out of the way preparations for the two new bridges over the stream can begin, plus the new ramp down to Cripley Road making space for work on building Platform 5.

 

[snowball]

This thread hasn't seen a post this year, but it's been stated in the MML thread that remodelling at Oxford is currently happening.

 

[Fermiboson]

I have not noticed anything happening on the bridge since January. The other day there were tractors rumbling around on the northwestern end of the station for whatever reason, and if you walk onto the southern end of Platform 4, there appear to have been markings for extensions and some form of pillar/shaft. Botley Road may or may not have been dug up - I have not gotten a close view - but if it is, I don’t know for what.

Station posters have been put up announcing several closure dates, I believe on weekends in the summer plus a one week closure in late July.

 

[HerodesAtticus]

This thread hasn't seen a post this year, but it's been stated in the MML thread that remodelling at Oxford is currently happening.

Piles for the new platform 5 are now going in, and the long (very, very long) process of sorting out the utilities under the Botley Road bridge continues - video from the last weekly update email here https://network-rail.wistia.com/medias/92mzr6zxzm - there are also updates on a Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/oxfordshireconnect

 

[Nicholas43]

Piles for the new platform 5 are now going in, and the long (very, very long) process of sorting out the utilities under the Botley Road bridge continues - video from the last weekly update email here https://network-rail.wistia.com/medias/92mzr6zxzm - there are also updates on a Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/oxfordshireconnect

The recording of Kier's Teams meeting (in late March 2024?) with local residents and councillors contains much of interest - thanks for the link! In particular I had not understood that work to prepare for the new entrance on the west side will not begin until late 2024. Interesting also to note Kier's wariness about the timing of the mooted additional through line on the east side of the station, using the replacement footbridge which is to be future-proofed to be capable of becoming a rail line.

 

[HerodesAtticus]

Today's depressing update is that they are delaying the bridge replacement that was meant to happen in a couple of weeks because of endless delays with the work under the bridge.

 

[Edvid]

Details in today's presser.

Oxford’s major rail and road improvement project is progressing but more time is needed before Botley Road can reopen

Network Rail has confirmed that significant progress is being made on the multi-million-pound programme to upgrade Oxford Station, enhance the railway infrastructure in the area and improve the local transport network, however more time is required to complete the highly complex utility...

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

Thursday 11 Jul 2024

Oxford’s major rail and road improvement project is progressing but more time is needed before Botley Road can reopen​

Region & Route: Wales & Western: Western | Wales & Western

Network Rail has confirmed that significant progress is being made on the multi-million-pound programme to upgrade Oxford Station, enhance the railway infrastructure in the area and improve the local transport network, however more time is required to complete the highly complex utility diversion works including mains water and sewer pipes under Botley Road.

The replacement of the railway bridge, which was scheduled to take place at end of this month, has been postponed as, despite concerted effort by all organisations involved, the work to divert the complex layout of utility pipes and cables under the road, including the sewer system, cannot be completed in time. Unfortunately as a result Botley Road, which has been closed under the rail bridge since April 2023, will not now reopen in October as planned. Network Rail and its contractor, Kier, are working with the local authorities to agree the best way forward to complete the project and minimise impact on the city.

Anna Holbrook, industry programme director at Network Rail said: “Although our work is progressing well on most aspects of this major programme, including the construction of the new platform on the western side of the station, the bridge replacement has unfortunately had to be postponed as the work to divert the complex layout of utility pipes and cables under the road, including the sewer system, will not be ready in time. We have informed the councils that Botley Road will not now be able to be reopened in October. We know how important Botley Road is to Oxford and apologise to local residents and businesses for the ongoing inconvenience. We are working out the best way forward and will continue to engage with the local community as our plans develop.”

Kier and the 11 different utility providers involved continue to make progress on diverting the large number of pipes and cables, including the water main and sewer, which need to be completed before the bridge can be replaced. Working on this outdated maze of pipes and cables spread out below the highway, in a severely constrained space, with poor ground conditions and significant water levels, continues to make this work very challenging.

Once fully complete, the upgrades will result in a bigger and better station, more rail services for passengers and an improved road network near Oxford station with safer junctions, and more space for cyclists and pedestrians through the addition of a four-metre cycle/footway on each side of the main road.

