Cotswold Line redoubling: 2008 - 2011

[whole diary]

[Timmer]

As do Chiltern - though in both examples their entire service fits on a couple of timetables, which makes it easier and is a luxury FGW^▸ (First Great Western) haven't got.

Well FGW used to for IC^▸ (Inter City) routes so it was obviously decided a luxury they would no longer provide after December 06.

[IndustryInsider]

And of course the flood of mini/pocket (delete according to your personal preference!) timetables last year didn't make the task any easier.

[willc]

I forgot to add that there have been posters up at all the stations on the line and at Oxford since January about the weekend changes last month and this month and the train crews were making announcements about it on weekdays ahead of the two weekend-long closures last month, so if someone made the effort to organise all that, why on earth couldn't they get a simple notice on the web page too?

[Ollie]

I'm only saying what I was told when I queried the same thing, but regarding a different blockade at some point last year, and was told, it's in the published timetable, so it's not an alteration.
I agree with what you are saying that even a note as a reminder that this is happening as per the published timetable would be useful.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Thanks, Ollie! 

I think it would be a great improvement if the official FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website were to be made more 'customer focussed' and up to date in its content.

[eightf48544]

Up to date websites whatever next?

It's more "attention to detail" which TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) don't do.

[Weston-Sub-Edge]

Has the track layout and siganlling at Honeybourne north been finalised or is still up in the air?

Will there be a crossover or will trains returning from Long Marston run wrong line to Evesham where a few new signals will be required?

I guess the later option would be cheapest with the low volumes on the branch. Would the returning movements not interfere with the smooth operation of trains on the mainline?

[gwr2006]

 
The Network Rail HQ^▸ (Headquarters) Investment Panel met yesterday and agreed to release the final tranche of funding for the ^67.79 million redoubling of the Cotswold Line.

[IndustryInsider]

Here's an example of a delayed train doing a sterling job to recover almost 40 minutes of delay on the short stretch from Norton Junction to Oxford tonight.  The redoubling will hopefully remove the need for such crazy amounts of slack in the schedule.  The train is booked a 28 minute wait at Evesham waiting a path onto the single line, but made an additional 10 minutes of the delay up to just creep within the 'on-time' threshold for the PPM^‡(resolve) figures when it arrived at Oxford.


Location    Schedule          Actual     Delay
WorcsFS            19:27     20:02            35L
WorcsSH   19:29    19:29     20:04    20:05   36L
NrtnJn    19:34    19:40     20:20    20:21   41L
Evesham   19:54    20:22     20:34    20:37   15L
MInMars   20:42    20:43     20:52    20:54   11L
AsctUWd            20:57              21:06   9L   
WvctJn             21:15              21:20   5L
Oxfd               21:20              21:24   4L


According to the NR^» (Network Rail - home page) log a London Midland ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock) move into the depot blocked the line for a considerable time when a fault led to the brakes sticking on.  Trains coming the other way were also left marooned for a while and were soon backed up to Evesham adding to the argument of a more flexible signalling and track layout in the Worcester area.

As an aside, the reporting locations shown above are the only ones that exist on the Cotswold Line.  This may explain why the accuracy of the CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) systems is so lacking on occasions!

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Rail improvement work due on North Cotswold line

Up to ^70m will be spent on improving the North Cotswold line in the next two years, Network Rail has announced.
Track and stations between Ascott-under-Wychwood, Oxfordshire; Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire; and Evesham, Worcestershire, will be revamped.
Network Rail said new level crossings, barriers and signals would be installed and the work should provide extra capacity for hourly services by 2011.
It said it would carry out most of the work overnight to reduce disruption.
Track renewal work at Ascott-under-Wychwood and Evesham is due to start in June followed by work to redouble 21 miles (31km) of track starting in autumn.
Network Rail said it would tender contracts for track, signalling, stations, telecoms and plant installation work in the summer.
It said the North Cotswolds line was a particularly congested part of the railway, which meant even small delays had a big impact on rail services in the area.
It said improvement work would increase rail service reliability along the line.

[paul7575]

Network Rail version:

Network Rail has finalised the next phase of work for the North Cotswold redoubling scheme and is now tendering for contracts, bringing job prospects to the rail industry.

By 2011, there will be extra capacity, potentially for more trains to run hourly, and improved reliability on North Cotswold rail services.  Passengers at Charlbury, Ascott-under-Wychwood and Honeybourne will also benefit from a bigger, bright and accessible station with improved facilities, including new platforms with step-free access, new lighting and real-time digital passenger information systems.

Network Rail is also boosting these improvements by investing nearly ^3m extra to renew life-expired track near Ascott-under-Wychwood and Evesham and to spruce up stations at Kingham, Moreton-in-Marsh and Evesham. 

The track renewal work at Ascott-under-Wychwood and Evesham will begin this June, followed by the improvement work to redouble parts of North Cotswold this autumn.

More at: 
http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/Press-Releases/RAIL-TRANSFORMATION-ON-NORTH-COTSWOLD-STRIDES-FORWARD-1414/SearchCategoryID-7.aspx

[Moreton134]

Upon hearing the very good news and read the Network Rail press release.
I am slightly confused what will happen at Moreton-in-Marsh,
will the existing semaphore signals and trackwork (east of and through station) be retained or will it be renewed?   
The Network rail report does not mention much about Moreton other than the station will be spruced up.   I gather that from the press release the new signalling will go to Evesham and Ascott instead of Didcot's new signalling centre, but will Moreton's signal box close?   
Anybody have any news about this?

[IndustryInsider]

A good article with more detail than most:

http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/local/8102325.Passengers_must_wait_longer_for_new_rail_line/?ref=rss

[Btline]

^Once we have completed the work next summer, we will be able to walk away knowing that the route is fit for the next 30 to 40 years.^

Excuse me? Only when the line is fully redoubled, with modernised signalling throughout will it be fit! These plans are only phase 1.

[Oxman]

Moreton's box is to be retained.