Chiltern Evergreen 3 - Further new Track Access Agreement Application

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Buckinghamshire Advertiser:

Commuters rebel against timetable changes that leave them crushed

Commuters who face a daily crush home from work and are livid that Beaconsfield has an inferior train service to Gerrards Cross are calling on fellow travellers to lobby Chiltern Railways before a timetable consultation ends.
The company has announced a ^250 million upgrade this year of the line with faster and more frequent trains - but Beaconsfield will continue to be served by fewer trains than Gerrards Cross despite the fact that it has a larger population. Beaconsfield's population is 12,000 compared to 7,350 at Gerrards Cross.
Currently Gerrards Cross is served by eight trains from Marylebone between 5.30pm and 7pm but Beaconsfield is served by just six since since timetable changes in December.
And new faster 172 type trains being brought in when the line is upgraded are likely to stop every hour at Beaconsfield compared to twice per hour at Gerrards Cross, a spokesman for Chiltern Railways said this week.
She said information given to the Bucks Advertiser last week that new trains would not stop at Beaconsfield at all was incorrect.
Commuters commenting on this newspaper's website have called on a rethink.
Mark Anderson said: "Chiltern Railways should be applauded for their upgrading of service, but their knuckles ought to be rapped when it comes to scheduling and looking after their existing customers. It's a shame that there isn't an alternative because I'd show my frustration with my wallet and take a different operator... but there isn't so, come on Chiltern Railways, sort out the shoddy scheduling for one of your busiest and most lucrative stations as the new two storey car park (at Beaconsfield) attests."
He said commuters from Beaconsfield suffered more now that the busy 18.15 from Marylebone no longer stops, making trains before and after more crowded.
In comparison, commuters to Gerrards Cross have more trains and they are scheduled with sensible gaps.
He said: "It's madness, and frankly whomever has thought up this service needs to try to catch these trains daily to see what an effort it is."
Another commuter, named as Dan C, urged: "Beaconsfield commuters, there is still time to email your suggestions and proposals for timetable changes due in May."
You can view the proposals at www.chilternrailways.co.uk and comment on them by e-mailing timetableconsultation@chilternrailways.co.uk before February 2.

[Chafford1]

It's a pity Chiltern aren't reinstating the through roads at Beaconsfield which would allow more trains to stop there. I gather cost reasons prevented this.

[paul7575]

Moor St?  Why not - a new terminus for HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) could very easily be built alongside (on the north of) the approaches to New St, with the buffer stops at the western extremity of the site - that could be called Moor St.

[That's in a world where station locations can be decided on with about 30 seconds on Google Earth, of course... ]

Paul

I just wanted to bump this prediction,  as I've now found the drawing on the HS2 plans page. Although all the text refers to a station at 'Curzon St', it is actually so long it does indeed end up alongside Moor St, on the other side of the tracks into New St...

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/pi/highspeedrail/hs2ltd/route/bhammap07.pdf


Paul

[IndustryInsider]

Good shout, Paul - let's hope the officials didn't just spend 30 seconds on Google Earth as well... 

[paul7575]

Good shout, Paul - let's hope the officials didn't just spend 30 seconds on Google Earth as well... 

Thanks!  HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) staff would be professional people - they'd probably spend a few minutes on Google Earth...

Paul

[IndustryInsider]

...remodelled junction speeds with massive increases including Aynho Junction in the down direction raising from the current 40mph limit up to 85mph (that will be some track cant!)

The latest edition of RAIL magazine has an 8-page article on the Evergreen projects.  One statement that stood out to me concerning Aynho Junction reads as follows:

"Here the 50mph flyover will be replaced with a flat junction in the 'down' direction, and the speed limit on both the 'up' and 'down' Chiltern Lines raised to 90mph."

I referred to the cant of the track needed to reach those speeds in the quote above, but unless this is an editorial error, it indicates that the flyover will close and a much more restrictive flat junction will replace it.  If that's the case then it means that pathing of trains will be much more complicated to ensure there are no conflicts, and will no doubt cause delays to XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)), FGW^▸ (First Great Western) and freight trains heading south on occasions.  Does anyone have any more specific information?

