Railwatch

Published by Railfuture

Railwatch is the quarterly magazine of Railfuture, which is free to members.


Non-members can subscribe to Railwatch, receiving it by post.

Subscribe

Railwatch 084 - June 2000

Thames Valley

By Chris Wright

The prospect of millions of pounds being spent on bus lanes and a busway, prompted branch secretary Martin Smith to make a presentation to West Oxfordshire district council calling for the reopening of the Witney-Oxford line. He pointed out that Witney, Carterton and Brize Norton are all likely to grow. Railtrack is said to be exploring the case for reopening which it has costed at more than £30million. The county council is being urged to consider a feasibility study.

RDS has urged Persimmon Homes to consider providing a park and ride station at Claydon Junction to serve the 300 new homes the company plans to build on the site of the former brickworks at Calvert. This idea was warmly welcomed by Aylesbury Vale Council's planning committee chairman.

The reopening schemes for Grove-Wantage Road and Kidlington have been allocated £400,000 in the county's transport capital programme. More than £2million is needed but it is hoped other partners will be encouraged to invest in the scheme.

RDS lodged a complaint after the Oxford-Bristol service was subject to repeated cancellations in the early part of the year. We pointed out that an unreliable service will prevent people switching to it. We also urged that the extension to Milton Keynes should be progressed as soon as possible. First Great Western said a driver shortage was to blame. Two extra evening trains are in the summer timetable.

More than £5million has been spent on Bletchley flyover to make it ready for works trains employed on the West Coast main line upgrade. The Bedford-Bletchley line is to be upgraded to 50 mph running and its class 150s are being refurbished. The prospects for the full East-West link was being discussed at a joint meeting with the Oxford- Buckingham Rail Action Committee in May.

Silverlink has welcomed the formation of a rail user group at Wolverton, formed with RDS help. The operator has produced draft plans for a new station building, has pledged to provide service information and to explore ideas on developing patronage including the possibility of a service to Oxford.

Quainton Road railway centre attracted more than 33,000 visitors last year and was planning to receive special trains on 28 May and 4 June. Specials may also run from Aylesbury over the August bank holiday.

Chiltern Railways continue to impress us with plans for a £15million improvement plan for High Wycombe station. From May, 10 new Clubman coaches are being introduced which means that Chiltern has increased its fleet by 50% since privatisation.

Note: contact details (postal and email addresses, along with telephone numbers) in old editions of Railwatch out of date. Click CONTACT US for latest contact details.


[Issue 84 Index]

[Railwatch Home] [Prev Issue (83)] [Railwatch Issues] [RIS Progress Reports] [SRUBLUK Progress Reports] [Next Issue (85)] [Railfuture Home]


Rail users are encouraged to join Railfuture to help us campaign for a bigger and better railway - membership for individuals is just £20 per year

Railfuture is an independent, voluntary group representing rail users in Britain with 20,000 affiliated and individual members. It is not funded by train companies, political parties or trade unions, and all members have an equal say.

Railfuture campaigns for cheap and convenient rail services for everyone; better links for buses, bikes and pedestrians; policies to get more heavy lorries on to rail; new lines, stations and freight terminals. In short, a better rail service and a bigger rail system for both passengers and freight.

Railfuture is pro-rail but not anti-road or anti-air. However, we campaign for a switch from road and air to rail. We do not interfere in the running of the railway - we campaign for the quality and range of services provided, not how they are delivered. We are the only champion of all rail users.


Railfuture is the campaigning name of Railfuture Ltd.

A not-for-profit Company Limited by Guarantee.

Registered in England and Wales No. 05011634.

Registered Office: Edinburgh House, 1-5 Bellevue Road, Clevedon, North Somerset BS21 7NP (for legal correspondence only).

All other correspondence to 14 Ghent Field Circle, Thurston, Suffolk IP31 3UP


© Copyright Railfuture Ltd 2024.

Railfuture is happy for extracts to be used by journalists, researchers and students. We would, however, appreciate a mention of Railfuture in any article, website or programme. Except with Railfuture's express written permission, no one should distribute or commercially exploit the content.


Privacy Statement

Click Privacy to read Railfuture's GDPR statement on how we treat your data.

08.03.2024

This site does not use its own cookies, although Google Analytics does. Hosted by TSO Host (cPanel) and maintained for Railfuture by Billing Specialists Ltd.