WELCOME TO PROJECT EVERGREEN 3 CHILTERN S PROPOSED NEW OXFORD TO LONDON ROUTE

Transcription

1 PROJECT EVERGREEN 3 WELCOME TO PROJECT EVERGREEN 3 CHILTERN S PROPOSED NEW OXFORD TO LONDON ROUTE Chiltern Railways is proposing a railway improvement scheme between Oxford and Bicester (the Evergreen 3 project) which will enable us to provide a passenger train service between Oxford and London Marylebone via Bicester. We would like to consult with you regarding the choice of options for the stations and other works proposed as part of the scheme. TRAIN SERVICES Our aim is to offer an alternative to the M40 and the A34. We envisage operating two Oxford to London Marylebone trains each hour throughout the day. At speeds of up to 100mph typical journey times will be less than one hour between Water Eaton and London and 15 minutes between Bicester and Oxford. Benefits of the scheme will include a choice of trains between Oxford and London, easy interchange between train, bus and car at Water Eaton, fast and frequent commuter trains between Bicester and Oxford and direct trains from Oxford to High Wycombe for the first time in 40 years. THE SCHEME AND ITS ROUTE To Worcester Kidlington A40 A44 A4260 Oxford North Junction To Banbury and Birmingham A34 Islip Bicester Bicester Town Water Eaton Parkway P&R buses to city centre & Radcliffe Hospital Oxford A40 A4421 To Didcot and London Paddington (66 miles) Chiltern chord line M40 A41 Future East-West line to Milton Keynes To High Wycombe and London Marylebone (64 miles) The new route will be created by upgrading the existing route between Oxford and Bicester Town and by building a short connecting line south east of Bicester linking the Oxford to Bicester and London Marylebone to Birmingham lines. Much of the double track that was removed in the 1970s will be restored and the bridges and earthworks brought up to modern standards as appropriate. New signalling and safety systems will be installed and level crossings replaced, upgraded or closed according to local circumstances. Between Oxford North Junction (near Wolvercote) and Oxford station the new line will use the disused trackbed that runs between the Oxford to Banbury main line and the Oxford Canal. Two additional platforms will be provided at Oxford station and the existing stations at Bicester Town and Islip will be rebuilt. A new station will also be constructed adjacent to the existing Water Eaton bus park-and-ride site to serve Kidlington and North Oxford. CONSULTATION We hope to commence services by 2013 and will be applying for the necessary Order and permissions under the Transport & Works Act later this year. The application will be accompanied by an Environmental Statement, which will set out any significant environmental effects arising from the construction and operation of the scheme along with proposed mitigation measures. The key design options are outlined in this brochure, with further detail to be displayed at the public exhibitions (see back page). Meanwhile, we would welcome your views on the project and the various options described. If you would like to express a view, please follow the instructions on the back page. Chiltern Evergreen 3 Project

2 OXFORD STATION At Oxford station, we will add additional capacity for the Chiltern trains. The disused parcels depot to the east of the station will be replaced by a new passenger platform with the capacity to accommodate a 5 coach train on each side. The stores and offices presently housed in the parcels depot, together with the disabled and drop-off parking, will be relocated parallel to the new platform. There will be direct access to the existing platforms and ticket hall, as well as an additional exit to the station forecourt. The new platform will be aligned so as to enable it to be extended southwards to accommodate two 8 coach trains if the main station is rebuilt in future. RELOCATED STORES/ OFFICES EXISTING STAFF PARKING NEW CENTRAL v0 BUSINESS SCHOOL EXPANSION v-1 DROP OFF ZONE AND DISABLED PARKING v2.5 EXISTING STATION The old parcels depot next to platform 3 EXISITNG STAIR AND LIFT ACCESS TO BOTH SIDES OF STATION v0 EXISTING RAMP TO LEVEL EXISTING BIKE PARK Plan of proposed 5-car platform Looking south at proposal VIEW 2 - LOOKING SOUTH AT PROPOSAL PROPOSED BUSINESS SCHOOL EXPANSION RELOCATED STORES/ OFFICES NEW EXISTING S SWING BRIDGE RAIL BRIDGE