[John R]

That struck me as highly surprising as well. To remove the grade separation would seem to be a very retrograde step.

[Btline]

They're doing the same to another junction nearer london (Northholt, I think it's called) - it's the easiest way to get the line speeds up.

It does however seem regrettable to remove capacity. I assume they'll keep the loop in place for freight (the loop at Northholt will remain to take the Gerrards Cross stoppers) or so the signalman can divert a down train onto the loop if it prevents delaying a XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)).

[IndustryInsider]

Northolt is a little different though as virtually everything heads from/to the Marylebone direction, so I see it causing far fewer problems.

I'm surprised none of the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)'s/FOC^▸ (Freight Operating Company)'s made no mention of it in their replies to Chiltern's TWA submissions - as over time it would have an effect on their own performance figures.  Or like I said, perhaps it's an editorial error?

[Chafford1]

Northolt is a little different though as virtually everything heads from/to the Marylebone direction, so I see it causing far fewer problems.

I'm surprised none of the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)'s/FOC^▸ (Freight Operating Company)'s made no mention of it in their replies to Chiltern's TWA submissions - as over time it would have an effect on their own performance figures.  Or like I said, perhaps it's an editorial error?

The planning application and documents for the new 'down' through line at Northolt/Ruislip are on the London Borough of Hillingdon website at:

http://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/index.jsp?articleid=10058

Enter 66712 as the application number and then 'View Associated Documents' - to be considered by the Council on 20th May.

A link to the design and access statement is below - see page 20 for existing and new layouts.

http://w09.hillingdon.gov.uk/images/dv_pl_files/66712_APP_2010_103/014.pdf


As to enquiries about the revised layout at Aynho, try Steve Broadbent at:

http://www.stevebroadbent.net/

He's a pretty accommodating and friendly sort of chap!


Evergreen 3 will also add a third 'up' through track at Princes Risborough:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PrincesRisboroughplatforms.JPG

 

[paul7575]

I reckon this is definitely a cockup in Rail. The wording in the relevant track access application reads as follows, my boldening:

Install new turnouts at Aynho Junction on up (90
mph) and down (85 mph);
Raise line speed from 90-65-90 to 90-100 mph on
the up and 100-50-40-90 to 100-90-85-90 on the
down;
Upgrade 15 mph trailing crossover on the Didcot-
Chester Line (DCL) to 50 mph;
Install new 7-day railway 50 mph facing crossover on
DCL north of existing crossover

Paul

[IndustryInsider]

Thanks to Chafford and Paul for helping to partly solve the mystery, though we're not quite there yet!

[SandTEngineer]

I have seen a copy of the draft Signalling Scheme Plan and the Aynho Junction flyover is retained and new facilities added as described in the second post above.  Both lines between Princes Risborough and Aynho Junction will become fully reversible signalled (for 7-day Railway purposes).

[IndustryInsider]

Thanks, SandTEngineer

[Chafford1]

Northolt is a little different though as virtually everything heads from/to the Marylebone direction, so I see it causing far fewer problems.

I'm surprised none of the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)'s/FOC^▸ (Freight Operating Company)'s made no mention of it in their replies to Chiltern's TWA submissions - as over time it would have an effect on their own performance figures.  Or like I said, perhaps it's an editorial error?

The planning application and documents for the new 'down' through line at Northolt/Ruislip are on the London Borough of Hillingdon website at:

http://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/index.jsp?articleid=10058

Enter 66712 as the application number and then 'View Associated Documents' - to be considered by the Council on 20th May.

A link to the design and access statement is below - see page 20 for existing and new layouts.

http://w09.hillingdon.gov.uk/images/dv_pl_files/66712_APP_2010_103/014.pdf


As to enquiries about the revised layout at Aynho, try Steve Broadbent at:

http://www.stevebroadbent.net/

He's a pretty accommodating and friendly sort of chap!


Evergreen 3 will also add a third 'up' through track at Princes Risborough:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PrincesRisboroughplatforms.JPG

 

The Council approved the Northolt remodelling today.