EWR Construction Progress Steeple Claydon to Launton May 2024
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- Опубликовано: 20 авг 2024
- A look along the route of EWR between Steeple Claydon and Launton.
EWR is the project to (re)link Oxford and Cambridge via rail, partly using the old Varsity Line. The section from Oxford to Bicester Village (formerly Bicester Town) was completed a few years back. This section is to link Bicester with Bletchley, where it will link to the existing "Fenny Flyer" that runs from Bletchley to Bedford.
Sadly, the Bedford to Cambridge section looks in jeopardy, and potentially will not happen now.
Great video and thanks for taking the time and trouble to edit and sharing. Really appreciated.
Thanks for the feedback, glad you enjoyed it.
looking good and sounding good with the tunes thanks😁
Thanks, glad you enjoyed the journey along this section :)
What started off as a reopening of the line from Oxford to Bletchley serms to have ballooned to a major rebuilding project!
Well, it was always supposed to be Oxford to Cambridge, but that Bedford to Cambridge bit looks in jeopardy. Most of the mess you can see in this video is HS2's construction work.
@@theboy-uk I would bet on Rayner and Reeves tell nimbys they can stick their objections where he sun doesn't shine an get it built.
@@DavidKnowles0 Its easy to cry NIMBY, but I bet you wouldn't want an 8 lane motorway within 200 yards of your home ;)
I hope EWR does get sorted. HS2 remains unneeded and a colossal waste of taxpayer money.
Lovely filming, a joy to watch, clear and informative (unlike other hyperactive, fidgety drone videos!). Formation looks ready for trains. When will the opening day be?
Thanks! This end is virtually all done, there is still some work to do at the Milton Keynes end of this stretch. Its due to open (as far as Bletchley) next year.
Didn't expect to see a such a long four-track section like that at the start. Are they are planning for a lot of trains to join from the Aylesbury Line, or is that a junction to HS2? Interesting. I guess it's built with the expectation of a lot of freight moves.
Really not sure what that section of quad track is for, and can't find out from EWR's (rubbish) website. That curve to HS2 southbound does look interesting, but I'm pretty certain HS2 won't allow local trains on their bit.
@@theboy-uk There is meant to be a connection to Aylesbury, so maybe that's it. I've seen videos of rail tours in the past 10-20 years coming up from Aylesbury, going on to where those tracks are now, running around their coaches, and heading to Bicester. I'm guessing trains coming from Aylesbury in the future may have to sit on the extra tracks and move to the main running line when a path is clear to Bletchley. It does suggest a good number of freight moves I think, which may generate more revenue than the passenger traffic.
@@apc108 The Aylesbury connection was always part of the plan, using the remains of the old existing line. But HS2 chose a similar route and demolished that line, so it will have to be a new route. The last I heard on the Aylesbury link was that any decision to build it had been pushed way into the future.
@@theboy-uk OK. I understand there may be a delay, but building a long section with four tracks suggests there must be a serious plan. That gorgeous section didn't come cheap! I looked around on real-time trains and there are aggregate trains coming up from the Great Western Mainline, via Southall to Greenford and then the line from Princes Risborough to Quainton railhead. What a path that could be, to skirt completely around London. I know the goal is to eventually get freight right to the East Coast, but to get from the GWR mainline and up to the West Coast mainline via Bletchley or the East Midlands via Bedford must have a lot of potential. I don't think they are going to sit around forever. They want that link back in. Once HS2 is sorted, I bet they move quickly.
At the EWR/HS2 crossing there is a link to allow engineering trains to enter the HS line. Conventional trains will NOT be allowed on the line without modification to use the ERTMS signalling system required on high speed lines. Passenger and freight trains operating on the EWR will not be allowed to use the line at all.
I didn't know there were any four-tracked sections of the EWR. How many are there?
I was surprised when I saw this, it's only a short section. The EWR website gives next to no info. I did wonder if Calvert/Steeple Clayton was getting a new station, and this was a bypass loop for that station, but I can't find any info, or visible signs that a station construction has started (and this section opens next year), though possible any station would be delayed due to HS2 depot works.
If the complete plan has ground to a halt, then that really makes this entire project fairly pointless. What a shame.
@@alistairkewish651 I kinda agree. The section between Bedford and Cambridge needs to get sorted!
This is the only eastbound freight loop and loco runround on the current project. Also provides access into the HS2 infrastructure depot. There’s already a facility to loop westbound freight traffic at Bicester near the entrance to the MOD depot.
There’s never been a new station proposed at this location.
Is the 4 tracked section part of HS2? I was under the impression that EWR went over HS2 at calvert?
No, it's EWR. As you say, EWR crosses over the top of HS2 about half a mile West of this 4 track section. I can't find any info on EWR's (rather useless) website about it, eg, is there going to be a new station here, or is it a bypass loop, or is it simply sidings.
@@theboy-uk I am sure for the price of this unnecessary debacle they could have built the link to aylesbury
I thought a HS2 depot is going in here
@@ianhosier4042 Are you referring to EWR or the pointlessness known as HS2? HS2 has pretty much used the route that the old Metropolitan line used, and you can guarantee that shower won't share!
@@dorothymellor3726 The depot starts about where the quad track ends.
will it be electrified or only diesel trains will use it?
No electrification on this, so will be diesel or diesel generated electric traction only.
No, the government answer is if it popular enough it will be electrified in the future. Some parts like bridges have been built with electrification in mind.
@@DavidKnowles0 Thanks for the info - first I've heard that mentioned.
...is this also costing £1 billion per km like HS2?
Nowhere near. Plus, unlike HS2, EWR has a use - ie, is a route that doesn't currently exist.
No because they aren't sticking half of it underground to applease Tory MPs, most of whom are no longer MPs.
Urgh! Vanity project!
...That's right isn't it? That what's called isn't it? A railway line opened up for the benefit of passengers and/or freight, right?
Even though its likely I can or will ever use EWR, I think it's better than the vanity project known as HS2. EWR offers a "new" East-West route linking towns and cities that otherwise have poor public transport links between them. HS2 offers.... ....errr..... ...yet another London to Birmingham line.
@@EdgyNumber1 No, a vanity project in the UK rail industry is when its built 100% for the benefit of those in the UK rail industry, not for the passengers ;)