Chiltern Line stations at Bicester and Haddenham & Thame get longer platforms

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Bicester Advertiser:

Chiltern Line stations at Bicester and Haddenham & Thame get longer platforms

Platforms at Bicester North and Haddenham & Thame Parkway stations are to be lengthened to allow longer trains to stop.

The stations are among five between London Marylebone and Banbury where work will be done to allow Chiltern Railways to run nine-coach trains.

Work has already started and Bicester North^s platforms will be complete by next summer.

The scheme is a joint initiative between Network Rail and Chiltern, with the aim of providing seats for an extra 1,000 passengers into London during the morning peak-hour by 2019.

Liam Sumpter, the area director for Network Rail, said: ^As the number of passengers travelling by train on this route continues to rise, it^s important we work together and invest in the network to meet the increasing demand. The nature of the work means there will be some disruption while it is carried out, but we continue to work closely with Chiltern Railways to minimise this as much as possible.^

The first phase of the work will be completed by the end of July this year and will allow Chiltern Railways to operate longer trains between Birmingham and London when the West Coast main line route to London^s Euston station is closed for major engineering work in August.

[ChrisB]

Beaconsfield, High Wycombe (up only) and Princes Risborough added to that list, but outside the paper's area.

[paul7575]

The source information in the CP5^▸ (Control Period 5 - the five year period between 2014 and 2019) enhancement plans also refers to the possibility of extending High Wycombe's down platform, with the subway filled in and presumably a footbridge in its place.

This plan first came up in draft CP5 enhancement plan at the beginning of 2013, and is about 9 car DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) (with driver only operation) running between Banbury and Marylebone in the peaks.

It seems to have stayed 'under the radar' to a certain extent, with the Bicester - Oxford project taking most of the headlines.

One aspect I've only just found out about is the planned new Chiltern maintenance and stabling depot to be built on the down side south of Banbury.  With capacity for up to 58 vehicles in 8 sidings, a two road maintenance shed, carriage washer etc etc, this seems to indicate a significant change to Chiltern's stabling and maintenance policy - and of course the location lends itself to greater use of the Cherwell Valley route for ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock) moves to and from Oxford - at least at start and end of service...

Paul

[ChrisB]

One aspect I've only just found out about is the planned new Chiltern maintenance and stabling depot to be built on the down side south of Banbury.  With capacity for up to 58 vehicles in 8 sidings, a two road maintenance shed, carriage washer etc etc, this seems to indicate a significant change to Chiltern's stabling and maintenance policy - and of course the location lends itself to greater use of the Cherwell Valley route for ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock) moves to and from Oxford - at least at start and end of service...

Ohhh, where have you seen that info - we've been sworn to complete secrecy on this for the time being!

Depends on Banbury resignalling as the South signal box needs removing...and I'm hearing that this might yet again get delayed in the grand scheme of things into CP6^▸ (Control Period 6 - The five year period between 2019 and 2024) and beyond Chiltern's franchise. We'll have to see.

[paul7575]

Ohhh, where have you seen that info - we've been sworn to complete secrecy on this for the time being!

It is on the Banbury (Cherwell DC^▸ (Direct Current)) planning website, scoping application here:

http://www.publicaccess.cherwell.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=N2LAT2EM0K200

Don't see why you should be 'sworn to secrecy' anymore...

Paul

[ChrisB]

indeed, thanks - I have a meeting with their projects team tomorrow, so well timed post!