@@ds1868 maybe so but why did HS 2 destroy a lot of there trackbed instead of moving there work over a few yards, so the cost to Aylesbury will now go sky high just put in a new track bed,
@@ianhosier4042 With the absolute shambles that is Buses in Aylesbury at the moment, I don't think that would be beneficial to anyone. Redline Buses can't even run the simple Aylesbury Town services on time, and half of them don't even turn up!! For them, the timetable is more of a 'rough guide'.
@@joginns778 the new HS2 track is very high end cement sleepers that will last for over 100 years with 200+ mph trains...the why. Will it be expensive to also tie in with Aylesbury, I hope not...and the Aylesbury track _could_ be high-speed which is up to them to commit. So far so good. Maybe getting it going will be helpful to get the added future finance to make it all better. Onward.
I thought the new line was going to be run by Chiltern so it seems odd that a GWR green cucumber is also testing on the route. I also am glad that it isn't electrified as it is so much more visually appealing for a country line to not have those bloody unsightly gantries and catanaries over every inch of track. The route should connect directly to the Chiltern line, either via Aylesbury or another spur at Bicester to join on the Mainline through Wycombe.
@barryamorris I think Oxford to Milton Keynes services should start in May 2025. Bletchley to Bedford will remain as it is now for a few more years. Change at Bletchley to link up the 2 services.
It appears there is as many GWR test trains as Chiltern, suggesting they have a desire to run possible Reading-MK and/or Swindon-MK but highly unlikely to happen from day one. A further 3 trains per hour plus a possible freight path (in either direction) would mean a minimum of 5 tph on the Oxford - Bicester section putting a gigantic strain on Bicester London road level crossing and it appears nobody has yet come up with a solution. How bizzare that there is a desire to recoup some of the many millions invested in reopening the Bicester-Bletchley section asap with an intensive service and being thwarted by one level crossing!
Actually MK to Bristol would be a better idea - preferably not stopping at Didcot which would necessitate the train changing direction. Regarding the level crossing, perhaps timetabling the trains so they cross over at that point would help reduce the amount of time the barriers have to be down.
@@pete6645 The GWR test trains are for a proposed diversionary route while Euston is closed, how popular this will be remains to be seen: The fastest Euston-MK tain is about 34 mins, the slowest about 66 mins. Padd-MK via Oxford would at best be around 90-95 mins., almost three times as slow as the fast Fuston train.If omly they had done the sensible thing and built the Aylesbury link first. you could have a Marylebone-Mk diversionary route (via Amersham and Aylesbury) of around 80-85 mins. In HST days GWR successfully ran an hourly diversionary train from Myb-Swansea via Oxford. I don`t think the 800s are yet cleared to run on the Chiltern route, I certainly have yet to see one. The present day route of Myb-MK would take much the same time as GWR but would require a reversal at Bicester Village requiring twice as many movements over our old enemy the level crossing!
But it was Johnson and co that agreed UK needed a high speed rail to Birmingham called HS2! If Labour didn’t give away£11.6bn in foreign aid to overseas climate aid has not helped. Labour also wanted more lockdowns that would have put the country into more debt!
@@_RabbitLeader yes, and there _are_ new automobile roadways and roundabouts noew being put in between MK and Cambridge (since the EWR to Cambridge was dropped). Both competing for the same thin budgets.
Interesting that the GWR IET has so far not been using its pantograph on the WCML part of the journey where the 25KV is live. Good to see that these are being tested along this route. We now need to wait for the 6 x 2car 196 DMUs to arrive from Tyseley to eventually operate the hourly then subsequently 1/2 hourly services.
Need link to Aylesbury and electrification all the way from Didcot to Oxford to Bicester to Winslow to Bletchley to Bedford if they can electrify 90% of India, why can’t we do it here?
