Oxford Station - improvements, incidents and events (merged topic)

[whole diary]

[ray951]

Good news and looks like it is finally happening, Oxford Station is to be expanded.
https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/boost-to-oxford-rail-travel-following-gbp-69m-funding-confirmation

New Western Entrance
New platform
Extra Tracks

No mention of electrification but look at the artists impression.

[stuving]

Now, hold on there ... what has been announced (and I can't find it from DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)) is:

The funding will progress the next stage of development work ...

and then ...

As part of the plans the road network will also be improved near to the station as Botley Road bridge will be replaced and the road lowered to enable standard double-decker buses to pass underneath for the first time. As part of the new design, a four-metre wide cycle/footpath will also be installed on each side to encourage sustainable transport and improve safety.
...
Early consultations about the proposals have taken place with local residents ahead of the plans being formally submitted to Oxford City Council. Further funding is required for the full implementation of the scheme and the Full Business Case for the project will be submitted to DfT later this year, with a decision on final funding expected in spring 2022.

But it is a big step along the way.

[Oxonhutch]

That deepened road bridge is going to need a reliable set of pumps for when the Isis tops her banks.

[ray951]

Now, hold on there ... what has been announced (and I can't find it from DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)) is:

The funding will progress the next stage of development work ...

and then ...

As part of the plans the road network will also be improved near to the station as Botley Road bridge will be replaced and the road lowered to enable standard double-decker buses to pass underneath for the first time. As part of the new design, a four-metre wide cycle/footpath will also be installed on each side to encourage sustainable transport and improve safety.
...
Early consultations about the proposals have taken place with local residents ahead of the plans being formally submitted to Oxford City Council. Further funding is required for the full implementation of the scheme and the Full Business Case for the project will be submitted to DfT later this year, with a decision on final funding expected in spring 2022.

But it is a big step along the way.

Sorry I was so surprised by the annoucement that I missed that 

But also it says 'Botley Road bridge will be replaced and the road lowered to enable standard double-decker buses to pass underneath for the first time' but last time I looked standard double-decker buses already go under the bridge.
And there is already a western entrance although it is only open during peak hours.

[stuving]

But also it says 'Botley Road bridge will be replaced and the road lowered to enable standard double-decker buses to pass underneath for the first time' but last time I looked standard double-decker buses already go under the bridge.

There's several standard heights for buses. Two of the commonest are "full" at 4.4 m and "low" at 4.2 m. The bridge is plated at 4.0 m (13'0"), so what goes under it now must be an even lower sort of standard.

[paul7575]

The DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) version of this announcement doesn’t even mention the word Oxford. For some reason they are spinning it as a Southampton to Midlands freight solution. 

“…and £69 million of improvements to increase freight capacity between the Port of Southampton and the Midlands will boost economic growth.”

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/401-million-investment-into-upgrades-to-deliver-brighter-rail-future

Paul

[stuving]

This is an unusually long-running thread on the same topic, and there are some previous plans for the station rebuild in it. There was a public engagement exercise earlier this year, presenting the latest version of what Network Rail think they are going to do. It looks as if today's announcement does start that Phase 2 programme as described there, even if the postal order sent to NR^» (Network Rail - home page) will need to be followed by some much bigger ones.

There is a presentation as a PDF, and a video of it as given at the "virtual public meeting".

[stuving]

And, for those who think there's a problem with finding a suitable road profile under the new bridge and into Frideswide Square, here's how that was done. Could it have been done just as easily by drawing it on paper (real or virtual)? I imagine so, but that wouldn't have made a video, would it?

[didcotdean]

The Oxford Rail Corridor study has been published, at least in part on the Network Rail Site. Press release here and summary here and more detail here. Have to wonder though if it has been overtaken by recent events since much of the background appears to be based on the situation in and foreseen from 2018.

[ChrisB]

The Transport for Works Order is expected to be signed off before the summer & application to the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) for funding soon after..

[IndustryInsider]

The Transport for Works Order is expected to be signed off before the summer & application to the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) for funding soon after..

Announced that Kier has won the contract for that (GRIP^▸ (Guide to Railway Investment Projects) 5) part of the project:

https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/kier-wins-enabling-works-on-oxford-station-upgrade-16-03-2022/

[paul7575]

Can someone remind me, is the present track layout already designed for the addition of P5, so in principle altering the track and signalling should be a relatively straightforward job?

It will presumably be the Botley Rd bridge and new subway that’s the most significant in terms of possessions?

Paul

[IndustryInsider]

Yes, that’s right Paul.  Even some of the signals already have route indications into what will become Platform 5.

There are some new high speed S&C^▸ (Settle and Carlisle )’s going in between the Walton Well Road bridge and Oxford North Junction as well, but again, signals are already ready and waiting for that.

The Sheepwash bridge replacement at the north end of the station will be quite a big project, but nothing compared to the Botley Road bridge works.

[paul7575]

Yes, that’s right Paul.  Even some of the signals already have route indications into what will become Platform 5.

There are some new high speed S&C^▸ (Settle and Carlisle )’s going in between the Walton Well Road bridge and Oxford North Junction as well, but again, signals are already ready and waiting for that.

The Sheepwash bridge replacement at the north end of the station will be quite a big project, but nothing compared to the Botley Road bridge works.

I was fairly sure that would be the case;  I also thought you’d posted a track layout including P5 somewhere, but I’m not having much success finding it…

Paul

[IndustryInsider]

I was fairly sure that would be the case;  I also thought you’d posted a track layout including P5 somewhere, but I’m not having much success finding it…

I’ll try and repost it later.