Didcot - Oxford line closed 23 July - 8 Aug or 30 July - 15 Aug 2016? To be clarified

[whole diary]

[ray951]

According to NR^» (Network Rail - home page) the line between Didcot and Oxford will be closed between 23 July to 8th August 2016 for Flood Alleviation works.
There will be preparatory work undertaken every Sunday from February to July next year, although it isn't clear how many of of these will include closures.

The work will include:

    Raising the track by approx. 400mm over a 400m section of track
    Installing a culvert under the line at the north section
    Replacing the deck of Strouds Road underbridge
    Installing 9 new points
    Will cost ^17.5mm

Further details can be found here http://www.networkrail.co.uk/great-western-route-modernisation/oxford/

[IndustryInsider]

Good to see as this is one of the real weak flooding locations and has led to closure or a severely reduced service several times over recent years.  It will be of great benefit during these works if the Oxford Parkway to Oxford line has opened by then, but that will be a close call given the problems that upgrade is facing.

[ChrisB]

It won't be open - September being the current estimate.

[ChrisB]

According to NR^» (Network Rail - home page) the line between Didcot and Oxford will be closed between 23 July to 8th August 2016

Further details can be found here http://www.networkrail.co.uk/great-western-route-modernisation/oxford/

According to the link above, the dates have changed (probably to allow access to Hinksey yard for the Banbury blockade 23-31 July) to Saturday 30 July 2016 - Monday 15 August 2016. So three weeks that XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) won't be able to run from Leamington to Reading. Bet they're happy.

[Timmer]

So three weeks that XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) won't be able to run from Leamington to Reading. Bet they're happy.

Neither will their customers be.

[Oxonhutch]

Could they not follow the FGW^▸ (First Great Western)/GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) model and divert - even if the running times are significantly longer?

Opinion polls appeared to suggest that passengers prefer a longer journey to multiple changes and bustitution.

I was thinking along the line of XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) coming to Banbury, turning left at Anyho Jnc and taking the Old Oak line at Northolt.  Turn right at Greenford - right again at West Ealing and then along the GW^▸ (Great Western) mainline to Reading where no reversal is now required.  Might add an hour, but everyone stays on the train.  Just a thought...

[ChrisB]

Banbury is blocked till 31st.

No paths in the peak south of Risborough.

[ray951]

If you click through to the PDF file linked from that page it still says it starts on 23rd July.
If the dates have changed then I can only conclude that NR^» (Network Rail - home page) are incompetent.
I can't see how NR can justify changing the date given that the original dates have been heavily publicised, it has been mentioned in the local press, displayed at stations and customers had been sent a letter about the closure. I had even advised people at work who use this line to take holiday then, how stupid do I feel

And I am correct in thinking that GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) etc. will get compensation from NR for this closure but customers won't?

[ChrisB]

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) has to pay to put the rail replacement in place & that is what NR^» (Network Rail - home page) recompense.

If you check the date of the webpage update, it's only just happened, so I suspect the pdf is being updated....there's a meet the (NR) manager advertised on that page for tonight at Oxford station 1630-1900, so maybe someone can check there? Unfortunately, I'll be in Stafford....

[Adelante_CCT]

Assuming the date has actually changed to a week later, may I suggest an admin changing the title of this thread to avoid confusion

[Chris from Nailsea]

Thank you for your helpful suggestion, Adelante_CCT: I've done as you suggested - pending further updates / clarification.  CfN. 

[IndustryInsider]

According to the link above, the dates have changed (probably to allow access to Hinksey yard for the Banbury blockade 23-31 July) to Saturday 30 July 2016 - Monday 15 August 2016. So three weeks that XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) won't be able to run from Leamington to Reading. Bet they're happy.

I think the Banbury dates may have changed too?

From what I've found out there's a 16 day block from Saturday 30th July to Monday 15th August to enable three major bits of work to be undertaken.  The Banbury resignalling, the Hinksey flood prevention works and also Castle Mill Stream works (by Oxford North Junction). 

The works are split as follows:
Days 1-16:  Didcot to Oxford closed
Days 1-9:  Wolvercote Junction to Banbury closed
Days 1-4:  Oxford to North Cotswolds line open but only by using Down Passenger Loop (Single Line Working)
Days 5-9:  Oxford to Hanborough closed
Days 10-16: Lines north of Oxford both open

[ChrisB]

ooh, that'll pee off some in Banbury who I understand may have booked leave already - my meeting with the Banbury Project leader was postponed to this Saturday so I'll get full details then,.

[ChrisB]

Does that include the signalling/points work needed for Chiltern around the bays?

[IndustryInsider]

I'm afraid I don't know.