JohnG

At a Public Presentation last Monday it was announced that the "Local
Rail" option has been chosen to go forward to final design costing/
submission for approval stage. This is the 1 tph Oxford- Milton Keynes
Central plus 1 tph Oxford- Bedford and 1 tph Aylesbury- Milton Keynes
Central all via Bletchley flyover (with new island platform (inc. bay)
option which local authorities and developers will largely fund.
Bletchley Bedford all stations (School kids!) downgraded to 1 per
approx. each 2 hours. If proposed Eco town west of town goes ahead
then new station Bicester Parkway will be built and Islip closed.
Network Rail have suggested that signalling and level crossings are
configured or replaced to allow for 100mph line speed over majority of
route and 6 tph capacity to cater for the planned freight and
Southampton - Manchester cross country. Additional costs over original
plan should be picked up by them. An attempt to bring forward major
resignalling in Oxford could result in running into main station
rather than proposed platform 100m away (by Turbo sidings). If not
possible, then the entire route to be signalled from Marston Vale line
signalling centre which was built recently with that eventuality in
mind.
Things are moving!
JohnG