COST!!!! India has TATA behind it billionaire UK doesn’t everytime it’s something like ELECTRIFY FARES GO UP TO pay for it and up and up and up for a business WHY do we suffer they should pay not us
GWR in Milton Keynes feels weird 😂, maybe they are considering a Reading or Swindon to Milton Keynes via Oxford service, saves the stress of going via London, had the Aylesbury link happened, maybe Chiltern could have considered a High Wycombe to Milton Keynes service via Aylesbury, would connect the main centres of North and South Buckinghamshire, currently requires going via London, or getting two buses changing at Aylesbury
it's mad to think an active GWR 800 is testing on the wcml, wonder if they will actually run in service to bletchley and onto MKC or is it just a case of testing incase of future closures at euston/paddington for route learning?
I suppose it is - although we will see it happen again on the 17th Nov when GWR are diverting to EUS, and of course Avanti have their 805s now which is practically the same as 800s.
Do you know which rolling stock will be doing the entire route from Oxford to Cambridge, Also. are they going to be relaying the entire track from Bletchely to bedford (please be yes i need an excuse to be late to school)
there are going to be upgrades for the Marston Vale line, but at present those upgrades are likely to be fairly limited... any change in scope to that project is likely to be influenced by whether the proposed Universal Studios theme park near Stewartby goes ahead
@@ChangesOneTim much as the increase in line speed is welcome, it is less relevant to the needs of getting people to a theme park than increases in service frequency and overall train length would be
I still do not understand why did they not make this "new" line all-electric and at least install the main support posts for the overhead catenary system, while building it, which cost the most and caused the most issues retrofitting at a later date
Because electrification is hugely expensive. Costs billions. They don’t have the budget to build a railway all the way to Cambridge. There are other railway lines that need building and electrification is a huge cost.
@@radders261 It would be extraordinarily stupid to install a lowish footbridge that is non compliant with the needs of a modern railway. So I don’t think that says anything about the immediate prospects for electrification. It is hugely expensive for the benefits that it would deliver especially when funds are tight and they don’t have a railway line built to Cambridge! So I doubt they will blow the budget on electrification.
Yes they are but details not finalised. We do know both ends will be doubled and only two level crossings retained. Speed limit will be between 75 and 90 mph.
I wish someone in the know would explain why testing has to take so long.... trains run or they don't, signals work or they don't. Get on and get it open!
Next, they have to train the crews up on the new line...a whole new higher-speed set of crew to run Oxford to MK and back. So maybe by January 2025 ? Will they run up to 90mph+ ?
Thanks for that just what I needed,,,a day out on the trains. !! Lovely new workings and clean stock!! 🎉
I don’t think the use them I think you may get Thomas and 4 wheeler coaches
Glad you enjoyed it
Probably end up using the dilapidated Marston vale trains on the route
@@ianhosier4042 nothing wrong with class 150 units esp the refurbed ones
@@LiveSteamNick hey better or Class 55 and mk3 or Tronado and mk1😀
That is sooo strange seeing GWR and Chiltern in MK.
'If you see something that doesn't look right!' 😂
I hate GWR and LNWR at the same station together
@@EdgyNumber1 GWR bought out Viva Rail who ran the line between Bedford to Bletchley, after they went into administration
It still really grinds my gears that we never got the link to Aylesbury.
That may still happen. HS2 has provided the space for the connection to be built.
@@ds1868 maybe so but why did HS 2 destroy a lot of there trackbed instead of moving there work over a few yards, so the cost to Aylesbury will now go sky high just put in a new track bed,
A bus link between Buckingham Winslow and Aylesbury would be way cheaper but I guess that won't even be put in either
@@ianhosier4042 With the absolute shambles that is Buses in Aylesbury at the moment, I don't think that would be beneficial to anyone. Redline Buses can't even run the simple Aylesbury Town services on time, and half of them don't even turn up!! For them, the timetable is more of a 'rough guide'.
@@joginns778 the new HS2 track is very high end cement sleepers that will last for over 100 years with 200+ mph trains...the why.
Will it be expensive to also tie in with Aylesbury, I hope not...and the Aylesbury track _could_ be high-speed which is up to them to commit.
