...infrastructure takes up much more space than it used to in order to comply with modern standards.
I'm interested in this statement. How much more space is needed? I recognise that safe access (walkways and so on) didn't use to be a priority, but what other new requirements are there?
Ballast shoulders are wider and higher, even for relatively slow speed lines, and there would clearance and space for electrification even if it is not in the current plan
And as well as that the furniture like signal gantries is getting bigger and more robust, along with cabinets for that equipment which now also house
TPWS▸ equipment...and so on and so on.
Fortunately the one big potential obstacle for extending the Up Oxford Relief, the bridge that carries Old Abingdon Road over it was rebuilt with space for a fourth track, indeed if you watch the following video from 43m00s to 46m 00s you can see the route in question:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMADOeBumAUFrom the site of the proposed new junction north of Radley at 43m 10s to Kennington Junction at 44m 55s you can see the width of the formation is adequate for a third track without widening the boundary. A small bit of track slewing and movement of equipment boxes/signals will be needed, but nothing too monumentral and note the new footbridge at 44m 38s is wide enough.
From 45m 00s to 45m 25s the extra track is already in place as it's a goods loop.
45m 28s is the Old Abingdon Road bridge which has space for the fourth track on the right and it can then run behind the equipment boxes until it passes over one of the Hinksey Stream bridge at 45m 43s where the right hand span is currently not used and with a small amount of track slewing (and movement of equipment) there is room for it to continue on the right hand side under the two footbridges at 46m 11s and 46m 40s until 47m 00s where the current Up Oxford Relief line ends.
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