3 EVERGREEN 3 SHEEPWASH CHANNEL SWING BRIDGE Immediately north of Oxford station lies the old swing bridge which once carried the tracks leading to the long closed Rewley Road station. This swing bridge is now preserved for its heritage value. Our project will require enlargement of the present railway bridge across the Sheepwash Channel, bringing it closer to the swing bridge. We are therefore working closely with the Oxford Preservation Trust and Railway Heritage Trust to identify a design solution that preserves and promotes the historic bridge. WATER EATON PARKWAY The proposed station site at present OPTION 1 Water Eaton Parkway will be a new station to serve the area encompassing Kidlington and north and east Oxford. Located adjacent to the existing park and ride site for Oxford City Centre it will provide step-free access between trains, buses, cars and bikes. Station facilities will include a staffed ticket office, coffee shop and additional car park capacity for rail users. Our plans seek to minimise any potential impact on the surrounding countryside, make appropriate provision for car, bus and lorry movements and maintain operations at the current stone-loading sidings at the site. Looking west at proposal VIEW 1 - CONTEXT LOOKING WEST AT PROPOSAL STATION CAR PARK AT GRADE PROPOSED RELOCATION OF PARK & RIDE BUS STOPS RAMP TO BUS STOPS PROPOSED RELOCATION OF SIDINGS NORTH, WITH NEW RAIL TRACK PROPOSED PART MULTI LEVEL CAR PARK PROPOSED ACCESS TO RELOCATED SIDINGS AND SILOS SITE

4 SIDINGS RELOCATED NORTH WITH NEW RAIL TRACK ACCESS SIDINGS RELOCATED NORTH WITH NEW RAIL TRACK ACCESS ROAD ACCESS TO SIDINGS SHELTERS ROAD ACCESS TO SIDINGS NEW CAR PARK AT GRADE SCALE A3 ADDITIONAL DECK TO PARTS OF NEW CAR PARK STAIR AND LIFT TO NEW STATION FACILITIES TWO STOREY BUILDING ACROSS TRACKS PROPOSED SIGNAL CONTROL PEDESTRIAN CROSSING MULTI STOREY CAR PARK STATION DROP OFF ZONE AND DISABLED PARKING RELOCATED BUS STOPS : lti ng ADDITIONAL DECK TO PARTS OF NEW CAR PARK PEDESTRIAN RAMP The existing stone-loading sidings would be relocated to the open land north of the existing car park and the vacated land used for station car parking. Two derelict grain silos on the site would be demolished and the cleared area used for additional parking for rail users. This would be partly at track level and partly in a two-storey car park. This new structure would be located on a part of the site otherwise proposed for a waste processing plant by another developer. A new road would lead to the relocated stone sidings. The main station building would be constructed at road level to give easy interchange with buses from Kidlington, whilst a pedestrian ramp would lead to the park-and-ride buses to the City Centre and the Radcliffe Hospital. Bicycle parking, a drop-off point and disabled parking would be provided next to the station building OPTION 2 This would be similar to Option 1, except that station car parking would only be built on the site of the disused grain silos. In order to provide the necessary capacity, a larger two-level car park building would be needed. The stone-loading sidings would remain in the present location between the new platforms and the parking area, with trees and shrubs planted to screen the car parks and platforms. OPTION 3 In this option, the platforms would be staggered the London-bound platform would be as shown for Option 1, but the Oxford-bound platform would be located to the south of the road bridge. Passenger access from the main station building to this platform would be through a subway under the road bridge. The stone-loading sidings would remain where they are now and the derelict grain silos would also remain, unless they are removed for the proposed waste processing plant. Necessary car parking capacity would be provided in this Option by adding a second storey to the existing park-and-ride car parks. A pedestrian walkway would connect the parking area and the park-and-ride buses with the main station building which, as in Options 1 and 2, would be located adjacent to the A4165, the Kidlington to Oxford road.

5 EVERGREEN 3 ISLIP STATION NEW S NEW TRACK STAIR AND FOOTBRIDGE BETWEEN S (UNMANNED) NEW RAMP FROM BLETCHINGDON ROAD TO NORTH EXISTING CAR PARKING SHELTERS AND TICKET MACHINES We anticipate that Islip will remain a station principally for local community use, rather than as a facility for the wider area. To allow for the reinstatement of a second track, two new platforms would be built. Ramps would provide step-free platform access from a new disabled parking area by the public road in addition to a footbridge linking the platforms. MODIFIED DROP OFF ZONE NEW FOOTWAY WIDEN ROAD CREATE DISABLED PARKING AND DROP OFF ZONE NEW FOOTWAY ON SIDE OF ROAD BRIDGE LEVEL CROSSINGS To enable the safe introduction of higher train speeds, the numerous level crossings between Bicester and Oxford will be assessed and altered, as appropriate. Any changes will be carried out in line with all relevant legislation and best practice. The existing crossings on the route are of several different types, including: Public road crossings Public footpath and/or bridleway crossings Private accommodation crossings, mainly for farms The options available for each crossing include: Replacement with a foot or road bridge. Upgrading to current standards, according to its location and use. This may include new surfaces, lights, improved track visibility and audible alarms and barriers. Closure. This will only be considered in certain cases, where it can be justified. Generally, this will be in one of the following situations: o Where no users have any legal right to cross the line o Where a number of crossings exist in the same vicinity and can be amalgamated. This may entail diverting access routes from former crossing points to become a single crossing or bridge. o Where the users of private accommodation crossings can be satisfactorily compensated for the loss of their crossing rights under the statutory Compensation Code. Partial closure closing a crossing to vehicles and providing a replacement footbridge for pedestrians. The options for all private accommodation crossings will be subject to direct consultation with affected landowners. We are still currently considering the options for the public crossings. A full map showing potential solutions for all public crossings along the route will be on display at the public exhibitions.

