Swindon to Oxford - new proposal from the "Go!" Coop

[whole diary]

[paul7575]

Is there any update on how the company is progressing with its plans?  Can't see anything too recent on their website.

Awaiting CAA^» (Civil Aviation Authority - about) approval...

Paul

[Chris from Nailsea]

There's a good article on the Rail Professional website - dated June 2010 - which gives a summary of the present position.

Negotiations with Network Rail and the ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road, formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) are in progress, apparently:

Negotiations have already started with both Network Rail and the Office of Rail Regulation. The group is expecting the approval process to take at least nine months, but it often takes much longer.

[anthony215]

I hope this proposal does come about, although  are there any spare MK2 stock coaches about or maybe there will import some of the MK3' from ireland.

 Like the Okehampton to Exeter service i do wish these organisations luck with starting these new rail services an hopefully people will be prepared to use them.

[Ollie]

Is there any update on how the company is progressing with its plans?  Can't see anything too recent on their website.

Awaiting CAA^» (Civil Aviation Authority - about) approval...

Paul

Why would the Civil Aviation Authority be involved?  Sorry I've not really been following closely, so genuinely wondering. Unless there is another CAA?

[Phil]

Another alternative would be the Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA^» (Civil Aviation Authority - about)) introduced in April 2009, although given that was abolished by the new government in May 2010 I can't see how they'd be waiting on that.

[paul7575]

Is there any update on how the company is progressing with its plans?  Can't see anything too recent on their website.

Awaiting CAA^» (Civil Aviation Authority - about) approval...

Paul

Why would the Civil Aviation Authority be involved?  Sorry I've not really been following closely, so genuinely wondering. Unless there is another CAA?

Porcine Aviation, Kite Flying, and Pies in the Sky (above 1000 ft) are all under their control...   

Paul

[anthony215]

I have heard some rumours stating that class 50's could be hired in. Aparantly there is something about this in the latest issue of rail express.

If they did do the very unlikely and do hire some class 50's i think we could see trains carrying a  few railway enthusiasts as well as local passengers

[JayMac]

Oooh Vacman'd like that!

However, I suspect this is nowt but rumour and a slightly far fetched one. Only 3 Hoovers passed for mainline running as far as I'm aware, all at the Severn Valley Railway. Going to need a lot more than just a mainline certificate for regular daily passenger use.

Still, stranger things have happened.

[anthony215]

Oooh Vacman'd like that!

However, I suspect this is nowt but rumour and a slightly far fetched one. Only 3 Hoovers passed for mainline running as far as I'm aware, all at the Severn Valley Railway. Going to need a lot more than just a mainline certificate for regular daily passenger use.

Still, stranger things have happened.

I thought it was only like at least 2 class 50's cleared for mainline work and i think Go were planning on using at least 3 train sets.

I think it is more likely that class 47's or class 57's will be used although it would be nice if they could get at least 1 class 50 in service as i suspect that will help get a lot of  enthusiasts using the service.

[anthony215]

Just had a message with the following link:

http://www.go-now.coop/workspace/uploads/files/a4_newsletter-aw1.pdf

seems as though they are going to run a parry people mover on a line down in hampshire

[eightf48544]

Wow.

Interesting experiment.

If the people mover can cope with the Mid Hants grades then it really puts it in the frame for short branches.

Marlow to Bourne End shuttle?

[Electric train]

Wow.

Interesting experiment.

If the people mover can cope with the Mid Hants grades then it really puts it in the frame for short branches.

Marlow to Bourne End shuttle?

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggggg NO! NO! and thrice NO!

[anthony215]

Wasn't there a plan to convert the Maidenhead - Bourne End/Marlow branch to light rail and perhaps open an extension to High Wycombe?

I believe it was supposed to be something like the DLR^▸ (Docklands Light Railway) rather than tram's

It may be a good idea if it offeres a better frequency on the branch, although there may be some who will not be happy to have to change trains at Maidenhead

I wish them luck with the proposal to operate a parry people mover, although i am surprised that it wasn't annouced earlier. I also heard that the proposed Yeovil - Westbury - Swindon - Oxford/Birmingham  service was being increased to every 2 hours at least between Westbury & Swindon/Oxford.

There was a brief mention of this in the press release i posted in an earlier post so i hope this does come off although i doubt they will be using class 50's (Which may dissapoint some railway enthusiasts)

[Electric train]

Wasn't there a plan to convert the Maidenhead - Bourne End/Marlow branch to light rail and perhaps open an extension to High Wycombe?

I believe it was supposed to be something like the DLR^▸ (Docklands Light Railway) rather than tram's

It's more a dream than a plan to re-open the Bourne End - High Wycome line, operationally it makes no sense to FGW^▸ (First Great Western) to operate a different type of traction

It may be a good idea if it offeres a better frequency on the branch, although there may be some who will not be happy to have to change trains at Maidenhead

Without putting in passing loops the or running a shuttle all day between Bourne End and Marlow the Maidenhead - Marlow line is at capacity and anyway I doubt there is the passenger base to increase the frequency

I wish them luck with the proposal to operate a parry people mover, although i am surprised that it wasn't annouced earlier. I also heard that the proposed Yeovil - Westbury - Swindon - Oxford/Birmingham  service was being increased to every 2 hours at least between Westbury & Swindon/Oxford.

So do I

[eightf48544]

Agree entirely with Electric Train that any light rail plans for Bourne End to  High Wycombe are not suitable. I put Marlow Borne End for the Parry People mover on a whim.

Bourne End to High Wycomber reinstatement only makes sense if it forms the missing heavy rail  South to North link from Slough/Maidenhead to Alyesbury and Milton Keynes this could depend on East West, but I can't see reinstatement from Aylesbury being put off much longer. Are there still rumblings about repairing the flyover at Bletchley?

Thus it forms with East West  and the Bicester link a heavy rail cross of lines linking most of  the major Berkshire towns with themselves the Thames Valley and West Midlands.

Just like the Chippenham Westbury line with a proper service could do for Wiltshire.

There were rumours that had the Wolverton Open Day occurred the shuttles were going to reverse on the flyover which suggests not much is needed to fully reinstate it.