So far so good. Maybe getting it going will be helpful to get the added future finance to make it all better.
Onward.
The lucky few Oxford and Aylesbury drivers who caned in some new mileage on their route knowledge cards😀
I thought the new line was going to be run by Chiltern so it seems odd that a GWR green cucumber is also testing on the route. I also am glad that it isn't electrified as it is so much more visually appealing for a country line to not have those bloody unsightly gantries and catanaries over every inch of track.
The route should connect directly to the Chiltern line, either via Aylesbury or another spur at Bicester to join on the Mainline through Wycombe.
Hell no, this line should've been fully electrified to keep powertrain noise and tailpipe emission down to near zero. Gets better acceleration too.
Great to see the track finally being tested. Can’t wait for them to open up the line from Bedford all the way out to Oxford
@barryamorris I think Oxford to Milton Keynes services should start in May 2025. Bletchley to Bedford will remain as it is now for a few more years. Change at Bletchley to link up the 2 services.
@ ok thankyou
looking forward to going on this from bicester.
Beautiful !
Excellent footage nice one
Thanks!
I done my part on the east west rail project
It appears there is as many GWR test trains as Chiltern, suggesting they have a desire to run possible Reading-MK and/or Swindon-MK but highly unlikely to happen from day one. A further 3 trains per hour plus a possible freight path (in either direction) would mean a minimum of 5 tph on the Oxford - Bicester section putting a gigantic strain on Bicester London road level crossing and it appears nobody has yet come up with a solution. How bizzare that there is a desire to recoup some of the many millions invested in reopening the Bicester-Bletchley section asap with an intensive service and being thwarted by one level crossing!
Actually MK to Bristol would be a better idea - preferably not stopping at Didcot which would necessitate the train changing direction. Regarding the level crossing, perhaps timetabling the trains so they cross over at that point would help reduce the amount of time the barriers have to be down.
@@pete6645 The GWR test trains are for a proposed diversionary route while Euston is closed, how popular this will be remains to be seen: The fastest Euston-MK tain is about 34 mins, the slowest about 66 mins. Padd-MK via Oxford would at best be around 90-95 mins., almost three times as slow as the fast Fuston train.If omly they had done the sensible thing and built the Aylesbury link first. you could have a Marylebone-Mk diversionary route (via Amersham and Aylesbury) of around 80-85 mins. In HST days GWR successfully ran an hourly diversionary train from Myb-Swansea via Oxford. I don`t think the 800s are yet cleared to run on the Chiltern route, I certainly have yet to see one. The present day route of Myb-MK would take much the same time as GWR but would require a reversal at Bicester Village requiring twice as many movements over our old enemy the level crossing!
Brilliant video work it's good to see this line rise again, it's just a shame Johnson and his government didn't allow the Aylesbury 😊link to go ahead,
But it was Johnson and co that agreed UK needed a high speed rail to Birmingham called HS2! If Labour didn’t give away£11.6bn in foreign aid to overseas climate aid has not helped. Labour also wanted more lockdowns that would have put the country into more debt!
@@_RabbitLeader yes, and there _are_ new automobile roadways and roundabouts noew being put in between MK and Cambridge (since the EWR to Cambridge was dropped).
Both competing for the same thin budgets.
Interesting that the GWR IET has so far not been using its pantograph on the WCML part of the journey where the 25KV is live. Good to see that these are being tested along this route. We now need to wait for the 6 x 2car 196 DMUs to arrive from Tyseley to eventually operate the hourly then subsequently 1/2 hourly services.
Hardly worth raising the pants from Denbigh hall junction in Bletchley to Mk.
Need link to Aylesbury and electrification all the way from Didcot to Oxford to Bicester to Winslow to Bletchley to Bedford if they can electrify 90% of India, why can’t we do it here?
COST!!!! India has TATA behind it billionaire UK doesn’t everytime it’s something like ELECTRIFY FARES GO UP TO pay for it and up and up and up for a business WHY do we suffer they should pay not us
Electrification is an expensive luxury that for the money. Benefits not so great as spending the billions on other projects.