6 PROPOSED STATION CAR PARK 100 SPACES ACCESSED FROM STATION APPROACH BICESTER VILLAGE PARKING AS PLANNING PERMISSION BICESTER TOWN PROPOSED STATION CAR PARK 100 SPACES - ACCESSED FROM STATION APPROACH NO THROUGH ROUTE EXCEPT FOR BUSES, BICYCLES AND PEDESTRIANS STATION APPROACH PEDESTRIAN ROUTE KEEP LEVEL CROSSING PEDESTRIAN ACCESS TO DROP OFF AND DISABLED PARKING NEW STATION BUILDING BICESTER VILLAGE OPTION FOR STATION PARKING ON TALISMAN SITE OXFORD LONDON ROAD NEW S SHELTER LONDON NORTH TO BE 200M FROM LEVEL CROSSING STATION FOOTBRIDGE BETWEEN S WITH LIFTS AND STAIRS BICESTER TOWN STATION We will upgrade Bicester Town station to serve passengers travelling to both Oxford and London. OPTION 1 The main station building would be located on currently vacant land between London Road and the railway line, together with a drop-off point and disabled parking. A secondary entrance would be provided on Station Approach, with shelters and ticket vending machines. Car parking would be provided on the north side of the railway, with additional parking for rail users on weekdays in the proposed Bicester Village shopping outlet car park which already has planning permission. The car parks would be accessed from Station Approach. A pedestrian, cycle and bus route would connect with Bicester Village, but this would not be a through route for other traffic. A new platform would be built for Oxford-bound trains, and the London-bound platform would be extended away from the level crossing. The platforms would be linked by a footbridge, with lifts for step-free access. OPTION 2 Similar to Option 1, except the main station building would be on the north side of the line (near to the present station entrance), with a secondary entrance on the south side of the railway to provide access from London Road. Most of the parking would be on the north side of the line, but with a limited number of spaces on the south side. A drop-off point and disabled parking would be provided on each side of the line. OPTION 3 As in Option 2, the main station building would be on the north side of the railway, with a secondary entrance on the south side and drop-off points and disabled parking on both sides of the line. A new two-storey car park would be built on the field south of the Talisman Business Centre, with road access from London Road. Access from this car park to the trains would be provided by a link to the new Oxford-bound platform, which would be moved to the south west to face the London-bound platform.

7 EVERGREEN 3 BICESTER CONNECTING LINE Shown in green, a new connecting line will be built in Bicester to join the railway line from Oxford to Chiltern s existing London Marylebone to Birmingham line. This will be south of Bicester North station and east of Bicester Town station, on the north-west of the field adjacent to Gavray Drive. The existing planning permission for housing on this land provides for the construction of this connecting line. To London Marylebone OS To Oxford Approximate course of the proposed new connecting line Business Reply Plus Licence Number RSBG-XXSL-KJAL Chiltern Railways Consultation Team Eaton House Wallbrook Court North Hinksey Lane Oxford OX2 0QS

8 EVERGREEN 3 SHARE YOUR VIEWS WITH THE TEAM.. Please attend one of our exhibitions to give us your views. The exhibitions will provide you with an opportunity to talk with the project team. The public exhibitions will take place at the following venues and times: Location Address Time Bicester The Courtyard Arts Centre Launton Rd, Bicester, OX26 6DJ Friday 17th April 11am-3pm, 5pm-8pm Oxford Oxford Town Hall St Aldate s, Oxford, OX1 1BX Saturday 18th April 10am-5pm Kidlington Exeter Hall Oxford Road, Kidlington, OX5 1AB Saturday 25th April 10am-3pm Alternatively, if you are unable to attend any of the exhibitions, we would still like to hear from you. Visit our website at: Call us on: us at: consultation@chiltern-evergreen3.co.uk PROJECT EVERGREEN 3 Overall do you support the scheme? Do you agree with our plans for: Yes No Oxford station? Yes No Islip station? Yes No Which option do you prefer for: Water Eaton Parkway station? Bicester Town station? Do you have any views about any particular level crossings?... Do you have any further comments on the scheme? Please give your postcode... If you are responding on behalf of an organisation or group please provide details...