Notes to Editors​

Passenger information:

• The planned closure of rail lines through Oxford at the end of July will now only be for two days – Saturday 27 and Sunday 28. During this time there will be work taking place on the new platform and continuation of the resignalling programme. There will also be an upgrade to tracks to the south of Oxford near Culham.
• Over that weekend, there will be no train services between Didcot and Oxford, with a Rail Replacement Service operating from Becket Street car park.
• There is additional work to the north of Oxford, which will affect train services between Oxford and Banbury, between Saturday 27 and Wednesday 31 July.

Summary of progress on utility diversion work:

• Gas main – Installation of pipework completed prior to connection work by SGN
• Water main – Installation of pipework underway
• Telecommunications – Shared utility trench through Frideswide Square and Becket Street car park completed. Openreach currently installing cables below the rail bridge area, with Vodafone, Virgin and Oxford University to follow
• Sewer – Work has started on the diversion through Becket Street car park

Summary of progress on wider project:

• New platform – Work is underway on the foundations for the new platform, starting with ground supports that will hold the canopy in place for platforms 4 and 5
• Sheepwash bridge – Relocation of children’s nursery into temporary building in Becket Street car park completed. Former building demolished, now tackling foundations
• Osney Lane footbridge – Relocation of the pillar to make space for new track completed last summer
• Track work – Installation of new high speed crossovers to the north of Oxford station and start of track for the new platform completed last summer
• Resignalling – Started last summer and currently ongoing

 

[4COR]

Further continuation of the chaos then. I wonder if the proposed closure (*) of Osney Bridge to repair the water main under the bridge will slip out to 2025/26? (In 2021 the water main under the bridge was damaged by an Environment Agency boat (!) - ironically, the EA don't allow river closures between March and November, and so the closure was scheduled to start just after the rail bridge was reopened...)

* - https://www.thameswater.co.uk/about...your-area/osney-bridge-trunk-main-replacement

 

[Snow1964]

This has shadows of the problems replacing the A363 bridge in Bradford on Avon. Utility companies didn't manage to do work in time, so pauses in bridge demolition and reconstruction whilst waited for utility diversions.

 

[JamesT]

It was earlier reported the discovery of the greater extent of the inverted brick arch under the road was extending the work. But it does seem really disappointing that having had an extra 6 months they’ve not been able to keep to schedule. (The original plan would have reopened the road between October and April before work resumed this year). I understood the scheduling was lined up with the Mini factory’s annual shutdown, so is the most likely date going to be the same time next year?
The County Council’s traffic filtering plans are also dependent on the bridge reopening.

 

[Oxfordblues]

I get the impression that the critical-path planning was based on over-optimistic timescales and a belief that it hardly ever rains! I was told at a possession planning meeting once that the lead-time for a 7-day blockade was at least 18 months, so we're looking at early-2026. Perhaps The Planner can clarify this?

 

[The Planner]

I get the impression that the critical-path planning was based on over-optimistic timescales and a belief that it hardly ever rains! I was told at a possession planning meeting once that the lead-time for a 7-day blockade was at least 18 months, so we're looking at early-2026. Perhaps The Planner can clarify this?

V4, which is the final version, of the Engineering Access Statement for 2025 is published tomorrow. First version of 2026 isn't far away. You can plan one less than 18 months out, but every single duck needs to be in a row, which rarely happens.

 

[Dr_Intoxicated]

When they widened the road bridge over the tracks at Feltham a few years ago it was moving the utilities that caused major delays. Seems that they had to move them separately rather than at the same time

 

[zwk500]

V4, which is the final version, of the Engineering Access Statement for 2025 is published tomorrow. First version of 2026 isn't far away. You can plan one less than 18 months out, but every single duck needs to be in a row, which rarely happens.

For something like this, I wouldn't be surprised if the ducks did get pushed into alignment slightly quicker than normal once a new suitable date is known. Could still be fairly long lead though.

 

[InOban]

Just as NR has its preplanned program of works, so does each of our utilities and working at the same time brings H&S risks. They will not take kindly to being told when to be on site and if, as in this case, there's a delay, then the work has list its planned timeslot and has to be rescheduled.

 

[The exile]

Just as NR has its preplanned program of works, so does each of our utilities and working at the same time brings H&S risks. They will not take kindly to being told when to be on site and if, as in this case, there's a delay, then the work has list its planned timeslot and has to be rescheduled.

This is one of the things which HMG needs to get a grip of. In circumstances like this regulated companies should have to accept being told when certain works have to be done (subject to the laws of physics etc!)

