New rail link is capital idea

[whole diary]

[willc]

long franchises

There's only one lasting 20 years - Chiltern. The only other approaching that is ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former Train Operating Company)), with 15 years.

There's also Merseyrail of course. Though that isn't directly let by the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about).

Forgot that one, but your note about how the decision was reached says it all.

Can we please keep mention of Mr Clarkson's outpourings off this forum in any context whatever. That wasn't politics, just petty personal abuse. Or did I miss Jeremy's plan to save the world?

[Btline]

Here here Willc! Extremely harsh comments.

[stebbo]

I'm not a fan of Clarkson - but he's spot on with this one. And I'm sure millions of others agree. But although my political leanings may be obvious (though I'm not entirely sure about David C's capabilities), I too say renationalise

[willc]

Spot on? What's unpleasant abuse like that got to do with anything? People can make up their minds about whether Mr Brown is any good at his job without that.

Just as they will about whether Mr Cameron is up to taking over. And having met him a couple of times in a professional capacity and seen him handle public meetings in his constituency, I know he won't need to stoop to Clarksonesque silliness to make his case come election time.

[Btline]

Like him or loath him (and his policies); the man is no idiot!

[IndustryInsider]

Like him or loath him (and his policies); the man is no idiot!

Are you talking about Cameron, Clarkson or Brown?!

[devon_metro]

I think we can safely put Brown out of the question!

[Btline]

I was talking about Gordon Brown. He is certainly not an idiot.

Whilst you mention them - I don't think Clarkson or Cameron are idiots either.

But I dread the day Cameron becomes PM (which unfortunately he probably will)! (I think I'd prefer Clarkson, although you can't beat Brown )

[willc]

Chiltern are staging public exhibitions about their plans later this month in Bicester, Kidlington and Oxford.

See http://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/news/latest-news/proposed-new-oxford-to-london-route/

[stebbo]

Go for it, big time!

But wouldn't it be worth reconsidering a reopening of Oxford/Cowley/Thame/Princes Risborough? The major issue would be bridging the A40 (abuttments still there) and skirting the Animal Rescue centre and Oxford motorway services plus bridging the M40. Surely not insuperable?

[Btline]

Go for it, big time!

But wouldn't it be worth reconsidering a reopening of Oxford/Cowley/Thame/Princes Risborough? The major issue would be bridging the A40 (abuttments still there) and skirting the Animal Rescue centre and Oxford motorway services plus bridging the M40. Surely not insuperable?

Would be desirable, but on reflection, the route Chiltern has chosen is probably for the best. It will improve services at Bicester and Islip (which, under Chiltern, will actually get a service!) and Chiltern will have a dedicated set of tracks into Oxford, so they won't be affected by the poor performance of FGW^▸ (First Great Western) and XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)). Chiltern will want to maintain their high service levels, esp with another 2 tph^▸ (trains per hour) on their core route in Marylebone.

Thame does have a parkway station, a few miles down the road.

[gwr2006]

Go for it, big time!

But wouldn't it be worth reconsidering a reopening of Oxford/Cowley/Thame/Princes Risborough? The major issue would be bridging the A40 (abuttments still there) and skirting the Animal Rescue centre and Oxford motorway services plus bridging the M40. Surely not insuperable?

Chilltern looked at that route several years ago including a significant new alignment further south to avoid Wheatley where the original line ran in a cutting which has long since been filled in and redeveloped for housing, Hosparth Tunnel (now a protected wildlife habitat), BMW's Cowley plant through which the original line ran (and the remnants now terminate as the car loading facility). They concluded it was too expensive and technically challenging to achieve and that's when they came up with the idea of going via Bicester instead so its been considered and discarded.

[willc]

Surely not insuperable?

Fairly. If you scroll back up the thread, I posted a link to photos taken recently along the length of the line and they aren't pretty, whereas the Bicester line is a live working railway.

And it would have few of the spin-off benefits that the Chiltern scheme offers, such as a station for Kidlington, and a fast, frequent service between Oxford and Bicester that would actually get people out of their cars, which the current amble through the fields with FGW^▸ (First Great Western) never will.

[IndustryInsider]

Bicester North's (extended) car park is pretty much at full capacity Mon-Fri now.

Work has just started to add an extra modular deck to Bicester North's upper car park to further increase the number of spaces. It's a testament to Chiltern's success (and proactive approach) that this is being done only three years after the lower car park was opened which took the capacity up to nearly 600 spaces.

Looks like they'll be happy to accommodate peeved off FGW^▸ (First Great Western) customers for some time to come...

[IndustryInsider]

Bicester North's (extended) car park is pretty much at full capacity Mon-Fri now.

Work has just started to add an extra modular deck to Bicester North's upper car park to further increase the number of spaces.

And here's how the Car Park is looking as of yesterday. Less than two months on and it's virtually finished. By my estimation there'll be an extra 150+ spaces provided. I don't think it'll win any architectural design awards though...