Cholsey and Wallingford Railway - between Didcot Parkway and Reading

[whole diary]

[Oxonhutch]

A bit of searching on The CWR^▸ (Continuously Welded Rail) Signalling website yields the following:

The railway is one of only a few heritage lines in the country to cross a main road.
The CWR in preservation form pre-dates the road, and as part of the agreement to build the Wallingford By-Pass, it was agreed that Oxfordshire Highways would be responsible for all maintenance of the crossing through Oxfordshire county council (OCC).  OCC have a contract with Network Rail for all maintenance of the crossing.

i.e. No maintenance burden for the railway. Good!

So it seems to be another job for the Orange Army. Well they better arrive soon because OCC says on their roads website that the lights are only there until 18th August. I expect an alteration to that timing soon.

[autotank]

Yes thankfully we don't have to pay for the repairs required to the crossing. All sorts of hi-viz clad experts from various bodies have been crawling over it in the last few months - hopefully it won't be long until the actual work starts. The council must be paying out quite a lot of money for an operative to man the crossing everytime we run at the moment.

[bobm]

I was involved with the Cholsey & Wallingford when the bypass was being planned.  It really was make or break to get the crossing provided. Otherwise the railway would have been cut into two unviable halves.

Shortly after it came into use there was an accident at the crossing which initially brought some bad publicity for the line although it was ultimately proved that everything relating to the crossing had worked correctly.

[Marlburian]

Meridian TV news item

[Oxonhutch]

Now an incredibly long tidal flow system over the bypass level crossing. Lights either side of the dividing reservation - previously driven over - means long delays for drivers over the section, +/- 400m. On a positive note, I see that notification of a total road closure on 9th/10th November suggests that remediation is now finally in hand. Comments please (yeah or nay) from those in the know.