Demand that improving Oxford to Didcot line 'should be priority'

[whole diary]

[martyjon]

In the past GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) (in their previous guise of FGW^▸ (First Great Western)) hired in T & T Locos and Coaches to operate between Cardiff and Taunton, and for the Weymouth Wizard on Saturdays.

Whilst the current rolling stock situation persists why can't they do the same now, two sets of 5 ex-virgin Mk 2d's or Mk3's with a EWS^▸ (English Welsh & Scottish Railway Ltd, now known as DB Schenker Rail (UK^▸ (United Kingdom))) or should I say a DB^» (Deutsche Bahn - German State Railway - about) 67 at each end. A DRS^▸ (Direct Rail Services Ltd) 37 at each end would be preferable and a lot of extra revenue would be generated from all over GWR territory and elsewhere from all the enthusiasts not wanting to miss out on the bash behind the growlers.

[ray951]

But my question would be why can't GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) come and explain this to there customers? Even if we didn't like the message at least we would know why. As it is passengers just think GWR couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery.

If GWR can send me a letter telling me that there are 1000's of extra seats, surely they can also send me a letter explaining why the seats on our services have been cut by 33% and that they have plan to rectify it.

I assume that GWR just don't care they are just trying to make a profit and the passengers come last; and they wonder why there are calls for renationalisation.

[ChrisB]

And people think that will improve the communication, for instance?

But otherwise, I agree with you, they could (& ought to be doing so)

[didcotdean]

It was something that got a considerable airing at the last Customer Panel meeting held in Didcot back in January, where a few there were affected directly.

Don't know why though the record of that meeting is taking so long to appear on the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) website for everyone to see not just those who were there.

[chopper1944]

 If and when EWR comes to fruition the line between Didcot and Swindon should be four track. How difficult would this be to do now or in the future?

[ellendune]

If and when EWR comes to fruition the line between Didcot and Swindon should be four track. How difficult would this be to do now or in the future?

The GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) (the original one) had a programme to do this in the 1930's.  The sections from Didcot to Milton, Wantage to Challow and from Shrivenham to Bourton were quadrified (to borrow a term from FTN) then.

Land was purchased for much of the rest in the 1930's (all the way to Wootton Bassett Jn).

The pinch points will be the A34 underbridge at Milton, Steventon (where the line goes through the village); A420 overbridge (Acorn Bridge) nr Bourton, and the A419 underbridge at Stratton.

There are some significant embankments between Steventon and Wantage that will need widening and quite a deep cutting at Uffington.  The cutting at Grange Drive in Swindon is quite deep, but the proximity to the houses might be an issue here.

There are also a few listed bridges on the route. 

This is all from memory so other please correct if my memory is not correct

[DidcotPunter]

If and when EWR comes to fruition the line between Didcot and Swindon should be four track. How difficult would this be to do now or in the future?

The GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) (the original one) had a programme to do this in the 1930's.  The sections from Didcot to Milton, Wantage to Challow and from Shrivenham to Bourton were quadrified (to borrow a term from FTN) then.

Land was purchased for much of the rest in the 1930's (all the way to Wootton Bassett Jn).

The pinch points will be the A34 underbridge at Milton, Steventon (where the line goes through the village); A420 overbridge (Acorn Bridge) nr Bourton, and the A419 underbridge at Stratton.

There are some significant embankments between Steventon and Wantage that will need widening and quite a deep cutting at Uffington.  The cutting at Grange Drive in Swindon is quite deep, but the proximity to the houses might be an issue here.

There are also a few listed bridges on the route. 

This is all from memory so other please correct if my memory is not correct

That's interesting, thanks. I was unaware of the (original) GWR widening programme. They did get as far as quadrupling Wantage Road to Challow (which was removed in the 1960s MAS resignalling scheme, then reinstated in 1990!) as well as adding/lengthening other loops on the section. I wonder if NR^» (Network Rail - home page) still own the land that was purchased?

As you say the pinch points to widening the line will be Steventon (it's already four-track under the A34 bridge) and NR is making no provision for more than two tracks with its replacement design for the Steventon High St overbridge. From Causeway crossing to Wantage Road should be fairly strightforward.

Further west, in addition to the cutting you mention, there are houses in close proximity to the line at Baulking and Uffington. Also widening the track on the approach to Swindon would be very expensive. Don't see it happening anytime soon unfortunately.

[ChrisB]

And unless third-party funding comes forward, it won't happen in time for EWR start either. No funding in CP6^▸ (Control Period 6 - The five year period between 2019 and 2024) for this without it.

[Thames Valley Commuter]

What's the deal on the Turbos being phased out?  Early morning Did to Padd fastish seem to be more Turbos than Electrostars

[grahame]

What's the deal on the Turbos being phased out?  Early morning Did to Padd fastish seem to be more Turbos than Electrostars

Good morning ... and welcome to the forum, Thames Valley Commuter - a very early (in the morning) initial post from you - early train to catch?

With electrification not yet completed (and no longer going to Oxford) and with a need to (re)plan timetables to take full account of where the new trains can go, there may not been enough electric trains to go around, and some of the work patterns of a train ("diagrams") may take a train on to an unelectrified line at some point in the day, even if it spends most of its time on Didcot - Paddington.

When the Elizabeth line opens, more (electric) trains will be running from London via Slough and Maidenhead as far as Reading, which will ease the shortage - if there is one - of the current electric units for services to Didcot and Newbury, and when timetables are redrawn to take advantage of those new trains and the changing performance pattern / shorter journey times allowed by the new long distance expresses,  any diagrams that are 99% electric will probably be tweaked to make them 100% electric.

Thames Valley not really my territory - others please follow up with specifics!

[devonexpress]

With electrification not yet completed (and no longer going to Oxford) and with a need to (re)plan timetables to take full account of where the new trains can go, there may not been enough electric trains to go around, and some of the work patterns of a train ("diagrams") may take a train on to an unelectrified line at some point in the day, even if it spends most of its time on Didcot - Paddington.

Would it not be easier to fit the 387s with batteries that can be recharged once under electrics, or if not small diesel engines which can provide power when not under wires? It seems crazy that GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) ordered all these 387s to boost capacity and now there having to scramble other trains to sort out a DFT^▸ (Department for Transport) mess.   The original GWR was ambitious, its a shame the modern era one is less so.

[ChrisB]

They are doing this with 19 312s (converted class 769) to provide for RDG^‡(resolve)-IXF trains. So a mixture of 769s and IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) for OXF^» (Oxford - next trains)-PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains)

[JayMac]

312s??



Do well to resurrect them and convert to tri-mode. 

[onthecushions]

312s??



Do well to resurrect them and convert to tri-mode. 

We had the last 2 cars (both trailers) at the Coventry ERM. They're now at Colne Valley with the 308 and 307 cars.

All the rest were cut up over a decade ago. They were comfortable, mid-70's, high performance units with sensible slam-doors that generations had coped with.

Waste,

OTC

[ChrisB]

indeed, another typo....319s of course