Railwatch 077 - October 1998

Thames

By Chris Wright

Next stop Milton Keynes The start of through trains from Bicester to Bristol via Oxford in June was a great step forward. RDS and the campaign group Oxon and Bucks Rail Action Committee took out a Press advert to welcome the venture by Thames Trains and Great Western and to urge that the trains should be extended to Milton Keynes.

Freight forward Central Railway has dropped its proposal to open an intermodal freight depot at Denham, Bucks, but is looking for an alternative site near the M25 motorway which could feed its reopened rail route.

A new bridge is to be provided at Princes Risborough to allow use of the second platform following the start of Chiltern Railways' enhanced service in July and the doubling of track between Risborough and Bicester.

Space for cars Extra car parking spaces have been provided at Bicester, Wendover, Princes Risborough and High Wycombe, but similar action at Beaconsfield has been ruled out because the cost would not be recouped by the end of the franchise.

Park and ride Chiltern Railways are supporting a plan for a park-and-ride station at Saunderton proposed by Wycombe District Council.

The eastern end of the former Wycombe-Bourne End line which has been proposed for reopening is to be used as a cycle track.

New stations Plans for opening a station at Grove-Wantage Road were given overwhelming backing in a public consultation exercise organised by Oxfordshire County Council. 98% of the 1,000 respondents were in favour. Railtrack is studying costings, as well as signalling and train pathing questions, before a further bid for funding for the project in the next Transport Policies and Programmes. The county council is also in favour of a £1m plan to reopen Kidlington station and a new station at Appleford, south of Didcot, to serve new housing.

Freight business EWS has examined the business case for a link to Wallingford and remains committed to the Bicester Business Park connection, Julian Worth told the branch's June meeting.

Wrong kind of train A three-car unit which operated from Oxford to Bicester on 22 June was deemed "too long" to call at Islip because of safety fears. Passengers for Islip were taken by taxi! The branch plans to raise this issue with Thames Trains and the Rail Users Consultative Committee.

East-West objectors Proposals for the east-west rail link are being opposed by some residents. A delegation went to Milton Keynes council to complain about a possible drop in house values, the possibility of foundations being undermined, and the transport of hazardous waste.

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