Purpose of engineering work between Leamington Spa/Bicester North/Oxford this week

[BanburyBlue]

Hi all

Just being curious, anyone know what the engineering work that has shut the line between Leamington and Oxford/Bicester this week? I'm assuming it must be Aynho Junction or north, but seems a long stretch to shut, unless it was Banbury station itself? If it was either south of Banbury, or North of Banbury, why run rail replacement buses from Oxford to Leamington, and Bicester to Leamington.

Thanks

 

[The Planner]

Hi all

Just being curious, anyone know what the engineering work that has shut the line between Leamington and Oxford/Bicester this week? I'm assuming it must be Aynho Junction or north, but seems a long stretch to shut, unless it was Banbury station itself? If it was either south of Banbury, or North of Banbury, why run rail replacement buses from Oxford to Leamington, and Bicester to Leamington.

Thanks

Botley Road, two or three big track renwal jobs north of Banbury. Two bridge renewals at Kings Sutton fell out the original plan. Plus HS2 and renewal of the River Avon viaduct between Leamington and Coventry. If you take out anywhere along that route that needs a big chunk of time you might as well take a decent distance as freight have to divert regardless and would rather it done in one go.

 

[BanburyBlue]

Botley Road, two or three big track renwal jobs north of Banbury. Two bridge renewals at Kings Sutton fell out the original plan. Plus HS2 and renewal of the River Avon viaduct between Leamington and Coventry. If you take out anywhere along that route that needs a big chunk of time you might as well take a decent distance as freight have to divert regardless and would rather it done in one go.

Thanks - bang it all into one engineering blockage - makes sense.

 

[rower40]

Also changes to the crossovers at Oxford North Junction, with new routes and associated interlocking data.

 

[sammyg901]

Bit of trouble this morning - the 0720 ex Oxford Parkway was only 4 coaches. This service was picking up from the RRBs at Bicester and then scheduled to be a slow service into London which does seem to be very poor planning. It was leaving people behind by the time it reached Haddenham and Thame Parkway and had to run fast from High Wycombe.

Seems like tomorrow another unit comes off of Aylesbury ECS to Bicester Village and then in service to OXP so hopefully that'll be joining to the unit that is there overnight and tomorrow it'll be a longer train

Also as it stands today the last two trains north the 0005 and 0010 to Aylesbury are cancelled so not sure how they'll handle that, delay the 2316 and hold the RRBs at Princes Risborough perhaps

 

[td97]

River Avon viaduct works (strengthening, waterproofing, repairs) documented here

James Spencer on LinkedIn: LSC2/4 Core Works 9 day blockade complete ✅ 100% of works complete &… | 13 comments

LSC2/4 Core Works 9 day blockade complete ✅ 100% of works complete & handed back early ✅ No accidents or incidents ✅ Everyone home safe ✅ Programme… | 13 comments on LinkedIn

www.linkedin.com

Paul Nixon on LinkedIn: #storycontracting #teamorange

Just finished the main core posession (9days) of the river Avon Viaduct project LSC2/4. The scheme was part of the structure renewals, capital delivery…

www.linkedin.com

 

[fishwomp]

River Avon viaduct works (strengthening, waterproofing, repairs) documented here

James Spencer on LinkedIn: LSC2/4 Core Works 9 day blockade complete ✅ 100% of works complete &… | 13 comments

LSC2/4 Core Works 9 day blockade complete ✅ 100% of works complete & handed back early ✅ No accidents or incidents ✅ Everyone home safe ✅ Programme… | 13 comments on LinkedIn

www.linkedin.com

Paul Nixon on LinkedIn: #storycontracting #teamorange

Just finished the main core posession (9days) of the river Avon Viaduct project LSC2/4. The scheme was part of the structure renewals, capital delivery…

www.linkedin.com

110 units installed & waterproofed​

Over 2000t material removed​

Over 2300t of new material back in​

New track back in on a new alignment with a 330mm + lift and a 200mm+ slew​

Those links are v informative: substantial bit of viaduct fixing there. Interesting: I hope the 200mm slew was in the direction of making room for a second track here. Anyone aware of if that's the case, hard to tell from the photos?

Network Rail's description here: https://www.networkrailmediacentre....sed-of-major-work-between-coventry-and-oxford - lists HS2 bridge nr Kenilworth, Oxford signalling, and 2 miles of track renewal around Banbury.

 

[td97]

Interesting: I hope the 200mm slew was in the direction of making room for a second track here.

Correct, passive provision for twin tracks across the viaduct. In fact the slue was max. 450mm towards the west viaduct wall.