@@martinreed9565 money by chance???
@@_RabbitLeader they do it in Scotland why not here should have been electrified😃
@@LiveSteamNick we’re supposed to be the fifth richest country in the world and if they can do it in India, why can’t we don’t hear?
Very nice, like!
GWR in Milton Keynes feels weird 😂, maybe they are considering a Reading or Swindon to Milton Keynes via Oxford service, saves the stress of going via London, had the Aylesbury link happened, maybe Chiltern could have considered a High Wycombe to Milton Keynes service via Aylesbury, would connect the main centres of North and South Buckinghamshire, currently requires going via London, or getting two buses changing at Aylesbury
it's mad to think an active GWR 800 is testing on the wcml, wonder if they will actually run in service to bletchley and onto MKC or is it just a case of testing incase of future closures at euston/paddington for route learning?
I dont think they plan on running 80x services to MKC as i think they are just route clearing the 80x fleet only
Will they be testing again tomorrow do you know?
@qcope Yes they should be. If you look on realtimetrains.co.uk and search for Winslow this shows the times.
why is the chilltern railway at milton keynses central running
11:00 That train in that location is very strange - could this be the second time an 800 has been on the WCML?
I suppose it is - although we will see it happen again on the 17th Nov when GWR are diverting to EUS, and of course Avanti have their 805s now which is practically the same as 800s.
Do you know which rolling stock will be doing the entire route from Oxford to Cambridge, Also. are they going to be relaying the entire track from Bletchely to bedford (please be yes i need an excuse to be late to school)
there are going to be upgrades for the Marston Vale line, but at present those upgrades are likely to be fairly limited... any change in scope to that project is likely to be influenced by whether the proposed Universal Studios theme park near Stewartby goes ahead
@Spacebug111 It will be many years until they ever build the line from Bedford to Cambridge, so nobody knows what stock they will use...
@@MercenaryPen
My read of their latest consultation is yes...but only to 75 not 100mph.
@@ChangesOneTim much as the increase in line speed is welcome, it is less relevant to the needs of getting people to a theme park than increases in service frequency and overall train length would be
Indeed, but surely this will happen before too long.
I still do not understand why did they not make this "new" line all-electric and at least install the main support posts for the overhead catenary system, while building it, which cost the most and caused the most issues retrofitting at a later date
Because electrification is hugely expensive. Costs billions. They don’t have the budget to build a railway all the way to Cambridge. There are other railway lines that need building and electrification is a huge cost.
We have foot bridges in Bicester (phase one of the line) which are purpously high enough to accomidate a catenary system. You never know...
@@radders261 It would be extraordinarily stupid to install a lowish footbridge that is non compliant with the needs of a modern railway. So I don’t think that says anything about the immediate prospects for electrification. It is hugely expensive for the benefits that it would deliver especially when funds are tight and they don’t have a railway line built to Cambridge! So I doubt they will blow the budget on electrification.
@@_RabbitLeader I was talking about the future, not now.
@@radders261Electrification confirmed today by EWR. Those sections not covered with wires batteries will be used with hybrid electric trains.
Are they upgrading Bletchley to Bedford.
Yes they are but details not finalised. We do know both ends will be doubled and only two level crossings retained. Speed limit will be between 75 and 90 mph.
@@ds1868 which level crossings will stay?
I Do hope that 150139 wasn't working Pax when it departed from Bletchley with one of the End Doors open!
Yes it was! It was the cab door open, hopefully not accessible from the passenger saloon...
I wish someone in the know would explain why testing has to take so long.... trains run or they don't, signals work or they don't. Get on and get it open!
@@duncanwilson5170Patience Duncan, Patience!!! LOL
Next, they have to train the crews up on the new line...a whole new higher-speed set of crew to run Oxford to MK and back. So maybe by January 2025 ?
Will they run up to 90mph+ ?
@@Carlos-im3hnmax speed is 100 mph all the way from Oxford to Bletchley.
and gwr