East - West Rail update (Oxford to Bedford) - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[ChrisB]

I don't believe that this has only just been classified as an England & wales project at this stage - so why complain only now?

Complain now because you're now in the role of representing the people of your constituency which wasn't a role you were in when the project was initially classified, perhaps?

And the previous incumbent didn't notice that?

[ChrisB]

Anyway, I'm off on Friday to the new station at Wilmslow, to check it out for accessibility.

[grahame]

Anyway, I'm off on Friday to the new station at Wilmslow, to check it out for accessibility.

Winslow I suspect or has Cheshire been getting rebuilds?

[ChrisB]

Thanks for correcting my typo!

[grahame]

I don't believe that this has only just been classified as an England & wales project at this stage - so why complain only now?

Complain now because you're now in the role of representing the people of your constituency which wasn't a role you were in when the project was initially classified, perhaps?

And the previous incumbent didn't notice that?

Don't know ... but new MPs^▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context) are not committed to the views and policies of previous ones.

[TonyK]

I don't believe that this has only just been classified as an England & wales project at this stage - so why complain only now?

Oooh look, a chance to bash the London government and get my name in the paper, along with my "angry" photo.

[Richard Fairhurst]

£2.5bn "confirmed" for extension through to Cambridge, apparently: https://bsky.app/profile/oxfordclarion.bsky.social/post/3lrdl3pd6kk24

[grahame]

I don't believe that this has only just been classified as an England & wales project at this stage - so why complain only now?

Oooh look, a chance to bash the London government and get my name in the paper, along with my "angry" photo.

£2.5bn "confirmed" for extension through to Cambridge, apparently: https://bsky.app/profile/oxfordclarion.bsky.social/post/3lrdl3pd6kk24

This "Wales" business has bothered me ... as I have felt it will benefit passengers from South Wales travelling to Cambridge.   Melksham to Cambridge was a journey I use to make quite often and by public transport it was awful as is Cardiff to Cambridge. And yet - just this one flow - there are around 7,000 journey tickets sold annually and how much higher might that be if the journey wasn't a nightmare one.     It would take time for me to gather other southwales-to-cambridge stats, but a quick look show things like Llandaf to Cambridge North tickets ...

[ChrisB]

£2.54million was specifically mentioned by Rachel Reeves yesterday - so no "confirmed" needed in quotes.

[Red Squirrel]

£2.54million was specifically mentioned by Rachel Reeves yesterday - so no "confirmed" needed in quotes.

Three orders of magnitude out there, ChrisB. Make that £2.54 billion

[ChrisB]

indeed.....thanks!

[grahame]

https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/footage-released-of-east-west-rails-first-commercial-freight-train

The first commercial freight train has travelled along the East West Rail line as part of its journey into a new strategic rail freight interchange in Northampton.

Shortly after 13:00 yesterday (Monday 16 June) the service* from Didcot came onto the new infrastructure at Oxford, travelling the 35 miles to Milton Keynes to connect with the West Coast Main Line.

[IndustryInsider]

It’s a bit of a surprise all those houses in Wolvercote haven’t collapsed yet.

[paul7575]

It’s a bit of a surprise all those houses in Wolvercote haven’t collapsed yet.

Wasn’t there also a scare story about horses being spooked for miles around?

[grahame]

From GB^▸ (Great Britain) News

The opening of a new £7billion railway line has been delayed after a row between trade unions over who should operate the trains' doors.

East West Rail (EWR^▸ (East West Railway (Oxford to Bedford), or possibly East Worthing station, depending on context)) is one of the Government's leading rail schemes, reopening a disused rail route since the 1960s and will eventually link Oxford and Cambridge.

It has been unavailable for public use despite the Government saying it would open this year and empty passenger trains running up and down the new lines for several months.

The Telegraph reported that an insider said some of the delays were due to "our trade union colleagues ... holding us up on opening the doors".

The dispute between the unions and the train company is believed to be focused on who should open the train doors - the guard or the driver.

Unions are against drivers operating the doors because it would delete the guard's job, reducing union membership and income in the long-term, but also meaning the driver could be accountable for any so-called "trap and drag" accidents with passengers.