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Author Topic: Oxford Station - improvements, incidents and events (merged topic)  (Read 254840 times)
Hal
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« Reply #225 on: August 05, 2020, 10:28:46 »

Oxford City Council said on Monday that it has hired engineering firm Atkins to develop a new "masterplan" for the station. It said the plan would turn Oxford into "a national rail hub", by adding two new lines and platforms.

It said:
"This includes:

- East West Rail (EWR), creating a rail link connecting Oxford, Bicester, Milton Keynes, Bedford, Cambridge, and communities in between
- The Cowley Branch Line, connecting local communities and key employment areas in the east of the city into the city centre and the wider railway network
- Further ambitions for EWR and other national routes, including opportunities for new direct services to Bristol and Swindon and improved connections with Birmingham, Worcester and the South Coast, faster connections to Heathrow
- More frequent services between Oxford and Banbury, Bicester, Culham, Didcot Parkway and Hanborough"

No sign of a timetable, but a first round of public consultation expected before the end of this year.
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IndustryInsider
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« Reply #226 on: August 05, 2020, 10:39:46 »

Good to see this 'beast' lumbering on slowly I suppose.
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« Reply #227 on: August 05, 2020, 11:03:01 »

maybe a three mile spur from Culham station to Abingdon for its 40,000 residents?
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« Reply #228 on: August 05, 2020, 11:24:58 »

maybe a three mile spur from Culham station to Abingdon for its 40,000 residents?

A spur using the old alignment from Radley would probably be better, but even then you wouldn't be able to get particularly close to the Town centre.  A Waitrose and car park now occupies the former station site, so realistically the closest you could get would be the a station on the current industrial estate on Barton Lane, which is a bit too far out of town, and not much better located than the current station at Radley which is only 1.5 miles away.

A better option IMHO (in my humble opinion) would be to develop Radley further, by stopping the other Oxford<>Didcot service there to give an all-day 30-minute interval service.
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« Reply #229 on: August 05, 2020, 12:16:12 »

The Oxfordshire Growth Board is currently considering the following enhancements in the Oxfordshire Rail Corridor Study over and above today's normal provision, although how this aligns with that the various railway bodies are doing / can do isn't clear to me. I guess too that some in the 2028 list may supersede 2024.

2024
Didcot-Milton Keynes: 2 tph, call at Culham
Bedford-Oxford: 1tph
Birmingham MS-Oxford: 0.5 tph

2028
Cowley-Marylebone: 2tph
Paddington-Hanborough: 1tph
Didcot-Hanborough: 1tph shuttle, call at Culham
Paddington-Great Malvern: 1tph
Cambridge-Bristol: 1tph
Cambridge-Southampton: 1tph
Birmingham-Bristol (via Coventry/Oxford) 1tph, call at Grove
Birmingham-Oxford (via Solihull): 1tph
Banbury-Oxford: 0.5 tph shuttle, call at Begbroke

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« Reply #230 on: August 05, 2020, 12:28:27 »

I guess we have to acknowledge that ongoing virus issues could completely wipe out any business cases for any schemes that have only reached 'under consideration' status nationwide.  Only those that actually have shovels in the ground or committed funding are looking secure.
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« Reply #231 on: August 05, 2020, 14:34:31 »

There's a dog here not barking - Reading!

Quote
The Oxfordshire Growth Board is currently considering the following enhancements in the Oxfordshire Rail Corridor Study over and above today's normal provision, although how this aligns with that the various railway bodies are doing / can do isn't clear to me. I guess too that some in the 2028 list may supersede 2024.

2024
Didcot-Milton Keynes: 2 tph, call at Culham
Bedford-Oxford: 1tph
Birmingham MS-Oxford: 0.5 tph

2028
Cowley-Marylebone: 2tph
Paddington-Hanborough: 1tph
Didcot-Hanborough: 1tph shuttle, call at Culham
Paddington-Great Malvern: 1tph
Cambridge-Bristol: 1tph
Cambridge-Southampton: 1tph
Birmingham-Bristol (via Coventry/Oxford) 1tph, call at Grove
Birmingham-Oxford (via Solihull): 1tph
Banbury-Oxford: 0.5 tph shuttle, call at Begbroke


So - why stop the 2024 MK (Milton Keynes) at Didcot when it could go through to Reading, providing connections to Gatwick/Guildford/Elizabeth Line/Kennet Valley/SW Peninsular services, and if it's a "slow", could restore a more frequent full stopping service between Reading and Oxford?

After 2028 - where is the current Cross Country service (2 an hour Oxford-Birmingham via either Solihull or Coventry)? It looks like part only in that list.

And how about a regular Oxford or beyond to Gatwick (assuming of course that we all start flying again?).

However, an hourly Cambridge - Southampton, presumably via Reading is something to look forward to!
« Last Edit: August 05, 2020, 14:41:53 by eightonedee » Logged
didcotdean
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« Reply #232 on: August 05, 2020, 14:38:46 »

Should have clarified why there is an emphasis on Culham calls in the above; this is because of plans to build houses around the station area; there is no mention at all of changes at Radley at least in what has been published.