 

[NickBucks]

This news seems to have been announced by Network Rail rather than via a joint communication with Oxford City Council and Oxford County Council which you would expect. Although now being reported on the BBC local news there is no comment from the politicians as yet. This will have major implications for traffic in Oxford, the new filtering system supposed to be in place in November at some considerable cost, retail outlets and businesses. I suspect one almighty row is going on behind the scenes about this and how to fix it as soon as possible.

 

[Benjwri]

This news seems to have been announced by Network Rail rather than via a joint communication with Oxford City Council and Oxford County Council which you would expect. Although now being reported on the BBC local news there is no comment from the politicians as yet. This will have major implications for traffic in Oxford, the new filtering system supposed to be in place in November at some considerable cost, retail outlets and businesses. I suspect one almighty row is going on behind the scenes about this and how to fix it as soon as possible.

The council commented this afternoon:

Oxfordshire County Council is extremely frustrated that Network Rail is postponing the replacement of Botley railway bridge at the end of this month and is unable to reopen Botley Road in October as a result. The council is in discussion with Network Rail to understand the implications of this.

Residents and businesses have shown incredible patience with more than a year of disruption to their lives because of this project, which has already had its timetable altered twice before and seen its closure dates extended. We have expressed our deep dissatisfaction to Network Rail and to the Department for Transport about this.

The launch of the council’s traffic filters trial planned to start in November is now in question, with various options being considered as a result. The trial aims to tackle Oxford’s chronic congestion problems and dramatically improve bus journey times. We are calling on and working with Network Rail to find an acceptable solution to this situation quickly.

The council remains incredibly supportive of improvements to the rail station for Oxford with improved capacity for passengers and freight, which is vital for the development of projects such as East West Rail.

In the meantime, we will continue to do all we can to work with partners to minimise the impact on the rest of the road network.

 

[NickBucks]

The council commented this afternoon:

Thanks Benjwri. I had not seen this. Clearly they are not too happy!

 

[Merioneth]

Just to say, that on daily inspection, there is almost no work ever to be seen to be taking place. The odd huddle of people in orange, and a large number of tedious persons in pink high-visibility vests telling pedestrians not to cross the road. These people add nothing to the progress of the project, and mostly spend time on their mobiles. The welfare shanty town in the car park is busy though, even though nobody is doing any work.

It is instructive to compare the speed of public sector works like this and the Kidlington roundabout with that of the construction of the A41 junction by the new Tesco in Bicester, which was funded by the retailer, and took 6 weeks.

 

[takno]

Just to say, that on daily inspection, there is almost no work ever to be seen to be taking place. The odd huddle of people in orange, and a large number of tedious persons in pink high-visibility vests telling pedestrians not to cross the road. These people add nothing to the progress of the project, and mostly spend time on their mobiles. The welfare shanty town in the car park is busy though, even though nobody is doing any work.

It is instructive to compare the speed of public sector works like this and the Kidlington roundabout with that of the construction of the A41 junction by the new Tesco in Bicester, which was funded by the retailer, and took 6 weeks.

It sounds like most of the works that have been supposed to take place so far are private sector, being utility diversions. Network Rail can't actually do much until the private sector are done.

 

[InOban]

I would have thought it was certain that such a major project is being carried out by private contractors. However the discovery of unexpected archaeology will have meant that the works they bid for are very different from what is now required and indeed need skills which they didn't possess. However the responsibility for managing this evolving project still lies with NR

 

[Benjwri]

I would have thought it was certain that such a major project is being carried out by private contractors.

I think the differentiation attempting to be made here is between private sector working for NR, and private sector doing their own infrastructure, as mentioned utility companies.

However the responsibility for managing this evolving project still lies with NR

Utility companies run to their own schedule and many projects struggle to hold them to account.

 

[The Planner]

I would have thought it was certain that such a major project is being carried out by private contractors. However the discovery of unexpected archaeology will have meant that the works they bid for are very different from what is now required and indeed need skills which they didn't possess. However the responsibility for managing this evolving project still lies with NR

Utility companies have held up HS2 construction in the past. There is very little you can do.

 

[The exile]

Utility companies have held up HS2 construction in the past. There is very little you can do.

There is a lot that could be done, but the powers that be are too pussy footed to do it. Directors’ bonuses in utilities being dependent on true company performance not share value / profit, for a start (ie delivery of projects on time, reduction in pollution / service outage, leaks etc.).