There has also been approval and maybe more importance the money secured for a new road & parallel cycleway that would link Culham to Didcot via Appleford more directly than the present country lanes. I fear therefore for Appleford Station calls.
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didcotdean
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« Reply #233 on: August 05, 2020, 14:51:37 »

So - why stop the 2024 MK (Milton Keynes) at Didcot when it could go through to Reading, providing connections to Gatwick/Guildford/Elizabeth Line/Kennet Valley/SW Peninsular services, and if it's a "slow", could restore a more frequent full stopping service between Reading and Oxford?
I think the limited scope is to replace the current Didcot / Oxford shuttle.
Quote
After 2028 - where is the current Cross Country service (2 an hour Oxford-Birmingham via either Solihull or Coventry)? It looks like part only in that list.
They plug into the Midlands Engine Rail plans here which I think in essence would double current Oxford-Birmingham services per hour, ie one extra each on top of the current XC (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) services on each route. The Solihull routed trains would both go to Moor Street. Although the published detail is very sketchy.
« Last Edit: August 05, 2020, 14:57:07 by didcotdean » Logged
grahame
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« Reply #234 on: August 05, 2020, 16:11:36 »

However, an hourly Cambridge - Southampton, presumably via Reading is something to look forward to!

Presume nothing. England's Economic Heartland (See ((here))) Sub National Transport Body includes Swindon through Cambridge.

Quote
What is England's Economic Heartland?

England's Economic Heartland is a strategic collaborative partnership between 11 local transport authorities and four local enterprise partnerships. It provides strategic leadership in the long term planning of the region's strategic infrastructure and services, in order to realise the region's economic potential in a way which improves accessibility and inclusivity, quality of life and the environment. England's Economic Heartland is co-funded by its partners and the Department for Transport.

There are already 2 trains per hour from Oxford to Southampton and with lengthening from 2.5 carriages of standard class to 7.5, that should do for a while - 3 times the capacity and every half hour is enough.  Better provided trains that go right through the sNTB area and don't leave Swindon orphaned from the rest, and better to not dogleg the services at Oxford.  Yes, I know the Cambridge - Bristol and Birmingham - Bristol proposals also go this way, but a 30 minute Cambridge - Sandy - Bedford - Bletchley - Bicester - Oxford - Swindon - Chippenham service, alternate extensions to Corsham - Bath Spa - Bristol and all stations via Salisbury to Southampton would make sense.  Grove to be served by the Birmingham - Bristol service that would reverse at Didcot and be a stopper, and by a call on the Cheltenham Spa IET (Intercity Express Train) service.
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Hal
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« Reply #235 on: August 17, 2020, 14:46:08 »

Oxford Mail today has details of the latest proposed station upgrade.

https://www.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk/news/18652746.oxford-train-station-glimpse-future-upgrades-look-like/

It includes demolishing the Youth Hostel to construct a new station entrance on the west side. The YHA would be rebuilt nearby.

Botley Road would be widened and a new railway bridge built.
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Visoflex
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« Reply #236 on: August 20, 2020, 16:32:37 »

Whatever happened to the subway?  I presume it was taken out of use when the overbridge was built.  Was it filled in, turned into cable access, or something else?
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« Reply #237 on: August 20, 2020, 17:07:29 »

Cable access.  Mind you many years later there was quite a lot of activity down there so perhaps it was filled in, at least partially.
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« Reply #238 on: May 18, 2021, 13:16:43 »

Last August, the Oxfordshire Rail Corridor Study got a name check in a post in this thread, but that's the only reference I can find to it. There is a thread with "Oxford Rail Corridor" in its title, but that's about the track rebuild around Oxford station.

I can't find the report of that study either. It came out in January 2020, possibly followed by a consultation of some kind, but the only things I get on line are references in other bodies' minutes or plans, like this from South Oxfordshire. that implies that the Growth Board is hosting it ... but all I can pickup there is this, in a spreadsheet plan:
Quote
Cowley Branch Line

Growth Deal funding will contribute towards complementary development work including a nine-day survey and risk assessment of the level crossings, signal sighting assessments, an assessment of structures and ground investigations for a new bridge span over the river near Oxpens. Initial output definition work for the Oxfordshire Rail Corridor Study has proven that it is technically feasible to reintroduce passenger trains on this freight-only branch line.

The second stage of the Study is now nearing completion with Network Rail identifying likely estimated costs for infrastructure upgrades on the main line south of Oxford station needed to provide extra capacity for an increase in train services, including those that will serve Cowley. A package of further technical work has been agreed to provide more certainty on requirements and a better level of cost maturity, and includes track and signalling design between Kennington and Cowley, analysing topographical survey data and trackbed investigations for new tracks on the branch and over key structures. Outline station design and master planning is also planned to define the type of station, the range of facilities and the land required for each of the new stations to ensure they integrate with the communities they serve and prioritise active travel.

That's dated February 2021, so this Stage 2 appears to follow from the allegedly published study. Finally, what set this off was the following from TransportXtra:
Quote
The DfT» (Department for Transport - about) is understood to have authorised design work to commence on a programme of rail infrastructure enhancements in and around Oxford.

The proposals have been recommended in the stage two report of the Oxfordshire Rail Corridor Study for the DfT, Network Rail, councils and England’s Economic Heartland.

Stage one of the study, which reported last January, set out aspirations for additional services through Oxford, including extending East West Rail services to Didcot and, in the...

That was dated 6th April 2021, but I see no other news on it. So how does it fit in? Has this lot of studiers been talking to the ones on the North Cotswold Line? 
« Last Edit: May 19, 2021, 09:48:06 by stuving » Logged
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« Reply #239 on: May 19, 2021, 09:38:41 »

Who knows?  Well, somebody does, but not me!

I miss the Network Rail Control Period enhancements updates we used to get.  Everything seems much more hidden away now.

The driving force might well be East-West Rail as that can’t arrive at Oxford in 2025, assuming no more delays, without further improvements - most importantly platform 5.  Plans are fairly advanced on that, I’ve seen some of them.

How the Cowley branch, Oxford to Didcot capacity, new stations and further Cotswold Line improvement fit into all that, and how many spanner’s the pandemic has thrown into the works, is anyone’s guess!
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